Wolves 1 (Craddock 89) - Arsenal 4 (Zubar o.g. 28, Craddock o.g. 36, Fabregas 45, Arshavin 66)
Match Report | Highlights
I’m a little late on this one, but I’ll throw my two cents in anyway.
Manuel Almunia - Not much you could take from that performance as he was a spectator for the majority of the match. Distribution is a class above that of Vito Mannone however, and the defence looks like they have much more confidence in the more experienced Spaniard. Very little he could do about the late goal. 6.5
Bacary Sagna - Had little to do defensively and managed to cope with everything Wolves could muster down their left flank. Offensively, Sagna was impressive, providing a constant threat with his overlapping runs down the left wing. Needs to work on his final ball, though. 7.5
William Gallas - Mr. Consistent at the back yet again. Always on hand to do his job in defence, and has affirmed his status as the type of player the rest of the side can depend on. Made a couple of alarming runs down the centre of the park, and was unlucky not to be put clean through by Aaron Ramsey at one stage. 8
Thomas Vermaelen - Such a shame that a momentary brain snap dampened an otherwise very solid performance. He was a threat from set pieces and was aerially supreme at the back, though had a lapse of concentration when it mattered most. Thankfully that we were already up by four at that stage. 7
Kieran Gibbs - Cashley minus the c***. Clichy plus a wicket left boot. I don’t think it will be too long before Gibbs becomes a regular fixture at left back for both Arsenal and eventually England. He’s dynamic and bursting with youthful exuberance. Gibbs offered an attacking threat and defensive stability on the left flank. 7.5
Cesc Fabregas - Absolutely ran the show, continuing his impressive goalscoring form. Cesc proved today why he wears the armband and lead by example, dominating the midfield and becoming the metronome of the Arsenal side. On fire. 8
Abou Diaby - Absolute trainwreck of a performance, from start to abrupt finish. His injury only helped Arsenal’s cause. 5
Aaron Ramsey - Looked extremely uncomfortable in a defensive role alongside Diaby, however came into his own once the Frenchman was replaced by Alex Song. Offered more of the youthful exuberance demonstrated by Kieran Gibbs, working his socks off for the entire match. Tireless performance. 7.5
Andrey Arshavin - Impressive instinctive finish for his sixth goal of the season. Apart from that he was a bit quiet, as he would go missing for periods and then pop up out of nowhere and prove an instant threat. His class on the ball is obvious, he just needs to see more of it. 7
Robin van Persie - Emerging as a real leader within the side. Not much went his way during the match, however he had a nice touch to set up Cesc Fabregas and always showed a dogged desire to score. Chased down every ball towards the match, in an effort to nick a goal. 7
Eduardo - Looked sharp on the left flank and got himself into a good position to force the opening goal and was unlucky not to have been given the second. Linked up well with Fabregas and van Persie when making inroads from the left, and although he did miss a good chance, was unlucky to score on a couple of occasions. 7
SUBSTITUTES
Alex Song - Easily the best player on the pitch. Not even Cesc Fabregas could replicate Song’s heroics in the midfield. Uncompromising in the tackle and dangerous on the ball, the Cameroonian delivered yet another amazing performance to cement himself as a real star in this Arsenal side. Diaby’s injury was a blessing in disguise. 8.5
Tomas Rosicky & Samir Nasri - Showed some neat touches off the ball and looked sharp in their time on the pitch, however neither player had the time nor the opportunity to make a real impact. Both 6.5.
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i slightly didn’t agree with gibbs rating.. 6.5 maybe.. he is way too many out of position.. we are lucky to have vermaelen playing as lcb as he covering space left by gibbs
unsung Song, a hero.
I really admire for Alex song And VERMINATOR FOR THIER MASSIVE PERFORMANCE IN THE GAME i do not understand the quality of Diabi,he does not seam an arsenal player.
I really admire for Alex song And VERMINATOR FOR THIER MASSIVE PERFORMANCE IN THE GAME .
Rating of Verminator at 7 is very poor. He should be rated the same as Gallas. The lad played very well and linked up with midfielders. He is good in the air and on the ground. Therefore he deserved more please. On Song, he is a leader in the defensive midfield. We are going to miss Song in the CAN in January to February. Who will cover for him because we have some crucial games around the same period? We even need a temporary cover Prof. Wenger.
Fabregas is nice on the pitch RVP IS ALSO DOING WELL AS USUAL. OVERALL THE SENSES OF gunnerism starts and i think if this pace continues we will have trophies at the end. But Arsene must think ahead who will replace Song during the African cap i think no one replace from the squad we have seen from last game that he is irreplaceable from the pitch we need another player to purchase.
Don’t know what Vermaeleen was thinking but the ball looked a bit high for him, but he was brilliant as usual in defence.As for Song, we all know who will cover for him in January he has played in that position before, he will play against man-city and yes he scored the first goal of the season, no introductions needed there.
wayy harsh on diaby
he didnt even have a chance to get going.
wolves were dominating the game in a lot of ways before the 1st goal, everyone improved after that.
To all the Diaby haters: Are you the same people who, this time last year, were slagging off Song in every other post and bellowing that we had to buy a DM in January (and again in the summer) or we were doomed? Diaby hasn’t been that good, but if Wenger rates him I’ll trust Wenger ahead of the boo boys in the blogosphere and have faith that he’ll come good, just like Song has.
“rocky lives” is right, Diaby is a talent and just needs time to find his feet at the pitch. The injury problems he had faced in the past is what people forget. Give some time for the boy and he’d bounce back. Last year Eboue was booed and now Diaby is being critisized. Don’t understand :S
I guess people like solo performances. If anyone likes that, go watch ManU!
slagging of players:
To boo players when the game is in play is definitely NOT ACCEPTABLE. However it is perfectly normal to boo (just to show yr disapproval) before the game or after the game if the player had played badly (as a public figure, you must be mentally prepared (tough & strong) to live up to the fact that u are constantly under public scrutiny.
I don’t see any valid reason(s) y can’t moan & groan on blogs. To silence moaning & groaning on blogs is damn bloody unhealthy. It will lead only to the development of sycophant mentality.
Ultimately it is for thinking readers to decide for themselves.
1) they slag those players that deserved to be slagged
2) it HAS a positive effect b’cuz the players improve
3) those passionate folks are reasonable b’cuz after the players improve, they support them whole-heartedly
In fact, those passionate untiring folks deserve some credit for slagging b’cuz the players REALLY improve there-after instead of just keep quiet & condone their poor performance. LOL.
even EE thanks the fans after waking up.
Just don’t see how groaning and moaning helps players to improve rather that criticizing yet supporting. If anyone has the responsibility to criticize, then it’s Arsene’s. Diaby’s improvement since the second half of the Spud’s game was not due to bloggers’ criticism but his playing time. Song and Denilson’s improvement this season was not due to the criticisms of bloggers but themselves and the whole seasons of playing time.
People failed to see the quality of Wolves before the first og, and it’s a real shame. they were attacking our flanks at will, which resulted many dangerous set pieces. Arshavin was invisible during that period because he was tackling, fouling, and intercepting in our own half. If Diaby had a rating of 5 in that short stint, then Gibbs in that short stint should be rated 3 (he did improved so much after the first og.
Did Song really did much before the 2nd OG? Not really. If you thought so, then you should watch the game again. Wolves crumbled after we forced the first og, and destroyed after the second og. Simple as that. If you really want to criticize, then no one should be rated over 7, because we didn’t play even close to the level against Spuds and AK.
I like Song
@Gunnersgun
I totally disagree with u. Where did Eboue said he owe to fans for booing him?? He only thanked those guys who helped him recover from his poor form.
Booing players before, during and after the games is not acceptable. Ask Mr. Wenger who has brought so much to this club.
There are 2 types of people:
1- those who get encouraged by giving them belief that they can do better and bounce back from their low times,
2- Those who only get motivated when they’re insulted and told that they can’t do anything right.
Maybe some players are of type two but at there’s Arsenal none, they’re all of 1st type.
@ Tieneich
I totally agree with u!
I think Diaby is an offensive player basically but can play as defensive midfielder but that needs him to play few games there and Wenger knows that very well (how won’t he? He’s a mastermind of football!). Before the 1st OG, Wolves were playing like a Big4 team, so it’s hard to judge the problems Diaby had. He had couple of man-of-the-match performances this season and that show’s he has the needed quality to wear an Arsenal shirt!
Best of luck Diaby!