I finally got a half day without having to work and it resulted in a very frustrating (again) ninety five minutes of football indeed. There's no doubt that there were some positives, but there were at least as many negatives from a game which we really had to win if we are to push up the table and try to secure a Champions League slot for next year.
I'll start with the positives, I though Arshavin had a very solid debut, he made some excellent bursts and almost scored with a cracking left footer in the first half. I also thought Nasri had another productive game, he really has developed nicely this season. Almunia didn't put a foot wrong, while we did secure another clean sheet, I am slightly disappointed that Johan Djourou has lost his starting place, he really doesn't deserve to be on the bench given his performances this season. Toure is looking fitter and sharper than he does for a while, and Bendtner had a decent game for Bendtner, but that's not saying much.
The performances wasn't great, but it wasn't terrible, we definitely created enough to have won this game rather comfortably, it's simply unforgivable to miss so many clear cut chances at this level and it's becoming a rather worrying recurring trend. RVP missed when clean through in the first half, Bendtner forced the save of the match with a terrific downward header also in the first half, Toure had one cleared off the line, while Arshavin went close twice. In the second half RVP again squandered some decent openings, Vela too, then Gallas at the death.
If we had had a fit Diaby alongside Denilson running the midfield show I feel the three points would most likely have been ours, Song does not deserve to be scapegoated, however he is clearly not Arsenal starting quality, he's a decent squad player in my opinion. However it was not just the centre of midfield that let us down, it was out inability to put the ball in the back of the net, I know RVP has taken the plaudits at times this season but he really should have scored many more goals than he has done, while Bendtner's goalscoring record is not good enough.
It will be interesting to see what happens when everyone gets back to full fitness. I'd like to see Diaby return in the middle, Arshavin continue on the right, with Eduardo slotting in up top. I also wonder if Gael Clichy is sweating a little over the rapid progress of his young understudy Kieran Gibbs. I'm immensely frustrated but determined to try not to wallow in self pity and gloom, there's certainly plenty of room for improvement but we have been on a slow upward curve of late. If only we could start putting the ball in the back of the old onion bag.
