Arsenal 2 - 1 Newcastle United: Comeback win. Again.

This is one of those nights where I am both annoyed and delighted. Annoyed because we didn't really play that well and squandered opportunities to win the game earlier, but delighted we actually did win the game.

Let's address the first part of that statement in more detail.

After we got some early joy down Newcaslte's left hand side, we focused the vast majority of our play down that side. As Sky Sports displayed at half time, Sagna and Walcott had 85 touches combined and 5 crosses, while Gibbs and Chamberlain only had 38 touches combined. It seemed clear that we had identified Santon as a weak link, which is a little surprising considering that Simpson is hardly solid either and Chamberlain could have gotten at him.

This both worked and didn't work. Our best chances in the half came from that side and we ended up scoring from those chances, but at the same time it was too obvious a gameplan and countered relatively easily by commiting more men over to that side and restricting the space Walcott had to cross.

After we had equalised, we didn't actually look like we would score another. The tempo was too slow and the passing lacked penetration. We were forced to go back backwards and sideways and despite this we still persisted attacking down the right, when maybe it would've paid off more to attack more down the left and try and stretch Newcastle.

Arsenal had to play it quicker and more direct if they wanted to break Newcaslte down, and with Newcaslte playing long balls up to Ba, who had little support, Arsenal could afford to push up high and commit men to the attack.

In the second half, we did some of this. We played the ball around quicker and utilised the left flank more - perhaps that decision was aided by Perch doing a tighter job on Walcott than Santon did - and looked a little more dangerous.

We created some really good opportunities in the second and should have put the game to bed a while before we actually scored the winner. Rosicky missed a good opportunity, though perhaps wasn't helped by the delay in Walcott's pass. Van Persie shot wide from a good position and Gervinho failed to tap in from about seven yards. Vermaelen had a header saved well by Krul, and it was looking like we weren't going to get that winner.

Arsenal kept going though and got there reward. Vermaelen comitted himself forward and found himself with a tap-in after Walcott's cross deflected into his path by an Arsenal player. Just goes to show that if you're brave enough to get yourself forward and into these positions, you will score.

Keep calm and keep winning
After all that, we're now only one point behind Spurs and third is very much a realistic aim. Right now, we're riding high on the euphoria that comes with four consecutive comeback wins (a Premier League record, incidentally) and it's easy to get carried away.

So I would like to urge fans to keep calm and realise that the margains are still very fine and there are still some very tough matches to come - an in form Everton at Goodison Park being the next one, and home games against City and Chelsea not far away. One slip up and suddenly we're 5th.

By all means, the team and fans should be highly encouraged with five consecutive league victories and Spurs' recent slip of form. But it's very important that the team remains focused, keeps picking up points and making sure that a top four finish is secure.

Player Ratings
Wojciech Szczesny - 6. Wasn't tested at all.

Laurent Koscielny -7. Did well against two powerful forwards in Ba and Ameobi.

Thomas Vermaelen - 8. Likewise, did well defensively and scored that all important winner.

Bacary Sagna - 7. Another solid performance. Linked up well with Walcott.

Kieran Gibbs - 6. Did okay, but was at fault for the goal by allowing Ben Arfa to get a shot away.

Alex Song - 7. Can we officially label Song as a deep-lying playmaker now? Didn't do much in the way of defensive work and was frequently found high up the pitch. Played some very good passes from deep.

Mikel Arteta - 8. Was excellent tonight, spreading passes everywhere with great accuracy, playing several key passes in behind Newcastle's backline and the odd good pass into the box, too. Did some decent defensive work on top of that.

Tomas Rosicky - 7. Carried on his good form, playing a couple of incisive passes and even making some great sliding tackles (an unnoticed part of his game, actually). Should've had a goal, but that didn't subtract too much from a good display. Subbed presumably for tiredness.

Theo Walcott - 8. The man of the match tonight and rightfully so. His movement was very good, his link-up play was good and his crossing was excellent. One of his best performances this season and played a vital part in both of the goals.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - 6. Had a quiet game. Partly because we didn't use him much, but also because he didn't do much to get involved in the game, like dropping deep or tucking in. Did look lively in patches, though. Will definitely have better games.

Robin van Persie - 7. A typical van Persie game, where he hardly does anything in regards to build-up play but still manages to poach a goal and look threatening. 26 league goals (33 in all comps) and counting.

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Aaron Ramsey - 7. Showed some nice touches and played his part in the winning goal by getting in the box and challenging for that ball.

Gervinho - 6. Similar to Chamberlain. Looked bright in patches, but didn't effect the game too much. Missed a great chance, too.

I know maybe some people aren't too happy that we had to comeback 4 times, but i think we have to applaud the mental strength of the team. They really gave it all and they want to win soo desperately....

Walcott was amazing, haven't seen him like this since that Udinese game. Hope he can keep it up.

RvP

Gervinho was good, but ffs please learn to poach an open goal

Vermaelen

Rosicky was amazing yet again, shame that he can't play 90 minutes anymore.

We were a bit lucky to get the win, but I'm happy that we can score late again - we haven't scored so much late goals since ever lol.

The Verminator wrote:I know maybe some people aren't too happy that we had to comeback 4 times, but i think we have to applaud the mental strength of the team. They really gave it all and they want to win soo desperately....

Dat mental strength

PL 2011/2012: Torres - 22 games, 2 goals. Vermaelen - 10 games, 4 goals.

Eman wrote:

The Verminator wrote:I know maybe some people aren't too happy that we had to comeback 4 times, but i think we have to applaud the mental strength of the team. They really gave it all and they want to win soo desperately....

Dat mental strength

Haha. In all seriousness AW always talked about mental strength ye that was always something the team seemed to miss. Not this team it seems....

There has been a massive shift in the attitude of this team since the london derby

there is so much pressure on the ball now there is real desire

Rosicky is beasting, our back 4 is alot more solid

I'm very impressed with the performances

Showed good mental strength and battled well tonight. Everyone played their socks off

Great game from Walcott. I still dont trust him in the box though (see failed assist to Rosicky).



RvP trolling Krul>>>>>>>>>>


this game was the real payback for the 4-4 last season

Great performance, my take on the game

Good:

- mental strength
- Theo
- Rosicky
- Beautiful football ( we played some nice football today)
- Horward Webb, he didn't screw up this game except let Tiote & Ba running wild for a bit.
- Running for 3rd

Bad:

- Gibbs overly quiet game, solid defending but offer nothing forward. He loves to cut in and presence in the box leave Chambo or Gervinho alone on the wing, should overlap more.
- Gervinho Sunday League finish
- Horward Webb's face, I still hate the guy

I don't think we were lucky to win Newcastle had lots of chances at the end to put in crosses, especially in extra time to pressure our defence but instead tried to waste time.
Our defence did well Newcastle couldn't hold the ball like and had trouble getting onto the end of crosses.
Rosicky, Walcott, and Vermaelen really shined.

Dat intense full pitch pressing


Dat terrible Gervinho

What an ending to the match.

[img][/img]

This KING changed the Arsenal squad.

Gervinho's impact more balance
stretching Newcastle
more time and space on right hand side for theo

RealGunner wrote:

Dude that is sooo funny man. We need to get a smiley of that!!!

lol

DAT Trolling

Bac in background

Great win and our run of momentum continues...!

LOL @ those tweets Ba had no service what so ever and hes not a centre forward(Ameobi>>>>>>>>>>), blame our midfield

Anyway congrats on the win guys, you deserved it now go and get 3rd

I just hope our season wont go to the shitter now

Done with the first post. A little shorter than usual because of some, uh, technical difficulties. Yeah, I'll go with that.

Gibbs defending for the goal

Great result for the comeback kings.. Was on train and missed the match..
Many are posting about the attitude of our team.. Our team is lead by fighters this year.. Van Persie and Verminator.. Koscielny too has it.. Now Rosicky turning it to maximum these days.. Now get Wilshere in there too and its complete.. And as someone posted the impact of King on the squad.. Wherever he goes he inspires players both off and on the pitch..
Arsenal has turned from a team known for talent and frailities to a team with fighting spirit and comeback..
We have turned from conceding in the injury time to scoring injury time winners..
And as RVP always says fans were amazing in the last month... He said its best in his career.. So the fans should keep going on like this and getting behind the team especially in tough times which is a part of the game..