The Game

Look at the Premier League table as much as you want, look at the fact that we’re still in all competitions but this, plain and simple, is crisis.

I don’t want to sound disrespectful to Braga but just like when they came at the Emirates today they showed they are nothing special. But, they never looked like losing, went on to win game and are now back with a chance. Smart game from the home side – they let us play, waited for Shakhtar Donetsk to do their job knowing a win for the Ukrainians would mean Europe League for sure and when that was achieved they came out in the last part of the game knowing how weak and vulnerable we can be on the counter.

How can you blame them? Whoever plays against Arsenal nowadays knows how to win the game, we’re too predictable, too weak and it’s no surprise many are saying how instead of going forward we are going backwards and backwards and backwards.

Most likely Arsene will say how we need to learn the lesson in his post-match press-conference. But what lesson? Yet again we concede because Denilson is slower than the referee and if last Saturday it was Rafael van der Vaart and Gareth Bale taking advantage of this, today it was Matheus Leite Nascimento’s turn. Seriously, this is a player who is on the same line of the player he is supposed to mark when the sprinting game starts and within seconds he is already 10 yards behind.

He’s not the only one at fault of course. Matheus was challenged by two, yes two defenders on his way to the second goal and they just stared at him. Outrageous.

And what about Nicklas Bendtner? Play me or I quit, he was quoted as saying. And when he gets the chance he spends most of the time going to ground and complaining with the referee instead of putting himself in good positions in the penalty area to meet his team-mate’s crosses.

The foul on Carlos Vela was a clear penalty but I don’t feel like blaming the referee for this defeat. By the way, Carlos did more in ten minutes than Nicklas did in 80 but I bet my right arm he will not even be on the bench on Saturday. In a way, I’m glad the penalty was not given, Arsene didn’t deserve to have his day saved by the Mexican.

To conclude, and this is incredibly serious in my opinion. How on earth can a player be passed fit minutes before the game after the manager twice said he will take late fitness tests and then suffer the same hamstring injury which will keep him out of the Aston Villa game? What is wrong with our medical team?

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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

Fabianski: 6 – Poor Lukasz keeps on conceding goals because those in front of him are not up to the job.

Squillaci: 5 – Horrible. Braga’s first real goal opportunity came when he cleared the ball with his head right into Luis Aguiar’s path. Also not very convincing when we conceded the second.

Djourou: 6,5 – Unlike his colleague at the back, Johan had a very, very solid game. It is nice to see the Swiss performing on a regular basis, we desperately need to find the right combination at the back because whatever was tried so far, didn’t work.

Gibbs: 6 – He had an excellent game, one of the few who actually tried, but it’s impossible not to consider his shocking defending which allowed Matheus to score the second.

Eboue: 5 – Disappointed with Emmanuel’s game. In games like these he is usually one who helps the team pushing forward with his runs but today he was too busy diving to make an impact.

Denilson: 3 – I tried hard, real hard to find something in this player which makes him worth of a regular place but every time he does well like against Everton he immediately goes back to square one with shocking performances. There’s no way we can improve with these type of players.

Wilshere: 5 – Worked very hard as he always does and improved in the second half but not enough I’m afraid.

Fabregas: 5,5 – Tried hard to create for the offensive department and did manage to produce a fine pass for Theo Walcott but not enough by his standard. And here, I again question our medical staff. Arsene clearly said Cesc would take a late fitness game before the game. He was passed fit when he wasn’t. Something is incredibly wrong with our medical team.

Rosicky: 5,5 – Tried hard to make an impact tonight Tomas but never managed to cast his magic, mainly because Nicklas failed to make important runs for him to pick.

Walcott: 4,5 – Not much from Theo. Had a good opportunity in the first half but failed to hit the target.

Bendtner: 3 – If you believe you deserve to be in the starting line-up, show it son. Walking instead of running to put yourself in good positions is not the way to win a regular place in the squad.

(Subs)
Vela: 6 – The Mexican – galvanised by alien DNA following the abduction – only needed seconds to outpace Alberto Rodriguez and win a clear penalty. On the bench for Saturday’s game? Of course not.

Chamakh: 6 – Won important headers after coming on. Shame he didn’t feature after the first 45 minutes.

Nasri: 5 – Very quiet game from the Frenchman who failed to make any sort of impact.