Arsenal vs Fulham: 0-0, full-time report and player ratings – Plenty of missed chances … again!
When I published my first Premiership match preview on January 9, I had a wish: to start an “unbeaten run” which of course, didn’t include drawing almost all our matches. This other goalless draw, and again at the Emirates, means that the fourth place in the Premiership is no longer “doable” but an impossible task which will be very, very hard to obtain.
When I read the line-up, I couldn’t hide my satisfaction as it was exactly the 11 I was hoping for before the match, and in a way, we saw an improvement over the match against Sunderland but unfortunately, it still was not enough. There are many things which I can’t explain about today’s match such as where has Robin’s magic in front of goal gone or why Arsene decided to replace Vela and not Arshavin to bring Bendtner in. I’ll just try to understand that in tomorrow’s post-match thoughts, hoping to be in a better mood.
As for the half’s chances, Robin missed another good header, hit the post always with the head with Schwarzer not anywhere near the ball and a couple more missed opportunities in my notebook from Robin who blasted one wide after a nice lay-off from Bendtner and Arshavin who failed to hit the target. The Russian, I’m afraid, is becoming more and more the signing we “did not need” in the last market transfer although I would wait for him to regain fitness level before judging.
Player Ratings
Almunia: 6,5 – Fulham created a lot but surprisingly, Manuel had very little to do as almost all their efforts were wide or high.
Clichy: 5,5 – Not the best of matches from the Frenchman, who yet again, failed to deliver important crosses.
Sagna: 5 – See Clichy.
Gallas: 7,5 – I think William was superb at the back and can’t really blame him from the missed offside traps as it was Clichy, if I saw correctly, who kept the Fulham players on side.
Toure: 6,5 – Solid as well at the back but I expected him to push forward a little bit more.
Denilson/Diaby: 4,5 – Not much to say. Danny Murphy and Etuhu simply won the midfield battle and yet again, we had to witness these two giving the ball away cheaply.
Nasri: 6 – Very active up front, almost playing as a striker along side Robin at one stage in the match, but failed to make an impact in Fulham’s penalty area.
Vela: 6,5 – I was furious to see him substituted as he was the best of the Nasri-Vela-Arshavin trio.
Arshavin: 5,5 – Very anonymous. It’s clear he’s still way off the ideal fitness level. The reason why Wenger stuck with him for 90-minutes? Ask him.
Van Persie: 6 – Goal opportunities were created for him but failed to take advantage.
(Subs)
Eboue: 6,5 – When pushing forward, he gave something more than Sagna, maybe time to go back to his old position and give Bacary a rest?
Bendtner: 6 – Did pretty well in shielding the ball and providing support to Robin.
![[Video] Arsenal vs Porto: Match Video Highlights, including Nicklas’ hat-trick and Samir’s super goal!](http://www.thegunninghawk.com/wp-content/themes/arthemia-premium/scripts/timthumb.php?src=/wp-content/uploads/video.jpg&w=80&h=80&zc=1)
its not long before we start clicking and that will start to happen from tuesday’s game west brom and burnley are gonna get roasted U WILL SEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GOOONER FOR LIFE!!!!!!!!!11
I agree that although Arshavin wasn’t fully fit and shouldn’t have gone the full 90 yet, he still was very inventive with his passing and decision making. His shots from out front were not well struck, but did have the nice effort on the side late the game and like Nasri and RVP is willing to collect the ball and use either foot to shoot/pass (Vela, Bendtner and some others need to take note of that trait). Arshavin also looks to shoot and his passes look to penetrate and attack vs just play side to side the whole time. If only others would look to shoot more quickly when given a chance.
I don’t know what your infatuation with Vela is. At this point he has had plenty of chances in FA Cup and League games and really has done nothing to show he should be a starter for the team once Walcott, Cesc and the others come back. He does not have the pace of a winger and at this point in his career is very weak physically. He is very easy to defend at this level in my opinion as he will never even touch the ball with his right foot. When he cuts it in from the left to the middle he is always exposing the ball by keeping it on his left foot and will not shoot from there like Nasri or Arshavin will coming in from the right to the middle. He’s not horrible and can contribute, but is pretty much a similar player to Eduardo, though less effective.
Well Mark, I may be too kind to Carlos but on the contrary, he didn’t have plenty of chances I’m afraid – he was a regular only in the Carling Cup and yesterday’s was his first Premiership start. And in the few starts he was given, he excelled, just like against Cardiff in the F.A. Cup.
Then of course, I’m not comparing the two – Andrei is 27.
where to start,
almunia cant be judged because he hasnt got anything to be judged on, were dominating games but doing jack shit up front.
toure/gallas – looking pretty good, surprised actually, gallas has been great, probably the better of the two
sagna/clichy – sagna is getting into some great positions, but his crosses have all of a sudden become crap, clichy doesnt get forward enough.
Nasri – is brilliant, but needs to be a lliittllee more greedy in front of goal, he possesses a fantastic shot, sometimes takes too long
Vela – exactly the same, posses a good left foot, and blistering pace, couldve easily scored today, one for the future
Arshavin – gun written all over him, but ofcourse, he isnt fit
Diaby – i think diaby gives us some strength in our forward half, good at sheilding the ball, needs to get back to defend more but
PROBLEM
Denilson – is shit, simply awful, doesnt defend nor attack. bloody almunia played a better through ball that him.
i reckon ramsey should start ahead of him even, ramsey posses that natural creative ability
RVP – is good, but not lethal, weve seen how good he can be, but he MUST put those chances in the back of the net, couldve had a hattrick easy
Bendtner/Eboue – both looked very good surprisingly
thanks
Let face to fact wit out ade we dont have player up front that scares the hell out of the oppo’s defence. No ones really afraid of rvp cos he’s nt a force really. N his headin is crap. Ya’l used to complain of the chances ade needed to score. Since ade has been hw many has rvp needed to score 1 penilty.
enery time people complain about adebayor missing chance.how many time has rvp scored since ade got injured.please mr. wenger let vela play on top and let arshavin play as a supporting striker.and move rvp move to the right and play nasri on the left.thank you