Yesterday we played an important game against some tough opposition. Whilst it was a great team performance, in reality one player turned the game around. Cesc was a substitute having not fully recovered from his injury, I said in my preview that I didn’t want him risking for fear of being out for a longer period of time. However that gamble well and truly paid off for Arsene.
The first half was a pretty evenly matched game of football, whilst we had the upper hand with chances for Eduardo and Arshavin neither player capitalised on them and there was always the threat from Villa with Agbonhalor and his pace ready to exploit us at the back. But we kept things tight in defence and our midfield looked strong. 0-0 at half time was probably a fair reflection on the efforts from both teams, some decent passages of play but neither team fully taking advantage.
The second half started with a similar flow to the game compared to the first half, however we didn’t have that key player to unlock Villa. However all that was to change on the 56th minute, Denilson was replaced by Fabregas. Cesc was immediately in the game and Villa didn’t stand off him, they knew what a threat he possessed. His runs from the middle of the park often drew more than one player towards him opening up the game for us, and also often brought a foul. A foul was how the game was to change, felled just outside the Villa box a freekick was to present us with what was a game changing moment. Fabregas stepped up to the ball and curled an exquisite shot into the left of the goal, they joy on Cesc’s face as he ran to the fans (the picture at the top of this post which can be downloaded here on the official website) was clear to see. He is loving playing for Arsenal at the moment and clearly loves the club, I hope that can continue for many years.
Villa, who had played well now had to attack if they wanted to get anything from the game. As they opened up a bit our second goal was to come. A run down the right from substitute Theo was matched by a run from Cesc through the middle, a lovely pass from Theo gave Cesc the opportunity to make it 2 – he didn’t need a second chance as he dispatched the ball into the net. We were ecstatic, as was Arsene, but this turned to worry as Cesc clutched his hamstring. Arsene said after the game;
“We don’t know yet whether it is a recurrence of the pull or whether it is just scar tissue. We will know more about it tomorrow [Monday].
“If it is scar tissue it is a few days, if it is a recurrence of the pulled hamstring it is three weeks.”
Our captain was removed on 84 minutes but he had won us the game. A game changing performance, and possibly something he needed to show himself and the football world to convince that he is truly a great player. Cesc won us the game with his two goals. Abou Diaby scored a third late on, to cap yet another great performance, both Diaby and Song were exceptional. 3-0 in our second consecutive league game, both times the opposition manager said the score was unfair on them……well that’s what the score reads so get on with it.
Aston Villa had already beaten Liverpool, Utd and Chelsea this year and had only not scored in the opening day of the season. They had never been beaten at the grove, but a great performance from Arsenal and some magic from Cesc put paid to that. We took advantage of Chelsea’s slip up, and since they defeated us we have taken 13 points from 15 – is that the form of a poor side who will struggle to make the top 4? I don’t think so. Our late Christmas present was delivered by the team and it has been a great month for us in the league, win our game in hand and we are a point behind Chelsea, out of the title race now are we?
Attention turns to Cesc now, his injury should be confirmed at some point today but I doubt we will hear anything from the club until tomorrow. It also looks like Denilson might be out injured as well, which may force us into the market for a midfielder in January. Portsmouth are next up, on Wednesday, but we can sit back in our post-Christmas glow and be happy that we had a great victory over a tough team yesterday.
