Well That Was A Bit Shit

from the factory floor

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE

Liberty Stadium

Referee: Michael Oliver

Swansea 3-2 Arsenal

Sinclair [pen 16]                  Van Persie [5]

Dyer [57]                               Walcott [69]

Graham [70]

I was a few minutes late for the start of the match. Jack pointed out that Arsenal had the good grace to wait until I got to the Factory so I wouldn’t have to ask who scored, only for me to get there, not see the goal, and have to ask who scored.  I ordered an official beer of Euro 2012 forgetting what happened on its debut 2 weeks ago against Fulham. Things didn’t go so well that day.  It only took about half of the first pint for it to have the same effect today, Crap penalty given, and it was level.  It occurred to me that the Carlsberg was quite possibly the reason we were suddenly so shaky in defense.  Next round was a Bass.

The next ten minutes were nervy, Swansea continued to expose our lack of defensive width and we seemed to be in a bit of shock still over the penalty. A habit, we all agreed, we thought had been broken. The same nervousness from the final minutes against Fulham was back again. But we began pressing high up the pitch, got the spacing between our lines closed down, and it felt like another goal for us was coming. It didn’t and we went in 1-1.

Wenger was losing his rag and sitting completely by himself at the end of the bench. I thought we’d come out a little livelier as a result. We did to a degree, then the hosts went ahead.  Chandler finally shaded the ongoing disagreement about Theo’s versus Arshavin’s effectiveness on the day when Theo leveled.

Another bad habit resurfaced, we switched off and conceded immediately. The old Barca git Andres then gave me a little bit of a shove having just been moping over our equalizer and complaining Theo was offside.  At full time one of the two Swansea supporters gave some lip about our penalty complaints. We questioned his ability to see clearly what with his sunglasses on in basement bar. He said he could see fine the score was Swansea three Arsenal two. We could plainly see that he was a cunt. He left.

Swansea played well.  They also benefited from an epic penalty decision. That we haven’t had one of the about five clear shouts we have had lately and they got that one is simply criminal. But they were getting at us, especially wide, from the jump and it would be false to claim their performance didn’t merit something despite being based on that horrendous call.  Our luck with decisions just reeks right now.

At this stage I made a bet that in reality, I can’t lose with Jack. A bottle of bourbon says we won’t get a penalty of our own for the rest of the season. If I’m right, which is unlikely, I get a nice bottle of booze to drink with Jack. If I lose, it means we got a penalty, a victory in and of itself, and I buy a nice bottle of booze and drink it with Jack. Win win.

We had our moments, but as usual didn’t take them. Swansea had 4 shots on goal, 3 of which went in. Two were defensive howlers---Arshavin with a slow roller right in front of an oncoming Swansea player on the edge of our defensive third, and Szczesny and Mertesacker on the winner. We had 8 shots on goal and converted two. Even if that represents half of the number they have given up all season at home, it wasn’t enough to get us even a point. It’s the third time this season we’ve scored twice on the road and lost.

Having accepted it logical that Arteta needs rest in general, in retrospect this wasn’t the best game to give it to him.  [Mehdi has pointed out that Arteta was injured, but the point remains. Hope he's back for United.] We badly needed his possession and calm in midfield and didn’t’ have it. Ramsey is spent and despite putting a heroic effort in he was just not all there today.

Henry was good but we were losing in midfield more than up front, even if we were profligate once again. The problem is that we need impact from the bench anyway, not just because of Gervinho’s absence. But with the Ivorian gone we need cover for him from the start, which would appear to be Arshavin for the time being, and we also need consistent quality from everyone else.

Theo wasn’t good enough today, even if he scored. Nor was Arshavin. With Arteta rested, Ramsey flagging, and playing center backs as full backs against a team that is very good out wide, you need your own wide players to be strong on both sides of the ball and I don’t think either one was.  Chamberlain looked like a good spark, but came on too late and we didn’t have enough fight left in us to level a second time.

We wound down wondering whether the reality of this result will influence our transfer activity. I’m hopeful but not expectant on that front. We do need a few players. Some are coming back. I am sure we will be better when Wilshere and our full backs return. Even with that we still need at least one more attacking player that will be with us for the rest of the season who can make an impact on games.  Otherwise we’re looking at Europa league next season and the challenge of keeping RVP and attracting players in the summer.

I’m grateful we have a big match coming up to restore the focus we need for the second half of the season, and a full week to prepare for it.  Here’s where you hope the presence of a guy like Henry can come in useful to the team. 


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