What we needed yesterday was (in order): three points; a more committed performance; a more attacking performance; a supportive crowd; a clean sheet.
It’s fair to say we achieved all five, even though things didn’t always click.
All game the players put in a massive shift, pressing West Brom deep in their half, tracking back and busting a gut to make space when we had the ball.
In defence we were hardly troubled (Szczesny parried one long shot and was quick out of his goal to snuff out another attack, and I remember one unchallenged header in the box towards the end from which the visitors probably should have scored).
In the end a result of five-nil to the Arsenal would not have been unjust.
We created numerous chances (the BBC stats say we had 16 shots on target – but presumably that figure does not include the several times we slid balls across the face of goal only for no-one to quite get on the end of them).
There were some great moments of interplay between the forwards as well as many occasions where the wavelengths were not quite in tune. There is still a lot of work to do, but what is indisputable is that we carved open West Brom time after time and should have had more goals.
On the other hand, it was a pretty poor display from the Baggies who, several times, were kind enough to simply pass the ball to our players from unchallenged positions.
The first penalty was controversial. In the ground it looked bang-on and I have only seen a replay once, where I thought the defender’s toe caught Santi’s shinpad (although not hard enough to upend him). The consensus seems to be that Santi dived. If so, I don’t approve but we’ve been on the wrong end of enough penalty-dives recently (Bale and Young last season to name but two) that I’m not going to lose sleep over it. Of course, Santi is foreign and an Arsenal players, so the media will probably go to town on him.
The second penalty was less controversial and well done Mikel Arteta for putting them both away so tidily (especially when you remember that he missed that last minute penalty against Fulham). Giroud seemed to be wanting to take the second one, but Arteta was having none of it. He had something to prove and prove it he did.
The atmosphere at the ground was good with plenty of noise from the home fans and (from where I was sitting) barely a squeak from the West Brom fans.
The relentless teasing of West Brom goalie Myhill who went from ludicrous time wasting to frantically trying to speed things up once the Baggies went behind was particularly enjoyable.
Bottom line: a good day at the office.
Player Ratings:
Szczesny: didn’t have much to do but when he was called on he was impeccable. A very reassuring presence. 8
Sagna: very solid at the back but some of his passing and crossing was erratic. 6
Mertesacker: such a reliable figure at centre back. He was outstanding once again. 8
Vermaelen: put in another tidy performance following on from a good showing in Greece. He’s getting his form back together. 7
Gibbs: fine game from Gibbs, who has made the left back spot his own. He was defensively secure and contributed plenty going forwards. 7.5
Arteta: did a great job of fighting and competing for every ball. Passing was excellent as ever and two good penalties. 8
Wilshere: he is improving game by game and yesterday showed why we are right to be so excited about him. His understanding with his team mates can still get better, but his touch, turns and forward bursts are a joy to watch and dangerous for the opposition. 8 (MoTM)
Cazorla: good creative work throughout the game and also put in a shift pressing the WBA defenders when they had the possession. Let’s not mention the dive. Whoops, I just have. 7
Oxlade-Chamberlain: showed some good moments in the second half after a quiet first period. You feel he can do more, but he is young and improving. 6
Gervinho: the current hate figure for many fans (must be nice for Ramsey to see someone else copping the heat for a change). He worked his socks off yesterday and created numerous goalscoring chances. The fact that players were an inch or two off converting them is irrelevant. If he keeps playing like that he will get many assists this season. However, I suspect it’s more likely that elements of our support will have crushed him before then by howling at every mistake (while tolerating similar errors from others). 8
Giroud: led the line very well, had some sublime touches and was occasionally out of sync with his colleagues. Work effort outstanding. 7.5
Subs
Coquelin: looked sharp and hungry.
Rosicky: picked up where he left off in Greece.
Podolski: looked lively; missed a sitter.
RockyLives
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
FIRST!!!
He dived.
Tut-tut. Shameful.
No excuses.
Not even from Chas. 🙂
If he deliberately dived that must be one of the best I’ve seen.
The second penalty is really funny. Ox is holding his hand up and looking for the referee as soon as he starts going down.
Hi Rocky, great to see you again yesterday and thanks for stepping in with the match report.
You tell it as I saw it also. I couln’t really argue with MoTD’s assessment either.
One thing to remember is that bar possibly Walcott, that was our strongest team yesterday so the improvement we saw needs to continue. The understanding between the midfield 3 is all important and if that really kicks in we will create numerous chances against the best … all we need is someone to finish them off.
Should we bring in a DM or striker as top priority … I just don’t know?
As regards the ‘dive’, I think Cazorla saw the swinging leg coming in at shin height and anticipated a painful contact and so jumped out of the way to avoid injury 🙄
Rocky,
Thanks for a hastily prepared but amazingly comprehensive match report.
Weren’t West Brom dire? I assumed they had got to where they are in the table by playing some good stuff. Presumably they have but now with a couple of defeats on the bounce it’s time for Clarke to start trying to grind out away points. I don’t think the 1st penalty changed how the game was ever going to finish as West Brom never looked in it, but we’ll never know.
Sending the goalie out to waste time from the kick-off, only makes the non-penalty a karmic judgement from the footballing gods.
Santi did appear to go down without being touched.
However (here we go, Big Al 🙂 ), Reid had intended to foul Cazorla as you can see from the big swipe of his left foot.
Cazorla anticipated the foul but not that Reid would be incompetent enough to miss completely.
Hahahahahahaha.
The Popov dive when hardly touched by The Ox in the run up to the 2nd pen, again was karmic justice for the only side trying to win the game. How it didn’t finish 4 or 5 nil is anybody’s guess.
Am an Arsenal fan but Santi. Carzola dived! No need dancing around it! However, this is the best rating I have seen since yesterday. My only disagreement is Giroud’s rating; a 6 would have been enough cos he didn’t contribute too much. He did put in a shift but to rate him on per with Gibbs and above Arteta who were better than him on the day is being too generous. Anyways, good job as your analysis is very good. Cheers
Hi
Some of the decisions we got yesterday but that won’t happen every game.
I’m happy with 3 points and a win after four straight defeats,lets not complain and look forward to Bradford Shitty in the worthless cup on Tuesday
AW likes to play the young guns in these matches and I enjoy watching them play.
Catch u all later,much love
Sheep.
Rocky Lives,
A match report that is every bit as good as all your previous scribing.
I had an internet link that was a bit blurry — well very blurry — but I could clearly see that Santi’s toe was in danger of decapitation (?) tho’ others will say it did not having a leg to stand on. In any case, Santi deserved the penalty for the graceful, twisting, pike dive from a standing start!
Having a quick look at other comments earlier (some of them anyway) 🙂 it seems I am the only one to have a poor impression of the attributes the Gerv brings to the party, and to have said so.
Am I the malcontent you referred to in the Post? Does my opinion brand me as a Gervinho hater? Oh, dear.
This definition could change everything for me. I don’t think much of my brother’s chess playing skills either (that boy just does not concentrate). I’m not looking forward to having to own up to being a ‘brother hater’. Still, I have to call it as I see it. Don’t you just hate having to do that? 😀
Ambitious Platini still driven to succeed
The former European Player of the Year is reaching comparable heights as a football administrator but the Uefa president is not loved by all
From the BBC. What a load of dickheads. about time it was scrapped and do away with the license fee.
Great quick job Rocky, how you can come up with that in a moments time is beyond me.
(Sorry best I could find)
@ GM
I hadn’t noticed the ox arm in the arm bit haha cheers that is hilarious!
Atkinson is on for manu. webb must be suspended
Sheep,
I am as fond of quadrupedal, ruminant mammals as the next man, but I am a little non-plussed by the amorous sign offs on your comments.
My lamb chops normally just lie there saying ‘eat me, I’m delicious!’ If any of them ask me for a date I will have a bone to chew with them! 😆
Cheers Red Arse.
Just rounded my flock up with my mutt,put on tv check man v man score and turned it over
Much sadness
SH
Hart is rubbish
Invincibles Day is on.
They are giving valencia too much space. I’m only watching in case the (alleged) rapist gets a serious injury
Big Al (you’re going to love this)
I keep seeing everywhere that there was no contact therefore it’s a pen.
It’s interesting that in the rules of the game there is no mention of contact. In actual fact, the rules say a direct free-kick (penalty in the area) can be awarded if
“…… a player commits any of the following seven offences in a manner considered by the referee to be careless, reckless or using excessive force:
1) kicks or attempts to kick an opponent
2) trips or attempts to trip an opponent
3) etc. ”
http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/footballdevelopment/technicalsupport/refereeing/laws-of-the-game/law/newsid=1290868.html
The use of the word “attempts” implies no contact is necessary.
Could anyone deny Reid attempted to kick/trip Cazorla?
Haha. I could prove black is white and white is black. 🙂
Quote from Lawrenson – “Kolo Toure looks out of shape, but if you also look at Samir Nasri now, he looks like he has been swallowing his money. He used to be a waif.” Hilarious!
gm,
I think he’s well overdue a tweak.
I think wanting it to happen too much might be what’s stopping it happening. 🙂
You’d think Lawrenson would have realised that the FFBW has always had un grand derriere. Swallowing his money. ROLF.
As for Toure, only Razor Ruddock has ever been bigger in the rump department.
That was impendent to take ballotti off
That was typical clichy. glad we got rid of him. Hate that dutch bastard so much.
Did plug punch himself in the eye when he lifted his shirt up?
We should have sold BSR to manure for £60m – he’s been worth that much to them this season 😦
I thought he did gonner I call him
Rio turd-in-hand.
Haven’t seen game today but just saw this onTwitter from one of our Academy players:
I like when they act like fans…..something tells me Mr Nasri isn’t popular at the Emirates.
Nice report Rocky, the support definitely seemed more up for it and it seemed to transfer to the players. A good days work and a good result for the team.
Here’s a question, would Brendan Rodgers sign Steven Gerard if he was 25 and not at Liverpool? The answer to that highlights why we (England) have been so unsuccessful Internationally.
ROLF for Spuds 1-0 up on 80 minutes, managed to lose it….. 🙂
May I echo the main thrust of the comments and say I think that the succinct report hits the nail on the head.
We were not great but we were better.
What some who were unable to attend the game may not know is that Gervinho, when substituted, got a standing ovation from a large section of the crowd
Just got on…. Not a dive!! If you look at it he is trying to avoid a challange, if their would of been contact and it would of been a foul and the possibility of a knock. Sometimes intent by defenders should be punished. Well thats my justification. But before commenting on this watch ther incident again with the above in mind.
if their would should of read “if he had not”
Thanks for all the comments.
Redders
I am not including you among the Gerv haters because I know if you were at the ground you would not be booing him. Also, I was assessing only his performance in yesterday’s game. So when you say “it seems I am the only one to have a poor impression of the attributes the Gerv brings to the party” I’m sure that’s not true. He can be infuriating (against Olympiacos I was tearing my hair out) but he has also had some very good games this season. I just worry that if the crowd get on him too much it will make him worse, not better. As LB says, he got a very good round of applause on leaving the field.
Rasp
BSR will have been worth all of 60 mill if ManUre win the title this year. We so should have made him see out his last year.
And it’s Invincibles Day!!!
Can anyone remember who (of the regulars on here) came up with the suggestion of ID a while back? It should definitely be tomorrow’s headline Post (“Happy Invincibles Day”).
I said it yesterday, but I’ll say it again: it was so nice to see some of the AA-ers in the flesh (oo-er). A very fine bunch of people. It would be great to arrange a proper AA get-together some time…
Yugo
Thanks for the nice comment. On reflection I would knock a point off Giroud because he did not merit more than Arteta and Gibbo, but it’s a tough job up front in a team like ours and he did really well.
We’re 2 off 4th now.
That’s the spirit GM!
Some winnable games coming up – but only if we show the work rate we did yesterday.
Rocket,
I know you would not have had me in mind when writing the Post. (I am not one of life’s haters). 🙂
I was being flippant, and as these things go, even on my blurry feed, yesterday was one of the Gerv’s more purposeful games, and credit to him where it is due.
Redders
This line from Arseblog made me laugh:
“Gervinho himself had two good chances. One, a header, from the penalty spot which as you’ll expect went out for a corner to West Brom…”
Can’t blame him for that, Rocky, he sometimes forgets which way he put his wig on, and ………………. 😆
BTW, I am running away with the predictions table. 😛
Good weekend for Arsenal, we are now only 5 points out of 3rd and 2 points out of 4th.
RA/Rocky,
In many ways Gervinho reminds me of Theo (prior to this season) he runs out of ideas, ends up in blind alleys and too many plays break down due to him. Like Walcott he cannot be faulted for effort but he certainly can for lack of end results.
I’m not a hater of Gervinho but he sure frustrates me…………
Hi Rocky, if you took the points off manu that BSR has given them by scoring late winners and put them on our points total, we’d be equal top and they’d be in 4th 😆
I agree, next time you’re over we should meet up for a proper get together. I know you’ve yet to meet Raddy and a few others so we’ll have to see if we can’t persuade them to make the trip at the same time.
That’s probably what I think too, GN5. 🙂
You be careful taking up Rocky’s suggestion for a meet-up.
You know he played Kaa the sneaky, slithery, seductive snake [how’s that for alliteration? 😆 ]
His eyes start to go in huge colored spirals if you gaze into them, and you would be lucky not to end up as a Raspy Kebob!
Rasp
I’ve popped one in drafts for tomorrow.
Not about Invincibles Day though, so someone might still want to write that.
Thanks Rocky, I’m hoping we’ll get to celebrate St Totteringham’s Day before the End of Feb
Who is BSR I think it’s some name for
Robin van traitor
Much love hagger
BSR = Brave Sir Robin 😕
Here you go, Sheep
ha, I just thought, why have I posted that twice?
GN5,
Did you see that you got 2 right and 4 wrong from your predictions the other day?
So pleased you got the Arse result incorrect. 🙂
Gervinho missed a sitter, Podolski missed a sitter and Wilshere missed a sitter………….guess which player got discribed as useless?
Ramsey?
Cheers brave sir robin my arse
I was gutted when the traitor got the winner today.
I was a big fan of him in a way I don’t blame him,if some one offered me to go and work for another job for double my wages I’d go.
And no I’m not a sheep farmer.
Much love sheep
Hi Rocky. ime dissapointed i didnt get a chance to get to the Tavern to meet you in person. Had so many things to do that i just about got to my seat for kick off.
It probably wouldnt have done any good anyway. Everytime i go there both Peaches and Rasp like to have me for themselves. Rasp is so enamoured with all my views on Arsenal that he hangs on everyword i say. The last time i was there he asked if he could take some notes and for the last few weeks has been using them in his comments on AA.
As you know Peaches is a very beutiful women and like most good looking ladies she has fallen for my irresistable charm and good looks. You may have noticed a feint glimpse of sadness in her on Saturday. Thats because i wasnt there.
Anyway, away from my 2nd favourite subject (myself hahahaha). to my first. I thought we played very well and totaly deserved our victory. We were more aggresive when not in possesion, pressing our oppenents and winning it back. We had more fluidity to our passing and movement and looked like our old selves.
Wilshere was incredible. GN5 reckons hes the new Alex James, so who am i to disagree.
Just a quick one on Gervino. He may sting like a butterfly but he also floats like one. His movement off the ball is simply incredible and gives the other players options for a pass or to move into gaps.Frustrating yes, but this current team, especialy with the big man up front, desperatly needs that Gerv movement.
Don’t go there with arron
Sorry chas, I stepped into your territory … should have known you’d provide the link 😕
Thanks for the assists widget info, it’s up there on the right.
😆 TMHT, you are my inspiration 🙄
Rasp,
Not my territory at all, besides how were you to know I happened to be looking at the site?
Apparently Campbell is starting for Betis v Barca if anyone still wants to watch more footy.
http://www.wiziwig.tv/broadcast.php?matchid=180990&part=sports
He’s playing I’m watching it on sky. Mrs sheep watching X factor.
I’d rather go gay than watch X factors
Much love SH
Campbell looks ok
You’re supposed to be gay to watch X factor
I look gay that’s why I don’t watch it .
Cese playing well
Who got kicked out on Strictly?
Hahahaha.
Cesc playing well in the showers?
No idea
Don’t watch it
Is that cos you’re not gay?
Barca are shite. We’ll batter them at the end of Feb.
Question for my follow gunners and an honest answer
Who the most famous person u have ever meet.
Hit me with an answer.?
I’m shooting zombies on my wii. They’re all called robin
Yes chas messi just beat gerd mullets record.
Kiera Knightly or Andy Warhol 🙂
Who’s Kiera I know who any is
Andi
Rocky is the most famous person I’ve ever met.
G5 u got a x box
The real rocky Stallone
Brb 5
Sheep got loose
SH
Good video ..enjoyed that
Most famous person I met was Johnny Vagas he was filming bennidorm the series and SH was there on hols .
He sat on a bench and had a fag with me ,for the Americans a fag is a smoke.
He was really down to earth,nice fellow.
I once met shaking Stevens but he was famous for 4 ears
Much love SH
Messi is quite good.
Most famous person? I have met both The Queen and Rasp (not at the same time)
Evening all.
The most famous person I ever met….let me think Does 4 days count 🙂
34 years on we still meet daily 🙂
I am totally confused why people abuse gerv takes 3 defenders out when he has the ball. Goes past defenders like a knife through butter looks up no one there ? Beats the same defender again still no one there loses the ball gets slated ask Eden hazard who he most liked playing with our home form is down to ignorant home support slating our players Liverpool man city shalka away backs up my view
Sheepy, i met Tony Blair when he was still Prime Minister. I got into an argument with him about how my Local Council refused my rear extension because of objections by a deranged neighbour. Everyone else was asking him stupid questions about the economy, NHS, wars etc. I just wanted to know what he was going to do about my rear. At the end a couple of security guards got me into a headlock and through me out. hahahaha
I’ve met loads of queens 🙂
No way hair
I also met Colin jones who’s he .
Quick wiki pedia it
Sh
Seen a few famous ones.
Sat next to George Michael at Arsenal v Villa in 87. Though I didn’t realise until my dad told me in the second half.
Met quite a few politicians in a previous life but my favourite was beating Neil Kinnock to the bar at Labour Party conference along with Billy Bragg.
Met Keown and Parlour at members day.
Saw comedian Micky Flanagan in Crouch End today.
What would you team be for Tuesday?
Ok im off
Sheep got out swansea not happy.
Does Maggie Thatcher in 10 Downing st count?
She certainly does dandan.
Most famous footballer I have met? Too many to choose from;
Bob Wilson (and his lovely wife who used to pick me up from Cockfosters tube station when he ran his goalkeeping school at Trent Park)
Joe Corrigan (at same school)
Pat Jennings (in M&S)
Ossie Ardiles and a load of other Spuds who joined him in an ex Spud XI game.
Kerry Dixon (when he was player manager for the opposition (think it was Hayes or maybe Borehamwood).
Glen Hoddle and George Graham (in Spuds Directors/Managers bar)
None will remember me 🙂
Oh and John Motson (who won’t remember me either), he played up front in a charity game….didn’t look too impressed when one lad told him gantry was on roof of the Clubhouse 🙂
Abiding memory of Ossie was that he smoked like a chimney, before and after the game. After one attack he wheezed his way past me back up the pitch 🙂
They were organised by John Pratt, he lived up to his name.
How about telling us the formation and who played where please?
Wombledin insightful as ever.
I know John Hartson.
Night
Mucho Love
SH
Rocky……..saying.support and AAA booing whiners in the same sentence is an oxymoron…..like the AAA’s!
Perhaps you’d like to explain that WeeDonald?
Rasp
I take it to mean that people who boo our players cannot call themselves supporters.
(I know we don’t use epithets like AAA on here, however).
Chas re your 7:42pm – Of course I know my accuracy rate – I have a spreadshhet to keep track.
To be absolutely correct on the weekend I got 3 right and 4 wrong for a measly 43% accuracy rate.. But we still ended up in a better position so I hope my poor forecasting continues…….
Instead of checking my numbers why don’t you take me on for the next games – my predictions are already on record – what are your’s?
Morning all.
Rocky,
Thanks for the match report.
So, we’ve gone from the odd shot on goal per game, to 16. Wow, that is a massive improvement. Begs the question why is it so long since we scored a goal from open play?
How much do we miss Theo?
Oh, and, should Pod be given a chance to play central?
GN5,
To be absolutely correct, you got 2 right and 4 wrong as I said.
Chelsea right
Everton/spuds right
Arse/West Brom wrong
Swansea/Norwich wrong
Stoke/Villa wrong
West Ham/Liverpool wrong
This will be the last time I check your predictions though. 🙂
Morning all
Kelsey
You won with Thatcher inside No10, although Sheeps’ Shakin’ Stevens ran you a very close second 🙂
More coffee for you Micky, you just snubbed DanDan
Oh no Exile, now you are going to tell me dandan met Bart Simpson
Sorry dandan, you win which makes Kelsey a Looooser
We create more shots on goal when Gerv plays left than when Pod is out there. True?
Wouldn’t surprise me.
Chas
I have just seen your answer to my question………Ramsey!
That is very funny, made me laugh.
Micky. HOw could DD win with a measly PM when I have met Her Maj?
Bloody hell Daddy
That relegates dandan into the Kelsey lead Looser camp
Precisely. She is Premiership alongside Elvis and Mandela and Ant and Dec
Peter Andrey digging allotment next to mine last year
John Contey, can’t remember much too shaken
Twiggy, Dame Judy Dench, that Irish gay from Culture Club
oh AND Roy Keane
Yasser Arafat some almost years ago
Ah ha Daddy,
I’ve done Mandela, but not Antoine Dec. Premiership qualification for me?
Evonne,
That puts you in The Conference League as far as I’m concerned 🙂
oh yeah? how about shagging Mark lester, the original Oliver Twist?
Who?
(As they cry at opposition substitutions)
just as well I didn’t 🙂 my friend did
Phew Evonne,
Bit like saying you shagged Dave from No22
who told you??!!!
Dave
Morning all, I can trump the lot of you …. I’ve met god, he came in my place of work with his wife and child. I got his autograph – said it was for my daughter 🙄
Rasp
I’ve been wondering when He From On High would put in an appearance 🙂
oh yeah, I met God too when my Nick was with the junior Gunners holiday camp. I didn’t ask for his autograph, didn’t even know who he was, he has just joined the AFC
Definitely Micky. Champions League qualification.
The Dalai Lama has smiled at me in a hotel lobby but no conversation so it isn’t really a “meeting” is it
Did any of you watch a fantastic programme last nigth about greatest footballing moments? God had his spot there, of course
Haha Micky, there’s nowhere to go after that one. I’ve also met/spoken to Pat Rice, Spunky, the Romford Pele and Gary Mabbut at my work – I have to say the latter is a top bloke despite being an ex spud. PR is my favourite though, no airs or graces whereas DB/god was a bit peeved but obliged reluctantly with the autograph.
Rasp. The Big Man. Mary and JC all in your place at the same time-
You are blessed
Raddy, Pete Townsend complimented me on my guitar work at a gig, that’s my top muso. My first and only contract was with a new young entrepreneur by the name of Michael Grade.
don’t watch it if you hate ManU more than you like the beautiful game:
Raddy,
The Dalai Lama has only got one look, and that’s Smiley. So No, it doesn’t count.
Yea and you know what an obnoxious lot buddhists are 😦
Moody, the lot of them. ROLF
Did I read correctly? did eveonne admit to shagging Mark Lester? … not something I’d brag about 😆
😀
Rasp 9.25 & Dave at No 22. Gets about a bit our evonne
Rasp 9.17. That is humungously impressive. Big Nose is one of my all time heroes and not a man to lightly give compliments.
you wish Raddy 🙂
superb:
Raddy
You absolutely do not want to hear what Trevor at 19b has to say on the matter
I once spilled coffee on the Chuckle Brothers……they weren’t amused.
😉
Morning all
New Post ………………….