After the elation of midweek’s huge win over Bayern Munich, Arsenal came back to Premier League mundanity with a hard-fought win over Everton.
Having taken the lead with two goals in quick succession, Arsenal were in dreamland, and the greasy surface in the North London rain presented the Gunners with the perfect opportunity to create opportunities with their quick passing.
But Arsenal let Everton back into the game with a goal before half time, and even though they were the better team, Everton were almost gifted a point by Arsenal at various points, and Petr Cech made another big save towards the end.
There was, no doubt, a hangover from midweek. The Bayern game was mentally exhausting as well as physically as they had to defend so well and keep their nerve when they got their own chances. And perhaps that was the reason why they were so nervy towards the end. But the red card to Gareth Barry ended all doubts.
Arsenal’s best striker is Olivier Giroud
After two goals for France in the international break, his goal against Bayern Munich and now his goal against Everton today, Olivier Giroud is a man on fire. Indeed, he has five goals in his last four games. Theo Walcott, by contrast has only two league goals to Giroud’s five.
He doesn’t have the pace that Walcott possesses, but with his back to goal Giroud can be lethal, and give him a sniff in the six-yard box and he can take it. Today he was a menace to Jagielka and Stones, he scored a goal and he hit the bar. Surely he deserves more starts under Arsene Wenger.
Arsenal still have to learn how to close a game out
With ten minutes or so left to play, Wenger tried to see the game out by bringing on Mathieu Flamini, another defensive midfielder. But instead of shoring things up, Flamini did what every other Arsenal player seemed to want to do: attack.
The Frenchman was bombing forward instead of helping to close the game out, allowing Everton to counter attack at will and it almost cost Arsenal dearly. All in all, if they want to be title contenders, they just can’t do that. What a typically ‘Arsenal’ thing to do. We love to see them bomb forward, but guys seriously, sometimes you just have to close out the game
Deulofeu isn’t as good as we used to think he is
A scandalous dive in the first half that went unpunished by the referee was probably the highlight of the former Barcelona player’s game. That says it all, really.
Although there was an outstretched arm that did indeed make contact with the Everton winger, it was nowhere near enough to bring him down, and the way he threw himself to the floor was embarrassing. Embarrassing for him, for his teammates, for his supporters, and for everyone watching. To make matters worse, he had a fabulous chance to win the game right at the end, but his shot was tame and Cech could make the save.
The hope we had for him during his first spell at Everton hasn’t materialised, and the memories of his late goal in the same fixture two years ago seem like a long time ago, especially given his miss at the end this time.
