Five points clear!

Arsenal 1-1 Everton

Arsenal were only nine minutes away from going an incredible seven points clear at the top of the table yesterday, but were unfortunately pegged back by a spirited Everton side, meaning the Gunners lead at the top of the Premier League table now stands at five points.

In truth, Arsene Wenger’s side didn’t really deserve to win the game yesterday, as Everton, full of confidence from their moral boosting win away to Manchester United, frustrated Arsenal with a high pressing game which, particularly in the first half, prevented the home side from gaining any rhythm in the match. The Gunners midfield unit, which has performed extremely well all season, just could not get a grip on the game. Far too often, in the opening 25 minutes, Arsenal’s midfield gave the ball away far too cheaply, through sloppy passing and as a result Everton comfortably enjoyed the lion’s share of possession.

However, despite their greater retention of the ball, the away team were not exactly creating goal scoring opportunities at will. This owed much to the fantastic display of the Arsenal defence. Koscielny and Mertesacker in particular were absolutely outstanding yesterday. Their positional play was perfect time and time again as Everton sought to catch the Gunners out on the flanks before crossing the ball into the box, but were thwarted each and every time by the Gunners centre backs. What was equally impressive however, was the way the Arsenal central defenders met the challenge of the physically imposing Romelu Lukaku. In previous seasons, the Gunners back line would have allowed themselves to be all too easily outmuscled by such an imposing figure, but on this occasion, Koscielny and Mertesacker showed just how much they have improved by impressively standing up to the challenge and refusing to be pushed aside. In fact Lukaku, who has been in excellent form since the start of the season, was largely nullified by the Arsenal defence.

As a result of the Gunners excellent defending, Everton rarely threatened the Arsenal goal and in fact Szczesny did not have much to do at all. As the first half wore on, the Gunners gradually began to get themselves into the game, as they started to find a way past Everton’s pressing. Unfortunately every time the Gunners got in behind the Everton midfield, the visitors would commit a cynical foul to halt Arsenal’s progress. In such situations, it is down to the referee to stamp out these tactics by issuing yellow cards, but Howard Webb failed to do so early in the match and so Everton were allowed to carry on undeterred.

Nevertheless, towards the end of the first half, Arsenal began to get their passing game going and created two one on one situations with the goalkeeper, from which they should have at least scored one. First Ramsey slid an excellent through ball into the path of Giroud, but the onrushing Tim Howard was able to block the Frenchman’s attempt to clip the ball over him. Then Giroud turned provider for Ramsey, but the Welshman also could not get the better of Howard, who had again charged off his line to block the Arsenal effort. These two glorious opportunities showed that the Gunners had rallied back and were starting to get on top. In fact it was rather disappointing when the half time whistle went as at that point, with his side in the ascendancy, Wenger would have wanted the game to continue.

The Gunners started the second half as they had finished the first and created another gilt edged opportunity, this time for Cazorla. Ozil clipped a ball over the top of the Everton defence to Wilshere, whose wonderful touch back across goal seemed perfect for Cazorla to nod home, but unfortunately, the Spaniard just could not get any power on his header and in the end it was a comfortable save for Howard. The Everton goalkeeper was called into action again, moments later, as an excellent cross, this time from Gibbs to the far post, found the unmarked Aaron Ramsey, but as with Cazorla, the Welshman couldn’t get enough power on his effort, enabling Howard to save at his near post.

Arsenal were much improved, but were now susceptible to the counter attack and Szczesny had to twice save well from long range shots from Piennar and the impressive Barkeley. Wenger had seen enough it seemed and took the uncharacteristic decision to bring on three players at the same time with Flamini, Rosicky and Walcott entering the fray instead of Wilshere, Ramsey and Cazorla.

This bold decision was almost immediately vindicated as Flamini fired a low shot across goal and just wide of the far post. Then in the 81^st minute, Wenger’s other two substitutes combined brilliantly to create the opening goal of the game. Rosicky’s excellent cross from the right flank, found Walcott at the back post. The Englishman headed the ball across goal, where Giroud seemed destined to score, but somehow missed his kick. Never mind, just behind him was Mesut Ozil, who calmly steered the ball into the roof of the net to spark jubilant scenes of celebration amongst both the crowd and the players.

Unfortunately it would not last and only three minutes later, Everton were back on level terms. This time it was Roberto Martinez’s substitute,  Deulofeu, who had a major impact, as he collected the ball on the edge of the box, made a yard of space on the covering Gibbs and fired a powerful effort past Szczesny. It was a shot which maybe the Polish goalkeeper would be disappointed not to have saved, but he was probably surprised to see Deulofeu shoot from such a tight angle and was therefore caught slightly on his heels.

This was a pulsating end to a thoroughly entertaining game and the drama was still not over. In the dying seconds, Olivier Giroud, who hadn’t enjoyed his best game in an Arsenal shirt, brought a high ball under control and took a shot from just outside the box, which had Tim Howard well beaten, but unfortunately came crashing back off the post.

Given the somewhat frustrating end to the game, there was a distinct feeling of disappointment around the Emirates Stadium at the final whistle. Yet when the dust settles and the situation is taken into perspective, it is an indication of just how far this team has come in the space of 12 months. This time last year no one was talking about the title, the main question then was can Arsenal somehow manage to finish in the top four. To think that we can now feel disappointed at being five points clear at the top of the table, shows just what a magnificent turn around has taken place at this club. The Gunners can also take great heart from a solid defensive display which stood firm when under pressure. Such spirit will need to be displayed once again next Saturday, away to a Manchester City team who have won all their home league games this season and have the luxury of resting players during the week. Arsenal will have to dig deep to once again prove their title credentials.