Review: Arsenal 3 - Everton 1

That's was really quite odd. I wouldn't really say it was a game of two halves. More like a games of three teams: two from Arsenal, one involving Theo, the other involving a bunch of ill-spirited laggards. First, the highlights.

Link:

Now, the player ratings:

Almunia 6.5 - Not one of his best. Particularly when he a momentary lapse over a corner and had Clichy to thank for a goal-line clearance. What the hell was he thinking there. If it had been 2-0, it'd have been a totally different proposition. Redeemed himself with a good save from Yakubu early in the second half.

Song 6.5 - Unfortunately, was a bitto blame for the Everton goal. Definitely not comfortable where he started - on the right. Was bettter in the second half, when he was in the middle and was allowed the space to come foward.

Silvestre 7 - As good a debut as we could've hoped for. Loathe to say this, but his quiet, dependable presence was a little bit of what we have been lacking. Funny that it was he would sorta was there for Nasri's equaliser.

Touré 6.5 - Not one of his best. Telling that we seemed to have a little better balance with Silvestre-Song in the second half.

Clichy 8 - Have given him extra credit for being the only one who seemed to care in the first half. As always, provided the spark on the left side when our right was Theo-less in the first half. Excellent judgement in making his goal-line clearance. He does that quite a bit, methinks.

Eboué 6 - He was, well Eboué-esque. Some nice runs, but always wasted. Nuff said.

Cesc 6.5 - By his standards, a poor game. Was never as instrumental as we have expected him to be. Looked tired, particularly in the first half. Shooting wasn't great too.

Denilson 6.5 - Both Denilson and Cesc's poor performances in the first half sorta encapsulated the entire team's. Misplaced passes, lack of effective distribution, etc etc.

Nasri 7 - The team in a nutshell. Hopeless in the first half, but took only 2 minutes of the second to set it right. Much of our good play in the second half involved Nasri too.

RVP 7.5 - Man, if he had his shooting boots on, it could've been quite different. He does have this problem of leaning back and ballooning his shots, doesn't he? But he did put in a workmanlike performance, and seemed committed enough. Had a 100% legitimate penalty shout waved away. Pathetic refereeing again. But I've said enough of that already.

Ade 6- Needs some time on the bench. Totally out of sorts. He really hasn't done much this season, apart from that freak hat trick. What caught my eye was his reaction to Theo's goal. He looked as interested as the Everton defence. WTF was that about?

Theo 8 - Deserves all the credit despite playing only one half. Arse are now a different team without him. Particularly without Sagna on the right as well, we were totally pathetic in the first half.

All in all, good not necessarily from the footballing point of view, given that we are still capable of putting in really really bad performances - but more from the fact that we are at least able to turn these shit performances around. Le Boss has obviously made some nice noises, and constrasted the "nervousness" of the first half versus the much better second half performances. We're gonna have quite a few injuries going to Fenerbahce, so that's a little worrying.

Not too concerned about losing Mohawk Billy. More worried about Sagna, and hope that we get Nasri back. Maybe it's time we give Ade a rest. WTF. Since his pay rise, he really hasn't been worth much of it. Let Bendtner have a run out man.