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- Written by Brian Covert
The Boogeyman, The Sandman – whatever you want to call them, it’s safe to say Newcastle United have been haunting Gooners’ dreams in recent years. Immediately spring to mind is last year’s 4-4 horror show at St. James’ Park which many link directly to the squad’s utter capitulation at the backend of last campaign.
However, where that could be cast aside as a fluke result aided by some dubious officiating, it was the reverse fixture from this one that encapsulates the Arsenal that has most frustrated fans over the last seven years. Just to remind anyone that may have erased it from memory, it was a dour and uninventive Gunners side that took their visitors for granted and dropped a 1-0 result on Andy Carroll’s header in first-half injury time.
To be honest this was my biggest concern heading into this game; hot on the heels of three impressive results and bad run of Tottenham form and I was worried we already thought we were one-point back.
And through the first 10 minutes of the game it looked like my worst fears were realized with Newcastle seemingly generating all of the action before Hatem Ben Arfa popped up and blazed a shot on the inside post past Wojciech Szczesny.
However, we came back quickly (quickly, as in 54 seconds later) and after that the game lulled along frustratingly with Arsenal carrying the majority of the play but generating very little.
Then five minutes of injury time were announced and…well we know how it all ended. Come on the Arsenal!
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- Written by Arsenal Latest
Like the old saying, it ain’t over to the fat lady sings; the Magpies trying to grind us down or bore us to death, for the Arsenal was a tad too slow for their liking, with Tim Krul having a cup of tea between his kicks never deterred the Arsenal.
A sublime finish from RVP again, after a shock with us going down 1 nil again for the 4th time in a row, and now a new Premiership record for a team to go behind and come back and win. The Thomas Verminator as he is fondly known by his team mates runs the length of the pitch to score a fabulous goal. A truly gritty never say die attitude once again by the Arsenal. To all the YIDS out there we’re right behind you and a thoroughly deserved victory for the Arsenal.
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- Written by Stuart Willsher
So near, yet so far. The impossible dream almost became reality last night as Arsenal fell agonisingly short of the most astonishing European comeback of all time, as the San Siro debacle eventually proved too high an obstacle to overcome.
The Line Up
Injuries to Ramsey, Coquelin, Arteta, Wilshere, and Diaby deprived Wenger of a great deal of choice in the line up, with Oxlade-Chamberlain being asked to play alongside the rejuvenated Rosicky ahead of Song, with the familiar front three of Gervinho, RVP and Walcott up front. The defence had a familiar look, with Gibbs continuing his road to recovery at left back.
The injuries in midfield denied Wenger options on the subs bench, with Chamakh and Park the only attacking options available.
Gary Neville Loves The Ox
Since breaking into the first team in January, Oxlade Chamberlain has gone from strength to strength, and is beginning to look a certainty for England this summer. Having started his Arsenal career on the wing, he played last night in an attacking midfield position, and was an integral part of Arsenal’s first half domination. His positional awareness, for an 18 year old, is excellent and he stuck to his role brilliantly, never afraid to look for the ball and attack. It was his terrific delivery which created Koscielny’s goal, and his run at the nervous Mesbah which won the penalty from which Van Persie converted.
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- Written by Brian Covert
A lovely overhead shot of the Emirates on what looked like a beautiful London afternoon greeted me when I turned on the telecast at 8:30 am local time this morning. Finally, after three games away from home on shoddy pitches we were back on the immaculate green track of our home ground.
Our line-up set out pretty much as was hoped with as close to our top choice 11 starting together for the first time in awhile. The only difference was Yossi Benayoun coming in after a lively performance for the Reserves mid-week. But I imagine his inclusion was more for his experience and defensive work rate instead of any magisterial footwork. His inclusion also meant we had some difference makers on our bench - Ox and Gervinho along with Park who scored mid-week for the reserves - for the first time in awhile.
Everything was primed for the most significant North Derby in quite some time.
Defence an easy target?
If there was anything I was going to harp on was the defence and after the first two goals it looked like they were going to be easy targets. But anticipating the potential of an unwanted back page headline, the defence battened down the hatches and barely put a foot wrong the rest of the way.
Amazing what can happen when you have four defenders playing in their proper positions. Seriously, I can’t remember one cross in the second half not being met first by an Arsenal head and when we stepped up for offsides we did so as a unit.
Kieran Gibbs did come off so hopefully that is just a precautionary and he is alright because some stability in the back would be a beautiful thing right now.
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- Written by Barnaby Merrill
After a result of this magnitude I’m finding it hard not to give every player a big fat 10 and then leave to celebrate, but I’ll make an effort to think rationally.
Sczezny: 8
The big Polish keeper wasn’t really at fault for the two he conceded, and he gave a solid performance today, running to save corners and never spilling a shot. As far as I can tell he never once had to deflect a ball away.
Gibbs: 7
Gibbs occasionally looked a little vulnerable when Spurs came forwards, but he did well coming forward and made some good challenges. His coming off in the second half means I can’t give him a top score because I don’t know if he would have maintained his performance in the last 20 minutes.
Koscielny: 9
Koscielny’s star continues to rise with another fantastic performance. Apart from one moment of going to sleep to allow Louis Saha in for 0-1 he was absolutely untouchable. Headers, tackles and driving offensive runs, he did it all.
Vermaelen: 9
Everything I said about Koscielny applies to Vermaelen, only that’s simply what we’ve come to expect from the Belgian. He offered less to attack than his central defensive partner but arguably was an even safer presence at the back.
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