Thanks Reina..We owe you one!!

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Red for the new boy in Red!!!

The otherwise so dependable Spainard was in a generous mood..maybe the ebullience of being crowned World Champions hasn’t phased out a month later. His last minute gift has helped us avoid an opening day defeat, a day on which we played with rhythm but not exactly the killer instinct required to overpower a team like Liverpool in their own den. A last gasp equaliser feels more like a victory though and Wenger shall be contented with the result in the end. 11 G looks at Arsenal’s encounter against the Merseysiders as the Premiership gushes into life in its inaugural weekend….

The Gunners began on a positive note, withholding possession in dangerous areas and creating chances to trouble the Liverpool defence. Eboue’s darting runs and quick link up play by Sagna, Nasri and Co left the Reds at sixes and sevens and for sometime all they could do was concede free kicks in dangerous positions. Fortunately for them, Nasri’s shooting boots had been either left home or worse still- Stolen!! He didnt bother Pepe Reina from the free kicks and Arsenal couldn’t capitalise on their territorial dominance.

Liverpool had sight of goal twice in a narrow space of time just before the curtains came down on the opening half. Glen johnson’s shot had power and promise and required a full stretched Almunia to keep it at bay. From the corner that followed, Clichy made a goal line clearance and we could breathe once again. That seemed like all the action for the first half, but then this is the Premier League, and what is that without its fair share of drama. Liverpool debutant Joe Cole brought down Arsenal debutant Laurent Koscileny in a rather rash challenge, a straight Red Card!!! Harsh?? Well, the Liverpool fans would definitely tell you that, all we can say is that Joe Cole would have had a  better game if he was wearing the yellow instead of the red.

The Reds though took the lead early second half with a beautifully taken goal by Ngog, the Cameroon born French isn’t exactly renowned for his goalscoring but this was one that will make the fans and the new Boss proud. Roy Hudson celebrated, but knew that work remained to be done. Liverpool were efficient in keeping Arsenal at bay, though we made inroads specially after the introduction of Rosicky and Walcott and enjoyed the majority of the ball. Rosicky’s effort from distance was saved by Reina’s fingertips, he’d rather trade off that one for what happened minutes later. There was a glint in the eye of the Liverpool boss as the minutes ticked away, but it wasn’t to be their day.

Reina made a mess of the ball he should have collected, it fell to Chamakh who hit the post and we thought we had missed it. But Reina was at it again, carrying the ball innocously past his own net and we could celebrate our opening goal of the new season. Not quite the trademark Arsenal goal, but under the circumstances, Priceless!!!

The mood was slightly dampened by Koscileny’s suspension, who managed two yellow cards in no time to be sent off on his Arsenal debut.

The positives- Good promising attacking play, should get better with the arrival of players like Song and Fabregas.

Negatives- The absence of clinical finishing for sure, and excessive dependence on Vermaelen at the back. We are surely not impregnable and one believes Wenger needs to dish out a few players before the window closes..lets hope for the best!!

Blackpool is next!!!