Back in the hunt

Arsenal 3-1 Sunderland

Arsenal responded to recent disappointing league results and devastating injury news with a crucial win at home to Sunderland on Saturday.

The Gunners needed to get all three points to stay in touch with the top of the table with results on Saturday going their way, Arsenal did just that. Following their recent poor run and the fact that Wenger had to reshuffle his starting eleven, it was understandable that the home side would start the match slightly nervously as they tried to find their fluidity.

However it was surprising that it wasn’t necessarily the reshuffled midfield that was struggling but the defence. With Koscielny coming through a fitness test before the game, Wenger had the luxury of selecting his first choice defensive line, but during the first half in particular they looked all at sea. In fact it was as if Koscielny was playing there by all himself as time and time again he came across to cover both Mertesacker and Bellerin to make crucial tackles and interceptions. Unfortunately since Bellerin has returned to the first team following his hamstring injury he does not seem to be the same player. The Spaniard’s pace does not seem to be as electric as it once was and in fact at one point in the first half, Sunderland centre back Kaboul raced past him on the wing before attempting a cross. Maybe it is this issue with his pace that is affecting Bellerin’s confidence as his defensive play has really suffered in recent games. His positioning has been poor and could have cost Arsenal dear in the final minutes as a ball was played through and Bellerin had no idea what was behind him, only to be mightily relieved to see the shot fly over the bar. In addition, Bellerin’s anticipation in one on one situations has also been poor as far too often opposition players are getting past him too easily. On the opposite side, Monreal, who started the season well has also struggled to match those early performances, while the less said about Mertesacker the better.

In fairness, the defence are now far more exposed with Coquelin out injured and Flamini coming into the starting line up. Flamini does give his all for the team, but unfortunately does not have the discipline to be an effective defensive midfielder as he gets dragged up the pitch when Arsenal are on the ball. Flamini needs to learn that if his central midfield partner, on this occasion Ramsey, has gone forward to support the attack, then he must sit deeper so help screen the defence should Arsenal lose possession. When he doesn’t do this, one forward pass can see the opposition running through on the defence. On Saturday the Gunners could have gone behind in the opening minutes from such a situation as Borini was played through but fortunately fired straight at Cech. It appears that Wenger is aware of Flamini’s deficiencies in the defensive midfield position and explains why he has been in such a rush to get Callum Chambers as much experience as possible in that position. The Englishman has been deployed in that role during training sessions recently and came on against Dinamo Zagreb as well as playing an under 21 game in that role during the week. It was very surprising therefore to see Chambers come on against Sunderland as Arsenal looked to hold onto their lead in the final minutes and not be deployed in central midfield. Instead the former Southampton man was played on the right wing, in front of Bellerin.

Although there were plenty of issues and concerns from a defensive point of view, the attack was a slightly different story. With talisman Alexis Sanchez out injured for the next few weeks, the Gunners need others to stand up and be counted. It was therefore important to see Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott returning to the side, but it was Joel Campbell and in particular Mesut Ozil who stole the show. Campbell works his socks off for the side, chasing lost causes all day long, but has the ability to cause the opposition problems when on the ball too. However Ozil was head and shoulders above any other player on the pitch. The German has endured great criticism during his time in North London but this season he has really become a star. Ozil was a bag of tricks, evading tackles with skill and class while always on the look out to pick out a team mate with a perfect pass. The opening goal of the game arrived thanks to such a through ball as Ozil saw the run of Campbell and played a perfectly weighted ball into his path, allowing Campbell the chance to take the shot on first time. The Costa Rican duly steered his shot beneath the goalkeeper to give the Gunners the lead.

Unfortunately, as in their previous two league games, Arsenal had lost their lead by halftime. On this occasion a poor free kick delivery to the near post seemed to bemuse the Gunners defence and Giroud’s attempt to clear the ball saw him in fact steer it past Cech and into the back of the net. Fortunately, the Frenchman was able to atone for his error in the second half to restore Arsenal’s lead as he steered home an Aaron Ramsey cross with a fine header. Sunderland still had chances towards the end of the game and the Gunners needed a third which arrived right at the end through Ramsey, who anticipated Chamber’s deflected shot well to secure all three points.

Arsenal now face a difficult Champions League tie away to Olympiacos during the week which they must win by two clear goals to progress from the group stage. Although they have the fire power to get the job done, Wenger must be concerned that his defence, playing as they are at the minute, will let the side down, making an already difficult task impossible.