Kevin Whitcher
There was debate as to whether Arsene Wenger would field a weakened team in this FA Cup tie with an eye on the Champions League visit to Munich on Tuesday. On hearing the line-ups, this observer’s mind went back to a semi-final in 2004 when Jeremie Aliadiere started against Manchester United at Villa Park while Thierry Henry warmed the bench. Yaya Sanogo started yesterday in place of Olivier Giroud. It was a decision the manager got away with, as Sanogo’s contribution was negligible enough for his early removal after an hour to be fully justified.
The irony was that as Giroud’s display against Stoke last weekend had been in turn so disappointing, perhaps the battering ram of Sanogo might have been a better option in that game on the principle he would simply have ruffled a few feathers. Mind you, his late entry and blasting a clear chance over the bar at the Britannia indicated he would have had little impact on the scoresheet. Although Giroud was poor, one suspects it was a case of him being rested against Everton rather than dropped (as he had been against Bayern in the first leg). The lack of credible alternatives to Giroud is a huge black mark on the manager this season. Remember the days when Kanu and Wiltord were the back-up options?
Elsewhere, there were no compromises, unless you disagree with the policy of keeping Fabianski in goal for domestic cup matches, although in the unlikely event he was injured, it would have meant the on loan Italian goalkeeper starting in Germany. Significantly, Sagna began. Koscielny stood down through injury rather than being rested.
It was a very open game with plenty of incident at both ends. Although Arsenal looked marginally the better side in the first half, with a plethora of corners, I felt that it was the visitors that enjoyed the better actual chances. The home side’s first goal was a thing of beauty on a gorgeous sunny spring day as Cazorla teed up Ozil for a much needed finish. Everton’s equalizer was not defended very well, but it felt like it had been coming. Lukaku was a constant headache all match and it was one of Jose Mourinho’s stranger decisions to let him go out on loan for a season.
Fortunately after the interval, Oxlade-Chamberlain became more influential and, after Giroud’s entry, the team played with greater width, finding it an easier route to goal. It was a facet of their game notably absent against Stoke, and it is a real no brainer tactically. It produced Arteta’s penalty and Giroud’s first goal. Of the penalty, hats off to Arteta for two very well taken spot kicks. And all without a hair out of place. One cool customer.
It was getting late in the game when the penalty was converted and this mind was thinking about a replay at Goodison Park between the Spurs and Chelsea away games by this point. Far from ideal, but fortunately, the Gunners got the job done. The fourth and final goal exploited Everton’s need to over-commit in search of a late comeback and was a delightful move well finished by Giroud. If he is returning to form, his timing could not be better.
Psychologically, with the challenges ahead, this was a very significant match for Arsenal. Recent reverses against Liverpool, Bayern and Stoke have quite rightly raised questions about the team on several fronts. Concentration, intelligence, organization and character have all been put under the microscope. The players, and the manager sending them out to do a job, now have an opportunity to prove they are a different animal from failures waiting to happen - the current thinking amongst many who feel they have seen it all before, including myself.
A respectable result in Bayern would help this process. No-one can seriously expect lightning to strike twice, but even a draw in Germany would help rebuild confidence further going into the Premier League fixtures that await. There seems little doubt that to rekindle title hopes, Arsenal will need to take at least seven points from their three matches against Spurs, Chelsea and Manchester City and the visit to Stamford Bridge will probably need to be won. Although externally, the faith is largely lacking, the task ahead for the players is simple. Win. That is what champions do, and it is what Chelsea have been doing lately.
As for the FA Cup, progress is wonderful because there is a genuine chance of a trophy there. At some point, the likelihood is that the team will have to beat Manchester City at Wembley to do it, but if Wigan can manage it, then Arsenal surely have a great opportunity in a one-off game. A trophy is desperately needed to help the team progress and in the context of this season, continued involvement can only be a good thing. It’s been a long time since an open top bus parade to Islington Town Hall, and if memory serves me, the club could not even be bothered to hold one in 2005. Here’s hoping for road closed signs in Upper Street on 18th May…
The current issue of The Gooner can be bought online here. The next edition will go on sale at the home match v Swansea.
DIGITAL ISSUES
The Gooner is also available in digital form, through The Gooner App on iPhones and iPads, the Exactly App for Android devices and now Kindle Fire owners can also get their fix by searching the Amazon App Store for The Gooner.
You can also subscribe at www.exacteditions.com and read it through your internet browser as well as receiving a code which will enable you to access issues on all the above devices.
All digital subscriptions include access to our digital back issue library which dates back to August 2010.
