Arsenal Need Quick Improvements To Avoid Disastrous Start
Match Review: Arsenal 2 Crystal Palace 1 - Premier League 16.08.14
New season, same Arsenal. After a crushing win in the Charity Shield game, there was a real positive buzz around the new season. With a number of positive new signings, including Alexis Sanchez, everyone was really looking forward to seeing the new improved Arsenal. However, by half time, the positivity had turned into nervous concern. The team looked sloppy, lethargic and not really ready for the start of the season, especially against a well organised outfit like Crystal Palace. Despite the relatively poor performance though, we got the points, even though we did our best to make it difficult.
Arsenal named an unchanged starting XI from the Community Shield, meaning Sanogo up front and the new midfield trio of Arteta, Ramsey and Wilshere. There were also full debuts for Debuchy, Chambers and Alexis. But the same team that ruined City for the first 45 at Wembley looked bereft of ideas from the very off. We controlled the possession, but could do nothing with it and Palace pressed with predictable intensity and aggression. We were perhaps unlucky not to get a penalty when Ramsey bamboozled the defender and was blocked off, but we didn’t look like scoring at all. So of course, we conceded…
We conceded a needless corner and from that, Hangeland, formerly of Fulham, ran a route from the back of the area to the front post and glanced a header just inside the far post. Koscielny was beaten for the header, but in reality, we were caught off guard by the movement of Hangeland. Clearly a training ground routine and it did for us. What was more concerning was that with 35 minutes gone, we still hadn’t really threatened.
We toiled, but our play was sloppy, we couldn’t pass the ball properly and we kept getting caught in possession. Palace, now with a lead to protect, were very good, pressing and harassing, not letting us play at all. Of course, we got pretty much nothing from the referee, who let Palace get away with murder, but the one freekick we did get resulted in and unlikely breakthrough. Alexis took it from about 40 yards out and curled a beautiful ball in behind the Palace line, where Koscielny guided the ball into the corner of the net. A vital goal and with one minute left of stoppage time, it was a great time to score too.
Unfortunately the goal didn't seem to inspire us, as our second half performance was just as lacklustre as the first. There were no options for the man in possession, we lost the ball with alarming regularity and the lack of sharpness in the play was holding us back hugely. Crystal Palace dropped off a bit more as they tired, but we really couldn’t find our rhythm. I can’t remember any clear cut chances, only frustration as we built slowly and eventually surrendered the ball meekly time and again. Quite frankly, we really didn’t deserve a winner, but when Jason Puncheon managed earn himself a second yellow card, just before five minutes added time was announced, we had an opportunity.
We had the ball on the right hand side, with Chamberlain hitting it very deep and Koscielny did very well to loop a header back into the six yard box. Giroud won the header and knocked it down to Debuchy who forced a brilliant save Speroni. Fortunately Aaron Ramsey, having had a pretty poor game, was following in and gleefully tucked the ball home to spark wild celebrations. With the clock having ticked over to the 92nd minute, there was no time for Palace to respond, ironic given they’d been wasting it since the game kicked off.
Last minute winners are always glorious, however, there was no small amount of relief with this one. Truth be told, we were miles off the pace and didn’t really deserve to win. We’ll need to improve quickly with two tricky away trips at Besiktas and Everton and with the Germans not available until the latter game at the earliest, it will have to be an improvement from the same set of players. I have no doubt that we will improve significantly in the coming weeks, but we have to make sure we get to the Champions League group stages and that we don’t drop early points in the league. It wasn't a vintage performance by any stretch, but we got the points and at the end of the day, that’s all that matters.
Teams
Arsenal (4-5-1)
Szczesny, Debuchy, Chambers (Y), Koscielny, Gibbs (Monreal 53’), Arteta (c), Ramsey, Wilshere (Chamberlain 69’), Cazorla (Y), Alexis, Sanogo (Giroud 62’)
Subs
Martinez, Monreal, Coquelin, Rosicky, Chamberlain, Campbell, Giroud
Crystal Palace (4-5-1)
Speroni, Kelly, Hangeland, Dann (Delaney 75’), Ward, Puncheon (YY - R), Ledley, Jedinak (c), Chamakh (Y), Bolasie (O’Keefe 90’), Campbell (Gayle 85’)
Subs
Hennessy, McCarthy, O’Keefe, Gayle, Murray, Bannan, Delaney
Player Ratings
Szczesny - 6/10 - Had nothing to do really, couldn’t stop the goal and that was that
Debuchy - 7/10 - An assured competitive debut
Chambers - 7/10 - Truly looks a gem, looks composed and unflappable
Koscielny - 8/10 - Popped up with a vital goal to make up for the error and defended well
Gibbs - 6/10 - Fairly anonymous and went off with a hamstring injury
Arteta - 7/10 - Did a great job in the deep midfield role, despite a lack of help from his midfield partners
Wilshere - 6/10 - Looked to be struggling, wasn’t awful but was kicked off the park
Ramsey - 6/10 - Not brilliant, lost the ball, passed poorly, but got the vital winner
Cazorla - 5/10 - Struggled to have any influence on the game and was profligate with the ball
Alexis - 6/10 - Showed signs of what he will bring to us, but was off the pace
Sanogo - 5/10 - I’m not one for bashing players, but he looks so raw and incomplete
Subs
Monreal - 7/10 - Did a good job coming for Gibbs and may be set for a run in the side
Giroud - 6/10 - Did a better job than Sanogo, but was fairly peripheral
Chamberlain - 6/10 - To be honest I expected more from him when he came on
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