Poor result today, after being 2-0 up. I would have been happy enough with the draw normally but we really needed to win this match and we gave away our lead and needed to come from behind! However given how we played and how Fulham played it was not an unfair result and credit to them. Gutted about the missed penalty... wth did Arteta take it? Should've left it for Giroud (who was on a hatrick incidentally). Negatives: Midfield non-existent, Arteta was off his game today and it showed, in the same way it did when we missed him for Norwich (3-3) and Wigan (1-2) at the back end of last season. Coquelin was unspeakably bad. We missed Wilshere already. What we really need though is someone in the Patrick Vieira role, to break up play. The way Arteta blundered into the back of the Fulham player to give away a penalty was shambolic. I hope he has a better game against Spurs. We need him at his best. Defence was a shambles but they got no help from the midfield. Vermaelen is not a natural left back and it showed... he was roasted for the second goal. Sorry, not good enough. We need a new left back, or cover for Gibbs who is injured far too often. First goal was awful defending, time and time again we have been caught out in this way from set pieces this season. I could mention countless examples. Is Wenger learning? Evidently not. Until the zonal marking situation is remedied we will continue to leak goals from those situations. Positives: Giroud, fine performance today, good movement and two good headed goals. Looked a threat throughout. One example that stood out to me was his strength when running at the Fulham back four, holding off the Fulham player and unleashing a ferocious shot that the goalkeeper had to parry away. It helps when he has the right service. Which brings me to the next point. Walcott had a great game today, too. I noticed he has added one or two things to his game and that has helped our overall forward play. 1. He on more than one occassion elected to take on his man rather than pass. In other words he has become selfish, a necessary attribute in a striker. 2. He provided two good crosses for Giroud's goals. His crossing and composure looked good, and he looked more effective for it. He looks dangerous from indirect free kicks and put on or two good balls into the box. In general, we seemed to create more aerially today than we have for a long time. Sadly our forward play was let down by the woeful defending from both crosses and set pieces. You cannot give away three goals, to any side and expect to win. This was a good Fulham outfit but we really should be beating these kinds of teams. I am worried for our chances of a top 4 finish this season, it must be said. We need to string a run of results together in the league, starting with Spurs next week and many improvements have to be made before that game. Fortunately as much as the International break disrupted our momentum last time, it may prove a welcome distraction this time. Let's hope we return with renewed vigour for that London derby as it's a must win game if we are to get anything from this season.
Agreed on Giroud. Always knew Giroud was excellent in the air, so was not surprised by his goals, but I loved the bit when he turned and held off two defenders before hitting a very good shot that was well saved by their keeper. That piece of play showed a different side to Giroud and today he more complete. Hopefully he turns up in this sort of form next Saturday.
