Everton Vs Arsenal Review: Hard Victory by ElusiveArsenal
On one hand, I feel compelled to slate the entire Arsenal team for a very irritating and hair-raising performance. Even more so after another heart-in-mouth match, but then after the initial bloodlust cooled off, replaced by languid relief, I decided to take a second look at the game as a whole.
The first thing I noticed was that both Everton goals could have been easily prevented. On one hand, Ozil left his runner while Chambers’ inexperience showed in playing everyone onside. For Everton’s second goal, twice the referee should have stopped play: For a foul, and then for offside, but alas the fates and ref board were once again not in Arsenal’s favour (for the third game in a row).
Now, it would be too easy to raise my pitchfork and stab Ozil for being ‘invisible’ but then again, what he brought was something we didn’t have in the first two games: WIDTH. The importance of Width cannot be underestimated as it drags defenders out to mark, opening space for strikers to exploit. I think it’s telling that both goals came down the left flank as opposed to our previous games where Cazorla rendered that flank completely inept.
Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not praising Ozil for simply standing out wide… His passes, while not spectacular, where tidy, precise and with purpose, sometimes ripping through the face of the 6-yard box to find its target. A bit of nice play between him and Cazorla led to the first goal. However, when a manager sticks a player like Ozil with Monreal, on the same wing as Coleman and Lukaku.. then don’t blame the players for getting overrun. It’s just bad tactics. So Ozil: Solid first game.. not spectacular but that’s what happens when played out of position.
This wouldn’t be an Arsenal article without hate/praise on two of the most polarizing players: Giroud and Wilshere…
As it was in the Besiktas and Crystal Palace game, Wilshere was the only midfield player looking to try something. Whether it was high-pressing with Sanchez, tackling, or taking on defenders, he tried to pump life into a lifeless Arsenal. The only problem is that in the current formation and the type of players that were around him, he always comes off looking the worst. Ramsey played below par AGAIN, but he scored so everyone forgets that(including me) and all is forgiven.. Wilshere busted his guts but as usual his final ball was still lacking. I believe he should come off the bench for Ramsey for now… The two of them on the same pitch in the current formation just doesn’t work.
Finally, Giroud: My God what a player. Despite the constant criticism and hate from Arsenal fans, the lad never stops giving a 100%. He was everywhere. His trademark flicks while not 100% where present, his lay-offs were brilliant, and he powered in a beautiful header to snatch us that extra point. I still believe we need a quicker Striker: Maybe Falcao or Cavani.. but make no mistake, Giroud has more than earned his place in the Arsenal team, and anyone who says otherwise should check on their life insurance cause you will see lots more of our favorite pretty-boy-prefect-hair-lumbering-polarizing-sometimes great-sometimes not- Striker..
ElusiveArsenal