Well, we wanted a win. We got a win. We wanted a clean sheet. We got a clean sheet. Overall you have to say it was a good day at the office.
Robin van Persie returned up front, Rosicky and Bendtner dropped to the bench, and Eboue kept his place albeit further forward than against Liege. From an attacking point of view it was a polished performance even if some of the finishing left a bit to be desired. Wigan seemed unable to cope, preferring to counter our incisive play with tactical fouling.
That said, for all their fouls the only booking came for Emmanuel Eboue for a deliberate handball at the back post. Then up stepped the Verminator. He met a Robin van Persie corner with a sweet header which flew past Kirkland before he even had a chance to get his hands in the air. The Belgian has added a real threat from set-pieces. Apart from Gallas and occasionally Bendtner we haven’t had anyone who attacks a header like that in a long time.
Robin van Persie had chances in the first half but struggled with his finishing. To be fair to him only one of those was an absolute sitter which he also contrived to miss but at least he’s getting in the right positions. Or something.
Early in the second half Thomas Vermaelen showed him how it should be done. He picked the ball up in midfield, exchanged passes with Eboue and curled a beautiful shot into the top corner. I’m beginning to think the young man might be a decent footballer. It’s funny to think that if you go out and spend money on a player he can improve a team. This concept seems somewhat alien to me. Anyway, fair play to Vermaelen and as it stands he’s currently our top scorer.
The goal settled the nerves although we were still capable of sloppy moments in midfield. There was some carelessness in the first half and Song gifted Rodallega a great chance in the second with the score at 2-0 but the Wigan striker’s shot was tame and easily saved by Mannone. Shortly afterwards we made it 3-0. An Eduardo volley crashed back off the post, there was a scramble for it in the box, Eduardo got to it first and stuck it away via a deflection off Eboue.
Some outlets report Eboue as the scorer. For me it’s Eduardo’s goal. If the ball had deflected off the defender it wouldn’t have been an own goal so I think it should stand for the Crozilian. While it would have been nice for Eboue after the Wigan game last season his ghosts are better exorcised through the decent performance he put in. Update: Having seen the replay it could easily be Eboue’s.
I feared for the clean sheet as Wigan had the ball in the back of the net through Scharner but it was disallowed for offside. Late on Cesc, who had picked up what looked like a heavy knock not long before, made it 4-0 after nice work from Bendtner. I noted at the time he didn’t look exactly delighted that he scored but it was a nothing goal at the end of a match, he’d been kicked up in the air a few times so I don’t think it merits more discussion than that. We should be happy we won 4-0, not look for things to worry about.
And think about it like this – if he didn’t care why would he, when carrying a knock, burst forward in the last few minutes of the game to score the goal?
Afterwards Arsene Wenger said:
It is good for the confidence of the team that we did not concede today. It is little bit of the price to pay for our style of play. We had maybe 10 chances today and gave two away. But I think we’ll be more and more solid when we get used to the way we want to play.
So back to winning ways in the league, scoring lots of goals. It’s the third time in five league games we’ve scored 4 or more goals, which is quite something. You can worry a bit about van Persie’s form but I think he’ll come good and once other players are scoring it’s not a problem. I’m sure he’ll find his shooting boots soon enough.
At the back we looked more solid. Mannnone didn’t have much to do, which I’m sure he’ll be thankful for, Gael Clichy was involved in a much more positive way yesterday and the partnership between Vermaelen and Gallas looks good. It was clearly noticeable how often the two of them were getting forward yesterday too. Maybe it’s a reflection of how poor Wigan were but they were positively buccaneering.
Next up in the league is Fulham away, although there’s a Carling Cup game midweek against a West Brom side who will provide a real test for the youngsters. Overall a good day’s work. It means I can watch Match of the Day and read the Sunday papers without wincing.
Arsenalist has the goals, highlights and reaction.
In a quick look at the other stories doing the rounds this Sunday Thierry Henry has had a right pop at Emmanuel Adebayor for his antics last week. He said:
I won the treble with Barcelona last year, but I know if it wasn’t for Arsene Wenger and Arsenal I would not be the player I am today. I think the same has to be true of Adebayor. He might be one of the world’s top strikers today, but he wasn’t before Arsene got hold of him and gave him that chance. Arsene puts a lot of investment in you when he sees talent and I don’t think it would hurt for Adebayor to show him, the club and the fans a little more respect.
And on the goal:
No matter what Adebayor’s emotions were, he could have earned himself a lot of respect by not celebrating the goal. That would have shown real class, and that to be honest is what most players choose to do when they score against their old clubs. I don’t really understand why he didn’t do that.
Quite right, Thierry. And that will sting Adebayor. We know how he worships Henry, his pale imitations of him as a player were pitiful at times, and to be so publicly rebuked by a real Arsenal legend must hurt. Good enough for him.
The News of the World says we’re lining up a January move for West Ham’s Jack Collison and former Gunner Matthew Upson. It’s not even October and we’ve got speculative transfer stories already. Give me strength.
Goonerholic, ever the voice of Guinness powered reason, has a little pop at the press corps for their ‘reportage’ of Eboue yesterday. Yes, the handball was wrong but some of the stuff dished out in this morning’s papers is just ridiculous.
Right, that’ll have to do. Have a good Sunday.
