Arsenal Blows One

If we finish outside the top four this season, I think this might be the game we look back upon as a chance really gone by. Joining Man City, Liverpool and Chelsea by only managing a single point, we looked dangerous throughout our match with bottom dwelling Wolves but gave up a goal on one of their few chances all day and failed to net again after an 8th minute goal by Gervinho. One could argue that the busy schedule is taking a toll on all the top teams, but we had an extra day of rest and really should have gotten all three points, particularly after Milijas was sent off in the 75th minute with a straight red card. Our pressure was relentless, but Van Persie was less than sharp today and no one else could find the goal either as Wolves goalee Hennessey put in a stellar performance with one brilliant save after another. A report card from the game that could have been ...

Van Persie: probably one of his more average performances this season. Not that he played badly, but he had three opportunities in front of goal he failed to convert. Hennessey did pull off two great saves on set pieces, but Van Persie will probably look at this game as one that he could have won (and gotten even with Alan Shearer's record as well). B

Gervinho: finally scored again in front of goal and was menacing all day. Returned to the form he was showing back in October and November, but now we are set to lose him for a month at the African Cup of Nations. Could have put in more dangerous crosses a little more often as the game went on, but good job overall. A

Benayoun: last week's hero looked strong again, playing well throughout and opening up opportunities. A really good addition that I found suspect at the time. B+

Rosicky: a decent game, but had a nice opening to shoot and kicked it right to Hennessey. Obviously past his prime, but a decent effort with some good through balls. B

Arteta: strong in the middle as usual, but was dribbling around a bit and his service in the final third could have been better. B

Song: strong in the middle as usual, but his passing today was average at best and probably cost us some flow when we looked set to put things away. C+

Djourou: was solid out of position and really had little to do on the defensive end all day. His passing was solid but uninspired. B+

Vermaelen: for the second week in a row, almost had a costly error, but luckily Wolves failed to do anything with the errant pass. Not as dangerous going forward today, but relatively solid. B+

Kocielny: a solid performance on both sides of the ball, including an important saving tackle on the edge of the box with Wolves in a dangerous position. Had some nice forward passes as well, though scuppered one decent opp to score. B+

Mertesacker: as I said after our last game, he seems to make at least one error a game. They didn't show the Wolves goal replay much, but it looked like he was caught ball watching on the goal (even as it was an unlucky deflection), but his header for the corner that led to the goal seemed unnecessary and he needs to keep an eye on Fletcher in front of goal. Could easily have been a 1-0 victory if not for that error. He was otherwise solid, but I can't help thinking that he cost us three points. On the other hand, had a nice offensive header that almost gave us all three points (a promise upon arrival that has not emerged yet). B-

Subs: Ramsey looked decent for his short time on the pitch, getting into dangerous positions and providing some service in the box, but needs to put the ball in the net once in a while. Better performance from Arshavin, who nearly scored, but I assume his days at the Emirates are numbered. And hopefully the same can be said of the consistently unimpressive Chamakh.

So we remain a point behind Chelsea and depending on the Tottenham result, as many as five behind Spurs with a game in hand for them. This was a real missed opportunity and we need to do better over the next month to get back in that top four before a series of tough matches at home and some challenging away matches. We controlled the play for most of the 90 minutes, but only put one in, which has been a growing problem in recent weeks. I hope this once and for all makes it clear to Wenger that we need to spend in the winter transfer period to add reinforcements, particularly attacking players that can put the ball in the net (beside the obvious short term need of a fullback). Unfortunately, the latest news from Germany makes it appear that target Goetze would rather go to Spain (as is the case with Hazard, from what I have read, as well). But a number of strikers are on the radar and I'm hoping we secure one of them early in January.