Park Ji Sung was the slayer on the night as his lone 40th minute header consigned us to defeat at Old Trafford and our fifth such setback of the season. It used to be conventional wisdom that you cannot hope to win the league if you lose more than five games all season long. Well, we’ve reached that point now and it would be interesting to see what happens to our title hopes henceforth.
The game itself did not reach the dizzy heights that such encounters between we and them are noted for. Wenger blamed the nature of the pitch as well as tension from both sides for the tame nature of the game. He never seems to run out of explaining away every defeat we suffer – as if Man Utd played on a separate pitch from us.
While Man Utd would surely go on record as having won it, on the pitch there wasn’t much to separate both teams. Rooney was a peripheral figure all through the 90minutes as he conceded responsibility of leading the attack to Nani. It was no surprise therefore that it was Nani’s assist that led to Ji Sung’s winner.
On our part, the big story clearly was the league debut of our rookie goalie, Wojciech Szczesny in place of the now-regular Fabianski and in fairness to the younger Pole, he was not disgraced.
The goal that beat him could have evaded more experienced goalies and in the second half, he managed a clean sheet despite a face-to-face with Anderson and Rooney penalty.
All in all, despite leaving the Stadium of Dreams empty-handed, we still remain second on the log and two points behind Man Utd, who travel to an intimidating Stamford Bridge this weekend to play Chelsea.
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| Rooney misses from the spot to save us further punishment |
Below are how we performed on a chilly Manchester night.
· * Szczesny (7/10) – His name might be a tongue –twister but if the truth be told, we will be getting used to it. Wenger, never afraid to blood young players, pulled a big rabbit out of the hat by naming the 20year-old to start. Despite the outcome of the game, Wojciech enhanced his reputation with an accomplished performance. Yes he was beaten by Ji Sung’s looping header for what proved to be the winner, but he saved well from Anderson in the 53rd minute and also from Rooney in the 80th minute, after the star England striker had blazed a penalty over the bar in the 73rd minute.
With Manuel Almunia now definitely fallen out of favour, expect to see more and more of Wojciech as the season unfolds.
· * Clichy (6/10) - Did the simple things well but his penchant for switching off at key moments cost us on the night. Both key moments in the game stemmed from direct mistakes by our left fullback. He gave Nani too much room to launch the pass onto Ji Sung’s head that led to the lone goal. Clichy’s handling of the ball – though inadvertently - in the 73rd minute also gifted Man Utd an undeserved penalty that Rooney blasted into the night sky. Clichy on his part, needs a talking-to.
· * Koscielny (7/10) – Was never found wanting all the times Man Utd came knocking on the door of our defence. I will never understand what the criticism about him is all about because he always gives 100% and is very positionally alert and sensitive to danger in and around the box. Kept Rooney and Ji Sung quiet all game and despite the goal they scored, he emerged from the match unblemished.
· * Squillaci (5/10) – He remains the weak link in our back four. He does the business against lesser and weaker sides but against a top team like Man Utd, he struggled a lot of the time to cope. Wasn’t exactly disgraced on the night but found it tough going against the speed and movement of Nani and sometimes Anderson, on the few occasions the Brazilian midfielder strode forward. I reckon he needs a break for a couple of weeks while someone like Johann Djourou takes his place.
· * Sagna (7/10) – Was his usual no-nonsense self all through the 90minutes. He dealt with all that came his way in form of Nani and his cohorts. He even found the strength and space to bomb forward and lob in a few balls. Didn’t have an effective communication though with Rosicky in front of him through no fault of his though. He also had a running battle all night with Patrice Evra on the Man Utd left flank and had his shirt ripped apart in an aerial clash with Rio Ferdinand early in the second half. It takes much more thana torn shirt to stop Bacary though and last night he was on top of his game.
· * Song (6/10) – Did well in his natural defensive midfield role as he stuck closer to the defence than his new-found love of bombing forward. Came out on top in his running battle with Darren Fletcher and Anderson, thus nipping many a Man Utd attack in the bud. All in all, it was still a subdued night for the big Camerounian who picked up a booking late in the game for a foul on Evra.
· * Wilshire (5/10) – It was a testament to his reputation that our little English terrier was swamped by Man Utd midfielders anytime he had the ball. Despite the close attention paid to him by Fletcher and Anderson, he still tried his best to launch attacks form a very crowded midfield. Was taken off in the 65th minute after picking up a slight knock in a gritty tackle that left him hobbling around the pitch. A learning curve for Jack but one that will enhance his experience and game massively.
· * Rosicky (5/10) – On a night when the game was likely to be won based on the outcome of the midfield battle, our captain for the day, Rosicky failed woefully to spark. He was simply overawed by the towering Fletcher who did a perfect job keeping him quiet. Couldn’t find his feet, let alone his range of passing and it was no surprise at all that his number was the first up when the changes were being rung. A better-forgotten night indeed for Tomas.
· * Arshavin (6/10) – Another one that failed to make an impression on the night. It is an indication of where the pendulum of victory will eventually swing when too many players in a team are simply not firing. Arshavin was policed excellently by the Brazilian fullback Rafeal and simply did not have the legs or the guile to outwit his marker, He drifted into the centre on a couple of occasions in search of space but he eventually lost his way and interest in the game before being substituted. His yo-yo form must be worry to all Gunners now.
· * Nasri (6/10) – Despite the lack of service from a packed midfield, our French maestro never stopped trying. He wasn’t his usual dominant self due to the close marking of Vidic and Ferdinand which was to be expected. Credit to him though for making the best out of a tough night by showing glimpses of why he is now a force to be reckoned with.
· * Chamakh (5/10) – Apart from a snap first half header that Van Der Sar held very well and a second half shot crambled away by Vidic, we could as well have played without a striker. The Moroccan was largely anonymous as the game passed him by in large doses. Picked up a late booking for a needless foul and was lucky to avoid conceding a penalty when he ‘hugged’ a ball in our area where a header would have been the easier option. In my opinion, Chamakh’s level has dropped in recent games as the goals have dried up and the legs gotten heavier. Just like Squillaci who also came in from the French league and found themselves plunged head-on into the frenetic English game, he also needs a break to recharge his batteries. The need for such a break was evident with the sight of him clutching his groin at the final whistle.
The substitutes:
· * Van Persie (5/10) – Came on in the 63rd minute for an ineffective Rosicky. He wasn’t given room by the Man Utd backline and in a huge game as this, it wasn’t the best place to ease him back to the game. He surely needs games to rediscover his form after a long time out with injury.
· * Fabregas (5/10) – Tried to pull the strings he’s well known for after coming on to replace Wilshire in the 63rd minute. Wasn’t given room as well by a well-organised Man Utd defence and didn’t look like he was willing to take any risk as well with the game dieing a slow death.
· * Walcott (5/10) – He was the last throw of Wenger’s dice as he came on in the 80th minute to try to outrun the Man Utd defence. Did well for the 15 odd minutes he was on the pitch but ran out of time to change the destiny of the game. As long as he stays fit, he remains am potent alternative for Wenger if the manager wants to reshuffle things at the front.
Once again, we fail to trouble the very teams that we are supposed to overhaul in our attempt to win anything. Teams like Man Utd, Chelsea who have remained our betenoire for these 3-4years past. More annoying is the confirmation of all the hateful jibes thrown at us by Patrice Evra before this game, labeling us a ridiculous side for not winning anything recently.
Just as has also been the case all season long, we fail to take anything from a game where we concede first. It is a measure of our lack of fighting spirit, or level of demoralization, or both that we can’t seem to find an extra soon as we fall behind in a game.
It’s all well and good to take the lead and pummel poorer teams into submission, but soon as we concede ourselves, we just fold and go through the motions for the rest of the game.
Yet again, when questions are asked of this bunch, they fail to respond. Szczesny apart, I couldn’t really point to any other player on the night who merited the shirt.
Which makes Wenger’s gripe about the pitch more hollow and very grating.
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