BEKAS penyerang Arsenal yang dipinjam dari New York Red Bulls, Thierry Henry meraikan kejayaan menyumbat ke gawang Leeds United dalam saingan Piala FA di Stadium Emirates, sebentar tadi. Keputusan Arsenal menang 1-0. - Foto Reuters
Jan 10, 2012 5:46 am
Swansea's brand of total football seemed too much for Arsenal as they crumbled to a 3-2 defeat at the Liberty Stadium.
Swansea
Michel Vorm - 6
Could have done better to keep out the two goals conceded but did enough between the posts to earn his team all three points at home.
Ashley Williams - 7.5
Great anticipation from him to cut out any danger from Arsenal. Marshalled Van Persie brilliantly and showed that they could not only play a passing game, but remain tight at the back.
Steven Caulker - 7
His goal line clearance seconds after his team equalized proved to be a priceless one! However, he was slow to push up later on in the game and played Walcott onside to make it 2-2.
Neil Taylor - 6
Used his pace well to bomb forward whenever he could but was caught out of position at times by Walcott, and failed to capitalize on the errors by the Arsenal flank.
Angel Rangel - 6.5
He would not shy away from a tackle and getting the ball off Arshavin was like taking candy away from a kid to him. The best part was that the Russian was nowhere to be seen whenever Rangel went forward and he was free to roam.
Leon Britton - 7
Always made himself the available passing option in the middle of the park and guarded his back four adequately .
Kemy Agustien (46' off) - 6.5
Made Ramsey look like an amateur but was replaced during the break, which turned out to be a game-changing substitution.
Scott Sinclair - 7
Although his runs were intelligent both with and without the ball, passing is definitely not his forte. He frequently let his final pass fail his teammates despite some brilliant dribbling to cut in the flank. Confidently took his penalty and Arsenal didn't recover since.
Nathan Dyer (82' off) - 8.5
Awesome work rate down the right for Swansea, tormenting young Miquel from start to finish. Always willing to track back when help was needed and eventually got himself on the scoresheet with a fierce shot.
Joe Allen - 7.5
Great interception to steal the ball from Ramsey and assist for Dyer to turn the game around for Swansea. Always the architect for Swansea's build up play.
Danny Graham (93' off) - 8
The unsung hero for Swansea in this game. Always the first to react to the ball when it came near the Arsenal penalty box and was rewarded with a goal after a well placed bottom corner finish.
Substitutions
Gylfi Sigurdsson (46' on) - 7.5
Came on and did a great job whipping in good quality corners and even managed a pin point pass to Graham to catch Arsenal when they were most vulnerable. Wayne Routledge (82' on)
N/A Leroy Lita (93' on)
N/A
Arsenal
Wojciech Szczęsny - 5.5
Could have saved the penalty if he didn't do his fancy dance prior to the penalty kick. Helpless to keep out the second goal, but was caught in no man's land for Swansea's third.
Laurent Koscielny - 8
Ever present to cover any holes left behind by his defenders and was eager to make the runs forward to snatch a point for Arsenal when they were trailing.
Per Mertesacker (77' off) - 6
Had the perfect opportunity to make it 3-3 but the ball fell to the wrong Arsenal player in the box.
Ignasi Miquel - 7
Suffered against the quick Dyer and showed some nerves in the starting few minutes. Adapted to the game play well considering Arshavin was barely around to help him defend.
Johan Djourou - 6
Played that killer pass to Walcott to level the scores at 2-2, but lacked the discipline to push up and played the Swansea players onside numerous times.
Yossi Benayoun (63' off) - 6
Easily pushed around and did not stretch the Swansea defence whatsoever. Should not have started in the first place.
Aaron Ramsey - 3
Poor Ramsey accused of conceding a penalty when Dyer went to ground after stepping on his shin. One can never doubt his enthusiasm, but once again lacked the crucial final ball. Lost the ball too cheaply in the middle of the park led to Swansea's second goal. The biggest question remains: WHY WAS HE STILL ON THE PITCH AFTER SO MANY BLUNDERS?
Alex Song - 5.5
Slow to put out the fire and always lost sight of the running man from midfield. Not his usual self in the holding role as he barely stuck a foot in to win possession back from the Swans.
Andrei Arshavin (63' off) - 5
A beautifully weighted pass to Van Persie to set up Arsenal's first goal was perhaps his sole useful contribution to the match.
Theo Walcott - 6
Once a wonderkid, now the kid is woeful in everything he does. He did however grabbed the second goal in the Liberty stadium, which was quite a feat for any visiting team.
Robin Van Persie - 6.5
Van Persie looked like he took too long to finish when he had the ball in the fifth minute but his unexpected right footed finish at the near post gave Arsenal the early lead. Had a similar chance in a similar position later in the game, but Vorm had it covered this time round.
Substitutions
Thierry Henry (63' on) - 5
Could not work his magic to get Arsenal back into the game but was the catalyst for Swansea's vital third goal. Tomas Rosicky (63' on) - 5
It has been two years since he last scored in the League, and judging by today's performance he probably won't score for the next two. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (77' on)
N/A
An entertaining game at the Emirates Stadium saw Arsenal lose 2-1 to Manchester United and drift further away from fourth spot in the Barclays Premier League.
Arsenal
Wojciech Szczęsny - 7
An fairly error-prone performance from the Polish keeper, who at times hurled himself at the feet of the United strikers, showing disregard for his own safety.
Couldn't do much about United's two goals either.
Johan Djourou (off 46') - 3
This man has no sense of urgency whatsoever. No coincidence that the first goal was created from his side of the pitch as well, as he was exposed time and time again by the pace and trickery of Nani.
Laurent Koscielny - 7.5
Handled Welbeck well, not allowing him space and time on the ball. Ran his heart out in an attempt to get something from the game and was water tight at the back.
Per Mertesacker - 8
The Mertesacker Arsene Wenger signed must have been abducted by aliens, for the one that took to the field today won countless headers and showed superb positional sense. He even made a crucial goal line clearance from Welbeck's clever effort to keep the scores at 1-1.
Thomas Vermaelen - 6.5
At least there was some stability in the Arsenal back four with this man around, till that second goal when Valencia simply strolled into the penalty area to set up Welbeck. He switched off for a brief moment and Arsenal paid the price.
Tomas Rosicky - 6.5
Made a mockery of Arsenal's famous counter-attack in the first half, slowing down play as the Gunners looked to expose United on the break. There was a remarkable improvement in the second half though, when he created a brilliant opportunity for Van Persie to level the scores and even had a shot blocked off the line by Patrice Evra.
Alex Song - 7.5
Arsenal fans must be delighted Cameroon did not make the African Cup of Nations as he was the only player in midfield who was capable of breaking down United's play.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (off 74') - 9
His first start for Arsenal in the Premier League was a really promising one. It was Chamberlain vs Manchester United for the entire first half, creating chances up front without shying away from his defensive duties. Great assist for Van Persie to level the scores.
Aaron Ramsey (off 84') - 5
Another woeful display from Ramsey who has plenty to learn from his fellow countryman. The Arsenal fans must be crying, wherefore art thou Jack Wilshere...
Theo Walcott - 5.5
Considering the legendary Thierry Henry is now back at the club, Walcott showed he doesn't deserve the number 14 jersey with performances like this week in week out. No more excuses for being young.
Robin Van Persie - 6.5 Barely had a touch of the ball in the first half, and when he had the goal at his mercy minutes after the restart, he fired it wide. Despite grabbing the equalizer, he didn't have a convincing game.
Substitutions Nicholas Yennaris (on 46') - 6.5
A big game for the 18-year-old, who rose to the occasion and was way better at coping with Nani than Djourou.
Andrei Arshavin (on 74') - 5 The fans were not afraid to let their feelings be known when this change was made. Guess who allowed Valencia into the danger area so easily which led to United's second goal? Why fix that which is not broken Monsieur Wenger, considering Oxlade-Chamberlain had been stunning till then.
Park Chu-Young (on 84')
Once again, the Korea Republic captain was not given a decent opportunity to make an impact.
masa mula2 AW amek budak mentah tu, ramai yang membantah..pelaburan sia2..tapi bila dah menjadi player yang dibeli semua kagum dengan kebolehan AW membeli/meramal kebolehan player muda..tapi disebabkan keputusan yang kurang tepat dengan mengeluarkan Oxlade, rating AW dikalangan peminat Arsenal menurun..
ps: aku rasa oxlade memang dah dirancang untuk dikeluarkan. sokong keputusan AW terutama keluarkan djourou..{:4_182:}
Post time 10-1-2012 05:35 AM
