Arsenal 1 - 0 Leeds United: Henry winner the shining moment in uninspired Arsenal display

Hooray, Arsenal are finally playing!

I know it's only been a whole week but it felt like ages since that Fulham game. I don't think I'll ever like the concept of playing on a Monday.

Anyway, Arsenal went with a pretty strong line-up against Leeds. Szczesny, Koscielny, Song, Arteta and Ramsey all started while Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott were the only two that got rest - the other were either away on international duty or injured.

Arsenal started brightly, pinging the ball about nicely and actually looking threatening from the first whistle for once, although the Leeds keeper wasn't really tested.

Leeds were perfectly content to sit back and soak up the pressure and didn't show any attacking ambition at all. Becchio was isolated up front virtually all game, while their only out was the somewhat over-enthusisastic Andros Townsend.

Arsenal pretty much had control of the game from the word go, but after that opening spell, they didn't seem to exert much effort in getting that opening goal. There was the odd bright spot through Ramsey, Chamberlain or Arshavin but, again, nothing too threatening and the Leeds keeper remained untested. The first half performance was flat, the crowd were flat; the whole game was just dull and had replay written all over it.

The major problems I thought were the lack of bodies in and around the penalty area. Chamakh was keen to come short and link up the play, but didn't make much penetrative movement. Arshavin and Chamberlain came inside into the congestion too often, while Ramsey, the main support from midfield, seldom provided that support. The best Arsenal conjur were a couple of half-decent long shots.

Things improved margianally in the second half and, indeed, Arsenal registered their first shot on target when Arteta's weakly struck effort finally worked the Leeds keeper. Oxlade-Chamberlain went down the outside more and opened up the play, and he had a couple of decent shots on goal himself.

That, though, was the extent of the improvement and Arsenal still needed that spark to make something happen. Wenger brought on Theo Walcott and Thierry Henry for Chamberlain and Chamakh, and the introduction of the legend seemed to galvanise the team and the fans.

Of course, the winner had to be scored by Henry. Song played an excellent pass through to Henry, who was in his trademark inside-left position, and the legend finished into the far corner in trademark style.

After the euphoria of that goal, Leeds actually managed a couple of decent efforts but nothing to really make Szczesny worry. Arsenal saw the game out and are now through to face Aston Villa in the fourth round.

Lack of goals still a prevelant problem
Henry's goal will most likely overshadow this but Arsenal today did not look threatening in front of goal. Beyond Robin van Persie's goal, only 11 goals have been scored between the rest of the players and that is a concerning statistic. We only won the game through a piece of class by Henry. Arshavin was the only one that was getting into goalscoring positions. Ramsey, Chamberlain, Chamakh and Arteta had decent games overall, but I do think they need get into goalscoring positions more. I mean, today we only managed three shots on target. That's not really a good sign, is it?

Player Ratings
Wojciech Szczesny - 6. Had nothing strenuous to do all game.

Sebastien Squillaci - 6. Got through the game without any scares. Can't ask for much more, really.

Laurent Koscielny - 6. Didn't have to do anything major.

Francis Coquelin - n/a. There goes another "fullback". Really hoping his injury is not too bad.

Ignasi Miquel - 6. Pretty solid display in all aspects.

Alex Song - 7. Had a tidy game and provided a very good assist.

Mikel Arteta - 6. Had a decent game in midfield, dictating the play, but wayward with his set-pieces.

Aaron Ramsey - 6. He likes those flicks and backheels, doesn't he? Produced some lovely pieces of skill, and that's all well and good, but he lacked substance. I don't recall many defence splitting passes from him. Further reinforces my belief that he's not suited for that advanced midfield role.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - 6. Showed his great dribbling ability with some nice skills, but like Ramsey just didn't produce much in the way of end-product, bar one shot that tested the keeper.

Andrey Arshavin - 6. Full marks for actually putting in the effort tonight. Yes, he didn't produce anything either but at the very least he made some positive runs with and without the ball and tried to make things happen. That's the least you expect from a player out of form and tonights performance was an improvement from what we have seen.

Marouane Chamakh - 6. Typically anonymous as a goalscorer, but I thought he did okay overall. He got involved in the play and held the ball up well, which is more Chamakh's game.

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Nico Yennaris - 6. Wasn't tested that often, but did make one error when he let McCormack get in behind too easily. Could be seeing more action now that Coquelin is injured.

Theo Walcott - 6. Wasn't invovled much when he came on, though I do recall one decent cross.

Thierry Henry - 7. The man of the moment. One shot, one classy finish. The King is back.

Who needs Godolski when we've got the King?

HENRYYYYYYY

WHAT A MAN!

today is more than enough proof that chamberlain>> walcott( no offense)

but oxlade's ability to beat his man leaves me clapping..

don't forget his "critiano ronaldo" flick he did in the second half..

aleumdance wrote:today is more than enough proof that chamberlain>> walcott( no offense)

but oxlade's ability to beat his man leaves me clapping..

don't forget his "critiano ronaldo" flick he did in the second half..

You're jumping the gun here.

There wasn't any doubt that Chamberlain's dribbling is better than Walcott's, but his effect on the game overall was actually just as little as Walcott's in recent games. One nice piece of skill doesn't instantly make him a better player.

thankfully Song had the ball for that pass also. None of our other mids would have pulled it off.

is it just me or Song making alot of final passes.....and getting assists

THIERRY-ERRY HENRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY.

imalegend wrote:is it just me or Song making alot of final passes.....and getting assists

If I'm not wrong, that was Song's 8th assist in all competitions. More than Ramsey, Arteta and Walcott combined, I believe.

lol i would say its slightly worrying but what the heck. Song

hamstring injury 3 weeks out

Thought we did ok, just like cutting edge.

Szczesny 6
Coquelin 7
Squillaci 6
Koscielny 7
Miquel 7
Song 7
Arteta 6
Ramsey 7
Chamberlain 7
Chamakh 6.5
Arshavin 7.5 (May not be the Arshavin of a few years ago still, but tonight he deserves a lot of credit. Even put in one good tackle back-tracking).

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Yennaris 7 (Did very well)
Henry MOTM (obviously)
Walcott (anonymous)

Henry definitely deserves this song



what a goal...

Updated the first post.

lmao @ goal.com giving him an 8.5


OBVIOUSLY THEIR '10' BUTTON WAS BROKEN.

Sina u legend

Wilshere: Had to get a picture with this legend! I'm still buzzing!