A 20 minute spell of spirited come back
seemed like the best response we could show in this BIG game to make the
statement Arsene asked for……close but no cigar. Still have a sour taste from
the kick in the teeth feeling no matter how much as I would love to spin it positively,
and there were positives. Yes we remain unbeaten in all competions since our day
1 loss to liverpool, yes we are showing resilience by fighting back and
overturn deficits, Yes Kostafi central defensive partnership looks good, Ramsey
played better in the Middle (who knew) Giroud got his deserved start & Yes
we are more clinical in front of goal by scoring more from lesser number of
created chances, the stats article here. That as far as the
positives go. Against PSG we looked like we were tested by a team that knew
what needed to be done, calm coordinated and deadly. It was no surprise we
conceded by the 18th minute,
what was surprising was the way our defence was easily split for that pass to
Matuidi, once he skipped past Jenks and Mustafi a and curled the ball across to
wards the far post, there was no mistaking the preying Cavani off Koscielny’s shoulder. For me it was a basic silly goal to
to concede early in the game but full credit to PSG, they deserved to be ahead
at that time.
0-1
to
PSG
We did respond though, with a bit
more purpose but lacking the necessary incision in the final 3rd. As
the 1st half wore on toward its end, Ozil conjured a moment of magic
with a ‘So-junu” pass to Sanchez who was playing on the right wing this time
while Iwobi occupied his trademark left wing. Sanchez did a shimmy dance into
the box did a cut back and left his leg trailing for the defender to nick….Penalty!
Giroud stepped up ad sent Areola the wrong way for the leveler. Arsenal was
lucky here again to go into the break honors even but I’ll take it.
1-1 all square.
After the break the gunners came
out like a house on fire, we pressed and harried leaving PSG running around in
chasing packs, the second gall duly came in the 60th minute although
through a stroke lucky ping pong with the ball finally going in off the shin of
Verratti following a mishit shot from Ramsey. Arsenal were on the ascendency so
it seemed but the team gradually relinquished control and PSG started piling
the pressure. Arsenal were living on the edge of danger. Again the PSG equalizer
came some through an own goal. From a corner kick floated in deep Lucas Moura
was allowed to volley goal wards, Ospina was left flat footed after Iwobi made
a weak attempt to clear from the right post. You could tell he was very much
gutted, as he got substituted immediately, I don’t wanna believe he was being
blamed but I am sure he blames himself. Tough luck but that’s the game and he
should learn from the experience as long as he doesn’t allow it affect his
confidence. PSG went on to boss the rest of the game with Cavani missing some
gilt edge chances, I wish Arsenal made them rue those misses but the gunners had surrendered the initiative to PSG. 2 -2 it
ended. PSG now on top via head 2 head and we are now 2nd in the group...…sounds familiar??
Again we nicked a point where we were very
much 2nd best. I worry about this current trend and taking Arsene’s
comments before the game, he must be really worried. 3 Draws on the bounce in
all competitions since our win against Ludogorets. I don’t want to state the
obvious but we really need to pick up our form. We remain unbeaten since the
only loss but we are dropping too many points along the way. Time to get back
to winning against Bournemouth away especially with Man City around the corner.
Our away form is a bit better than our home form. We need those 3 points if
Arsenal is serious about any tittle challenge. Win that, start building the
momentum into the hectic Christmas schedule hopefully who knows, Wellbz & Perez coming back from injury…maybe, just
maybe we might get that luck to make this title push but we need to stopp shipping in goals, get back to those early season clean sheets, a clean sheet always gives you a chance at winning cuz all you need is a goal. Anyway that’s it from us here see
you on the other side of the Bournemouth preview……Ciao
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