Kevin Whitcher
So the topsy turvy season continues, a horrowshow followed by two 4-1 wins that makes one wonder what all the fuss was about. Yesterday’s win will not have changed anyone’s mind about the situation at the club. It is the nature of inconsistency that there are good days and bad days, but what a contrast to the display at the Britannia.
Arsenal were switched on, and determined, and harried their opponents in the way they did not seem to fancy last weekend. The consequence was that for much of the game, Newcastle’s opportunities to attack were limited. Szczesny pulled off a couple of excellent saves from the visitors best chance in the first half, with the game at 1-0, justifying his immediate recall after Martinez conceded three against Stoke. Generally though, Mathieu Debuchy was rarely tested, just as well given this was his first ever game as a centre back. Hector Bellerin came in at right back, and has had a pair of impressive games since he was hauled off at half time in the Potteries.
Giroud, Alexis, Welbeck and Cazorla all returned, and the consequence was some well worked goals with excellent finishing. Significantly, Giroud’s pair involved players getting wide and getting the ball into the middle with decent deliveries. Width is such a weapon, and at times, it feels like the Gunners are funneled into the centre a little too easily. Oxlade-Chamberlain replaced Ramsey as the box-to-box midfielder and had a good performance in a position that the manager thinks he will suit long-term. His season continues to improve as he gets regular game time.
Referee Lee Mason certainly could not be accused of being a homer for much of the game, but Arsenal’s dominance was such that they didn’t need any favours from him, which was just as well. One did wonder at times whether this was the same Newcastle that beat Chelsea last week. Perhaps Jose Mourinho has a point after all. Then again, the Jekyl and Hyde question applied equally to Arsenal. Football, eh? Although the Gunners’ achievements at the end of the season looks predictable, from one week to the next, you won’t know what you are going to get.
What was their motivation for being so switched on? Maybe, knowing they were off on the Xmas knees up after the game, they didn’t want the night to start out on a low note. Maybe they should hit the town after every game!
Newcastle’s consolation goal reminded us that things at the back still aren’t quite what they should be, scorer Perez allowed the freedom of the penalty area to get to the ball unchallenged. Still, if you are going to give away goals through rank bad defending, yesterday was the day to do it.
When Giroud was replaced by Podolski, the formation switched to 4-4-2 with Podolski left midfield. The team saw the game out in a disciplined fashion and Cazorla converted from the spot to increase the lead. Francis Coquelin was a late sub, and his recall from the loan spell at Charlton will at least provide some kind of cover in midfield and at full back. I suspect he will see a few games over the coming weeks.
Arsene Wenger described his team as “healthy, dynamic and ambitious” afterwards. It was a pleasant change to hear some new adjectives about his team. If only he were as ambitious in the transfer market when it came to buying defenders last summer…
A chant of ‘There’s Only One Arsène Wenger’ went up around the stadium towards the conclusion of the game. No one would doubt that. The issue is, there is only one outcome to Arsenal’s seasons these days, where the league and Champions League are concerned. Fourth spot is still very much on the cards. Progress to the latter stages in Europe highly dependent on some luck in the draw. There will be more games like this, and more like the defeat at Stoke. Which Arsenal will turn up at Liverpool next weekend? The Gunners’ last three matches have all featured five goals.
To finish, a year’s Gooner subscription would make an excellent gift for an Arsenal fan you know. You can buy one here.
I am now on Twitter@KevinWhitcher01.
The new issue of The Gooner with free 2015 Art of Arsenal calendar can be bought online here. It will also be on sale outside the stadium for the coming home matches v QPR and Hull, and the away matches over the festive period.
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Further Reading
A sequel to Arsènal – The Making of a Modern Superclub and entitled Arsène and Arsenal The Quest to Rediscover Past Glories has been written by myself and co-author Alex Fynn. It takes up the story of the club from the last update of the previous book, and can be bought online here. Use the promo code ‘Gooner’ to get 10% off the publisher’s price of £8.99.
