Arsenal vs West Brom: 5 Things We Learned from Arsenal's Comeback
Arsenal’s title challenge received another blow when they drew 2-2 with West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns.
West Brom took a two goal lead thanks to goals from Steven Reid and Peter Odemwingie. The first goal came within three minutes and following a shambolic error from Arsenal goalkeeper Almunia, West Brom doubled their lead.
But a spirited fight back from the Gunners, thanks to goals from Andrei Arshavin and van Persie, gave Arsenal one point. With United winning, Arsenal slip five points behind the leaders, albeit with a game in hand.
Arsenal were missing key players, as Fabianski, Szczesny, Djourou, Vermaelen, Fabregas, Walcott and Song were all out injured.
Here is a look at the five things we learned from Arsenal’s loss.
Marouane Chamakh Is Back
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Marouane Chamakh was signed by the Gunners during the summer from Bordeaux and he had an immediate impact, as he scored 10 goals by November. Arsenal’s Robin van Persie was injured as usual and it was Chamakh that helped minimize his loss with some good and timely goals.
But following his return and by his own admission, Chamakh suffered a dip in form that was caused by fatigue. Chamakh revealed that he felt burnt down and he was exhausted. And on the pitch, he looked like a man who had lost all his confidence. He has scored just the solitary goal since November, which came against Leyton Orient.
He fluffed easy chances and lacked the usual intensity on the pitch. He stated that he would be back to his best by March and true to his word, he put in a good display against West Brom. He might not have scored in close to five months, but the impact he had on Saturday was impressive.
He set up Arshavin for the first goal and made a nuisance of himself. In recent weeks, there has been a gradual improvement in his play. Against Sunderland, he hit the post and set up Arshavin. Against United, he got into good positions and played decently.
Chamakh is not back to his best, but he is definitely improving rapidly and with the title race heating up, he will prove to be essential in Arsenal’s title challenge.
Arsenal Does Have the Mental Resolve and Passion to Win the League
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After Arsenal’s limp 2-0 exit from the FA Cup at the hands of Manchester United, several Arsenal fans were questioning whether this side had any passion and mental resolve.
On Saturday, they showed that they are made of sterner stuff than made out to be. Despite being two goals down and missing their two best goalkeepers, two best defenders, their captain and key players in Walcott and Alex Song, Arsenal fought back to draw the match 2-2.
For a team that is often accused of being weak willed and minded, Arsenal showed remarkable character and resolve to claw their way back despite missing key personnel.
Normally it would be Arsenal that tend to throw away comfortable leads, but this time the Gunners showed mental fortitude and displayed a certain fighting spirit that all Arsenal fans have longed to see from this side.
Although it might have been two points dropped, we can only hope that the team would have gained some much needed confidence after what has been a miserable three weeks.
In the wake of another pathetic/stupid/horrendous mistake from Almunia, people have not given Arsenal enough due for this brave performance.
Nasri’s Early Season Form Has Died Down
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During his first two seasons at Arsenal, Nasri always showed that he had the potential to be a great player, but it is only this season that he has started to show his quality on a consistent basis. During the absence of Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas during the first half of the season, he rose to stardom as he put in some match winning performances and carried the team on his own at certain times.
This season, he has scored 14 goals for the Gunners, but only two of them have come since January. During the first half of the season, he was nearly unstoppable and could do no wrong.
But since the return of van Persie and Fabregas, more importantly the former, the squad’s dependence on him has decreased as more match winners are coming to the fore. Van Persie has now become Arsenal’s top scorer with 15 goals and he is in great form right now.
It is not that Nasri is playing poorly, but he has been unable to continue to play in the high standards that he displayed in the early parts of the season. He is still extremely valuable to the squad and the side does play much better during his presence, but his total impact on the squad has gone down.
This by no means that he should be allowed to go, as he still remains one of Arsenal’s best players.
Arsene Wenger’s Misplaced Faith in Almunia Will Come Back to Haunt Arsenal
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During the summer, there were calls from all pundits and fans to sell Almunia and Fabianski and buy a goalkeeper who could actually use his senses.
But Wenger persisted with his current lot and it has reaped mixed rewards. Almunia got off to a decent enough start, but normal service was resumed when he played horribly against West Brom and cost Arsenal the match.
But fortunately for Arsenal, he picked up an injury and Lukasz Fabianski was made Arsenal’s No 1. To everyone’s shock, he was fantastic, to say the least, and hardly put a foot wrong as he saved Arsenal at least five points. He was everything we hoped to see in an Arsenal keeper.
But then he picked up an injury and following an injury to highly impressive youngster Szczesny, Almunia was brought back as Arsenal’s No. 1 keeper.
Almunia produced two superb displays against Barcelona and Manchester United, but against West Brom, he was back to his ridiculous worst as he cost Arsenal the game once again. He charged out for West Brom’s second goal and instead of kicking the ball, he ended up pushing Squillaci, who had the ball covered, and it resulted in West Brom taking the lead.
Wenger’s faith in Almunia has always been a bit surprising, but on Saturday, even Wenger must have understood that it is time to discard the Spaniard and bring on Jens Lehmann, who surely is better than Almunia.
Arsene Wenger has to realize that if his side are to ever fulfill his high ambitions, they cannot afford to keep players like Almunia, who is not capable of dealing with crosses and whose judgment is always questionable.
Almunia may be a great shot stopper blessed with fantastic reflexes, but he lacks the consistency and judgment to ever be successful.
Denilson Cannot Have Any More Excuses
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Following Arsenal’s draw with Sunderland, I had stated that the time had come to sell both Diaby and Denilson, but at that time, many said that the Brazilian had potential and selling him would be a big mistake.
But please, how can a top club like Arsenal afford to keep a player like Denilson, who cannot contribute at all and actually does more harm than good.
I have always believed that Wenger must show faith in his underperforming players, but Denilson has had enough chances to impress and every time he fails to do so.
Fans of the Brazilian say that he is a good passer of the ball and while this cannot be denied, his passing is often too cautious and simple. He lacks the vision and creativity to really trouble the defense and his passes are mostly very reserved and lack the incisiveness to penetrate the opposition.
Arsenal are a top club that is contesting for top honors and they cannot afford to hold onto to underperforming players like Denilson, waiting for them to mature. Wenger should offload him now himself.
Denilson has been anonymous, to say the least, and his only contribution worth speaking of was a yellow card.
