JITTERY ARSENAL
It’s the same old story as Wenger boys almost throw points away
THERE we were thinking this was an all-new Arsenal. Here was a match which appeared to build on that 2-0 away win at Manchester City in January. The renaissance team seemed solid, workmanlike and ready to strike on the counter.
With Mesut Ozil orchestrating, Olivier Giroud turning into a warrior-like centre forward who can hold the ball up superbly, added to the speed and skill of Alexis Sanchez and Danny Welbeck out wide, they are perfectly equipped to play this type of game. And with Francis Coquelin’s importance growing with every game, there seemed to be a solidity about Arsenal which has rarely been evident in the past.
It is, however, something of a mirage, an illusion. They might appear more robust but their fragility seems to haunt them, hanging around like an unexorcised spirit.
Arsenal were in control. They defended well. The clock was ticking and three minutes of added time had been played when Shola Ameobi met a corner at the far post. Amid the confusion — a ricochet off Tomas Rosicky, a bounce off Per Mertesacker — Wilfied Zaha drove in shot which David Ospina parried and in sneaked substitute Glenn Murray to prod home a goal.
It was no more than a consolation. Barely enough time remained for Arsenal to kick off. Yet within the remaining 90 seconds, they demonstrated sufficient vulnerability to ruin their new image.
Yannick Bolasie went tearing down the left and swung in a cross. Ospina came diving out to punch away and missed completely. At the far post lurked Murray waiting to head home. He met the ball cleanly and yet hit a post, with the ball rebounding into the hands of the fortunate and relieved Ospina.
That effort should have seen Arsenal forfeit two points and it was enough to suggest that old habits die hard. If Arsenal have changed, then maybe they could yet enjoy a sustained run in the Champions League and approach an FA Cup tie at Old Trafford with confidence. The final two minutes suggested otherwise.
‘We can learn from every game and I believe the players know that they switched off a little bit early,’ said Arsene Wenger. ‘Certainly they thought it was done. In the Premier League it is never done. And when that header went off the post,t we were a bit fortunate.’
Crystal Palace are doughty opponents and make the most of what they have. The return of Mile Jedinak from winning the Asian Cup with Australia adds more fortitude to a hard-working midfield. The pace of Dwight Gayle, Zaha and later Bolassie was always a threat.
‘That’s probably the best we’ve played since I’ve been manager,’ said Pardew. ‘The one that hit the post and goes in the keeper’s hands summed our day up really. I actually though the spin of the ball was going to take it into the net when it came off the post. It could have gone anywhere. It wasn’t to be. There was some great tt team play,l and probably the best players were on our team, but we’ve lost.’
Arsenal were given an early foothold with an eighth-minute penalty. Palace were aggrieved but perhaps only to spare the blushes of Pape Souare. He was miles off the pace, failing to control the ball and lunging at Welbeck as the Arsenal player chased the ball down.
Palace’s complaint was that initial contact occurred outside the box, though Souare planted his foot on the line of the area and his leg appeared to follow through into the box.
‘It’s a mistake and he should do better but the call is tough on us as it looked as if the incident happened outside the box,’ said Pardew.
Santi Cazorla confidently converted the spot kick but thereafter, Palace played well.
Nevertheless, it was turned into a scrappy game with little direction until Arsenal extended their lead. This time Palace had legitimate cause for complaint. Though the ball from Sanchez for Welbeck was sublime, the effect was ruined by Welbeck being offside as the ball was played. He shot, Julian Speroni parried and Giroud followed up to score his 50th for the club.
‘The second goal is offside,’ said Pardew. ‘And that call should be made. I had more problems with the second goal than the first. You have to get that call right.’
Palace were much brighter in the second half. Nacho Monreal blocked a Zaha strike amid a chaotic goalmouth scramble and Gayle headed wide. Their efforts were in vain.
But they came mightily close to exposing Arsenal.