Just got back from the game, obviously disappointed to drop 2 points, but I think we all knew we'd eventually drop some points, Saturday's result will tell us how bad this draw is. I'm generally more disappointed with our form against the big teams this season, both home and away, our record has been piss poor. At the Emirates the only big team near us that we managed to beat was Spurs, other than that, we lost to City, Chelsea, drew to Liverpool, and now Everton, we've been really bad against the big sides. I think that just shows we are lacking the cutting edge and needed quality, Giroud is not good enough to be our main striker, what a frustrating game from him 2day.
I mean I know that, it just felt like you were stating the obvious. Sorry for any misunderstandings, I'm tired, sick, and I have alot of work tonight.
sorry to rub you up the wrong way. I was honestly surprised by that stat, as arsenal are a better team than that, and my snark was more inspired by a general annoyance about Norwich being easily beatable, unlike good teams (smacked of arrogance when we shared the points this season) But yeah, your guys thread, and late and tired here too.
The reason for our struggle against big teams is that we don't have any one player capable of producing a moment of magic when required. Most of our players are decent but none have the x-factor to turn a game on it's head when we really need something special. We need another Henry, RVP, a world class player which we lack.
Not sure if it's been mentioned in the post match analysis on here, but Everton were very fortunate not to be down to ten men in the first half, Gibson should have walked and the ref bottled it. If he had done his job properly, then this game could have had a very different outcome.
Ramsey was good, because it was the kind of game that suits him, it just highlited his battling qualities. For the same reason Cazorla could not create much, he struggles against physical sides that know how to press effectively in midfield. Everton were very strong, physical, agressive and effective without the ball, they were pressing all over the pitch, I think thier intimidating tactics actually worked, there were several moments when some players (Walcott mostly) just hid from the ball, they did not want it. Arsenal must learn from that. Wilshere was definitely targeterd, he is brave but small and a bigger player can easily block him, and it happens again and again. Jack needs protection, and I am not talking about the referee, I am talkind about a Vieira style of DM who would not tolerate that kind of aggression towards his playmaker. Ramsey is a fighter, he did not shy away and all kudos for that. And we badly need that kind of a player in our midfield. But he is still young and not that kind of Vieira-like player who the opposition would rather not mess with. Ramsey is not a creative genius, and he is often found wanting in a more tactical game when great vision and clever decision making come to the fore, but he has his qualities, and can shine in matches like that one. But he is yet way too nice to be a proper midfield enforcer. Fellani targeted Wilshere from the start , that was evident. And there was noone in red and white to show Fellani his place. First half was not a football but a battle - in a good sense, because Everton is much more clever than Norwich or Stoke. But we kind of lost it because we do not have players who can not only stand up to it, but retaliate and bully their opponents in return. That was not a problem with the Invincibles.
That old horse you flogged to death has already been served up as horsemeat by you on a number of occasions.
To be fair, Fellani along with a couple of others were lucky not to get booked in that first half too. Whether or not Gibson's first offence was 'fair' it doesn't really matter, the ref decided to book him, so the second should also have been a yellow and a subsequent red. The ref bottled that decision and with it, probably saved your game - although credit is due to Everton for their overall game.
Maybe we need Frimpong in the ranks for games like that. Hes the only player I can think of that we've got whos big and strong enough to deal with Fellani, although he might of ended up with a red card like Gibson should have had.
