Benfica vs Arsenal, 2-1: Full time analysis and player ratings

Written by Chris on August 7, 2011 – 0:45

It is not easy to summarise this summer’s pre-season, a summer of expectations, a summer of very, very disappointing results.

We played six games in less than a month: Malaysia All-Stars XI, Hangzhou Greentown, Cologne, Boca Juniors, RB New York and Benfica and the only two teams we were capable of beating were the very poor Malaysia All-Stars XI and the not-so-impressive Cologne showing the same defensive problems we showed last season and the same problems in the final third that Dennis Bergkamp mentioned last year in April, 2010.

I’ll be honest. For the last few seasons I was always very optimistic going into the new season because the squad, albeit some minor fixes, was one I believed could go on and win the Premier League. This year, I’m afraid I have to agree with those believing that our objective should be to finish in the Top Four because simply put, we’re not good enough.

Next week we will pay a visit to Newcastle to challenge them in front of 52,000 loud and hungry fans with no Cesc Fabregas in midfield and with big question marks hanging over the fitness level of Jack Wilshere, Cesc Fabregas, Theo Walcott, Robin van Persie, Kieran Gibbs and Thomas Vermaelen.

What I found shocking tonight was the attitude of the players, especially in the second half. Players like Henri Lansbury and Marouane Chamakh, giving the ball away and looking uninterested in winning it back even if today’s was a rare opportunity to impress ahead of the new season.

Others, like Andrey Arshavin and Tomas Rosicky looked sharp at the start of the game but were pretty much anonymous as the game went on with the Czech making schoolboys errors in the first part of the second half. See, the problem is that experienced members of the squad disappointed and the young ones didn’t show the eagerness one would expect from them.

Most likely you will ask me, “So what’s the solution to the problem”? Well to start with, we need experience. We need – as I said earlier – a Clarence Seedorf who understands when a player is having a shocking game, approaching him as he did this afternoon with Ignazio Abate towards the end of the first half against Inter Milan to tell him not to panic, advising him on what is the right thing to do.

And we need fresh blood in the defensive department. Enough of Sebastien Squillaci and enough of Kieran Gibbs who would be a much better asset in midfield. We need a centre back and a left-back and for all those who are still “optimistic” because the transfer window closes in 25 days, yes, it does, but Newcastle is not 25 days away, it’s 7 and if they are smart they will attack us from the left, for obvious reasons.

Anyway, as they say, tomorrow is another day and next week is another game. I hope that my fears will turn out to be unfounded but if I had to bet all my belongings on next week’s away game against the Magpies, there’s no way I will pick the Gunners as winners.

As always, whether you agree with my ratings or not, submit your own at Arsenal Interactive and make sure to share them on Twitter and Facebook.

Match Video Highlights

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Player Ratings

Szczesny: 6 – We kept the Benfica forward line quiet in the first half, reason why Wojciech had very little to do. Disappointed, however, with the way he failed to understand Thomas’ intentions in the 7th minute of the game.

Djourou and Vermaelen: 6,5 – These two did well together as we kept a clean sheet in the first half. Alongside Sebastien, Thomas struggled although he can’t blame the Frenchman for the way he was easily beaten when we conceded the first goal.

Sagna: 5,5 – Uncharacteristic poor game from Bacary who was caught out of position in at least two occasions in the first half. Worrying, the way he just jogged back when Benfica were on the counter in the 17th minute of the game and the way he gifted them a half-chance in the dying minutes of the first half.

Gibbs: 7 – Best player in the first half, 8/10 hands down. Did well to clear the danger in the 16th minute of the game, assisted Robin when we took the lead, made another good defensive tackle in the 42nd minute but, and this is a but that places Kieran back to square one, he was easily beaten when Benfica equalised.

Song: 6 – Not the best of starts to the game for Alex but recovered as the game progressed. Guilty of giving the ball away in midfield but his assist for Robin in the 31st minute was delicious.

Rosicky: 5 – I honestly cannot draw a conclusion on Tomas. He looked sharp in the first part of the game but made schoolboy errors such as the one which led to the yellow card or a terrible pass in the first part of the second half.

Ramsey: 5 – Not much from Aaron. Two years ago I honestly thought he could take over from Cesc but it seems he still needs two years to be “there”. Too slow and his vision is not that good either.

Arshavin: 6 – Forced a low save from the goalkeeper in the 13th minute of the game and looked lively earlier on but faded away as the game went on.

Gervinho: 6,5 – Lively. Very good run on the left in the 5th minute of the game, assisted Robin with the head minutes later with the Dutchman in an offside position and did extremely well to beat his man on minute 12. Having said that, he twice failed to cross the ball going on his own but in a way this means that he’s not shy to go on his own, meaning that he already settled down at Arsenal.

van Persie: 6,5 – Quiet first 20 minutes of the game for Robin as he wasted the aforementioned chance after Alex Song’s brilliant through ball with a chip. But, two minutes later he was ready to meet Kieran’s cross to give us the lead.

(Subs)
Fabianski: 6,5 – Questions will be asked on the second goal but he produced two very good saves in the 66th and 89th minute of the game.

Squillaci: 4 – The facial expression of the Arsenal girl who saw Sebastien stepping on the pitch for second half action said it all, really. The way he was beaten in the 59th minute when they scored the second was, honestly, embarrassing to see. All this, by the way, from the one who according to Arsene “has a quiet, reassuring presence at the back”.

Jenkinson: 5,5 – Disappointing. Failed to play the offside trap properly in the 52nd minute with Benfica hitting the bar.

Chamakh: 4,5 – He was our only striker in the second half but for a reason that beats me, he opted to move on the left where he made no impact whatsoever.

Traore: 7 – Impressed. We had a lot of defending to do in the second half and I must say he passed the test with flying colours. Hard decision for Saturday but if I had to choose, I would start with Armand.

Frimpong: 6 – Gave away possession often but offered protection to the back four by using his strength to perfection on the edge of the penalty box.

Lansbury: 4,5 – See his 22:19 tweet.

Miyaichi: 5,5 – Made a number of nice runs on the left but too easily dispossessed as he couldn’t cope with the strength of the Benfica defensive department.

Miquel: No Vote – Not enough to rate.

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Benfica vs Arsenal, 2-1: Full time analysis and player ratings

Written by Chris on August 7, 2011 – 0:45

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