New look Gunners

Back to sportskeeda after a while and watched a complete football match after a while. The combined efforts of a new look Arsenal and the Sportskeeda owner have ebbed me on to writing.

Arsenal fielded a new look side yet again this term with Arteta and Mertesacker making their debuts. Wonder what the record is for most debuts in consecutive matches in the Premier League (apart from promoted sides of course). Speaking of the debuts, Arteta slotted right into the Arsenal midfield and looked comfortable alongside Arshavin and behind Robin (in the first half at least). Arshavin seems to be on the verge of a resurgence of sorts after he looked the best of the three forwards today. Not that he faced much competition when van Persie looked to be having an off day but he is by far the best we have got, and Walcott, well is Walcott. He looked the worst player on the pitch by far and seemed to have a lot to say on the field as well (wonder why). Frimpong looks like a strong defensive midfielder but does not have the passing range or the intelligence to be assured of starts just yet. Ramsey looks to be desperately out of form and merely a passenger at the moment and needs to step up a couple of notches in order to be close to filling the massive shoes that he was earmarked to fill.

The other debutant looked more like a debutant but will certainly improve with game time at the heart of the defence. But Per looks good on set pieces and is a proven defender. Sagna had one of those off days but thankfully it did not cost us anything (unlike a certain Eboue’s mistakes used to). Gibbs looks to offer more than Clichy in attack but his defensive game is still suspect. Will be interesting to see how Santos does. A rare mistake from Szczesny almost cost us two points but he had a game prior to that. The fake with the ball at his feet was memorable.

There were a couple of funny moments in addition to that wonderful bit of skill from the keeper when Arteta played a back pass at the wrong post and when nobody know who the captain was when van Persie came off. Benayoun was given a bit of game time but too little to say anything about him.

Arsenal next face Borussia Dortmund and need to improve a lot. We do have Gervinho and Song back which will help with Frimpong and hopefully Walcott being benched. I hope Wenger gives Ramsey a rest too because he hasn’t created as many chances as expected from him if any and looked absolutely knackered by the end of the last match. Hope Arshavin starts again(maybe in the centre too alongside Arteta). This will be toughest match in the Champions league group and could decide who finishes first and second.

All in all, Wenger seems to have signed a class act in Arteta and hopefully Mertesacker, Santos and Park also proving to be the same. As Wenger himself said, the match at Old Trafford was still in the minds of the team and they seemed to be playing for the finish in the second half. Its a matter of time and wins (no matter how they come) for the next few weeks before this team gels.