Kevin Whitcher
Mesut Ozil missed yesterday’s trip to the Britannia with a foot inflammation injury, Arsene Wenger informed us before the game. Whether or not Ozil would have been able to make his customary contribution to Arsenal’s efforts against Stoke we will never know. There is a school of thought that in the more physical matches, he loses interest. However, there is no doubt that the Gunners lacked the creativity he brings playing behind Olivier Giroud.
Alex Oxade-Chamberlain played there instead. He had a couple of decent efforts, one blocked by Koscielny, but overall, his display was disappointing. In mitigation, he has been played in three different positions since his return from injury. It might even be four as I cannot recall if he has played left side attacker as well. It cannot be easy to find your rhythm if you keep getting switched around, although that is no excuse for rank poor passes which either go out of play or to an opposition player. The Ox made a few of these yesterday.
It was decided that it was not worth the risk of Alexis Sanchez even travelling to be an option from the bench. He too was a big miss yesterday, as his tenacity would have added a lot to the team in this kind of match. Tellingly, Wenger only used one substitution until right at the death, Iwobi for Walcott, although if his side managed to forge a lead before Calum Chambers 89th minute entry, one suspects two defensive players would have entered the fray a bit earlier.
Stoke now play with greater flair than the Tony Pulis days. Peter Crouch can’t get in the starting eleven and Rory Delap is a distant memory from yesteryear. However, they can be cynical, no question about that, with tactical fouls. The traditional welcome from the home crowd when Arsenal come calling also fires up their players, even those unaware of the history of this fixture who might wonder why Aaron Ramsey is singled out for attention. A caller to the BBC Radio 5Live ’606’ phone-in explained that the Welshman is the target for abuse because he apparently refused to accept the apology of Ryan Shawcross for breaking his leg. The temerity of the man. A public flogging would be too good for him…
Anyway, Stoke were a little more industrial than one might have expected if for no better reason than that the absent Shaquiri was replaced by Jonathan Walters. It was a relatively uneventful first half. Giroud had a great chance after Campbell’s through ball but Butland saved well. The Ox has the aforementioned couple of attempts on goal. But it was by and large a game waiting to get going.
After the interval it certainly did that. Giroud almost scored with a header from a corner, forcing another great save from Butland. It became end to end stuff, and were Arsenal at home, a couple of very valid penalty claims for Giroud and Walcott might have been awarded. But there are different rules at the Britannia.
Cech pulled off a wonder double save as Stoke gave as good as they got. Arsenal’s defending yesterday needs a mention. Yes, it was a difficult afternoon, and yes, at times, they looked on the rack, but a clean sheet is a clean sheet and it wasn’t merely good fortune. The Gunners were more resilient at this stadium than they generally have been in the past. Koscielny did make a couple of bad passes, but that is almost a given these days.
Aside from the penalty shout, Walcott’s contribution was minimal, so why he looked so bemused when replaced by Alex Iwobi is beyond me. Iwobi made much more of a contribution in his time on the field. He might have been better coming on for the Ox, as there was so much space in the latter stages, the game was crying out for someone in Ozil’s position who could pass efficiently.
Arsene Wenger, realising the increased significance of this game after dropping two points at Liverpool, was very animated on the touchline. I have a recollection that in this fixture last season, he did not leave the bench. The Ox finally made a decent pass in the last ten minutes that set Campbell up for an attempt at goal, but he fired high and wide. Otherwise, the Costa Rican had a fairly decent game in terms of his contribution to the cause. No question that Cech was the team’s standout player though.
This was confirmed by the late scare from a corner, when Ramsey headed off the line and Cech saved the follow up with his foot. A point at Stoke is no disaster, but psychologically, defeat would have been tough to take.
New boy Mohammed Elneny was not risked. Hardly a surprise. This was really a case of welcome to the Premier League – watch and learn. I doubt the football in the Swiss League is anywhere near as intense. He might get a run out from the bench against Chelsea for a few minutes, depending on the state of the match, but will surely have to wait until the visit of Burnley in the FA Cup for his first start. Whether or not he can do the job that Coquelin did is one for the future, although to hope he can fill that role in his first dozen or so matches and propel the club to silverware is a huge ask for a player who has zero experience of the Premier League.
I am not expecting any further signings, although a judicious pair of £10-£15 million buys might make a huge difference, on the assumption that the likes of Wilshere, Welbeck, Coquelin and Cazorla will not be back in time to play a significant role this season.
As for where Arsenal stand right now, they are still top of the pile after negotiating two difficult away matches. Four points were dropped, but the clubs around them have not been perfect either. Manchester City and Tottenham recorded convincing home wins on Saturday, whilst Leicester remain an enigma. No doubt it is a strange season. Perhaps, these closer contests without the more moneyed clubs running away with it are the shape of things to come. And that can only be good for the game.
The Gunners need to maintain an unbeaten run, and although dropping four points is not ideal, at least they did not suffer defeat. Chelsea at home next week though is a game where they need to get back to winning ways. After that, they have a series of winnable fixtures until the visit to Old Trafford at the end of February. Let us hope that they put together a good run and remain where they are now by the time they face Louis Van Gaal’s men.
I am now on Twitter@KevinWhitcher01.
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