Evening everyone.
So, we've beaten Liverpool yesterday in a convincing fashion and that made my day. Actually, it'll keep me happy until we face Borussia on Wednesday. A win of that magnitude sends out a clear message: we really are title contenders. To face runners-up with two strikers in bang form and demolish them they way we did...a thing of beauty. This win means we top the chart by five points, seeing as Chelsea lost to Newcastle and Tottenham produced a goalless draw against Everton.
Arsene Wenger made only one change to the side that has beaten Crystal Palace with the same score: Rosicky found his way into the team at the expense of the injured Flamini. It was unclear, just who the manager would play (the Czech or Whilshere), but the matter took care of itself, when Whilshere suffered an injury. The Englishman didn't even make the bench and is a major doubt for our midweek game.
Both teams started brightly enough and both had opportunities to score an early goal. A quick interplay between Cazorla and Rosicky saw the latter run into the box to produce a low shot, but Mignolet got a hand to it. Several minutes later Conor Henderson missed a brilliant chance to open the scoring. Cazorla lost the ball in midfield, Henderson picked it up and ran half the field only to shoot straight at Szczesny.
Just when the game started to calm down, Arsenal scored. Arteta fed Sagna on the right, the Frenchman crossed the ball into the box and Cazorla, of all people, headed it goalwards. His effort hit the post, but Santi was first on the rebound to smash it home. He celebrated his first goal for Arsenal with gusto.
Liverpool tried to respond, but our constant pressing (especially Rosicky's harrying) made life difficult for the Mugmashers. The closest they came was when Sturridge's low shot was easily claimed by Szczesny.
Arsenal looked like they could score another and Mignolet had to work hard to parry first Cazorla's shot, which was heading into the top corner and then Ramsey's effort, after the Welshman found his way into the box after some quick passing from Rosicky and Ozil. In the dying seconds Cazorla rolled another shot just wide.
In the second half, Liverpool came flying out of the blocks and created two real chances in the opening five minutes. First Suarez poked the ball wide after being clear and then he set Henderson up, only for the latter to (mercifully) fire over. Arsenal responded with a chance of their own, when Giroud failed to hit the target in a one-on-one situation. He then spurned another chance, this time because his shot lacked power.
On the 59th minute we finally broke the deadlock. Ozil's pass found Ramsey some 20 yards away from goal, Aaron took his time and then smashed home an absolutely gorgeous goal over a helpless Mignolet to make it 2-0.
We were then put under some pressure from Liverpool, who were desperately trying to get something out of this game. First Sturridge headed over and then Suarez hit the outside of the post after a corner. We looked most likely to concede during this period, but, luckily, we kept our goal under lock and key.
So, we've beaten Liverpool yesterday in a convincing fashion and that made my day. Actually, it'll keep me happy until we face Borussia on Wednesday. A win of that magnitude sends out a clear message: we really are title contenders. To face runners-up with two strikers in bang form and demolish them they way we did...a thing of beauty. This win means we top the chart by five points, seeing as Chelsea lost to Newcastle and Tottenham produced a goalless draw against Everton.
Arsene Wenger made only one change to the side that has beaten Crystal Palace with the same score: Rosicky found his way into the team at the expense of the injured Flamini. It was unclear, just who the manager would play (the Czech or Whilshere), but the matter took care of itself, when Whilshere suffered an injury. The Englishman didn't even make the bench and is a major doubt for our midweek game.
Both teams started brightly enough and both had opportunities to score an early goal. A quick interplay between Cazorla and Rosicky saw the latter run into the box to produce a low shot, but Mignolet got a hand to it. Several minutes later Conor Henderson missed a brilliant chance to open the scoring. Cazorla lost the ball in midfield, Henderson picked it up and ran half the field only to shoot straight at Szczesny.
Just when the game started to calm down, Arsenal scored. Arteta fed Sagna on the right, the Frenchman crossed the ball into the box and Cazorla, of all people, headed it goalwards. His effort hit the post, but Santi was first on the rebound to smash it home. He celebrated his first goal for Arsenal with gusto.
Liverpool tried to respond, but our constant pressing (especially Rosicky's harrying) made life difficult for the Mugmashers. The closest they came was when Sturridge's low shot was easily claimed by Szczesny.
Arsenal looked like they could score another and Mignolet had to work hard to parry first Cazorla's shot, which was heading into the top corner and then Ramsey's effort, after the Welshman found his way into the box after some quick passing from Rosicky and Ozil. In the dying seconds Cazorla rolled another shot just wide.
In the second half, Liverpool came flying out of the blocks and created two real chances in the opening five minutes. First Suarez poked the ball wide after being clear and then he set Henderson up, only for the latter to (mercifully) fire over. Arsenal responded with a chance of their own, when Giroud failed to hit the target in a one-on-one situation. He then spurned another chance, this time because his shot lacked power.
On the 59th minute we finally broke the deadlock. Ozil's pass found Ramsey some 20 yards away from goal, Aaron took his time and then smashed home an absolutely gorgeous goal over a helpless Mignolet to make it 2-0.
We were then put under some pressure from Liverpool, who were desperately trying to get something out of this game. First Sturridge headed over and then Suarez hit the outside of the post after a corner. We looked most likely to concede during this period, but, luckily, we kept our goal under lock and key.
Sensing danger, the manager brought on Jenkinson, Monreal and Vermaelen, with the Belgian coming on for the injured Gibbs. Nonetheless, Liverpool was threatening and Szczesny had to work hard to prevent them from scoring. He first relieved Sturridge of the ball and then blocked Henderson's effort after some clever interplay from Gerrerd and Coutinho.
The best moment fell to Suarez, though. He was sent clean through and Sturridge waited for his pass for a tap-in, but the nasty little biter decided to score himself and in the end, he didn't. Sturridge went mental, which was as lovely to watch as Ramsey's goal.
We had the last word in this encounter, when Ozil's shot was blocked, but, overall, it was a very convincing display even without the third goal.
After the game Arsene heaped praise on our defense, which was no less than they deserved. Though Livepool had their chances, we looked in control for the duration of the game, with every player making his contribution. Cazorla has found his form, Giroud did splendidly, Ramsey was his usual self. A very neat performance from back to front, so a win well deserved.
Enjoy it