The Game

This will go down as our worst performance of the season. You just can’t hang on and on and on like that, waiting for the final whistle, as when you do, you get punished. We concede, again, from a set piece, and again Abou Diaby having no idea how to defend in our own penalty area, meaning we lose two precious points against a very weak AZ side.

Had he won, we would be on 9 points and almost sure of first place. Instead, we only have a point advantage.

Big shame.

Match Video Highlights

A link to match video highlights will be available here, when published.

Player Ratings

Mannone: 6 – Virtual spectator. Absolutely nothing to do for the Italian and not at fault in the goal.

Gallas and Vermaelen: 6,5 – Also had very little to do but I believe they did pretty well when called into action, especially Billy.

Sagna: 6 – Again, very disappointing with his crosses with many attacks coming to a dead end because of that.

Clichy: 5,5 – Caught on the wrong foot a good number of times, shocking defending which led to a yellow card.

Eboue: 6 – Produced some nice runs and some good crosses, but disappeared in the second half.

Diaby: 5 – Manchester’s own goal was not a stroke of bad luck. I counted five headers in the game by Abou, four of them were shocking. What sort of stat is that for a 6ft2 man? And completely lost it in the dying minutes when failing to challenge AZ’s player in the move which led to the equaliser.

Song: 6,5 – Fought hard throughout the game but failed to close Mendes down who went on to volley AZ’s equaliser.

Fabregas: 6 – Way too many passes given away cheaply and an uninterested look throughout the whole game.

Arshavin: 6,5 – Very slow start, but recovered well, the only one, besides Vela, still running and fighting in the final fifteen minutes of the game.

Van Persie: 6,5 – The only one who seemed to care from start to finish. Deserved to score but was twice denied by the keeper.

(Subs)
Vela: 6 – Silly yellow, won a penalty but not given and produced some good runs although you can’t expect miracles in 15 minutes.

Ramsey: No Vote – Like Vela, came on very late into the game, should have been involved earlier.