Robin Van Perfect

Arsenal 1 – 0 Everton

It may not have been the great performance that the club had hoped for when celebrating 125 years of history but nonetheless it was three precious points and a single goal (how appropriate it was ‘One nil to the Arsenal’) of absolute beauty that was fitting to win any football match.  Everton were their usual dogged, determined and passionate selves.  However they lacked imagination (always a possibility when your most creative player, Arteta, now plays for those in red and white) and the belief that they could actually get something more out of the game than a draw (hence Moyes’ decision to take off Saha with over 25 minutes remaining and replace him with a central defender).  All in all though, we huffed and we puffed and eventually Song and RVP combined to blow the house down!



The Good

A defence made up of our four first choice central defenders? No full backs? A second consecutive clean sheet? Maybe Arsene can construct a team that believes it is as important to be defensively sound as it is to be potent in attack?  The back four were marvellous and what is now even more evident, they love defending! In this department we also possess a versatility that other teams around us do not – with Vermaelen, Koscielny and Djourou all having shown considerable comfort slotting in at full back in recent weeks – could the same be said of Ferdinand, Terry, Luiz, Agger, Evans, Kompany, Toure...I think not. 

Credit must also be given to the midfield three who are now providing good cover for the backline and to our young keeper who is in constant communication with his team mates – all in all this provides a solid foundation from which the front three are given more freedom to create and destroy.

The Bad

Wining when not playing well is the hallmark of champions.  I am not saying that I believe this team will win the league this season but they have again demonstrated a resilience that is evident in successful teams.  Playing with no recognised full backs is ok for the occasional game but this is a situation that may continue for a while yet (with the added news of Santos being out for three months with ankle ligaments surgery required) and may cost us points in the interim.  It is not just up to the players who come in to perform in these positions but it is up to the team as a whole to ensure that these losses (Sagna, Jenkinson, Santos, Gibbs) do not affect us.

Our profligacy in front of goal (from those not called RVP) is still there for all to see.  A more ruthless Walcott and Gervinho are needed if we are to continue collecting points in the manner which we have done so recently.

The ‘I Am Legend’ Status

There were an array of former Legends on show prior to kick-off and how apt that they should all be eclipsed by the one current player who stands a chance of joining their illustrious company – Robin Van Persie.  A lot of platitudes have already been written about our leader this season – I will refrain from doing a piece about him until the calendar year is over.  Cometh the hour, cometh the man, and he duly obliged with a goal that our former stars would have been proud of.  Continue like this and it may not be so blasphemous of me to say that he could receive a statue before his Dutch idol, DB10.

For now though, his goal will live long in the memory, not only for his quite exquisite finish (a low volley taken on the run, over his shoulder, with curve added so that is left the keeper rooted and skimmed the foot of the post) but also for the breathtaking through ball by Alex Song.  Another match winning assist for the player who now surely stands head and shoulders above all (here’s looking at you Parker) as the most effective defensive midfielder in the league.    

We are now well and truly in the fight for a top four place (and maybe more).  As a club, it's where we want to be.  Perfect.