Nine Jimmy Rimmers – Arsenal and Football

First thoughts and player ratings. As I kind of said yesterday, the only place Arsenal could lose this was in their heads. Well at least we won, but that was a truly dire performance.

Of the starters, only Almunia, Koscielny, Nasri and Bendtner looked on their game. Even then Bendtner missed a few chances and needed a big deflection to get the ball in the net. Instead of the goal easing any tension and Arsenal starting to play with more style they became more lethargic, with hopeless passing and the aimless Gibbs and Eboue letting the pressure off Huddersfield.

Then two serious incidents that could rack up the price of this victory: Squillaci blocked Hunt and was given a straight red. Now we are down to two central defenders for the next three games unless Wenger has some secret transfer move ready for tomorrow.

With Arsenal down to ten men, Huddersfield put on the pressure themselves and Arsenal got very ragged. Nasri chased a route one ball and pulled his hamstring. Really hope that it isn’t a serious tear. He has been our player of the season and in tandem with Fabregas has really turned things round in January.

In the second half, Huddersfield came on strong again and, after Almunia had kept several attempts out they finally got the equaliser that they deserved.

With a replay or worse beckoning, on came captain Fabregas. Cesc really lifted the team, immediately giving a sense of purpose that the rest had lacked. Created a great chance for Bendtner who was pushed in front of goal. Penalty. To be consistent, Clattenberg should have given the Huddersfield defender a straight red, but didn’t.

Up steps Fabregas and after a stuttering run-up scores the winner. So, replay avoided and Arsenal progress. Just hope that the red card and hamstring don’t make us pay.

Almunia – 7
Thankfully on the ball despite being out for so long. Made a particularly good finger-tip save. Didn’t make any real errors, couldn’t do much about the Huddersfield goal.
Eboue – 6
Typical Eboue game. Likes to get forward, or in fact likes to go all over the pitch like he’s Pele. Isn’t.
Squillaci – 5
Didn’t look at all enthusiastic about the game. Inevitably had to cover for Eboue but doesn’t have the pace for that task that Djourou has.
Koscielny – 7
Had an OK game, certainly the best defender.
Gibbs – 5
Must have been an imposter, and a rusty one at that!
Denilson – 4
One of his worst performances.
Diaby – 5
Very rusty. Kept dwelling on the ball.
Nasri – 7
Doing OK until the injury. Everybody pray!
Bendtner – 7
Not always very sharp but worked hard and kept trying to create.
Chamakh – 5
Didn’t get into the game at all.
Arshavin – 7
Worked hard and made one fantastic defensive tackle in the box to prevent a short-range scoring opportunity. But his touch and decision-making are still off.
Rosicky – 6
Nothing special but better than others.
Song – 7
Restored some calm and stability at the back.
Fabregas – 8
Lifted the team with his sense of purpose and class. Got us the win.

Vote for your Man of the Match here.

Something has changed.  Recently I’ve been watching the big games with a sense of dread.  So often last season we were short when it really mattered.

This season it feels different.  Despite the evidence of the opening games I felt we were stronger. My renewed faith took a knock in the West Brom game, but survived – mainly because our rivals slipped up too.  Even after the Chelsea game I didn’t feel as down as last season because I thought we played well and deserved something more from the game.  Plus we had players to come back.  Yesterday I was really looking forward to the game.

So, the game!  Fantastic game to watch.  Right from the start.  Fabianski got a great save in early and carried on in the same style.  Excellent performance and a clean sheet. This should really build his confidence and keep him in the team ahead of Almunia.  I’m not completely convinced yet but Arsenal have nothing to lose playing him ahead of the Spaniard.

Then at the other end a perfect pass put Chamakh in on goal and Boyata brought him down.  It has to be a red card.  Boyata is the last man and it was clearly a foul.   I see that Mancini has been blaming the referee, saying that it wasn’t a clear chance on goal because Chamakh’s next touch would put it in the goalkeeper’s hands or out for a goalkick.  Arrogant rubbish.  What happened was that a great Arsenal pass split City open and a player he brought in panicked.  Definite sending off.  The rule may be a harsh one, but referee Clattenburg got it absolutely right.

Soon after Djourou missed good header chance.  He also got caught out a bit during the game.  He wasn’t bad, none of the team were on Sunday, but he was probably the least impressive.   For a while in the first half it looked like Arshavin was going to give another frustrating performance with the loose passing that can cost us.  But as the game went on he got more and more into it, even tracking back and covering leftback when Clichy got caught miles out of position upfield.  In the end Arshavin had his best game this season.  Clichy was OK, but we still looked weakest on the left.

On the right we looked great.  Sagna had a fantastic game.  Terrific work rate, covering the length of the pitch and he got a lot of help from Nasri.  Samir Nasri is my player of the season so far, the guy has matured so much.  Maybe the absence of Fabregas has helped bring him on as a player, giving him the incentive to play a more responsible, decisive game.  Whatever it is, he has been immense.  He as quick feet, he reads the game and has a high workrate.  His goal was terrific, fast one-two and buried it.  Top, top player.

Fabregas had a great game too, despite missing the penalty.  Unusual blunder form Kompany, who is a player I really like, but he didn’t need to take out Fabregas there and a great save from Hart kept City in it.   It was a good save, although Cesc’s kick was at a well reachable height.  He may have fluffed the penalty but it was the only thing Fabregas got wrong in the whole game.  The King is back!

By half-time all our midfielders and a few others were on yellow cards.  Hard to argue with, except maybe Djourou’s was a bit harsh.  It really put the pressure on second half to judge tackle right and stay disciplined – but they did it.

I think that we still waste a lot of freekicks and corners, especially now we have Chamakh and Squillaci to aim at.  But as as the second half went on Arsenal dominated.  Song‘s goal was excellent.  He pounced on the loose ball and finished brilliantly.

I thought that Wenger might use his subs to protect the yellow-carded midfield but no, it was attack all the way with Rosicky, Walcott and Bendtner getting time on the pitch.  Rosicky and Bendtner didn’t get the opportunity to make much impact, but Bendtner picked up where Chamakh left off.  He made a well-timed run and asked for the ball ahead of him, Nasri obliged and he coolly finished it to make it three nil.

It could have been four near the end when Sagna dragged one wide but it didn’t matter.  It was a great performance that will answer a lot of critics.  Keeping a clean sheet is another plus, particularly against a big team.  Squillaci had a good solid game.  Denilson did well, very discplined in his task and hardworking.  He’s going to have a hard time getting in past Jack Wilshere now, but yesterday he showed that he is up to the job.

Top game, top team.  Bring on Newcastle and West Ham.

Fabianski and Nasri are still neck and neck in our Man of the Match poll.  You can add your vote here.