Believe me, it’s getting more and more harder to sit down at the end of the 90 and provide a calm, professional(if you like) match report on Arsenal games. I honestly never, ever expected not to see the lads get all three points today but they managed in do so and another opportunity to close the gap on Aston Villa goes begging.

The second half was a bit better than the first but the end product was still very, very disappointing. In the 48th minute, Kolo Toure takes full advantage of Robert Green’s poor punch but his over the shoulder lob is cleared off the line by James Collins. Minutes later, Diaby did really well to create space for a shot but his effort went wide.

In the 62nd minute, a fast Arsenal counter attack saw Sagna crossing for Adebayor but the Togo striker failed to take advantage from close range. In the 65th minute, it was Denilson to try his luck from close range but his curling effort went wide. Arsenal’s best opportunity came in the 71st minute. Van Persie lays it off to Vela on the left whose first-time cross finds Adebayor who shruggs off his marker but his easy header was straight at Green. Two chances, two misses for Emmanuel.

Arsenal’s final moments of pressure on West Ham saw Van Persie doing well to create space in the penalty area but he scuffed his left-footed strike for the Hammers to hang on for a goalless draw.

Dropping Robin may not have been the best moves from Arsene but you can understand that – another yellow would have seen the Dutchman skip the Spurs match and sooner or later, players are to be rested. You would never expect this Arsenal side not to win just because Van Persie was rested, but apparently, that is how important the Dutchman is for us right now. In midfield, things looked a little bit better than last Wednesday with Denilson and especially Diaby giving it all, but these two are simply not good enough to fill Fabregas’ role and provide the magic our strikers need.

Player Ratings

Almunia: 6 – Nothing to do, really.
Clichy: 6 – Yet again, not giving up until the last minute, but unfortunately, he made no impact whatsoever when pushing forward.
Gallas and Toure: 7 – Not much to do for the backline but when they were called in action, they did mighty well. The only positive note of the afternoon.
Sagna: 6 – A number of poor crosses confirm the Frenchman is yet to rediscover last season’s form in a consistent way.
Denilson: 6 – This match showed just what this player can provide to the side: full of heart but created very, very little for our strikers. Whenever he had the ball just passed it straight away without ever trying to invent something for the strikers.
Diaby: 6 – Better than Denilson as contrary to the Brasilian he did to invent something, but still not enough.
Eboue: 6,5 – A very good match for the Ivory Coast International but like almost all his colleagues in midfield, the end product was disappointing.
Nasri: 6,5 – On the left, on the right and in the center. It’s been a rollercoaster in midfield for him but still did well.
Adebayor: 4 – Two glorious chances missed. Again.
Bendtner: 6,5 – Contrary to Adebayor he did a lot of running and very much involved in the second half when playing on his now beloved right wing.

(Subs)
Vela: 6,5 – Silly yellow for diving apart, you can clearly see we need him. His first touch is very good, takes on defenders and shows heart.
Van Persie: 6 – Not as influential as in previous match but didn’t have much time to impress.
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