The Game

I never, ever expected this scoreline. To be honest, I predicted it in the reverse but after watching yet another heartless performance from some of the Arsenal players, believe me, it’s a very flattering scoreline.

Arsene Wenger is doing an amazing job at Arsenal, he always did, but the minor weaknesses which he never addressed are coming back to haunt us when the going gets tough as in the case of 0-3 vs Chelsea, 2-1 vs United, 1-3 vs United and 4-2 vs City.

This is no good, I’m afraid.

Manuel Almunia, Gael Clichy and Denilson are three players who are causing a lot of damage in this Arsenal team but if I can understand starting with Manuel and Gael because Lukasz Fabianski and Armand Traore failed to show they can replace them adequately, I simply cannot say the same for Denilson. Aaron Ramsey was there, a much better player, available to start, available to come in but was not utilised.

The ratings, as always, are below. It’s not easy after such a game to still provide the service I provide after every game, so appreciate the effort and hopefully I’ll be in a better shape in tomorrow’s day-after thoughts.

Match Video Highlights

Match video highlights are available in the Videos section of our website. If not there yet, rest assured they will be up in a matter of hours.

Player Ratings

Almunia: 2 – There are days where we can afford his mistakes, there are days when we cannot. We started brightly but he gifted them the first goal which helped them cruise to victory.

Gallas: 6,5 – Made a phenomenal interception off Rooney to keep us in the game in the first half and one of the few who showed heart.

Vermaelen: 6,5 – Also showed heart until the end and gave us that little hope when his shot found the net after a deflection.

Clichy: 3 – Lost the battle against Ashley Young, lost the battle against Nani. With Kieran Gibbs out until the end of the season, we’re in deep trouble on this wing.

Sagna: 5,5 – Compared to Clichy, he had very little to do since United’s attacks were all going through Nani but during that little, he didn’t impress against Park.

Denilson: 2 – Big liability. Involved, in the negative, in United’s all three goals. Stretched his leg out instead of using his body against Nani in the first, let Rooney race past him when United counter attacked for the second then gave the ball away and stayed put when they surged forward to score the third.

Fabregas: 6 – I feel for Cesc, I really do. Twice he made exceptional runs into the United penalty area but was ignored by Arshavin. Another one who showed heart, the captain and I’m really sorry he’s not properly supported by his team mates.

Song: 6,5 – He’s back, played well and showed heart, but it’s never easy when you have to do the job of two players, especially after a long trip back from Africa.

Rosicky and Nasri: 4 – These two were supposed to provide the help Arshavin required up front but seriously, did they do anything worth mentioning? Samir, especially, was incredibly disappointing, which was sad to see.

Arshavin: 6 – Full of runs and the only threat to the United back four. However, when I said he and Cesc can be the key to our success in the preview, I should have maybe added that for the key to open the United defence, he had to remember that football is not an individual game and if a team mate covered half the pitch to be in a good position to score, you have to pass the damn ball.

(Subs)
Eboue: 4 – Am I the only one who thinks he looked “confused” out there? The way he fell to his knees when Rooney dribbled him and also the sluggishness when on the ball were strange to see.

Bendtner: 4 – Incredibly slow and failed to provide the strength and height we needed at this stage during the game.

Walcott: 4 – Nice runs with no end product as always.