Wolverhampton Wanderers 0 Arsenal 2

We all went in search of the record books Wednesday night as Marouane Chamakh played himself into the archives with a 39th second header that brought the opening goal in what was billed a testy encounter at the Molineux.
After the mishaps and debacles of the last two games, it was welcome relief for Gunners everywhere. We clearly had the bit between our teeth as we launched raid after raid on the hosts’ goalmouth and were simply unlucky not to have extended our lead before halftime.
Wolves picked up from where we left off in the second period and kept us on our toes with attack after attack. Thanks, I daresay to the improved form of Fabianski in goal, we held onto our lead as he parried, dived and flung himself everywhere on the pitch to preserve our lead. All those saves proved vital as we kept the Wolves away from the door – literally – until the 94thst minute when Chamakh doubled his tally for the night with a well-taken shot with the outside of his boot as we caught the hosts on the counter.
A hell of win it was and it was definitely what the doctor recommended as antidote to our worrying form in the past two weeks.
Many players on the night did their credentials loads of credit and the shirt lots of honour. It’s such wins in such uncompromising places, against hard-tackling opponents that often serve to indicate how seriously we are as title contenders. God thing we passed with blazing colours.


Night bird....Fabianski flying through the air in one of his great saves


Below are the ratings for the night.
* Fabianski (8/10) – In my opinion, he was our man of the match. Obviously now, he is a man transformed. He kept us in the game despite the one goal lead, with save-after-save which sometimes defied belief. He saved twice from the dangerous Kevin Doyle as well as from a Stephen Hunt ricochet in the first half, that was heading definitely for the net.
His distribution out wide to Rosicky also started the move that led to the second goal. It is important to note how his confidence levels have increased dramatically since he has had a regular run in the side. Gone are the nervy and senseless mistakes that have plagued his game all along. It wasn’t a surprise to see most of the players mugging after the game in acknowledgement of the huge role he played in this win. Without mincing words, this was his best showing in an Arsenal shirt.
* Clichy (6/10) – Not much to say about his performance. Not because it was poor, but because it was very normal and standard from him.
* Squillaci (6/10) – Did quite well especially in the second half when Wolves decided to go forward to save the game. He marshalled things at the back as he has done so effortlessly this season and it was heartening to know we have a re-assuring presence at the back. As they say, you cannot buy experience and even though we paid some few undisclosed millions for him, it is indeed money well spent.
* Djourou (7/10) – Did very well as a stand-in for the suspended Koscielny. Still very raw and gets pulled here and there much too often, he still dished out some timely tackles. Comes in very hand at set pieces and almost scored in the second half during a mini-goalmouth scramble but unluckily, his shot hit the bottom post. It is hoped his injury spell is now well and truly over because he needs games such as this to establish his reputation.
* Sagna (7/10) – Did his bit on the right hand of defence and helped ward off the threat of the nimble-footed Nenad Milijas and Slyvain Ebanks-Blake. Did fantastically well to prevent a certain Wolves equalizer early in the second half after Wilshire slipped and gifted them the ball. For that crucial block, he deserves top marks on the night.
* Song (7/10) – Was more withdrawn on the night and played his natural defensive midfield role unlike in previous games. He provided the pin-point cross from the right that Chamakh scored from and engaged in a perennial battle for possession with Hunt and Karl Henry all night. Was ever-willing to scrape and fight for the team.
* Wilshire (6/10) – At last, it has got to the point where we can finally say he had a day off. Was somewhat off the boil on the night and lacked the zip and fighting spirit that he is known for. Slipped and gave up possession to Wolves at the edge of our box early in the second half which almost proved costly. Was eventually withdrawn for Denilson and it wasn’t a surprising change at all. Will be back though to his mercurial best – certainly.
* Rosicky (8/10) – After Fabianski and Chamakh, he was the next best Gunner on the pitch. Packaged the first goal by turning three Wolves players beautifully before releasing Song on the right. Was instrumental also in maintaining our advantage in the face of sustained pressure, when he cleared off the line in the second half. Also involved in the second goal as he fed the ball to Fabregas which led to the assist that Chamakh converted. Yes, he hardly scores anymore these days, but he was instrumental in all we did on the night as he played the Nasri role to perfection. Top marks for the Little Mozart.
* Fabregas (7/10) – Improved dramatically from the Newcastle stinker, to put on his A-game as he directed affairs from the deep as only he can. Linked very well with the frontmen of Chamakh and Arshavin, as he took the game to the hosts with relish. He seems to enjoy playing on this ground considering that he scored here last season in a 4-1 pasting. Gave Chamakh the perfect pass that led to the second goal, which clinched the game deep into stoppage time.
His night was marred by a sliding tackle on Stephen Ward below the knee, that led to Wolves’ player’s departure with a gash. Point must be made however how Fabregas displayed his sense of decency by issuing an apology after the game to the Wolves side.
* Arshavin (7/10) – This was a glimpse of the Arshavin we bought two seasons ago as he discarded the horror form that has been his lot in the past months to put on a show. He hit the post at the end of a solo run in the second half, before which he was stoped from scoring by a point blank Marcus Hahnemann save after robbing a Wolves’ player of the ball in the first half. He appears to have come out of his slumber. Lets hope its for good.
* Chamakh (8/10) – Played himself into the record books for scoring our fastest ever goal on the premiership. The effect of the goal could be seen in the intense joy and celebrations by the other players, following a week of depressing defeats. The thing about his game is that he hardly seems to be involved too much, except at the crucial point of putting the ball into the net. His second goal, scored with the outside of the boot was a display of delicate skills. Fine night all round for a fine artiste.


Substitutes
*Denilson (6/10) – Came on in the 67th minute to replace an off-form Wilshire. Didn’t do too much that wasn’t already different from what we know of his abilities.
* Bendtner (3/10) – Replaced Chamakh as Wenger sought to wind down the clock.
* Nasri (3/10) – Hardly touched the ball as he replaced Arshavin in the 94th minute with the game all but over.


So now, we go to Goodison Park on Sunday in the quest for another three precious points on the campaign trail. Everton are a handful anyday, anytime and Sunday will be no different. They have emerged from an early season slump to claw their way up to 12th on the table. Everton don’t score much, but at a place like Goodison, a goal or two is often all they need to stop opponents.
We are in good spirits anyway ahead of the weekend and after subduing the Wolves, we have all the ingredients to nick all the pints and keep ourselves in the running and on Chelsea’s trail.

Arsenal 0 Newcastle 1

It looked very much like a re-run of the West Bromich game. On a sun drenched autumn afternoon at the Emirates, we were humbled and clobbered by a rampant and fearless Newcastle side that followed in the footsteps of another fellow newly-promoted West Brom.
It didn’t look ominous as we took the kickoff but after a luckless first half that saw few chances highlighted by a Fabregas freekick that kissed the bar and a wonder save by Newcastle goalie, Tim Krul, we all believed we at least deserved to go in on level terms at the break.
That was until Roy Carroll rose highest to nod in an opportunistic header in the 46th minute and cast a damper on another afternoon of misplaced expectations.
The resurgent Theo Walcott also hit the post in the second half and tried as we may with the introduction of three strikers all in the last 35minutes, we ended up empty-handed for the second time this season at the Emirates.
It wasn’t pretty viewing at all as all our attempts to carve open the visitors’ defence failed woefully and pitifully. It is hard to pin point exactly where things went wrong but the fact that Newcastle managed to win the possession count 51% - 49% must have been a very worrying statistic indeed.
One worrying thing that emerged from the loss was an apparent inability by us to win games after first conceeding. In all our victories so far this season, we had always scored first. Anyone who knows anything about football must know as well that a team can simply not always score first in every game. A good team must as well master the art of fighting back from a losing position. So far, against West Brom, Chelsea and now Newcastle we’ve failed to show that quality.
Luckily though in the bigger picture, we still remain in touch with league leaders Chelsea who were themselves beaten at Liverpool. However, we fall to third spot after being usurped by Manchester United – the only real winners on a weekend of widespread reverses at the top.




Heads I win....The moment that Carroll sunk Gunner hearts 

Below are the ratings for yesterday’s game.
• Fabianski (6/10) – Had a steady game quite alright but must take the blame for the goal. It was his only mistake of the game and how costly it proved.
• Clichy (7/10) – Saw a lot of the ball and roamed quite prominently upfront to supply passes to first Nasri and later, Arshavin. On an individual level, he was faultless.
• Squillaci (7/10) – I stilll like the look of this bloke. Very reliable at the back and has an ever-present assured presence around him. In the context of this game, that Carroll goal will be stick to beat every member of the defensive unit. Unfortunately.
• Koscielny (7/10) – Also did not disgrace himself. Helped shackle the trouble some Carroll and his support crew of Kevin Nolan, Shola Ameobi and later Nile Ranger. The goal was a blot though on the defence and that will be talking point whenever the story of this game is told. He was unlucky to be sent off for a foul, deemed rash on Ranger deep into stoppage time.
• Sagna (7/10) – Linked well with Walcott especially in the first half and after some initial struggles, contained the threat of Ameobi very well. Nothing to be ashmaned of in his except – one more – the goal we conceeded.
• Song (6/10) – So soon after his man of the match performance against WestHam eight days earlier, this was a complete contrast. He did his bit and held the defensive side of things well, but how do you as a midfielder defend against a freekick the type that led to the goal?
• Wilshire (7/10) – Does he ever have a bad game? No way. He returned from a three-game suspension to pick up where he left off. Harried Nolan, Joey Barton off the ball many times in the game and still found space to spring forward at every opportunity. Was very key to every attacking move we made and supported Song admirably in the middle. Sad that he had to end up on the losing side, but his star remains undimmed.
• Fabregas (6/10) – The captain returned as well after missing the Champions League trip to Ukraine. It was clear to see however thae he was playing with the handbrakes on, probably in an attempt not to overstretch his troublesome hamstring. Almost put us ahead with a cracking freekick in the 35th minute that hit the crossbar. The confidence behind his set piece ability is however something can be nurtured. Picked up a caution in the second half as he became frustrated and disilliusioned. A forgettable afternoon for him all in all.
• Nasri (6/10) – Also narrowly missed putting us in front with a scorching shot off a cutback from Fabregas that the Newcastle goalkeeper parried with aplomb. Picked up a knock and was later substituted early in the second half in order to avoid further damage.
• Walcott (7/10) – Did his growing reputation no harm at all despite the negative outcome of the game. Put in an accomplished shift and narrowly missed scoring with a shot from a tight angle that beat Krul but not the post. His decision-making, timing of runs, shooting have defintiely improved and this result would count as a slight hiccup in an emerging and glorious career.
• Chamakh (5/10) – Our big Moroccan looks to have gone off the boil. After starting the season like a runaway train, he seems to be coming to terms with the nitty-gritty and rough stuff of English football. Carried no valid threat all afternoon and it was no surprise when his number came up as early as the 57th minute.




Substitutes
• Arshavin (6/10)- Came on to replace Nasri in the 55th minute and he added zip to the left flank. Got behind the Newcastle defence a lot but his final balls were oftne missplaced and rushed. Yet still, he played much better than what we have seen of him recently.
• Van Persie (6/10) – It was expecting too much to see our returning Dutchman deliver so quickly after being out for over two months. His introduction though was greeted with enthusiasm around the ground and though the occsasion turned out to be an anti-climax, it was still a relief to see him back again.
• Bendtner (6/10) – He replaced Wilshire as Wenger went for broke with all his attacking ammunition in a bid to save the game. Didn’t offer much though as he was easily stiffled by the Newcastle backline.


A forgettable day all round and one we will all want to confine to history. What better way to do that than to got to Molineux on Wednesday and get the three points at stake. Its three defeats now for us in the league and if we truly harbour any title-winning ambitions, we must avoid more of such setbacks at least before Christmas.