Arsenal 0-0 Everton. 16th April @ 19.45.

[Rook]

As much as not getting that goal hurt, no complaints from me. Team played well and Arse has been on fire as of recent.

With the exception of 1, maybe 2 hiccups the D was stout all match. Yes we didn't challenge them in front of all very much at all, but Arsenal's D was solid as well. You usually expect them to make 1-2 really boneheaded moves in the back and we didn't get that.

I was worried that Gibson was going to get sent off/be useless in the 2nd half but he played smart and well.

Mirallas was bottled up by Arse in the attacking end but he did extremely well tracking back.

Fellani well its a big club we were playing so you just know he's going to bring it. Its his performances in against the top 5 that we are really going to miss when/if he goes.

Jags MOM.

Was it me or was Arteta by far the worst player on the pitch? Hell, even Naismith drew a foul.

Barkley was excellent. Considering the competition I thought he had his best game for us. Yes he did have that OMG WTF moment but you are going to have to expect that and he was able to shake it off.

Will we get 4th No, but this team isn't going to fold. Unfortunately Arsenal and Chelsea are also playing too well as of recent.

Thats 14pts out of 18. See what happens when you defend your free kicks like we have over the past month?

Wenger complaining about physicality? LOL, his boys were just as rough and grabbing our players all over the pitch. Its not like we are Stoke or anything, we have what Fellani, Vic and maybe Distin who are physical players?

 

[Tennessee Blue Mike]

Barkley needed the minutes he has tremendous upside. Another clean sheet. Proud of the lads.

 

[Jeff Jones]

Didn't realise squirting someone with water was classed as assault.

That's a very flippant attitude to take. It's no joke. He could've drowned him.

 

[CahillsCornerFlag]

Szczesny > Howard
Sagna > Coleman
Mertesacker < Jagielka
Koscielny > Distin
Gibbs < Baines
Arteta > Gibson
Wilshere > Fellaini
Walcott > Pienaar
Ramsey < Barkley
Cazorla > Mirallas
Giroud > Anichebe


Some poor site just posted this on FB. It didn't care to elaborate whether they meant generally or based on last nights performances, but its wrong anyway.

 

[arch stanton]

Walcott over pienaar FFS, Walcott is fast but he's no footballer

 

[somuchfun]

Arsenal is a joke. They only rely on long balls and snide tactics.

 

[The Esk]

Good post but spoiled somewhat by this strange comment.

Wenger has won plenty in his time at Arsenal.

Perhaps I should have said "Arsenal as a team carry the characteristics of their manager, technically gifted but ultimately no longer winners but whiners"

 

[throughthewindandthedrain]

Szczesny > Howard
Sagna > Coleman
Mertesacker < Jagielka
Koscielny > Distin
Gibbs < Baines
Arteta > Gibson
Wilshere > Fellaini
Walcott > Pienaar
Ramsey < Barkley
Cazorla > Mirallas
Giroud > Anichebe


Some poor site just posted this on FB. It didn't care to elaborate whether they meant generally or based on last nights performances, but its wrong anyway.

was thinking it was who cost the most, but probably only Fellaini would win that for us. Perry Groves just been on radio saying that there was nothing but decent tackles last night and ref shouldn't have been put under pressure to book people in what was basically a good game. Arsenal players had some dignity in the past

 

[Julian Carax]

If Giroud was half as good as he is handsome he'd be better than Messi.

 

[ijjysmith]

According to Soccerway,

Posssesion; Arsenal 45% - 55% Everton.

8 Corners 1

6 Shots on target 5

4 Shots wide 5

11 Fouls 12

1 Offsides 2

I beleive those possesion stats are incorrect.

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

After a night to sleep on it, I stick with my previous opinions really.

Decent point

Ref was pretty rubbish, but did us a favour to not send Gibbo off

Barkley should start against Sunderland

Jelavic should not play again until he bucks his ideas up and is prepared to put a shift in. "Jogging" after the ball the way he does is not acceptable

Great performance by Seamus

Jags should be a 1st choice England CB

Felli did a lot of good work in the middle

We'll need to win 4 out of the last 5 and draw the other to make CL in my opnion

 

[MartSlinger]

Special mention to Phil Jagielka though.
This season he has finally regained the form he had in 08/09 season. Really is one of the best CB's in the League! The £10-12m Arsenal offered for him a couple of seasons ago really was an insult.

 

[The Hibbert Agenda]

In isolation that was a really good performance and a good result.
Arsenal played excellently, and despite that we defended resolutely but without parking the bus, we still tried (in vain) to get the result.

My conclusions:

1) Good on Moyes for going for it. He had Heitinga, Neville and Hitz available on the bench, and 6 months ago you know they would have started instead of Barkley if Osman were injured. No use saying what if but maybe he should have been equally as proactive in our games vs Reading, Norwich, etc.

2) Barkley had a good game. He is clearly inexperienced, his decision-making in my opinion is quite poor. But this will improve only through more game-time. Hopefully we've crossed this threshold and he'll be appearing regularly.

3) Vic put in a good shift but just couldn't deal with being double-marked and having so much attention on him. I don't think he reverted to his old sulky self, I just think he was up against opponents that had his number yesterday. On the trajectory he's on he'll be able to deal with this better in time, but yesterday he simply wasn't good enough. Not a criticism of him, Jelavic would not have done anywhere near as well.

4) The look on the linesman's face when Vic went mad at him for awarding Arsenal the throw-in was one of the greatest things I've seen in a long time. Please tell me someone has a screenshot or a gif of it- the man was (rightfully) fearing for his life

5) Our defense has been fantastic recently. Funny to think we couldn't keep clean sheets at all this season. can't put my finger on why that would have been. this is how Everton defences work.

6) Pienaar was not at his best. We definitely need more options on the wings for next season. Oviedo? dunno.

7) Baines' set pieces last night were poor considering how they would have been our best chances to score. I know they helped us get our win vs QPR, but I don't think he beat the first man once last night.

8) I just don't see how we could have gotten the result last night aside for a bit of luck. Arsenal's defending and pressing nullified our general attacking play. Aside for deflected goals, or maybe an Arsenal player slipping, I don't think any of our players (with the exception of Pienaar) could have changed this by 'upping their game'- most of the players were already at this level.

9) 7 losses in 51, 5 more games to play. Let's get 15 points.


Sorry for taking up your time, in payment, please accept this:

 

[throughthewindandthedrain]

In isolation that was a really good performance and a good result.
Arsenal played excellently, and despite that we defended resolutely but without parking the bus, we still tried (in vain) to get the result.

My conclusions:

1) Good on Moyes for going for it. He had Heitinga, Neville and Hitz available on the bench, and 6 months ago you know they would have started instead of Barkley if Osman were injured. No use saying what if but maybe he should have been equally as proactive in our games vs Reading, Norwich, etc.

2) Barkley had a good game. He is clearly inexperienced, his decision-making in my opinion is quite poor. But this will improve only through more game-time. Hopefully we've crossed this threshold and he'll be appearing regularly.

3) Vic put in a good shift but just couldn't deal with being double-marked and having so much attention on him. I don't think he reverted to his old sulky self, I just think he was up against opponents that had his number yesterday. On the trajectory he's on he'll be able to deal with this better in time, but yesterday he simply wasn't good enough. Not a criticism of him, Jelavic would not have done anywhere near as well.

4) The look on the linesman's face when Vic went mad at him for awarding Arsenal the throw-in was one of the greatest things I've seen in a long time. Please tell me someone has a screenshot or a gif of it- the man was (rightfully) fearing for his life

5) Our defense has been fantastic recently. Funny to think we couldn't keep clean sheets at all this season. can't put my finger on why that would have been. this is how Everton defences work.

6) Pienaar was not at his best. We definitely need more options on the wings for next season. Oviedo? dunno.

7) Baines' set pieces last night were poor considering how they would have been our best chances to score. I know they helped us get our win vs QPR, but I don't think he beat the first man once last night.

8) I just don't see how we could have gotten the result last night aside for a bit of luck. Arsenal's defending and pressing nullified our general attacking play. Aside for deflected goals, or maybe an Arsenal player slipping, I don't think any of our players (with the exception of Pienaar) could have changed this by 'upping their game'- most of the players were already at this level.

9) 7 losses in 51, 5 more games to play. Let's get 15 points.


Sorry for taking up your time, in payment, please accept this:

good analysis. they had clearly been watching and known who they had to keep quiet. a compliment we will have to take but Mirrallas and Anichebe are growing all the time. Baines looked a little out of sorts and tense last couple of games, hope its just flu or something. think big part of improved defence is anichebe helping out defending set pieces which means you lose an outlet when clearing. still needs solving

 

[Philw]

In isolation that was a really good performance and a good result.
Arsenal played excellently, and despite that we defended resolutely but without parking the bus, we still tried (in vain) to get the result.

My conclusions:

1) Good on Moyes for going for it. He had Heitinga, Neville and Hitz available on the bench, and 6 months ago you know they would have started instead of Barkley if Osman were injured. No use saying what if but maybe he should have been equally as proactive in our games vs Reading, Norwich, etc.

2) Barkley had a good game. He is clearly inexperienced, his decision-making in my opinion is quite poor. But this will improve only through more game-time. Hopefully we've crossed this threshold and he'll be appearing regularly.

3) Vic put in a good shift but just couldn't deal with being double-marked and having so much attention on him. I don't think he reverted to his old sulky self, I just think he was up against opponents that had his number yesterday. On the trajectory he's on he'll be able to deal with this better in time, but yesterday he simply wasn't good enough. Not a criticism of him, Jelavic would not have done anywhere near as well.

4) The look on the linesman's face when Vic went mad at him for awarding Arsenal the throw-in was one of the greatest things I've seen in a long time. Please tell me someone has a screenshot or a gif of it- the man was (rightfully) fearing for his life

5) Our defense has been fantastic recently. Funny to think we couldn't keep clean sheets at all this season. can't put my finger on why that would have been. this is how Everton defences work.

6) Pienaar was not at his best. We definitely need more options on the wings for next season. Oviedo? dunno.

7) Baines' set pieces last night were poor considering how they would have been our best chances to score. I know they helped us get our win vs QPR, but I don't think he beat the first man once last night.

8) I just don't see how we could have gotten the result last night aside for a bit of luck. Arsenal's defending and pressing nullified our general attacking play. Aside for deflected goals, or maybe an Arsenal player slipping, I don't think any of our players (with the exception of Pienaar) could have changed this by 'upping their game'- most of the players were already at this level.

9) 7 losses in 51, 5 more games to play. Let's get 15 points.


Sorry for taking up your time, in payment, please accept this:

Pienaar should have scored early on, and Barkley's effort could easily have gone in.