After a good, albeit losing, performance by our reserves and kids in the midweek Carling Cup tie against Man City, it was back to league business with a trip up to the DW, to take on bottom three side Wigan Athletic in search of our third consecutive away league victory.
While we have generally handled the Lactics comfortably on our patch, we have struggled on our last two league visits to the DW. Two seasons ago, we strolled to a 2-0 lead, then celebrated a victory twenty minutes too soon, and then watched as they stormed back to win 3-2 and end that season’s title challenge. Last season Arsene over-rotated for the league trip up there, and we could only draw 2-2, conceding the equalizing penalty just minutes after Wigan were reduced to ten men.
This season, it had to be different…
Losing matches is never a good thing, regardless of competition or circumstances. Nevertheless, losses may contain the occasional silver lining. In this instance, we were able to rest many of our key first-team players on Tuesday night. Indeed, the only injuries in the first team squad that Arsene reported on Friday were to oft-injured duo of Diaby (originally ruled out just prior to the Man City match with his umpteenth “slight muscular problem”) and Rosicky (thigh). The latter might be available for selection in Piraeus, but not the former, who will probably be out at least another week.
So there were no surprises in our starting eleven: Szczesny, Santos, TV, Mert, Kos, Ramsey, Song, Arteta, Theo, Robin, and Gerv. Fab,
JD, Coq, Benny, OC, Arsh and Chamakh comprised our bench.
Last weekend, Wigan slightly eased some of the pressure on them with a 2-1 win at Sunderland (effectively costing Steve Bruce his job in the process), and they started quickly, looking to build on the result.
Moses had an early chance, but his shot deflected off TV straight to Szczesny. On six minutes, Szczesny could only push Jones’ corner straight out to Gomez, but Santos deflected the latter’s shot out for a corner, which we cleared. Wigan then forced a couple more corners, but we dealt with them relatively easily.
We did not look threatening in the first fifteen minutes, keeping good possession, but ultimately wasting it thorough sloppy passing. Our first sniff came shortly before 20 minutes, when Caldwell mis-cleared Theo’s right-wing cross, but Al Habsi gathered before anyone in red could pounce.
We then dominated the next ten minutes, keeping possession and forcing a series of free-kicks. But the only shot we put on goal was a soft Kos header which Al Habsi collected. On 27 minutes, we got a brief scare, as Stam was given room on the right to cross along the face of our goal, but nobody was able to latch on before it went out of play…
Just over a minute later, we took the lead. There did not seem much on when Arteta collected the ball, but he brought it forward and took a crack from outside the Lactics area. Al Habsi should have covered it, but allowed the shot to go past him and into the net. Not quite as bad as Nas’ free kick-goal for Man City later in the afternoon, but still an effort that should have been saved.
We quickly doubled the lead, winning a corner on the left. Robin took the corner and picked out TV, who out jumped Stam to head in at an unguarded far post. Far too easy, although it was our first goal off a corner in what seems like ages.
That should have not been game, set and match with only 30 minutes gone, but such is Wigan’s lack of firepower and fragile confidence that it pretty much was. We set about looking to completely kill if off and Al Habsi saved an effort from Robin well. Right at the 45 minute mark, Robin put Gerv through, but the latter’s poor touch allowed Wigan to clean it up.
We went into the break with a two goal lead, and undoubtedly memories of the last two visits, when we folded leads to return with only a point from a possible six.
There were no changes at the break. Wigan started with a brief spell of pressure, but could not create any openings. Five minutes in we should have had a penalty when Gohouri brought Ramsey down in the Wigan box, but Clattenburg somehow missed it. Caldwell then earned the game’s first booking for a foul on Ramsey.
In one of Wigan’s few attacks, Figueroa shot narrowly wide, before Martinez made a double-switch just before the hour mark, with DiSanto (who scored their injury time winner at Sunderland) and Cruzat coming on for Gomez and Sammon, respectively.
Before they could settle in, we got our third goal to put this out of reach. Gerv, played Robin in, Al Habsi blocked our skipper’s shot, but the rebound fell to Gerv, who put it away. We have seen plenty of recent instances with nobody home to put loose balls in the opposition box away, but this time Gerv was Johnny-on-the-spot. It was good to see him get on the score sheet, as he had been playing consistently well and needed a goal. Hopefully he will kick on from here and start scoring regularly.
Wigan then proceeded to have a good spell of possession, but most attacks ended with either a poor final ball, or a cross/pass that nobody in blue was far enough forward to latch on to. Gomez had the home side’s only effort on target during this passage of play, a header which Szczesny saved comfortably.
We capped the scoring ten minutes from time. Theo blew by Caldwell on the right and squared for Robin to finish past Al Habsi. Arsene then made a triple sub, with Song, Theo, and Gerv replaced by Coq, Arsh, and Benny. The latter subsequently had a chance, and while his chip beat Al Habsi, Caldwell was able to get back to clear it. Diame and Coq were both booked for late challenges, but nothing else of note happened during the rest of regulation and two minutes of stoppage time.
So we notched our third away league win on the trot, kept a clean sheet and scored four goals to more than double our goal difference (from plus-three up to plus-seven). More importantly, Newcastle’s loss to Chelsea in the early kickoff meant that we finally gained some ground in the tables.
The win took us up to fifth, and while Liverpool can still overtake us with a win by 2 or more goals versus Fulham on Monday, we won’t slip down any further than sixth.
Most importantly, we took care of business today with a minimum of fuss. We took our chances, maintained our effort and intensity for 90 minutes and returned home unscathed. Now we have the dead-rubber CL tie at Piraeus, an opportunity for further rest and rotation.
I would like to see Arsene field pretty much the same side as he did versus Man City, with perhaps Gerv and TV not making the trip so they get a full rest. We have tricky home fixture versus Everton on Saturday, followed by visits to Eastlands and Villa Park.
We round out the year with Wolves visiting on Boxing Day, followed by QPR’s visit on New Year’s Eve Day.
So this will be a busy month ahead, with plenty of points to (hopefully) be won. I don’t think many of those matches will be as, ahem, “straightforward” as today, but we’re on a pretty good run of form, so there is no reason why we cannot get a decent haul from that list of fixtures…
I am wishing for some reunions shortly after the New Year. Hopefully Gibbs, Bac, Jenks, and a certain Jack Wilshere will be back and playing for us sooner rather than later. As we move into the second half of the season, and the champions league knockout stages commence, we’ll need all of these players and more.
Lest we get ahead of ourselves, let’s remember to take it one game at a time. That has gotten us out of the early season hole we dug ourselves into, and should help us kick on for the rest of the way.
Written by Oliver
Goodmoring rico 🙂 What a Saturday for the goons very informative post.
Morning all….
Hi smudge, it’s a fine fine sunday morning eh 🙂
I haven’t seen the match yet, it’s next on my list of things to do 😉
However, having read olivers fine report, it seems it was all a bit easy?
4 different goal scorers too, can’t be bad ….
Let’s hope they can carry this form through to next week and beyond.
I think tunderbird (Arteta) is starting to purr!
next weekend is a big one, get a home victory, keep the confidence high before we head off to the money bags…
need to get another good performance in on tuesday too, don’t need a confidnce damaging display… mind you, if the side that played th CC travel, we can win that one..
Got a few things to get done this morning, be back in a bit……
Nice one Oliver, always nice to read a winning post.
Morning all, nice to see the goals shared out, easing a bit of pressure off of Robin. Confidence has been building over these last couple of months, where at one time we were thinking the worst for the season, and then clawing back to 5th is quite a remarkable achievement, still early days of course and still a few difficult games coming, but we have started gelling well and our passing has improved emensly. One of the best things we have done this season was to lose some of the deadwood on, and put others out on loan, doing this has not given us the chance to use them, and has given new players or some of them a decent run out,and that seems to be working. Our future looks promising with AOC now being given the odd start, Park and Ryo will all start to benefit as soon as they are fit. this month and next one, will show us just how far we can climb, Personally i still see us challenging for the league, but we cannot afford any slip ups, we are catching one or two teams above us, but not too many of them are dropping points which means we will have to take the points off of them ourselves. Not too many clubs will be relishing meeting us at the moment, and the ones we met at the start of the season are probably rubbing their hands together, but we still have the return, and we have to make these games count.
Good read.vermy now has 3 goals and 2 assists from 543 minutes.Downing has 0 goals and 0 assists in 1048 minutes.vermy cost half of Downing’s price 😮 😮 😮
Great match report as always, oliver. We took hold of the game after Wigan initially looked the livelier; it’s quite reassuring to see that we can put the game to bed now.
And I agree, one game at a time; plus not too much talk from the lads (lookin’ at Theo who always gets carried away…)
Good comment, steve. Oxo and Ryo have the look of players who can shine. I was a little disappointed with Coq last night. Limited minutes to be sure, but what was that wild tackle all about?
rico, robin is still my MOTM, but everyone played well. I saw just now Szcz leading the fans in song at the end of the match. Now, that is the sort of behavior that gets supporters behind you.
Hello, smudger.
KT, I read at the offside that 33 passes preceded Gervinho’s goal. Nice, eh?
Vermy has 10 PL goals in just over 50 games the same as modric who has played over 100 games.
How did Ramsey not get a penalty 😮
Morning again….
Was Caldwell trying to break Ramsey’s other leg, shocker!! Not even looking at the ball when his challenge went in….
I agree with both observations re: Ramsey, rico. Said the same things myself. Gotta hand it to him, he brushed off all of it, and got back to playing.
Where’s ESP? Rambo played well last night, sir!
I thought he was very good too agag….
All done in second gear aswell…
Chuffed for Gervinho….
Loved all the goal celebrations, rico, particularly the last. 🙂
I loved the last one too agag, RvP is such a leader isn’t he, we must get him signed up asap and if we carry on playing like this, add one or two in jan, i am sure he will soon put pen to paper
Brazilian Football legend Socrates has died 🙁
57 years old ……
Newcastles Steven Taylor is out for the rest of the season, and their other central defender is out for a bit – not wishing injury to any player but if that means Newcastle are weakened and they start to slide down the table, good 😉
Yeah, Robin’s been a really encouraging captain. He leads by example and seems really appreciative of others’ efforts. Good for us!!
We. look so much calmer at the back because of TV, don’t we? His OG last week aside. 😉 Koz did well, too.
And like Gerv, I want Hazard in January. 😀
Don’t we all want Hazard agag, but can’t see us getting him 😉
We certainly seem to be much improved….
Got to pop off again, family to visit…..
Back in an hour or so, I suspect you will have gone off by then agag so enjoy your day 🙂
Hello agag how are you this fine morning.
Christmas wishes mmmmh… Reus and llorente .
I know i’am being unrealistic but hey you can’t blame a guy for dreaming girls 😉
Afternoon Gooners.
Afternoon Rico.
Not read the post yet, but i know it’ll be quality.
Listening to the analysis on MotD last night and all those old ‘has beens’ Hansen & Lawrensen could drone on about was Wigan’s poor defending.
Oh how gutted they must be as the Arsenal revival continues unabated..?
But that only enhances my enjoyment.
The Press & Media can just foxtrot oscar.
Chesny is a legend. End off. Morning guys, great game huh?
Kev do me a favor stop listening to those mugs. Even that guy robson should be kicked off. What’s he doing dising arsenal yet on our payroll?
I dont care what people or the media say, all i want is to see RVP score. So dat come may he will be handed d golden boot
Vermalin has scored more goals than modric? Yet has played fewer games? Wow!
Stanley i don’t so much as ‘listen’ to them as endure them.
I watch a re~run of the goals and that’s it.
Just revealing to hear them praising us thru gritted teeth.
Up to 5th now. Scousers will hopefully draw at Fulham & we’ll get a decent home draw in the FACup to round off a satisfying weekend.
Afternoon guys and gals…..
Rico,you should have said afternoon “gays”…..hahahaha
goonster, that miserable b’tard “robson”was a hammer as a kid-has no love for us whatsoever.only connection was that he turned out for us occasionally as was as injury prone as “dopey diaby”.so theres your answer.as to why the morons at our club keep using him is anyones guess-unless he’s cheap?
Stanley!!!
You are awfull.
But i like you…
Shitty vs ManUre in FACup. Around the same time Shitty have to play Liverpool in Carling Cup twice.
Lovely, all those ‘must win’ games stacking up.
Leeds at home will be a good game.
Oh chase me like i’m a bus !
RVP scores again, that’s another million on his asking price, we’re gonna be rolling in money this summer.
Leeds at home in the 3rd round of the FA Cup, 7th/8th jan, gotta be happy with that.
Hello Kev, how’s life in the fast lane ?
Hi AK and Micko – what is it with the internet, probs all weekend 🙁
Must check my bill has been paid….
Kev…..am awfully good ain’t I?
Hello, all. 🙂 goonster you back on the tipple? 😉 rico is NOT santos. 😀
rico, 😆 or maybe, your service provider needs to be given an earful. Works ’round these parts. 😉
Micko and AK, yay on Leeds. Citeh and the United is a win win for us, one of them has to lose. 🙂
Hi rico, good win yesterday, haven’t seen the goals yet, will see them on MOTD 2 tonight.
Hi Mick.
I’m good mate.
You?
When you over next?
I think i may have to do just that, it doesn’t come cheap here agag 🙁
They are worth watching Micko, especially the celebrations 🙂
Hello agag, have you noticed the dustman are starting to take your rubbish away cheerfully, another sign christmas is around the corner !
Goonster if you want a tipple try a shot of poitin, that will be hairs on your chest, its like rocket fuel.
So we have drawn Leeds again, i thought we didn’t enter the FA Cup til Jan – oops….
I got the cheapest option, rico. Works well enough; speed’s embarrassing but at 15 GBP a month unlimited, can’t say I’m complaining.
Micko, what is poitin? Sounds potent. And yes, the newspaper boy and the trash collectors are extra nice. Don’t want to be cynical, but I think they expect goodie bags. 😉
QPR kev, i spent christmas in Ingurland last year, this year I’m staying where i am and have got myself a really cheap flight to see the new year in, lovely jubbly.
I ll say it again…..chesny is a legend. Did you guys see how he led the singing after the match. Crazy little fellow. I just love our current team. A lot of proud gooners in there. Chesny sagna verm kozzer jack the lad frimpong gervinho and van the man.
Pointin Micko, mine’s needs doing – the brick work looks awful 😉
I’ll be calling them in the morning agag, can’t be bothered tonight, am wacked…..
Agag, it’s what the moonshiner’s make in ireland, main ingredient is potato’s, everything else is a secret, you’ll definately lose some time if you partake in it.
Go put your feet up, rico! Open a bottle of something nice. I’m off, too. The bed beckons. Good night, all! 🙂
Hello
rico, yesterday match was good but in the fist 20 minutes, Arsenal didn’t shot to the goal, the possesion was 65% v. 25% and Wigan had two opportuniteis for scoring. Then between 20 and 30 minutes the game change, we overcome the possession (25%-65%) start to won corners and 2 shots to the goal and we scored two goals in 2 minutes.
Anyway, I thing the match was under control and after the fist entusiasm of Wigan players, the quality of team grow up and Arsenal been upper the game.
Again, the replacements, for me. were 5 minutes later. AW did 3 replacements at the some time; if i am tin the bench I did two first and 5 minutes later, the other one. Agree with the subs, Chamack didn’t come in again. He needs minutes and with 3 goals in advance in our pocket, wasn’t strange not give him another chance. Out in January and with African Cup in his mind on December, returning on February, is now a “player out of the picture”. Probably he will be in the line-up to Athens in the fist team for the last time. Park will be our second central forward since next Tuesday.
Gervinho is essential. With it, there’s depth in another attack, another set of solutions, other joy in the attack. He scored a goal yesterday, very welcomed by our supporters and himself.
So, for me, we must go to the market on January.
“Doctor” Socrates died with 57 years .. Yesterday, before the match in Valencia was honored Mario Kempes (still alive). Football is also done in the memory of great players.
Sounds like something a lot of people here would like, Micko. You know who they are. 😉 Night!
Night Night agag, rest well…..
I only do drive-ways rico, I’ll have a word with my uncle paddy for you.
Hi JM, you are right about our play in the first moments, we have a couple of mad moments but once we scored, it was game over 🙂
JM, was that the same socrates who played in the world cup 82 brazil side that lost to Italy, what a team and what a game that was.
😆 Micko
yes. Micko was. A very good player and very elegant player
Finally had the time to read Oliver’s match report.
Another strong effort with your quill sir!
When you consider that we do indeed have Jack, Sagna, Jenks, Gibbs and eventually Diaby to return, then unless Wenger does move a couple on, then we won’t have much room available for new signings.
If there is an opportunity to bring in Campbell and with Afobe regaining fitness plus the possibility of TH14 giving us a few weeks, then all bases could be covered?
All the same, a couple of signings in January would be nice…
Good evening guys and chicks of the gunners’ faith.
How are you all??
AK……totally spot on.
Oliver….why dont you take sports journalism as a career?? great match report.
Quiet night dg , I suppose everyone is recovering from last nights excesses . Looking forward to seeing the young guns in greece on Tuesday.
Morning Lee.
Notice that Talkshite are broadcasting the Arsenal game.
I don’t know how far in advance the radio books these games. But maybe the tossers at that station thought that Chelsea would be safe and that it would be shit or bust for Arsenal?
Tough…
Still won’t listen to that crappy station anyway.
Good opportunity for Park &/or Chamakh to gain some confidence with a good performance and possibly a goal or two?
Like to see Ozyakup get a start. Rather see him in the team than Arshavin.
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