'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
After avoiding what could have been their worst result in the last few season, Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal reached the Quarterfinals of the Capital One Cup by defeating Reading 7-5.
A match that will definitely go down as one of the classics of this tournament and English football as a whole, saw the Gunners go 4-0 down after some horrendous defending and goalkeeping in the first half. Similarly McDermott’s Reading showcased some of their own silky smooth defensive skills by conceding 6 goals after the first half.
Full fledged team changes
Wenger, as expected made loads of changes and fielded a completely different starting 11. Martinez started in goal with Jenkinson and Miquel in fullback spots, Djorou and Koscienly in the center of defense. A fit again Frimpong started in the heart of midfield with Coquelin, while Arshavin, Gnabry, Walcott and Chamakh made up the front 4.
Trending
Although playing in a familiar 4-2-3-1 with Arshavin behind the striker, the double pivot in midfield was the difference from Wenger’s usual tactics. Both Frimpong and Coquelin are defensive midfielders and are more comfortable in breaking up the play rather than building and distributing. So these 2 were supposed to provide a solid defensive cover which would allow Arshavin and the front 3 with all the space and freedom to roam upfront.
McDermott gave Federeci a rare start in goal. Hunt and Jason Roberts started upfront in a 4-4-2. McCleary and Robson- Kanu were on the flanks with Leigertwood and Tabb in the centre of midfield. New signing Pogrebniak and captain McAnuff were left on the bench.
Steve Bould will have to start from scratch
Right from the kickoff, the home team showed much more energy and spirit than Arsenal. Arsenal’s mid 2 of Frimpong and Coquelin clearly lacked play time together and were often caught on different wavelengths. Initially Coquelin was particularly poor, as the French midfielder lost many a loose ball in midfield.
These loose balls led to crosses coming in from Reading’s wings. This showed another one of Arsenal’s weakness: fullback woes. Steve Bould has been praised for his work in defense, but once the coach fields a completely different back 4, there are ought to be lapses. Ignasi Miquel at left back was depressingly poor. The young Spaniard was not able to stop any of the crosses and was easily dribbled past. Even his usually good first touches while in attack, were wayward today.
The same can be said of Jenkinson on the right, who had a torrid half against Kanu. The young right back though improved later on in the game, was error prone in his jumping and clearances.
Comrades Djourou and Koscienly
The center back pairing of Djourou and Koscienly were the joke of the first half. Their performance tonight against Hunt and Roberts will no longer reflect that this was the same pairing that was able to keep the Barcelona’s attack at bay 2 seasons ago.
Djourou, who was also named captain by Wenger for the night, was harassed continually by Roberts and Hunt. Jenkinson’s and Miquel’s high positioning left the center backs vulnerable to the powerful Roberts. Another worrying aspect for Wenger would be the form of his last season’s best defender. Koscienly had made an indifferent start to the season, and his performance tonight goes on to show that lack of game time has rusted the defender completely. The Frenchman has developed a habit of scoring own goals with uncanny ease. Koscienly, who had earlier negated threats of Torres, Messi and Ibra, was outplayed by the 34 year old Roberts.
When Reading went 4-0 up in the first half with goals in the 12th, 19th, 21st and 37th minute, Arsenal were completely out of the game with their defense and goalkeeper deflated to the core. Apart from these, Reading had many more chances in the second half to put the game to bed, but lucky deflections off Miquel and Djorou saved Wenger further blushes.
Attack is the only form of defense for Wenger
A shining point for the gunners, even in the first half, was Theo Walcott. The Englishman has been demanding a central role, and his performance justifies his claim. Throughout the first half Walcott kept making diagonal runs from the right, and was usually in much better positions than Chamakh to score. His chip at the end of the half would certainly have brought hope to some.
Talking about Chamakh, the Moroccan’s performance defines the term ‘A game of 2 different halves’. After his first half display, I had decided the title of this article to be: “Sell Maroune Chamakh…….Now”. But I was fortunate enough to be proven wrong by his display in the second half. Though the Mohawk’ed forward still did not attack crosses in the box and his passing was wayward, but his work ethic improved greatly in the second half. Chamakh was seen tracking back for the fullbacks and laying up play for Walcott and Giroud with unnerving calm.
Finally this was a match where Wenger’s substitutions actually worked, even though I felt he could have made them much before the 60th minute. Giroud and Eisfield came on for Frimpong and Gnabry and the formation changed to a 4-2-4 and at times 4-1-5. Olivier Giroud’s stint in the second half showed why Wenger spent big bucks on him. Though it might have been against a much weakened defense, Giroud was able to inject the much required pace and class into the frontline.
His header for the first goal was stylish and his angling of his head to meet Walcott’s cross seemed almost involuntary. Giroud’s and Eisfield’s presence brought out the best of Arshavin and the Russian returned to his best with much more trickery and direct running at the defense. Eisfield looks like another bright prospect for Arsenal, as the 19 year old was able to change the pace of attacks with his brilliant distribution from midfield. Though he seems a very ‘Ramsey’ like player, he is much more confident in the final third than the Welshman.
Extra Time drama
Arsenal’s 4th goal in the 95th minute of play infuriated the Reading bench as it was past the given 4 minutes of normal time. Infact McDermott’s act of removing his best player Jason Roberts in the added time, not only gave the gunners 30 seconds added on but also removed the threat that Robert’s would have posed in extra time. Still Pogrebniak was able to score Reading’s 5th goal as another shambolic defense on the right by Djourou left the striker with a free header in the box.
Arsenal’s extra time goals were scored by Chamakh, the first of which might be hi best in an Arsenal shirt. The second goal was scored late in the dying moments when he was the only player in the opposition half.
Though this game might go down as a 12 goal classic, Arsene Wenger will be much more relieved than proud. A positive thought for the Gunners might be the fact that none of the players in midfield or defense will be starting against Manchester United on Saturday, and Damien Martinez will not be even on the bench for quite some time.
Reading though can take little satisfaction from their attacking display. Their 3 strikers Hunt, Roberts and Pogrebniak are sure to get them goals, but McDermott will have to steady his defensive department, particularly down the left where Walcott wrecked havoc.
Top of the match: Jason Roberts, Theo Walcott
Flop of the match: Johann Djorou, Damien Martinez
