Relief all round as we get through to the last sixteen. We did it the hard way and fortunately our last group game was at home against the weakest team in the group.
But the game did expose two issues, one of them not for the first time.
One issue is the way that we still don’t defend properly as a team. Song may be impressing high up the pitch, but his adventure is helping to create a whole in front of the back four. It happened several times in the Belgrade game. What happens next is that Koscielny or Squillaci gets drawn forward into the hole to attack the ball. But of course they don’t always get it. Which means that they are then bypassed and the central defender who is still in place is left trying to chose between two advancing forwards.
Song isn’t the only offender, Arshavin doesn’t often track back either. He left Clichy with a similar problem in the Villa game. Until our midfielders close down the gaps when we are defending, our back four is going to get pulled out of shape and concede goals.
The other issue is about the formation at the front. What are we going to do now that we have Chamakh, Van Persie and Bendtner all fit at the same time?
Last night the answer was put Bendtner on the bench and play Van Persie deep. It wasn’t particularly convincing! I guess it might work better with practice but last night they seemed to either get in the way of each other or RVP dropped very deep. So do we go back to a more traditional 442?
If we do that, how do we use Fabregas and Nasri together? Interesting times ahead. This second issue is at least a positive one – making bet use of the talent w have – but it’s still a thorny one.
Another excellent goal from Nasri, his ability to create a yard of space for himself around the edge of the box is fantastic to watch. Pity that Gibbs had to come off, he started well. Eboue did a better job that I expected as stand-in on the left, including one great change of pace to lose two players. Sagna had a good game to, until he got sent off. I know some say it wa a soft red, but I think it was justified. It was a foul, he was the last man. Now we will miss him against a top-class opponent in the next round!
Next up Manchester United away! And Chelsea on the horizon. Can we start 2011 in top spot? Only if we get more organised at the back.
***** Wednesday Man of the Match poll here. *****
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