In the end result was decent but after being up 2-0 I think we should have won the game.
We are struggling defensively and to hold on to leads. Although we never looked comfortable in that game at any stage as there were chances both ways constantly I thought Rodgers could have done more to stifle Arsenal once we went up 2--0.
I we never looked like keeping possession for a long period of time despite Rodgers imposing his style. What happened to our neat passing and keeping it when under pressure. It simply was not there yesterday. Joe Allen is normally a man that can keep the ball pretty well but considering his form of late I proabably would have stuck on Jonjo Shelvey (who has not seen a lot of playing time lately). He is a fighter and combative midfielder to have in the middle of the park and would offer much of the same as henderson does at his best which he has been close to lately.
Henderson started looking tired after his goal and should have been subbed. Up until the goal he had been superb and worked his socks off but I thought he lost some of his impetus as the game progressed.
Wisdom had a particularly good game I thought and handled Podolski admirably. On the other wing Johnson had a blunder or two but for the most part he looked solid. The was most obvious situation where Johnson fell asleep was where Walcott comes in far post and has a free header which he luckily missed.
In general though I thought we dropped to deep after scoring the second goal and invited pressure. The midfield 5 especially dropped deep and got too close to our defence which allows Arsenal to pile the pressure on consistently and regain possession too easily when we are able to clear. We have seen it before and it took until Arsenal had two before our approach changed. I do not know if it is subconscious but if you are going to do that with good effect the intensity in our team and work rate and aggressiveness has to be at a much higher level if you are going to defend that deep with success. We have seen it work with Chelsea in the CL final and with Stoke on a regular basis but it requires discipline and quite frankly I do not think it fits our team to play that way.
That is why our midfield should never drop that deep and rather try to defend by keeping the ball in the team. That is what Rodgers was known for at Swansea. I think it breeds more confidence as well.
Anyway, in the end we came away with a point at the Emirates which is ok but unfortunate that we could not hold on to the 3 points.
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We could have done with brining in Chris Samba. Stellar signing!
If QPR goes down I am guessing he has got a release clause in his contract letting him leave for a fair fee but suspect they have a chance of staying up now. Like the article says - a leader, strong in the air and quick.
Oh and came across a beauty of a goal... woth having a look! http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/soccer-dirty-tackle/ricardo-fernandes-scores-scorpion-kick-volley-cyprus-221552775--sow.html
YNWA,
Stian
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