Arsenal: Three Points Against Everton, but at the Expense of Losing Alex Song

Arsenal added three hard-earned points to their tally in the 24th round of the Premier League against Everton, but it came at the expense of injury to key player Alex Song.

A controversial goal by Luis Saha gave the Toffees the lead just under a quarter hour, but with two quick snap shots by substitute Andrei Arshavin and central defender Laurent Koscielny, the Gunners snatched the game under the noses of a good Everton.

And while the underlining point of the match was the resoluteness of Wenger’s men to come back from behind in the midst of injustice, the referees’ performance threatened to eclipse that.

Lee Mason and his assistants did a terrible job, which on more than several occasions, drew them angry shouts from the Emirates crowd.

Nine games played in January must have surely sucked the energy out of most of the players at Arsenal, but there was no time for relaxation as the first day of February met them with a sturdy challenge called Everton.

The Toffees sitting 14th and four points away from the relegation zone and Arsenal’s desire to keep title hopes alive surrounded the game with a nail-biting atmosphere.

The Huddersfield game just two days before the clash left Wenger with no choice but to rotate the selection. And he did—every single player with the exception of Laurent Koscielny.

Everton was the first to get in tune with the game and for twenty minutes dictated the play, but the home side shook up to a more awakened state soon after. First, Robin Van Persie back-heeled the ball to Cesc Fabregas who fired wide. Then Theo Walcott had a very good opportunity to score, but Tim Howard parried his shot nicely.

Then controversy arrived.

In the 24th minute Seamus Coleman’s chip-ball to Luis Saha, who was offside by a meter, was slightly deflected by Laurent Koscielny. The linesman let the game go on, but that was ultimately the wrong decision as the initial pass was addressed to the same man in offside position—Luis Saha.

The ex-Manchester United player took advantage and finished with enviable confidence and accuracy to give his team a fragile one-goal lead.

Protesting by the Arsenal players changed nothing. The goal stood, but Lee Mason’s decision to validate the goal influenced pretty much the entire game.

The cloud of injustice loomed over the game as the Gunners went on to correct it.

However, Everton’s class was obvious for all to see. Well organised and aggressive, David Moyes’ men contained wave after wave of Gunners’ attempts to equalise. On a couple of occasions, Arsenal’s counter attacks were cut short by tactical fouls, but the referee’s hand stayed out of his pocket when he should have shown yellow cards.

Five minutes from half time, Song began to limp after a knock earlier but managed to finish the first half after some sideline treatment.

A frustrating first half for Arsenal, they had to content themselves with the thought of 45 minutes left to change the tides.

With Abu Diaby on for injured Song, the Gunners went on with their mission for justice.

If the intentions of the home side had been evident even before the second half started, the fog surrounding Everton’s intentions lifted as soon as it did.

They stood deep in the own half in an overt attempt to keep their one-goal lead, but their directness and good organisation remained.

The Toffees looked to have adopted a more defensive approach now.

A couple more chances for an equalising goal by Fabregas and Tomas Rosicky and three yellow cards—two for Everton, one for Arsenal—culminated in a substitution that would change the game: Andrei Arshavin for an ineffective Tomas Rosicky.

Immediately after Arshavin’s involvement, Arsenal began to pick up speed.

The short Russian chipped the ball nicely to Van Persie who turned releasing himself from two defenders in the box, then took a shot with his right foot, but the ball rolled just wide.

It smelled like one of those days we would see yet another trademark Arshavin burst.

And it was.

Ten minutes later, another chip, this time by Fabregas, sent the ball over the defense. An Everton defender made contact with it in attempt to clear it, but the leather sphere bounced behind his back and onto the foot of lurking Andrei Arshavin. With a composed volley, he converted the chance, forcing the Emirates to erupt in noise.

Meanwhile, Wenger had made his last substitute: Nicklas Bendtner came on for youngster Jack Wilshere.

The Dane had an almost immediate effect. He came very close to scoring with a spectacular scissors-kick, but Tim Howard was alert to neutralise the shot.

But Arsenal were bent on turning the game around now.

A free-kick 30 yards from goal tested Howard’s skills to the limit. Van Persie sent a spinning ball flying dangerously towards the left corner only to see Howard intervene in the best possible way. The resulting corner, though, culminated in the most reasonable outcome.

Somehow, Koscielny was left unmarked just in front of the six-yard box and headed the ball home for 2-1. Justice served.

With 15 minutes left on the clock, seeing the points slipping away, David Moyes sought to change things by introducing two new faces into the game.

Victor Anichebe came on for Seamus Coleman, adding a little more edge to Everton’s attack, and Phil Jagielka came on for Phil Neville, donning the captain's armband for the remaining minutes of the match.

The Toffees dug deep and on a couple of occasions came very close to equalising,  but in the end, a well-deserved win for Arsenal reflected their resolute spirit to come back from behind.

With Manchester United winning their game, the Gunners remain in close contention with the current league leaders—five points behind them with 14 matches to go. Three points ensured the title ambitions lived on to see another day, but a heavy January program is already taking its toll with key players getting sidelined.

February could prove decisive for the title ambitions of Wenger’s men.