Level At The Top, This Could Be Arsenal's Year

Match Review: Arsenal 2 Everton 1 - Premier League 24.10.15

This was always going to be a tough game. Following a monumental effort midweek to beat Bayern, Everton were always going to be a stern test with fresh legs and a desire to make up for their defeat against United. With both United and City dropping points and Chelsea in full China syndrome meltdown, it was important to get three points to push our title challenge.

There must have been a huge temptation for Wenger to rotate in a few positions, but he chose to keep the team as similar as possible, making only one unforced change. Chamberlain replaced the injured Ramsey, Gabriel came in for Mertesacker because of the latter’s illness and Giroud for Walcott was the only tactical switch. It was a roll of the dice either way; rotate too much and we risked a damaging home defeat, but the lack of rotation potentially could have resulted in another key injury. In the end, Arsene was justified and I imagine the team to play Sheffield Wednesday will feature very few of those who were involved on Saturday.

We looked a bit leggy from the get go, but we did a good job of keeping the ball, making sure we weren’t having to press and chase Everton. Gabriel couldn’t connect properly with a couple of good set piece chances, while there was a scary moment for us when Cech pushed a cross into the path of John Stones. Luckily for us, there is a very good reason Stones is a defender and he sliced it high and wide. The game was a bit cagey and neither team was threatening much. The perfect time for a little bit of Mesut magic and yet another rapid one-two punch from the Arsenal.

The first goal was down to the genius of Özil. Receiving the ball out on the right hand side, he saw Giroud drift in behind the defender and the magician curled the perfect ball onto the top of the striker’s head, with Howard floundering. Just twelve seconds after the kick off, Everton overplayed in their own half, lost the ball and fouled Alexis just outside the area. Precisely one minute and forty-eight seconds after Giroud gave us the lead, Cazorla fizzed the free kick across the six yard box, Howard floundered again and it was Koscielny’s turn to celebrate.

2-0 at halftime would have been perfect for us and Everton would have been deflated with a mountain to climb. Unfortunately, we shot ourselves in the foot needlessly. We really should have clamped down and seen the game to half time, but on an attack just before the break, Chamberlain tried a needless shot and lost the ball. He should have passed to Bellerin, but he was selfish and it left Bellerin a long way out of position. Barkley broke forward and really only took a hopeful pot shot, but it took a really unlucky deflection off Gabriel and looped in.

Thanks to that goal, the second half was an uncomfortable affair. We started pretty well and took the sting out of the game and we could have wrapped it up a few times. Giroud was unlucky a number of times: he had a volley saved by Howard from inside the six yard box, then was inches away from a low Chamberlain cross and finally curled a beautiful effort onto the bar after a great pass from Özil. Özil himself also hit the post and the more we failed to kill the game, the more likely it seemed Everton would punish us.

They had two huge opportunities. First Lukaku should have scored as he was found isolated at the back post, but his header skimmed the bar with Cech beaten. Then Deulofeu, the diving little shit, had his close range effort brilliantly saved by Cech after Lukaku’s cross had been deflected. The Belgian striker nearly had a last gasp one on one too, but Gabriel was on hand to produce a sensational sliding tackle. By no means our most comfortable or impressive win, but an absolutely vital three points.

We have a really difficult set of fixtures coming up and the Christmas period is going to be a real test of our mettle. Things are looking really positive, but we are teetering on the verge of an injury crisis. We cannot afford to lose touch with City and now that we’re up at the top we need to stay there. This season looks like it could be our best opportunity in years to finally regain the league title.

Teams

Arsenal (4-2-3-1)
Cech, Bellerin, Gabriel, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin (Y), Cazorla, Alexis (Gibbs 89’), Özil, Chamberlain (Flamini 81’), Giroud
Subs
Macey, Debuchy, Chambers, Gibbs, Campbell, Flamini, Walcott

Everton (4-5-1)
Howard, Coleman (Kone 89’), Jagielka (Funes Mori 52’), Stones, Galloway, Barry (Y/Y-R), Barkley, McCarthy, Deulofeu, Lennon (Mirallas 70’), Lukaku
Subs
Robles, Kone, Mirallas, Naismith, Cleverley, Osman, Funes Mori

Player Ratings

Cech - 8/10 - Absolutely huge save from Deulofeu to keep us in the lead
Bellerin - 7/10 - Typically adventurous, maybe didn’t need to be for their goal
Gabriel - 8/10 - Heroic performance, turning out to be a brilliant signing
Koscielny - 8/10 - Needs a storage unit for all the strikers he’s pocketed
Monreal - 7/10 - Barely ever puts a foot wrong, although one dodgy giveaway in this game
Coquelin - 7/10 - No flash in the pan, he’s developed into a very consistent performer
Cazorla - 8/10 - Nice assist and a big effort after Tuesday, ran the midfield
Alexis - 7/10 - Always dangerous, but needs this week’s rest badly
Özil - 9/10 - Bow down, you are not worthy mere mortals
Chamberlain - 6/10 - Really frustrating, did a few really nice things, but the rest was muck
Giroud - 8/10 - Excellent performance, silencing the critics again
Subs
Flamini - N/A - Great banter, sent on to defend and spent the whole time in their half
Gibbs - N/A

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