Get rid of Chamakh now!

Like the universal truism, which I’ve mentioned here severally, you learn more about a team in defeat. Monday night’s reverse at Old Trafford was our seventh of a season that hasn’t yet reached halfway mark. Five of those coming in the league, while the two others came in the Champions League.

In all those defeats, the underlying common thread has been our inability to win, or find our way back into games whenever we concede first. Only at Anfield on the first Sunday of the league season, did we manage to save something from a game after conceding first.

We saw it in evidence again Monday night at Old Trafford.

Another thing to emerge from all those defeats has been an inability to use a weapon that served us well last season. That weapon has been, wearing down teams and grabbing late goals when the opposition becomes ragged and fatigued.

We scored a whopping 55% of our goals in all 53 games played last season in the last 15 minutes of matches. Due to our superior passing skills and ability to hold onto the ball for long stretches during matches, we were quite able to make opponents chase the ball for long periods in games and eventually tire them out. Wearied and out of breath, we then upped the tempo and pounced in the last few minutes to nick goals that often proved crucial and game-defining.

This tactic was personified by none other than Theo Walcott, who was always kept on the bench to be introduced in latter stages, when he then used his speed to further stretch teams and create openings for us.

It is a tactic that Wenger has stubbornly stuck to once more this season. But not one that has worked wonders so far. The percentage of late goals has become a trickle and infact almost dried up as we have been found out and opponents have allowed us to do what we know best – keeping the ball and passing it around. If they couldn’t get it off us, they at least sat back and conserved their energy for the last-minute onslaught they know will always follow from our end.

Chamakh and Nasri...our two most consistent goleadors

With all respect to Wenger, he hasn’t displayed good enough judgement in repeatedly sticking to this tactic.  A good coach he is and in many respects, a great one actually.

But unlike his peers such as Sir Alex and the pompous Jose Mourinho, he often displays an inability to adjust his tactics and deploy men and mental material as games unfold. People like Mourinho and sometimes Rafael Benitez have been known to switch tactics and formations up to five times in 90 minutes. It all depends on what is happening on the pitch and which of the two teams is on top.

Wenger, instead, the stubborn and obdurate man that he is hardly ever reacts to games in such drastic manner. Anyone familiar with the way Arsenal plays knows that the man never starts substitutions before the 70^th minute mark; players in form are never dropped regardless of who the opposition is; Andrei Arshavin will always be plonked on the left flank despite the fact that most of his good work for us has been through the middle. Yes, such a rigid policy ensures stability and continuity but in the big, key games like against Man Utd last Monday night, a bit of variety would always give us a surprise edge that could catch the opposing manager on a wrong foot for at least the first few minutes of the game.

What for God’s sake is wrong in starting Walcott and making full use of his speed and running abilities? There can’t be anything wrong at all with leaving Marouane Chamakh on the bench and deploying him later in the game to change things if needed.

Variety and change are potent weapons, if utilized sensibly.

In this case, such variety is needed if we are to get anything out of this season at a time when it is still within reach. I dread to mention the premier league title in reference to us now after watching the way and manner we have been expectedly turned over by the likes of Chelsea and Man Utd; and unexpectedly by the likes of West Brom, Braga and Newcastle!

So far, this team looks good enough for success only in the Carling Cup. The FA Cup would be a sweet, if somewhat surprise addition. But the league and the Champions League are different matters altogether.

So, to aim for that elusive silverware, which keeps looking more and more like the Carling version it is pertinent at this stage to rest Chamakh.

He has looked knackered in the last one month and if the truth be told, he ought to be. After starting the season and his Arsenal career like a runaway train, those early exertions look to have taken their toll. Since that double salvo against Wolves at Molineux on November 10, he has managed two goals in eight games, with those strikes coming against Tottenham and Aston Villa.

In that time thankfully, Samir Nasri has stepped up to the plate weighing in with crucial goals but we cannot seriously expect a midfielder to keep doing an attacker’s job if we hope to win anything at season’s end. Good and in-form as he is, Nasri is no Maradona and in a side packed with flair players like Arsenal, we need the strikers to be firing. Considering our kamikaze defending as well, we will have to rely on our attack to bail us out by scoring two, three goals per game.

To revive our attacking options and reduce Nasri’s workload, it is indeed time to give Chamakh a break and make full use of the bench. Three strikers in the persons of World Cup ‘stars’ Robin Van Persie, Nicklas Bendtner and Carlos Vela are all available and all warming the bench.

Chamakh’s early-season brilliance has not seen the need to press them all into action and coupled with injuries, they have been largely anonymous this season so far.

Of the trio though, it is Walcott that might actually get a nod to start games - and desperately too. If only Wenger would tweak his set-in-stone tactics for once and start him right down the middle.

With Chelsea floundering and super-rich Man City ridden with internal strife, we can still hold a candle to our title dreams and resurrect hope by reshuffling the pack.

A fresh, well-rested Chamakh will carry a much bigger threat in the New Year, when the business end of the season gets underway.

After Man Utd exposed the inherent weaknesses of Wenger’s stubborn methods last Monday, its time for a response that will re-ignite our campaign and keep the opposition wondering.

Resting Chamakh and making use of the bench will be one such crucial response.

Manchester Utd 1 Arsenal 0

Park Ji Sung was the slayer on the night as his lone 40^th 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.

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 53^rd minute and also from Rooney in the 80^th minute, after the star England striker had blazed a penalty over the bar in the 73^rd 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 73^rd 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 65^th 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 63^rd 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 63^rd 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 80^th 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.  

Showdown or Showstopper

It’s early days yet concerning the fate of the league title this season, but Monday night’s showdown against Manchester United at Old Trafford will help point to the destination of the title. As Arsene Wenger has said so often in the past, you don’t win the league in December.

True indeed, but December nonetheless, neither Wenger nor Sir Alex Ferguson will want to concede ground on this one. The two old foxes may look war-weary, but they haven’t lost their battle-hardedness and are always up for such confrontations.

Already, there’s a spiky feeling about this one no thanks to big-mouth Patrice Evra trying to engineer an atmosphere of hate with his comments about Arsenal being a mere “training centre”. Consummate professionals don’t say such things about other teams, but we all know Evra has no tact or self-respect which was why he behaved to type at the World Cup and his international career ended disgracefully. A Nicholas Anelka clone with less brain cells than a termite.

Interestingly for the first time in recent memory, the Gunners go into this match ahead of Manchester United on the log. It’s not something that has happened in a long while. Since the 2007-2008 season, when Arsenal led the league for four months before giving it away at St. Andrews to Birmingham on the February afternoon Eduardo’s leg was snapped in two, we haven’t managed to edge ahead of Sir Alex’s empire.

For all manner of reasons, we’ve always remained in the shadow of the all-conquering Mancunians. Since then, Sir Alex has gone on to lift two league titles as well as a Champions League trophy. He was only denied a hattrick of league triumphs by Carlo Ancelotti’s resurgent Chelsea seven months ago.

This time around, with 16 games played in a 38-game season, we find ourselves one point in front of Sir Alex for the first time in a long, long while. This has happened despite our four league defeats already – three of them at home!

Titans of English soccer...Ferguson and Wenger

 Manchester meanwhile are unbeaten in the league but their campaign has been hampered by seven damaging draws. Despite playing one game less than us, they must still be kicking themselves that they cannot break away from the muddle at the top. Sir Alex, the old warhorse that he is, knows the value and importance of such big ties as Monday night’s clash and surely sees it as a must-win. December or not.

Already as seen so far this season, many teams have stepped up to the plate to take adavantage of the break up of the famous Big Four through the demise of Liverpool. This state of affairs has seen even promoted sides Blackpool, Newcastle and West Brom fancy their chances against the established sides and taken them with two hands.  Accordingly as we have all borne witnesses to so far, even Manchester United’s outstanding game against Blackpool can so easily leave them empty handed after 90 minutes. A look at the league standings this morning will show us that none of the promoted sides are currently in relegation zone.

The tables of fortune which favours the brave have turned full square in the premiership.

Gone is the fear of the mythical Big Four. Gone are the days of rolling over and allowing the likes of us and Man Utd to walkover the perceived small teams.

Which is why winning the league now may turn out to be harder and more gritty than it has ever been since it all started 18 years back.

Sir Alex knows it very well and therefore the bread-and-butter games with the lesser lights of the league are simply, no more what they used to be. It seems now that the days of winning the league despite not beating any of the big teams, may have gone with the past. There are simply no teams to walkover anymore. Arsene Wenger and his bunch had that lesson rammed down their throats painfully and decisively by first West Brom and later, Newcastle.

Monday’s showdown couldn’t have come at a better time for both teams as they seek to measure themselves against each other. As a parameter of how far they have progressed or regressed so far this season, Monday night is pivotal.

Yes it may be just December, but this showdown between first and second in the league will surely not produce a Real Madrid-Barcelona style annihilation. Because despite the game taking place at Old Trafford, the stadium has actually been a good hunting ground for Arsenal over the past few years. We only lost there last year thanks to a crazy Almunia penalty-giveaway and an even crazier Abou Diaby own goal after Andrei Arshavin had blasted us into the lead. The previous season, with the destiny of the league already settled, we held Man Utd to a goalless draw there. If we discount the Christiano Ronaldo-inspired Champions League 1-0 defeat there in April 2009, we have a decent record on the ground.

Added to all this, is the fact that Man Utd these days is more of a ship managing to stay above water, than a tank firing on all cylinders.  Up until three weeks ago, we had a better goals’ difference than them. Dimitar Berbatov’s five-goal salvo in that 7-1 crushing of Blackburn two weeks ago changed things for them but as mentioned earlier there won’t be any such scoreline on Monday night.

Manchester Utd are slowly putting the divisive effects of the Wayne Rooney saga behind them and getting everyone to singing from the same sheet. Nemanja Vidic now seems happier after casting admiring glances at Spain and Italy all through last season. Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes may finally be feeling their ages at last but in their places, the immature Anderson is finally finding his feet, while his younger compatriots Fabio and  Rafael are emerging as talented players, if still inexperienced. Another young tyro, the Mexican Javier Henandez  remains a dangerous arrowhead of their attack if needed.

Since Ronaldo’s departure, Man Utd have lost the thing that makes them tick. Rooney for one, being a huge victim of his departure.

Arsenal, like all other teams so far in the league, will seek to exploit that feeling of ‘emptiness’ at Old Trafford and in the likes of Samir Nasri, Jack Wilshire and Marouane Chamakh, they have the ammunition to make their presence count.

Arguably, Nasri has been the outstanding player of the season so far not only for Arsenal but in the entire league. He has suddenly become what Florent Malouda was to Chelsea last season. The most-improved player across all 20 teams, with Tottenham’s Gareth Bale definitely a close second.

He has scored against Man Utd in the past – when we beat them 2-1 at Emirates in October, 2008. So doing it again; at a time when he is in the form of his life, ought not to be too much to ask.

I’m really looking forward with a huge appetite to Monday night. Yet another opportunity to see how far Wenger’s bunch has come in their collective development. Because at Old Trafford there normally is no hiding place.

Arsenal 3 Partizan Belgrade 1

For what may be the first time this season, we started with two strikers upfront as Arsene Wenger went for a basic 4-4-2. Robin Van Persie continued his rehabilitation as he partnered Marouane Chamakh in attack. All-the-world-and-its-mother knew this was a must-win game for us as we looked to tie up our progress into the knock-out stage of the Champions League for the eleventh consecutive season. Funnily though, things started on a low key as we passed the ball around with ease and penned the Yugoslavs in their area. As has been the case recently, Samir Nasri was seeing a lot of the ball as he spearheaded proceedings from the right side of midfield. His prolific form in front of goal was easily the reason behind his confidence as he ran at the Partizan defence at will.
We had to contend with an early change however when the unfortunate Kieran Gibbs turned his ankle in the 15th minute and had to go off.
In the 26th minute finally, we made a breakthrough when Partizan skipper, Mladen Kratsjic upended Van Persie in the box. The Dutchman rose to bury the penalty and record his first goal since May. Against the run of play, Cleo scored a surprise equalizer for the visitors in the 52nd minute and once again, we managed to make life difficult for ourselves.
It was a night when we were not to be denied however as Theo Walcott came on for the disinterested Andrei Arshavin, and scored his first goal in almost two months with a fine volley in the 73rd minute. Four minutes later, the irrepressible Nasri sealed the game with a fine shot from the edge of the box after being fed by Song.
Things turned sour one more time for us as Bacary Sagna was redcarded in the 85th minute for a last-ditch tackle on Alexander Laveski. We resisted with ten men though to see out the game and finally, finally book our passage to the knock-out stage, next February.
You always got the impression that we were playing with the brakes on last night. It was to be expected, considering our trip to Old Trafford on Monday night in a top-of-the-bill showdown with bitter rivals, Manchester United.
The goal we conceded notwithstanding, it was a fitting end to our European campaign for the year, while we await bigger fish to fry next year and in the meantime, focus on domestic matters.
For making it out of the group stages for the eleventh consecutive time, we can’t be that bad really. Not even the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea or even Real Madrid can boast such consistency.

Back among the goals..Walcott celebrates his sweet volley

Below are the ratings on the night.

• Fabianski (7/10) – Was reduced to dealing with only backpasses as a measure of the paucity of the visitors’ attack, until the 52nd minute when Cleo broke away to rifle a shot that deflected off Squillaci’s outstretched leg and sail over him. Nothing he could do about the goal, but he redeemed himself considerably when he stopped a fierce freekick from Kratsjic in the 86th minute consequent upon Sagna’s sending-off. With a cloud hanging over Manuel Almunia’s return to the team, Fabianski looks to have sewn up the number one shirt in the nearest future.
• Sagna (7/10) – Was his usual no-nonsense self and dealt with all that came down his flank in the form of Partizan attack. Roamed forward a lot though and linked well with Nasri and later Walcott. Unfortunate to be sent off in the 86th minute for a challenge on Laveski but will be back for the big game against Manchester United, Monday night.
• Squillaci (6/10) – He was the weak link in the defence. Was caught out severally by the duo of Cleo and Partizan’s West African, Medo. Gave Cleo the space he needed to shoot for their equalizer and looked out of his depth for most of the game. Methinks he’s exhausted from the unexpected amount of games he’s been forced to play since arriving in August. Looks like he’ll benefit from a breather.
• Koscielny (7/10) – Was surprised to see him return so soon after that head collision four days ago against Fulham. Did well though on the night and proved to be a tough customer. He is still our most-rugged defender after Thomas Vermaelen as he never shies away from knocks. Nipped a lot of balls that could have been a danger and covered lots of ground as well.
• Gibbs (5/10) – The young Englishman fell to the curse of injury – yet again. He lasted only 15minutes before a twisted ankle ended his night. Returned to the pitch to try to run it off, but eventually had to be substituted as he continually hobbled around.
• Denilson (6/10) – The Brazilian started in place of the rested Jack Wilshire and battled hard in the middle to assert himself. Guilty of misplaced passes on several occasions but he did his defensive duties well and snapped into tackles all night. Helped to screen the defence with his endless running and link-up play with those around him. Did better than in many of his erstwhile games for us.
• Song (6/10) – A rather quiet night for the Camerounian. He still threw himself around alot though and never allowed the Partizan midfield of Medo, Jovanovic and Laveski to settle. Had a sniff of goal in the second half when he collected a ball in the visitor’s box. After swivelling away from his markers, he attempted to curl the ball in off the far post, with options waiting around him.After three goals to his name this season already, he surely fancies his chances of getting more now. It was not to be on the night though but he still provided the assist for Nasri's goal.
• Arshavin (5/10) – Back to his bad habits. Didn’t inspire anything and though he tried to initiate some runs from his left flank, he ended up in cul-de-sacs. Didn’t look interested at all and after some fine performances over the past two games, he seemed to have fallen back to his old, lazy ways. Was the first to be substituted – not counting the injured Gibbs – not surprisingly.
• Nasri (8/10) – He is indeed a man transformed. Oozed confidence all night as he took on defenders at will and ran rings round them from all over the pitch. Gets in behind defenders easily now and last night was no different. He has emerged as a huge outlet of our attacks and has become very influential in the team, especially with the sporadic appearances of captain Cesc Fabregas. His goal in the second half was deserved after all the running and passing he was involved in on the night. For us to win anything this season, we need Nasri to remain in the blistering form he has found. Twelve goals so far this season makes him our highest goalscorer and for a midfielder, it is quite a statement.
• Van Persie (7/10) – After being out for so long, the Dutchman was due a full game and he got it last night. Completed his first 90 minutes in ages and was handed the captain’s band to lead the troops. Scored from the spot to send us on our way and did well for the rest of the game. He’s still finding his form and that will obviously take time. His presence on the pitch though encouraged Wenger to opt for a two-man attack and take some pressure off the hardworking Chamakh. Hoping Van Persie stays injury-free, as we head into a crucial time of the season.
• Chamakh (6/10) – Like Squillaci, he also looks jaded. Considering the frenetic start he’s had to both his Arsenal career and the season, his tired legs can be understood. Wasn’t at full pelt on the night and apart form a misdirect header in the first half, off a Bacary Sagna cross, he was largely anonymous. Wasn’t a surprise at all when he was eventually substituted.

Substitutes
• Eboue (7/10) – Came on very early in the 18th minute for the luckless Gibbs and as the only defender on the bench, had to improvise in the left full back position. Did well considering he was playing out of position and wasn’t disgraced at all. Resisted very well and stopped all that came his way. One of his better games for us in a while.
• Walcott (7/10) – Replaced the anonymous Arshavin and immediately put life into out attack. Took on the Partizan defence with his trademark pace and eventually scored a fine goal which restored our lead in the 73rd minute and brought belief back into the side. He needs games like Van Persie to rediscover his sharpness but may have to continue to contend with time on the bench.
• Bendtner (5/10) – Replaced Chamakh as Wenger clearly sought to rest the Moroccan ahead of the Manchester game. Was involved in the build up to the Nasri goal and helped trouble the Partizan defence.

Arsenal 2 Fulham 1

Man of the moment....Samir Nasri after doing the double

We went top of the log for the first time this season after a nervy but eventually, accomplished win over fellow Londoners, Fulham. It was also our first home win in the league in almost five weeks! Quite incredible ay?

The man who stole the show was very clearly, Samir Nasri, who not only score both goals for us but as well diplayed such high level of skill and awareness as to indicate that he has arrived as a mainstay. Some commentators during the game kept repeating that his emergence had now filled the gap left by Cesc Fabregas. Flattering it may sound, but it is a measure of how far he has developed within the team and how highly he is held now.

His goals were of the highest quality. Vintage collector's items.

We went ahead after the rejuvenated Andrei Arshavin intercepted a loose Fulham pass, and threaded it into Nasri's path. The light-footed Frenchman dummied past Brade Haageland first and then another defender, before blasting it from eight yards past Mark Schwarzer. Almost everyone in the Emirates rose to acknowledge such goal of exquisite quality.

Fulham pegged us back rather too easily after we failed to deal with a harmless-looking ball out of

their defence. Squillaci clashed heads with Koscielny, thus allowing an unmarked Diomansy Kamara to angle a fine shot past the stranded Fabianski.

Our tempo dipped as expected. Heads seemed to drop and tension spread through the crowd. Fulham threatened especially at setpieces and though Johann Djourou made his huge presence felt at the back, we were still sitting on tenterhooks.

The introduction of Van Persie and Theo Walcott signified our intention but it was Nasri again that seized the initiative. He latched onto a Van Persie pass and waltzed past three defenders including Schwarzer before he slotted the ball in a sweet, jaw-dropping move.

His goals marked the tenth and eleventh strikes this season and with almost two-thirds of the season yet to go, there are already great expectations that he is on the verge of greatness in his personal and Gunners career.

Below are the ratings

• Fabianski (6/10) – He was not to blame for the goal we conceeded, especially as he was left exposed by the collision between Koscielny and Squillaci. Did extremely well to save a certain goal from Kamara again before the end of the first half. Was a bit swamped by the Fulham forwards as they attempted to bombard our area with aerial balls from corner kicks and setpieces. In the continued absence of Almunia, he still remains our best bet between the sticks.
• Squillaci (5/10) – Was shaky on the night. Was troubled by the pace of Kamara and Zoltan Gera, the two Fulham forwards. Stumbled into Koscielny and clashed heads with him unfortunately. The injury forced Koscielny off the field and ended his night. Squillaci looked vulnerable inexplicably and was targetted by the Fulham frontmen.
  
• Koscielny (5/10) – Was his usual quick-footed self and was standing up to the feeble Fulham attempts at launching attacks, until the 36^th minute when a clash of heads ended his night. He came off worse in the unfortunate incident with Squillaci and after initial fears that he may have suffered a broken nose, he was eventually stretchered off to wide applause from all corners of the stadium.
  
• Clichy (6/10) – Did his usual best on the left flank. Due to Fulham's two-pronged attack, he had the latitude and freedom to roam forward. He bombed forward at will and the few times when Fulham attacked down his flank, he stood up well to their efforts.
  
• Sagna (6/10) – Also found lots of room on the right. Initially, when Fulham's Gera and Kamara took turns to launch sporadic attacks, he was up to the task. Did well on several occasions as he supported Nasri and got up the field several occasions to send in inviting crosses. He remains a very useful outlet on the right hand flank for crosses.
  
• Song (6/10) – Did a yeoman's job in the middle and was full of running and hard graft. Did well to snuff our the veteran Fulham midfielder, Danny Murphy and even found time and energy to take on the opponents' defence. A particular move in the 60^th minute saw him outwit John Paintsil on the edge of the box but suddenly when left with the goalie one-on-one, he skied the ball aimlessly into the crowd.
  
• Wilshire (7/10) – Was his usual industrious and busy self. Worked well with Song in the middle and was always finding space and the men ahead of him. His presence has gone a long way to nullify the absence of Fabregas as the young Englishman has grown both in stature and ability. His eye for the pass and positional play, despite his lack of inches, has all the hallmark of an accomplished veteran.
  
• Nasri (9/10) – Clearly, the man of the match. Full of trickery, running and guile. His two goals were masterpieces and his confidence levels are surely now sky high. He has definitely stepped up to the plate and has now emerged as one of the starts of not just this team, but also the league. He looks a man transformed after two years of unfulfilled expectations with the Gunners. Despite being a midfielder, he has now emerged our leading goalscorer and from what we've seen so far, there is much more to come from the former Marseille man.
  
• Arshavin (8/10) – Another player who looks transformed. Whatever might be the reason
  behind his renewed form, it may or not have anything to do with Russia's successful bid to host the World Cup 2018. He was involved in all the good stuff that we put on Saturday and provided the assist that led to Nasri's first goal. Was also a handful for the Fulham defence as he never gave them breathing space. He seems to have rediscovered his knack for goals after netting against Aston Villa last week and heading into a crucial time of the season, it is a welcome development.
  
• Chamakh (6/10) – Didn't play up to his usual deadly standards. Was too lackadaisical and guilty of over elaboration. A particular through ball over the top from Arshavin in the first half found him face to face with Schwarzer and instead of shooting, he passed the ball back to Wilshire.
  
• Rosicky (7/10) – Did very well. He wore the armband and was up for the game as against his hitherto displays. Linked very well with the frontmen of Chamakh and Nasri. Ran out of gas eventually in the second half and was unsurprisingly substituted.
  

Substitutes

• Djourou (6/10) – Did well in the circumstances after coming on for the injured Koscielny. Was inspirational at the back after he came on and did quite well.
  
• Van Persie (5/10) – Was not at his mercurial self. His abilities on the ball are well-known but due to the long absence on account of injury, he seems to have lost some of his touch. Was sluggish and slow to the ball in most instances but was involved in the build-up that led to Nasri's second goal.
  
• Walcott (5/10) – Came on for Wilshire in the second half and tried his best on the right wings as always. Didn't set the wings on fire and he seems to have lost a lot of spark. Seems to need games to bring back the consistency to his game.