Arsenal got just what was needed on Saturday, 4 goals, a clean sheet, 3 points and as a bonus, no new injuries.
The first thing to say about Saturday is the starting line up again took me by suprise. I think the new formation is so versatile, with so many different combinations that it is hard to know who Wenger is going to start with. I expect he is still working his best 11 out himself but it has caught a few people out, not just me. I was expecting Bendtner to start in attack but he went with Diaby again with Eboue in midfield. As I say I suspect it's partly the formation being so versatile and partly Wenger still finding his best 11.
Mannone didn't have much to do. Pushed a header from a corner out as he was moving back towards his line and was a little lucky to have a defender there to clear. Also made a decent save from Jason Scotland in the second half and again was lucky to have the follow up ruled offside. But as I keep saying, luck can often play a big part in football.
Clichy was much improved but after his last few games, which were terrible, that's not saying much. Let's hope he can keep up this level of performance. Sagna and Gallas were solid but it was all about Vermaelen on Saturday. A good, old-fashioned centre back's headed goal from a corner for the first and a not in any way old-fashioned centre back finish for the second. A one-two with Eboue before he swept the ball first time into the top corner.
I think I am not alone in saying Vermaelen is much better than most expected him to be. He is very positive and aggresive in defence. He doesn't just stand off and wait for the attacker to make his move, he wins the ball and puts his man under constant pressure. His touch and passing is first class and he is a threat going forward, as can be seen from the fact that he is now our top scorer with 4 goals in eight games.
Eduardo volleyed a nice cross from Clichy on to the post before following up on the rebound which went in off Eboue's leg for the third. It looked like it was hitting Kirkland so Eboue has been given the goal. A nice turnaround from last December when he was booed off by the Arsenal fans.
Song was busy but will have to do better to not give the ball away sloppily as he did a couple of times on Saturday. Fabregas had a bit of a quiet one despite scoring the fourth after a low cross by Bendnter who came on with Ramsey and Rosicky late on.
Diaby was also quiet but it's nice to have him fit for a while. Hopefully he can up his game as his fitness improves.
RvP had a couple of chances, one in the first half he really should have scored when he was through with his back to goal and rushed his turn and shot.
So all in all a pretty decent performance and an excellent result and finally a clean sheet in the league. I like clean sheets. They breed good habits and defenders and goalkeepers, and the whole team in fact, should be determined to keep a clean sheet every game but we all know that is not really the Wenger way.
Thierry Henry has some great quotes here about Adebayor.
“You have to remember, no matter where you end up, the people who helped make you along the way and gave you the chance.
“I won the treble with Barcelona last year, but I know if it wasn’t for Arsene Wenger and Arsenal I would not be the player I am today.
“I think the same has to be true of Adebayor. He might be one of the world’s top strikers today, but he wasn’t before Arsene got hold of him and gave him that chance.
“When he came from Monaco he wasn’t even getting games back in France and then within two seasons he was a player who was wanted by a lot of top clubs in Europe.
“Arsene puts a lot of investment in you when he sees talent and I don’t think it would hurt for Adebayor to show him, the club and the fans a little more respect.”
He always did have a way with words.
Jay Simpson, on loan at QPR got both goals in their 2-0 away victory at Cardiff. The goals are here, the second was a very nice finish.
Tomorrow we get a first look at the latest batch of Wenger's kids with the first game in the Carling Cup, the home game against West Brom.
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