block6gooner

Premier League results earlier in the weekend meant that we could gain 3 points on Utd and 2 on Chelsea. Gilbertosilver from Gunnerblog said before the game that “yesterday’s results were a gift. Now we must take advantage”, that was so true but we have seen this many times before when on a league weekend where our rivals have faltered we have struggled to get a draw let alone that important 3 points.

I was watching the game delayed by about an hour, I had been out for lunch and Sky+ was set. Around about the time when the final whistle was blowing my phone started getting texts, I was fearing the worst.

The first half was all Liverpool, we look so poor. There was little real defending done, out passing game was again all over the place. I think Nasri’s long range shot was about our only real chance on goal. At our end Torres had a golden opportunity that he shot straight at Almunia, perhaps showing his lack of match practice.

Liverpool should have had a penalty, Gerrard was felled by Gallas. If he had the ball or not is irrelevant to me, had that happened to one of our players I would have been furious with Howard Webb. But the problem is when you cry penalty so many times like Mr Gerrard does, sometimes you won’t get the genuine ones. Even Andy “I love Stevie Gee” Gray said on first viewing that Gerrard “went down a bit easily”, although he did later change his opinion. It wasn’t a turning point in the game as such, but it would have given Liverpool an earlier lead.

But the Liverpool goal did come, call it a lack of defensive play if you will but I think the blame has to lie at Almunia’s door. The freekick came in, and instead of catching it Almunia palmed it away, right into the path of Kuyt who fired home. Earlier in the week Lukasz Fabianski was saying he wants to push for the number one spot, he has a great chance. Yes he makes rash decisions coming out of the area, but so did Jens, but his command of catching and coming for crosses, corners and freekicks is, in my opinion, better than Almunias.

Liverpool finished the first half on top of the game, one goal up, and set to gain some points back on the 4th place spot they so desire. Our league challenge was further fading. But at halftime I was not too disconsolate, perhaps it was the alcohol inside me giving me confidence, or maybe our goals from last year. I just felt, or probably hoped, that Arsenal were not finished.

In the second half Arsenal looked to have stepped up the pace somewhat. They were harrying for balls in midfield, Cesc and Song looked much more effective as we started to penetrate Liverpool more. About five minutes after half time Samir Nasri whipped a ball in from the right, Carragher fell on his arse trying to clear it and Glenn Johnson kindly put it into his own net. It was 1-1, game on!

We built on this goal and it appeared that we had the confidence now and Liverpool were on the ropes. Not much seemed to be going their way as they went to attack the Kop end. Enjoying the mainstay of possession the ball was played, by Cesc I think, to Arshavin who was stood on the left of the Liverpool box. The Russian wrong footed Johnson and lashed a right foot shot in off the post, past a motionless Reina. Another stunning goal for Arshavin.

It was now 58 minutes into the game and I was really worried we could hold onto this lead. Liverpool had a few chances, but we did something we have rarely done this season, we defended as a team and looked comfortable with it. A few more chances came our way, but in the end we didn’t need them. We weathered the storm and won 2-1. The only concerns were the removal of Traore and right at the very end Arshavin coming off – more on those injuries when we hear it.

However the drama was not over, in his post match interview with Sky Cesc had the following to say on the manager’s half time team talk:

“He said none of us were fit to wear the Arsenal shirt. I have never seen him like that”

It clearly worked. Arsène after the game was a bit coy and hinted at saying that but wanted to keep things in the dressing room, however when the Sky reporter asked if we were back in the title race the boss had this to say, I will leave it as the last words on today’s blog:

“Mathematically yes, and mentally, certainly”