Arsenal Lose to Man United (0-1) Yet Again

After a week that was shaping up as the best in years, Arsenal were brought back to earth by a highly-motivated United side that chased every ball as if their lives depended on it. Most impressive might have been Wayne Rooney, who did just miss two great opportunities to score, but otherwise was all over the pitch like a whirling dervish on speed. The Gunners withheld an early onslaught from United, but then ceded the game’s only goal on a corner, when Aaron Ramsey took too long to close, allowing RVP to head it across goal and beyond Gibbs on the line. One can’t help but wonder if Mertesacker would have kept that effort out by getting to the ball first, but the German International was out with illness. One can also ask the question of whether RVP is one of the biggest a*holes in the history of the club.

Maybe it is too much to ask that an ex-Gunner would show a modicum of respect to his former boss and team. But the more I see of Robin Van Persie, the less I like him and it was thus little surprise that he celebrated his goal as if United had just won the league. It was his third in three since making the switch a year and a half ago and only adds to the pain us Gooners feel. And one shouldn't forget that this makes it one win in the past 11, with RVP failing to contribute to any victories except one during his tenure at Arsenal. On the other hand, I still believe his departure has been the springboard for a revival at Arsenal that still sees us top of the league (by two points over Liverpool) and top of the “group of death” in the Champion’s League. The weekend was also made better by losses by Tottenham and Man City and draws for Everton and Chelsea (with the latter the most undeserved I've seen in ages. There are far too many late penalty calls in the league this year, with many questionable ones that favor the favorites).  

Arsenal looked a bit frazzled right from the onset, and particularly after the opening goal. But they began to settle right before half-time and looked the more likely to score for much of the second half. Unfortunately, the passes lacked the necessary precision in the final third, Giroud and Ramsey both settled the ball when they had clear shots, Ozil and Cazorla missed good opportunities to facilitate counters, there were a few too many errant passes and the Gunners just didn’t seem to want it as much. Even given all this, anyone but the truly pathetic Bendtner probably would have scored on the excellent cross from Bacary Sagan in the 91^st minute. Instead Bendtner watched the ball slide by, lunging at it with his foot too late – thus blowing our last real chance and showing himself to be an unworthy option yet again. Overall, Arsenal lacked the cohesion that has made them so difficult to beat this term, the leadership of Mertesacker at the back and really the speed on the wings to get past a rampant and organized United defense. In fact, one wonders if Walcott could have made a difference in this game, or Ox? I couldn’t help but notice that our best chances emerged when the youngster Gnarby came on the pitch and started charging down the right side.

Yet it was not a catastrophic loss, particularly as it was at Old Trafford. A point would have served us better from a momentum point-of-view, but it was a valiant second-half effort and a little bad luck, and questionable refereeing on fouls, contributed to our inability to come back. Now we have two weeks off and one hopes that is sufficient time to get back some of our missing players. Walcott’s speed would be a nice option for the team at present, or Ox’s inventiveness in games like this. I also think Giroud could really use a break, and Podolski could provide that opportunity. Let’s hope they get back soon, that Ozil gets back to his top form, that Cazorla recaptures his and that we take care of an impressive Southampton team at home in a fortnight.