But that's life at a top club; they've got good players whose failings have been more psychological than their quality as footballers.
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The duo put in a solid shift midweek against Olympiacos and while they did give a good account of themselves against Spurs, the lack of understanding among the four members of the Arsenal back line was there for all to see. Song is not a centre-back predominantly and this was just his third match in the past two seasons playing in defense. Mertesacker was playing only his sixth game in an Arsenal jersey and only his third alongside Gibbs.
Arsenal went into halftime with a one-goal deficit but with just six minutes of the second half gone, the Gunners found themselves back on level terms. The Welsh teenager has endured a tumultuous season so far with some seeing him as being below par this season while I see him as a victim of the formation Wenger is employing. When Wenger did employ the like he did against Bolton, Ramsey did thrive and that formation is the key to Ramsey thriving.
Despite getting on the scoresheet, not many have been too pleased with the Welsh midfielder, but I think he deserves some more time and when played ahead of Arteta and the defensive midfielder he will thrive. Another overwhelming positive to take away from the match was the performance of Francis Coquelin.
We have been talking about Frimpong all season with his enthusiastic and energy-packed displays but having played three matches, Coquelin has impressed in all three. His feat becomes even more special considering that two of the starts came against Manchester United and Spurs with both being away matches.
Against the Red Devils it was after his substitution that Arsenal fell apart completely and he showed his quality at White Hart Lane. The loan spell at Lorient seems to have benefitted him hugely. The winner scored by Kyle Walker was hugely reminiscent of the goal scored by another youngster at the very same ground.
Danny Rose had scored a belter in the season and even in that case there was a slight error on the part of the goalkeeper. This is terrific stuff. I won't do a joke again. It's clipped towards the near post, flicked on dangerously by Steve Bould Benatia, and headed clear at the far post by Vermaelen. As you may have noticed with Anderson, the return to top form from cruciate-ligament injuries takes time. Frimpong's lost season stands mute against of the barrage of "Wenger's too [fill in your adjectives here] to buy", "Arsenal need [more adjectives here] in midfield" bleating.
Wenger actually does know something about the young players he's trying to bring through. At this rate though they may end up run down like Wilshere was last year. The workload is the only part of the "man's game" cliche that has any real truth to it.
They needed that as the game was a little too scattered for comfort. Gervinho eventually gives the ball away to Isla, who tries to go long to Di Natale.
He fails to control an awkward ball and we're back where we started, with Arsenal in possession. Udinese Arsenal Di Natale 39 What a goal. What a lovely goalscorer's goal from Antonio Di Natale. Pinzi picked up the ball 35 yards from goal, in a central position, and lifted an angled reverse pass towards Di Natale, who had backpedalled instinctively away from Djourou.
He was 15 yards from goal, with no pace in his body or on the ball to work with, but he strained his neck muscles to place a looping header over Szczesny and in off the far post. There will be many more eye-catching goals this season, but there will be few more accomplished finishes. Gerd Muller would have been proud of that. He might have done better there. Arsenal really, really, really need half time now. Van Persie booms it way beyond the far post, and Song heads wide.
That should be it for the half. Half time: Udinese Arsenal An excellent half of retro football. What more do you want, a precis? Half-time chit-chat "When Di Natale is mentioned his name makes me think of a pregnant man," chirps Ian Copestake. The last time Arsenal failed to reach the group stages of the Champions League was If they lose here that will be used to damn him, when really it should be used to defend him.
He has given the club an equilibrium that was unimaginable before he arrived. Arsenal have finished in the top four in each of the last 15 seasons; before that their best run was five years in a row. Tomas Rosicky has come on for Emmanuel Frimpong, which is a slight surprise I suppose. It was the sort of goal only a natural goalscorer would score, in terms of the awareness, the reaction speed, the imagination and the precision of the finish.
Something like that anyway. I'm just typing any old nonsense and hoping some of it sticks. Ramsey has dropped deeper and now Rosicky is playing behind Van Persie.
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