Kevin Whitcher
Where to start? Well, firstly, let’s get things in perspective. As Arsenal were unlikely to go the rest of the season unbeaten, the most likely places they are going to experience defeat are the grounds of their principle rivals for the title – namely Manchester City and Chelsea. And so it proved yesterday.
What was very strange about the game was that here you had two teams with title ambitions playing so open from the word go. There was simply so much space on the pitch as each side allowed the other to play. How often are City going to concede three goals at home in the Premier League?
Ultimately, they created more chances and posed greater danger, but at the same time, Arsenal can feel hard done by. There was some shocking officiating. The Zabaleta handball was a 50/50 penalty, but Yaya Toure should have seen a red card for his challenge on Olivier Giroud. As for some of the offside calls, it can only be hoped that the officials are as generous to the home team when the two sides meet again in the return fixture.
Arsene Wenger rotated, dropping Arteta, Cazorla, Gibbs and Jenkinson. Sagna’s return was a no brainer. In came Ramsey, Wilshere and Walcott. It was a more attacking line-up than had taken the field in Naples. Critically, the spine was all present – with Mertesacker, Flamini and Giroud all starting, in contrast to Old Trafford.
Although Manuel Pellegrini’s team dominated the first few minutes, once Arsenal managed to retain the ball and gain territory we had an end to end game which promised plenty of goals. In fact one re-assuring aspect of the game was how open City were at times, explaining some of their problems on the road.
The opening goal was disappointing. Three Arsenal players were beaten to a near post ball which exposed Koscielny at the back post. It was a cheap goal to concede. Still, when Toure was caught napping by Ramsey, the visitors took advantage and leveled.
I won’t rake over the coals of the remaining seven goals. At 3-2 I thought there were another three goals in the game, but had no idea who would score them. I was too cautious in my prediction. And Arsenal could have actually won this match, but for the slapdash errors that presented their opponents with at least three of their goals.
The neutral would have loved it, and as a Gooner, even I can admit it was a great game of football, as long as you are not a lover of defending. The loss of Koscielny did not seem to make too much difference. Arsenal had already conceded two by the time of his removal.
The BBC evening news reported the game as a ‘humiliation’ for Arsenal. On one level, I can see it that way. Conceding six goals is not something you can really defend, no pun intended. However, the nature of this game was such that it was completely untypical. On paper Arsenal were well beaten, and on the day, yes, they were second best. Manchester United suffered a worse defeat at Newcastle under Alex Ferguson one season yet still lifted the title the following May.
The real test of the Gunners' title credentials is yet to come. Their away form against other sides outside of Manchester has so far been on the money, in contrast to both Chelsea and Manchester City. However, it is the home matches against these two sides that will ultimately prove Arsenal’s vindication or downfall. We won’t have to wait long. For some, the nails can already by hammered into the the coffin of their league hopes, but for this observer, it isn't time yet. They still lead the table and are in the habit of piling on the points against lesser sides, which is not something that anyone else is doing with the same level of consistency. At the same time, it was good to see Arsene Wenger visibly angry with his players after some of the defending gifted City their goals.
It’s been a bad week. A home draw v Everton, defeat in Naples and now Eastlands. To add ignominy to the injury, Arsenal announced a three per cent rise in season ticket prices the day after Ivan Gazidis, Sir Chips Keswick and senior staffers mixed with fans for Christmas drinks in club level. It’s all in the timing, eh? Funny how they didn’t drop that into the conversation over the free glass of wine handed out on arrival. The club do not need to charge fans more money, they have enough income from TV deals and sponsorship, as well as plenty of cash in the bank. But they know they can, as long as the stadium is selling out. And so they will. It is strange that they are announcing it so early, almost as if it is some kind of insurance against things going downhill after the good start to the season.
I’ll finish with the thoughts of a man who does a fair bit of the proofing for the website, Mike Preston, who emailed me after the game to say the following –
• Nothing to be ashamed about
• We were outgunned (that kind of money is difficult to oppose)
• We showed good spirit in coming back (more than Sp*rs did) several times
• Theo showed some form
• No-one else (I think) has scored three at the Etihad in the PL
• The real test of our season will come against Chelsea on the 23rd
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