Alexis, perhaps parodying his one-man show, scored two unassisted goals, each from horrendous Sunderland errors, to deliver a win that was much tighter than the scoreline suggests. Vito Mannone reprised his nightmarish performance of a week ago, muffing a clearance that Alexis tucked home in extra time—Arsenal's seventh such goal of the season, but the first one that didn't change the outcome of the match. There's something in this one for everyone: a win and a clean-sheet for the optimists, a lucky couple of goals against an overmatched side for the pessimists. Either way, three points collected. Have a gander at the highlights below...
Too bad no one else has the enthusiasm and instincts, let alone the talent of Alexis. Lots of passing back and forth and back and forth and back and forth........... but the goals were less about a build up then about one player taking charge and capitalizing on opportunities that presented themselves. Could they ever do this against a better side?
ReplyDeletewhat is it? Are we tired? I know that the Anderlecht match was tougher than it should have been and probably left us feeling tired, and Sunderland seemed determined to avoid a repeat of their drubbing at Southampton, but if it weren't for Alexis's industry and Sunderland's boneheaded breakdowns, would we have created goals for ourselves? We had only a few other real chances. This was just barely good enough against Sunderland, will it be enough against those we're vying with to finish in the top 4?
ReplyDeleteThe whole match aside from those two goals was a bit of a bore. I know that Sunderland are a lot better than the scoreline of a week ago, but we really should have generated more chances for ourselves. Welbeck was wasteful, as was Cazorla, but no, we can't rely on those kinds of errors, not two in one match, against Chelsea or City or whoever else is in the mix at the top of the table. Still, we scored first (something we've only managed in 6 of 14 matches) and kept a clean sheet for the first time since Aston Villa (seven matches). I'll take it.
ReplyDeleteMy point as well. This was a gift. Hopefully Arsene is perceptive enough to recognize that this win proves nothing. The team lacks a creative spark as well as players that are capable at all positions. Too many of them might be adequate as substitutes but not as part of a starting eleven. They also seem hamstrung by the tactics and style of play. Alexis plays as if he ignores the basic strategy and by sheer energy and drive persists and scores. He has incredible instincts.
ReplyDeleteridiculous. at least against Anderlecht and Hull we could say we earned it. This one was handed to us. I almost found myself rooting for Mannone to deny Sanchez on the second one both for his dignity and to preserve the 0-1 scoreline. 0-2 makes it look like we won comfortably when the truth is anything but. Wenger can point to the final score and suggest that it was a quality win. I certainly don't want us dropping points as a way of forcing the manager out the door, but it looks we're going to limp through the season eking out these kinds of results and continuing to struggle against the top of the table clubs, a list that looks like it includes Chelsea, MCFC, Liverpool, Man U, Tottenham, and Southampton, and Everton if they get their act together.
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