I'm damn proud to be an Arsenal supporter. And to you Manciti fans. If this is what you love, watch day in day out, and think it's worth the millions spent, then to each his own.
Yes, it was a game we should've and could've won. Especially in the first half hour, we played some of the best, most positive, most attractive football I've seen in recent years. Let down mostly by some bad luck, for you can't reasonably expect every chance to translate to goals. Two strikes of the post, one brilliant save, so what more can you ask?
We had excellent performances all through the pitch. From Fabianski, who was alert and up to it the few times called upon. To Djourou, as has been the case in recent games. From Wilshere, who played like someone 10 years older, to Cesc, who at last showed in glimpses what a captain he can be.
So what were we up against? A pretty decent team. Defensively, already the meanest there is in the league. Shame only that they did not see it necessary to open up and make it more attractive attacking game for their travelling supporters.
I suppose Mancini is indeed happy with one point. Clean sheet and an away draw to one of your main rivals is always a good result. But I'd say more so in a two-legged knock out competition than in a league as rich as the Premier League. I mean, yes, you can work towards draws away to your main rivals, and concentrate on picking up points against the so-callled lesser teams. Sounds right, and sounds basically Italian.
But hey - what happened to the notion of the six-pointer? Three for you means three less for your rivals. That's what should make the big games exciting. But again, Mancini has his reasons, and if his Sheikhs so agree, so to each his own. All I can say is that to set up shop and play for a point can be expected and understandable more for a Blackpool and Bolton than for a team as expensively put-together as Manciti. But, to each his own.
As for our Arsenal. No shame. You did good. You came up against a wall. There will other opportunities. We've taken 4 points against Manciti, and that should be a good enough haul, to add to the three we already have from Chelski. Key will be the remaining three up for grabs against Man U.
Player ratings? Probably no need. The starting 11 now probably looks like our top 11, save maybe for Vermaelen. And when you think who we have on the bench with this starting 11, then we can only smile. Arshavin, Rosicky, Bendtner, Chamakh... But that really was the problem as well, I suppose. Our 11 from Saturday starting again on Wednesday.
It's not very often we can feel comfortable in the depth of a relatively injury-free squad, so I'm going to revel in it. Which leads me to Sagna, actually.
So he got a red card. Silly, it would seem, but all in all, no biggie. I'd say he might even have planned it all. What does he miss? Leeds, Ipswich and West Ham. Trot out our other trump card in defence: Eboue.
What shall we make of mid-week then? Man U the biggest winners, with us, Manciti, Spurs and Chelski all dropping points. But it's far from over. It's been silly season, and there'll be more to come. I can't wait, but for now, there's cup business to take care of.
More later. Ciao for now.
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