Arsenal vs. Sunderland [Player Ratings]

Woop Woop!

.... is exactly what i was 'wooping' after the match. Last season, we would have either ran out of inspiration and the scoreline would have remained 1-1, or Djourou/Squillaci/(Insert numerous other misfits) would have knocked in an own goal when we took the lead.

But NO! We took the lead! And held on! This is it! Our title charge has begun!


.... Yes it is 11-30 pm and yes, I am full of caffeine. So let's get on with it...

Szczesny [6-5]: Made a couple of brilliant saves to stop Sunderland taking the lead. Couldn't do ANYTHING about the free kick. However, dodgy moment when he rushed out and we nearly conceded.

Jenkinson [6-0]: Gave him an extra 1/2 a point because of his inexperience. Needs to stop being caught out so high up the pitch, and didn't do a good job tracking Larsson. However, decent offensively, with a total of 7 crosses flying in (although only one reached someone).

Big German Guy [6-5]: Won 100% of his aerial battles, which is what we expect him to do. Sound otherwise, not much to do.

Koscielny [7-0]: Excelled in a match where he was under pressure from fans everywhere. Won 6 aerial duels, but kept Sessegnon onside when Szczesny made the error.

Gibbs [6-0]: Meh. Not much to say. Subbed as a precaution.

Song [6-5]: Gave away the ball, and picked up a caution. However, some excellent interceptions and tackles. Hopefully our CDM for years to come.

Arteta [6-0]: Didn't do it for me today. Spread passes around, but hasn't showed the cutting edge that Fabregas had. Did link up pretty well with RVP (aka JESUS) though.

Rosicky [7-5]: Surprise starter, and proved his critics wrong by putting in a dazzling display full of pure energy and determination. THIS is the guy to replace Cesc....

Walcott [5-0]: A spell on the bench would do him good, watching Chamberlain out on the pitch. Very poor today,different position/rotation needed?

Gervinho [6-5]: Good assist for Jesus, and had a good opportunity when he weaved past O'shea. Faded.

Jesus [10-0]: Yep. A 10. What a display. What a way to show you're committed to the club. What goals. What play. What... I could go on and on.

SUBS:

Santos [6-5]: Good display today, made a couple of decent tackles. Showed good discipline in mostly staying in Arsenal's half towards the end (Gibbs may have ventured) but wasted a great shooting opportunity to kill the game.

Arshavin [7-0]: This is the Arshavin of old. Weaving runs galore, and one hopes (oooh, who's being posh?) that this shall rejuvenate him.

Benayoun [6-0]: Good backup/rotation for CAM. Made some decent runs and passes at the end, but I will deduct 1/2 a point for that almost fatal back pass.


Wellity, wellity. That's it. 10th, out of the relegation battle? Stoke next week. Interesting if Ramsey starts...

Arsenal Vs Sp*rs [Analysis]

Well. Another loss. And for some reason I only seem to have written on losses. Why is this? Because THERE'S TOO MANY!  
4 out of the last 7 PL games, we have lost!
And the other 3 matches weren't great either! The only convincing performance was against Bolton, and what would we do with RVP, who's now got an eye on Man City or Barca?

Well, we got 'good' news that Walcott + Gervinho were back, although I thought an Oxo cube may be put into the dish instead. Song was back in CB so Coquelin, half decent in the loss that must not be named, was put in CDM.
 It was a hard fought match, with chances at both ends. Parker and A*eb*yor forced good stops from the Pole in the goal, and our best 1st half chance came for Gervinho, who, after a dazzling run from our saviour, dragged his shot wide from 12 yards out. Surely The Ox could have done better.
 Anyway, some piece of filth clearly hand-balled it before shooting past Szczesny into the net on 40 mins. Having been booked earlier, he ran into the crowd to celebrate. Mike Dean did nothing and I remembered the Van Persie red against Barca.....
 Ramsey, who otherwise had a poor game, finished after Song played it in, minutes after the break. Unheard of S*urs players have a knack of scoring screamer against Arsenal. Unknown player C rifled a 30 yarder powerful, but saveable, shot, through Szczesny's grasp, who otherwise had an excellent game.

Arsenal seemed to fade after that, putting the big German up front, such was the desperation. Arsenal showed glimmers of what they used to be despite the result, but the worst thing was Sagna's injury. He's now out for 3 months, in which Carl Jenkinson (!) will have to step up his game.