A 1-0 loss in the Carling Cup at the Emirates would normally bring out the moans and groans but not last night. Firstly because it was at the hands of Man City who assembled the most expensive Carling Cup/B-team in the history of the Premier League. Secondly because we played well with several of our youngsters showing themselves capable of being thrust into the spotlight and not cowering meekly into submission. All in all though, a game in which the positives surely outweigh the negatives even though our naivety at the end lost us a game that we looked more like winning rather than losing. But this is football and you don’t always get what you deserve – an important lesson for those on the pitch and one which we hope they remember and learn from.
The Good
During the game one of the commentators remarked that maybe Theo’s improved form was down to competition from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. I for one am inclined to agree. When Theo sees such a gifted player in training, knocking on the fringes of the first team, maybe it forces him to up his game. The Ox was at the heart of any good attacking play we conjured and his sweet first time 25 yard strike with his left foot was heading for as close to the top corner as you can get before Man City’s 6ft 8 keeper managed to get his palm to it. Like Theo, he is a player who has a directness to him that lifts the team, put the opposition on the back foot and gives energy to the fans. Arsene has been right to wrap him in cotton wool, trying to expose him as and when his development requires. Being dumped out of a competition that would have been his natural breeding ground will not halt his progress though and it will be sooner rather than later before he makes his league debut.
All four of our younger players played well – Miguel at leftback, Frimpong and Coquelin in midfield and The Ox on the right of the front three. You can significant improvement in each of these players compared to where they were earlier in the season. For the depth and quality of our squad this is a good thing and one which may prove useful when the fixtures pile up and players are needed to make important contributions.
At the back, another solid game from Koscielny and Djourou, and dare I say it, Squillaci!
The Bad
The goal we conceded was naive to say the least, though as Arsenal fans we should be used to seeing us having inflicted such goals on other teams in the Wenger era. Man City’s break was clinical and effective and a goal good enough to win any match. That it was their only decent move of the whole match says a lot about how much we were able to contain them. A moment’s blip and the game was lost, though this was not to be expected considering they were playing with Aguero, Dzeko, Nasri and Johnson whereas our attacking intent came in the form of Chamakh and Park. It was the proverbial ‘bringing a knife to a gunfight’, though in this case Arsene brought a butter knife!
These two strikers in particular need minutes on the pitch and goals but right now neither look capable of being considered as RVP’s back-up. They work hard but the confidence that comes from putting the ball in the back of the net is just not there. If Arsene wants to improve the squad in any area in January then this must be his first priority.
The Beast
Aggressive Mohican haircut - check! Tough no nonsense tackling – check! Good simple passing – check! Non-stop engine – check! Natural born attitude – check! Using the energy from the fans and making Nasri look like a schoolboy player - check!
It has subsequently been reported that Frimpong and Nasri were involved in some ‘handbags’ after the game in the tunnel. Well done Frimpong!
Given time and some refinement, we could have a good player on our hands here. He faces competition from Coquelin who probably looks the more assured player of the two but Frimpong seems to offer something different, something that you need to be a winning team. For now, I hope they both continue to learn from their teammates, none more so than Alex Song and Mikel Arteta.
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