Five Straight!

Arsenal has won its fifth in a row in the Premiership, taking down Norwich City 2-1. The score really should have been at least 4 or 5-1 and the one goal allowed was pretty poor defending from Mertesacker, but we look increasingly dangerous going forward and have started to shore up our defense more and more each week. First to the scorecard and then some thoughts ...

Van Persie: is it really surprising to see Van Persie score a brace these days? He already has 13 this year and has just become the 3rd player in Premier history to score over 30 in a calendar year. 

Walcott: had a really active and impressive game. Maybe should have put one in the net, but had one taken off the line by the defender and another hit the post. He seems to have found a new level in the past few weeks (particularly against Chelsea and today) and is answering his critics, who include me, on the field.

Gervinho: really should have had a hat trick. He has got to get more clinical in his  finish and final third passing. He had a tap in after a nice turn past the goalie and then found the one spot that was not a goal (namely in the diving backwards goalee’s hands). I like him as a player, but sometimes seems too predictable.

Arteta & Ramsey: solid games for both, but magic from neither. They controlled the midfield for much of the game and Ramsey looked dangerous at times, though his passing in the final third was occasionally suspect.

Song: a really average game for him. I’m sure it will show a higher pass completion percentage than he deserves, given some pit-pat passes toward the end, and did come up with the assist on the second RVP goal, but far too many errant passes and one almost cost us a goal going the other way.

Santos: really strong on the ball and had a decent shot that swung wide, but has to be careful coming forward, as he too often appears to leave a hole in the back. Did have some nice interceptions though and a relatively strong game.

Vermaelen: strong as usual in the back. The heart of our defense.

Koscielny: moved to right back for a game and seemed to comport himself well. Good forward movement at times and generally held Norwich in check.

Mertesacker: I am becoming increasingly worried that he will not be a top defender in the Premiership. I heard that Arsene just said he won’t go for Cahill in the January, which is disappointing, but I’m hoping he does put in a bid for Belgian Jan Verhoeven. Mertesacker is just too slow coming back at times and his failure to clear gave Norwich an unlikely 1-0 lead. Needs to do better – and I do have to say I think Vermaelen Koscielny appears to be the best option at present (I guess with Djourou or Jenkinson on the right).

I think the team is really coming together at present and needs to keep the momentum going. But I still believe we need to be active in the winter transfer window if we are to keep the forward movement going in the second half; and have a better chance of extending RVP’s contract. Walcott appears to be really picking up his game, Gervinho just needs to work on that final pass and putting in good shots, Ramsey needs to be a little stronger on the ball in the box (he has a great shot) and we still have to eliminate the defensive mistakes.

Looking at that window, I think we should focus on adding a central defender and/or right back, a creative midfielder that is a scoring threat and a striker (who ideally could play on the wing as well). Let’s hope we go into January continuing this form and moving into the top four. Go Gunners!