10 Stooges

I should start by stating the obvious -- this was a meaningless game from our perspective. On the other hand, we had the chance to finish the group stage undefeated for only the second time (the other being 2005-06 when we lost the final in heartbreaking fashion to Barca), many of the starters had something to prove and there is the shame factor to consider. Given these contradictory realities, this was one of the worst games I've ever seen from Arsenal, even worse at the level of performance than the 8-2 disaster, as far as I'm concerned. We somehow led in possession and had some opportunities, but gave up the ball constantly, looked terrible on the back, had a competition between Fabianski and Mannone for goalee that makes Almunia looked good (Mannone wins for forgetting that a goalkeeper can use his hands in the box) and found ways to blow any opportunity we had. I certainly give Olympiakos credit for pressuring the ball and looking dangerous throughout, but must say that if they were more incisive in their finishing could have easily scored six or seven.

The game proves something to me: the following players should never play for the squad again --> Arshavin (who can't seem to find his old form), Chamakh (utterly useless for over a year now), Squillaci (terrible, terrible, lemon terrible) and maybe Mannone (who looked so clueless it was if he was a striker asked to play in the net for the first time in his life). In fact, the only players who really acquitted themselves well were the left back combo of Santos and Miquel, who both looked good on the ball and made very few mistakes. Even Vermaelen looked average tonight. Benayoun did score, but he was pretty shaky with the ball along with most of the squad. Chamberlin also had moments of genius, but was relatively average overall failing to finish up some good moves and only getting off one decent shot. Frimpong looked pretty average as well, except for a decent shot, and was again risking being sent off with pretty rash challenges. Squallaci was terrible, it's worth repeating again, and is just not good enough to play in the UCL or Premiership. And Arshavin's best days are behind him, or ahead in some other league. 

Now it should be noted again that this was an unimportant game, that we are through as first in the group, that we are up to fifth in the table and that we have a nice first round in the FA Cup. And many of these same players looked very good against a much better Man City team in the Carling. Most troubling from the game is if Santos and/or Fabianski are hurt. Otherwise it is hopefully a blip on our rejuvenated season.