Two games; two points; two 0-0 draws. We can point to the chances created, control of the game and defensive stability if we are looking for positives. But obviously we can’t push for the title if we aren’t scoring. Wenger thinks we will score soon, he believes the new boys need time to gel. Given the performances of Giroud and Cazorla today, it looks like they have already settled in very well. It’s just a question of scoring that first goal, so that our new attackers don’t suffer from the psychological issues that led to Torres failing to score for 903 minutes.
Player Ratings
Mannone 6.5 Commanded the box pretty well despite not being expected to play until a few days before the game. He dropped one catch but swiftly fell on the ball to prevent Stoke from grabbing a goal. He marshalled the box well from their long throws and his kicking was generally decent apart from one poor clearance.
Jenkinson 6.5 Built on a strong performance last week with another decent display. He was defensively sound and pushed forward with good intent and his crossing was typically dangerous.
Vermaelen 7 A good game by the captain, who kept Stoke’s powerful forwards at bay in the few attacks they made.
Mertesacker 7 He partnered the Belgian very well with towering headers and composed play. He helped reduce the panic the often ensues in our defence against Stoke. Koscielny may have to fight to get his place back.
Gibbs 7 Made a couple of great tackles and bombed forward down the left. However he made a clumsy challenge on Pennant which could’ve been a penalty (would’ve been pretty soft though, but we’ve seen them given!).
Arteta 7.5 No change from all his Arsenal performances – he was calm on the ball, played the right passes at the right times and his positioning off the ball was fantastic.
Diaby 6 He can get the ball from one box to another very quickly but then he slows down our play far too much. It’s a shame because he has all the attributes, apart from decision-making.
Cazorla 7.5 Instrumental in everything we did, especially in the first half. His close control was excellent, even in the face of Stoke’s physically imposing players. His shooting was a generally poor; a few from free kicks and a few from distance.
Podolski 7 Very good in the first half, but he faded away until his substitution. He is better on the wing than up front. He floated around the space between Stoke’s midfield and defence and made some strong runs and incisive passes.
Giroud 7.5 MOTM His movement was great, his hold up play fantastic, his first touch exquisite and his passing was very good too. It was a shame he fluffed his lines in front of goal. There was the volley from the corner, which he should have scored because he had plenty of time and it was on his left foot. Then there was that break in the last minute, when Giroud was unlucky not to score with his long range effort, but really should’ve laid it off to Ramsey. Still proved he is a top player, and should definitely start against Liverpool.
Gervinho 4.5 Didn’t get in the game much after a good performance last week. When he did get the ball, he lost it on several occasions and failed to get past the defender every time he got the ball.
Substitutes
Ramsey n/a Got booed by the Stoke fans which was disgusting, but didn’t have much time to affect the game.
Oxlade-Chamberlain 7 Very lively and broke down the left several occasions in his short stint on the pitch. Dangerous.
Walcott 6 Did little as usual – needs to show he’s worth the reported £70k/week we are offering him, or we should cash in.
Didn’t think Giroud was so good today. I agree his movement is excellent, and I really appreciated his effort, but his first touch was actually quite poor. It’s strange that we come to such opposing conclusions, but I thought he looked a bit confused at times with what the Stoke players could get away with, and it looked like one of those days where things weren’t working for him. That one move in the first half summed his day up for me, where Cazorla held the ball on the edge of their box looking for options, when Giroud suddenly made a brilliant burst into the box, Cazorla played him the ball but unfortunately Giroud failed to gather it. I still think he’ll be a top player for us, but he needs a goal to get him started.
I felt a bit sorry for Gerv in both games. He really makes things happen with his pace and skill, but his decision-making has been terrible. He’s got to be smarter with his use of the ball because otherwise there’s no point in him being there. Saying that, I did think he was selected for his work-rate today because it was noticable how well he tracked back, and I think the plan was always to bring Theo on later in the game.
i normally agree with your ratings but these are absolute crap. Jenkinson was on fire, Diaby was useless, and yeah Giroud and Carzola looked dangerous, but no way were 7.5.. at the end of the day they didn’t make no chances what so ever and we didnt score?
I normally say a rating of 7 is “good”, so those who were better than that got a 7.5. We did make chances – we had 16 shots. I agree that none of the players were sizzling, but they did put in a good shift.
This team is poor. We need to buy Clint Dempsey, a proven premier league scorer and Tiote and M’Villa or Tiote. Diaby is not good enough. He has not improved his play from the time he joined. Poor decision maker. Gervinho will never be a Pires. Forget about that. I can not believe we did not sign any one of the Belgian players we were linked. What is Vermaleen saying to them that is turning them from signing for us. If former players can convince players to sign for their former clubs – Fabregas and Pires (Carzola) – Xavi Alonso (Sahin), why is Vermaleen failing to convince Belgian players from joining us. Is he a Van Persie in disguise- food for thought.
It is worrying that Arsenal haven’t scored yet but isn’t Bould doing well with the defense ? Also the first two games of the season were against teams that tend to park the bus so it was always going to be particularly difficult for a forward line getting used to playing together. Gervinho looked lively but nothing quite came off for him and Diaby didn’t really contribute enough for me. It’s clear that Wilshere will be 1st choice when he comes back from injury and if Cazorla, Wilshere and Arteta all stay fit for most of the season I can still see this Arsenal team winning something. If you don’t concede a goal in a knockout tournament you can only go out on penalties. If the defense continues to improve under Bould Arsenal will be a force in the cup competitions. If the first choice midfield stays fit and the new boys get some early goals to instill confidence they could challenge for the league title.
Well, both Giroud and Poldi are still looking slightly rusty. Give them few more games, they will come good. That we have no time to wait for based on next 3-4 fixtures is another point, but the season is long. Parking the bus makes it difficult for any team, not only us.
I would have loved the OX (instead of Gervinho) playing from the start on the left though and Cazorla should be positioned 20 mtr in average further up the field as a true AM behind the striker.