Arsenal and Villa Share Spoils As the 'Verminator' Is Crocked

One down and three of the crunch games to go.

Last night, I was apprehensive just before kickoff, but my nerves were calmed down by Almunia’s masterful save of Agbonlahor’s shot in the first few minutes.

I just thought to myself “we have a game here, and it’s not going to be an easy one, but we’ll cope.”

The reason I knew I was apprehensive was that I’d already started peeling the label off the bottle of Stella Atoir that I was sipping (well, it wasn’t just one bottle by then), and the game hadn’t even started.

I totally expected Villa to play a high intensity counter attack game using their pace on the wings, and they duly obliged. Arsenal had to be patient and absorb the pressure, for this is what the script suggested.

In terms of chances, it would have been a 2-2 draw if the gods were with the players involved, but I suppose a clean sheet is the lesser of two evils.

Stewart Downing must be wondering whether he did something dodgy in a previous life, for there is no explanation of how he missed his two chances.

The rub of the green was shared out evenly as Villa’s blushes were spared by the upright and the crossbar, as well as Arsenal’s inability to capitalize on second-phase balls.

Arsenal’s blushes were most definitely spared by Downing having a nightmare. It’s the only way to explain the chances he missed.

It was a typical game of Arsenal’s pressure pitted against Villa’s counter attack. Two different styles of play that brought out two different philosophies.

Villa chose to absorb Arsenal’s passing play and wait for the counter-attacking opportunities down the flanks and channels.

I think the most amusing aspect of the game was how Sol Campbell dealt with Agbonlahor. I must admit, when the veteran defender came on, I did wonder how he would cope with Agbonlahor’s pace.

The answer was clearly ‘in the mind.’ Several times, Campbell showed his class by using intelligence over pace, the classic example being the occasions that he masterfully engineered off-side decisions against the Villa front line as an alternative to chasing them down the pitch.

You could almost hear him mutter ”I’ll be damned if you think I’m chasing you down the pitch” as he intelligently read the game and stepped forward to expose the opponent. And they say you can’t play football past 30.

I also was encouraged by the return of Arsenal’s very own B52 striker. Bendtner was always going to be rusty in his first match back, but you could see great signs last night of what Arsenal has been missing as an option up front.

I think Bendtner will be dangerous up there, and it was really strange to see Arsenal winning and keeping balls high in the air because of Bendy’s presence.

Nasri was also razor-sharp when he came on. I liked that. Someone once described him as a combination between Alex Hleb (the dribbling ability) and Robert Pires (his eye for goal and clinical finishing).

Recently, there’s also been a lot of debate about Arsenal’s vulnerability on the left flank. Perhaps now folks can have a bit of perspective and realise that Traore didn’t actually do a bad job out there. It’s a hard enough job even for Gael Clichy if he doesn’t have proper protection from Arshavin.

Villa have to be given great credit for playing the clean and committed game that they’re known for, and making the game a ”squeaky bum time” type of game.

It was one that was hard to call even at the dying moments. It’s fair to say that a draw was a just result.

Of concern to Arsenal is Thomas Vermaelen’s injury. More tests and X-rays will be done today to determine the extent of the injury. My take is that the rest of the team need to park the thoughts they have about Vermaelen’s injury and focus on the coming games.

It’s a big blow to miss our Verminator, and I think most if not all the Gooner nation are nervously waiting to hear the test results. I think it’s safe to say that Vermaelen will be out for a while...how long, no one knows yet.

William Gallas and Sol Campbell will have to do. If it’s any consolation, they’re both world-class defenders and champions. They both know how to win and I’m sure have the leadership skills to marshal Arsenal’s defence.

Wenger has the option of reverting Alex Song to central defence, but in all honesty, such a move will deprive the Arsenal midfield of their Field Marshal. Wenger could of course buy a new defender, but I highly doubt it.

Nine out of 12 points in the games against Villa, Manure, Chelsea and Liverpool is what I suggested was a good return. There’s a fight to get at least eight points more; although seven or nine points more are the mathematical possibilities if the Gunners are still going to have a good run.

The key games though, are against Manure and Chelsea. The reason for this is that because they’re Arsenal’s closest rivals, overhauling them will directly turn the advantage the Gunners' way, rather than hoping that other teams will do it for us.

I personally think the next two games are the most important this season. Arsenal have the opportunity to definitively take control of the league table by winning the games.

Chelsea and/or Manure will both drop points when they play each other, and also other top eight teams.

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