As difficult and menacing a place Belgrade is to visiting teams, those two players hold the key to unlock any defence, wherever and whenever they confront them.
Watching Wilshire package the opening goal for Arshavin in the 15th minute, it struck me very emphatically that his presence from the kick-off against West Brom last Saturday would have influenced the outcome of that game.
The way Wilshire set up Arshavin’s goal was Platinisque, if there’s such a word. After collecting the return pass from the Russian, Jack rolled the ball away from the foot of an approaching Partizan defender and as two others attempted to close him down, he conjured a deft backheel that fell perfectly for Arshavin – who was now behind him – allowing the Russian space and time to rifle home the opener. It is not something that can be coached into a player. It is rather something that stems from a combination of confidence, awareness and presence of mind.
In that single move, it was clear that Arsenal as it is now set up, need Wilshire or their only other player who possesses such mix of qualities – Fabregas – to start games they hope to win.
So we exorcised the demons of the West Brom debacle at one of Europe’s most-hostile venues and cleansed ourselves of the ghost of Odemwingie and co. Emphatically too.
As with most won games, almost everyone that took part was a hero.
We had 12 attempts on goal against their paltry 4; four corner kicks against their two; and had possession for a whopping 64% of the game time, which is awesome for a team playing away and before a very hostile crowd.
Much mention and credit goes to much-maligned Lukasz Fabianksi and rightly too. As I’ve pointed out here once, no real Arsenal fan would not want a player to succeed here. For all the vitriol and ill-feeling directed at Fabianski, the bottomline was simply our collective passion and affection for the club. Since he arrived here two years ago, he has done nothing to justify the shirt and colours of the club. And that could not be acceptable to us, the suffering fans. It was never anything personal.
Last night seemed to be the turning point in his Arsenal career. And you could see the relief on the faces of his teammates who celebrated his penalty save with him. We all hope he continues the good form.
.jpg) |
| I'll have that...Fabianski redeems himself in Belgrade |
Below are the ratings on what must be one of our most famous European nights on foreign soil.
• Fabianski (7/10) – As said earlier, he put up his best showing ever in an Arsenal shirt. To be frank, I expected yet another howler from ‘Flapianski’ given his deplorable record between the sticks. But he proved us all wrong and repaid Wenger’s overstretched faith in him finally, finally paid off. The penalty save apart, he looked a very different goalie altogether as he saved a clumsy Squillaci backheader and parried two goalbound shots late in the game that would have made life very awkward for us if they had gone in. Probably, who knows, the sight of bitter-rival Wojniech on the bench drummed some sense into the older Pole. Fingers crossed on him, but a good night all the same.
• Sagna(7/10) – The old, reliable Sagna that we all knew. Upped his game from the horror show against West Brom and dealt with all that came his side of the field. Linked well with Rosicky in front of him.
• Squillaci (7/10) – A survivor from the West Brom debacle and methink he acquitted himself well. Gets a high rating on account of his 82nd minute goal that sealed the game for us. Almost gifted Partizan’s Camerounian striker Pierre Boya, a cheap goal with his weak header to Fabianski, but all in all he did well.
• Djourou (7/10) – Also did well, considering this was his second start in about 16 months for us. Wenger clearly thinks highly of him and wants him to be a mainstay of the defence. Did well on the night and though found out by the pace of Cleo and Boya sometimes, he held his own.
• Gibbs (7/10) – Very surprised to see him in the starting line-up. After his Carling Cup injury scare from last week, he was the last person I expected to start this game. But start he did and surely now, there is real competition going on between him and Clichy for that leftback slot. Gave away a needless penalty late in the game which Fabianski turned away.
• Song (7/10) – His usual buccaneering self. Laid the pass that brought about the first goal from Arshavin. Apart from his DM duties, he quite fancies himself as some sort of attacking midfielder and is eager – sometimes too eager – to go forward.
• Denilson (6/10) – An average night for an average player. He was preferred to the absent Abou Diaby and frankly, I still regard him as a weak link. Gave away a needless penalty in the second half when he had all the time in the world to adjust his body and avoid contact with the ball.
• Wilshire (8/10) – Does he ever have a bad day at the office? So far, the answer remains a resounding No! This bloke is a pocket battleship in the mould of Diego Maradona at his prime. Rode and bossed the midfield like an accomplished veteran and surely now, we simply cannot do without him in games. For an 18 year-old that is quite a statement. He was instrumental to almost everything we did last night.
• Rosicky (8/10) – Our captain on the night. Surprised me with his energy and drive after the washout that was West Brom just three days earlier. Hs the West Brom defeat forced everyone of them to start fighting for their places? Looks like that in Belgrade. He almost scored a clinical goal off some good work by Arshavin.
• Arshavin (8/10) – This was by far his best game for us this season so far. He struck up a good understanding with Wilshire and they conjured all manner of tricks around the Partizan defence. Unlucky not to have added to his tally in the first half and his missed penalty apart, was our star man on the night. Not being stuck out on the left wing, I think, helped his game a lot. Hope the real Mr Arshavin has now finally arrived.
• Chamakh (7/10) – Our battering ram upfront and he seems to relish it. Goes about his job professionally and at last, it was a delight to see him score away. Has clearly settled down well into the team and will give Bendtner a very good fight for the second striker shirt.
Subs
• Nasri (5/10) – His low rating had more to do with the fact that he came on late in the game to take pressure off Wilshire and with the Chelsea game on Sunday in mind. Steadied the ship as best as he could.
• Vela (5/10) – Came in for Arshavin, who was tiring after a yeoman’s effort on the night. Didn’t do much as nothing much was required from him.
No comments:
Post a Comment