Frustrating. Even more so when you consider how well we played compared to our last outing against the Champions. We had the chances to win the game and they fell to the right person as well. RVP missed an absolutely stunning chance and, on the balance of play, I think we deserved to win the game. The defense didn't have the greatest outing and a couple of mistkaes let them get two goals. Vermaelen was beaten to the header by Valencia and we gave him too muchspace for the second. Two defensive errors cost us a game that considering the chances we had should've been won.
There was quite a reaction to the subsitution of the Ox. Arshavin came on and, well he did the square root of f*ck all. Chamberlain had looked dangerous and full of life, Arshavin in recent weeks has looked bereft of confidence. For me the the problem with this substitution was that it showed a lack of willingness to go on and win the game. Giving fresh legs on the wing was an obvious option for Arsene to choose considering United's excellent wingers but when the option to put on is Arshavin in the form that he is in and the fact that he isn't the best at tracking back, I think the decision was particularly poor. If however Benayoun was the player to replace the Ox, then I think i'd be a lot more understanding. In the end the decision was a major reason why we lost the game and I just think Benayoun would have made a better job at defending the circumstances that led to United's winner than Arshavin. RVP's reaction to the substitution was one of wonder as well. I know he seems pretty untouchable at the moment but in this case Robin was wrong. It is not his place to question his manager's decisions and i'm sure he will realise this after the game.
I feel we lost the game on the wings. Djourou looked completely out of his depth at full back and was replaced with Yenneris at half time who did a pretty good job. I think this was a game that completely highlighted our lack of full-backs. There was no attacking intent from either Vermaelen or Djourou in the first half just when we needed to push on and snatch a lead. I cannot stress more highly the importance of Sagna to this team and when he returns it will give us a huge boost.
Having said that the midfield was not strong enough either. We were playing against Michael Carrick and Ryan Giggs who were hardly going to set the World alight. They seemed to cope fairly well which just shows how vital Arteta has been to the way we play in recent weeks. He missed the Swansea game, they overrun our midfield entirely and his calming presence in the middle was missed today. It wasn't that Rosisky had a poor game, just that he didn't make us tick anywhere near the standard that Arteta did.
There were the obvious calls for investment after we went behind. It was incredibly worrying when chasing the game our options were Arshavin and Park, who played his first Premier League minutes today. Good luck to him by the way, hopefully he bangs in plenty before he slips off to South Korea for military duty. I don't see how Park and Arshavin could provide any impact into that game at all, excpet contribute to us losing it. We need someone who, when you look round to see whos coming on, you feel hope. Hope that this player might actually give a flying f*ck about the team which Arshavin doesn't seem to. I do feel sorry for Park. In reality he should never have been bought but he was the only option available. I'm sure now he regrets not joining Lille.
Still, we are not out of contention for fourth. Five points is a lot but we've just lost three in a row. If Chelsea lost three in a row thats nine potential points which could put us four ahead of them. At the start of the season we were behind and we came back. I have no doubt we can do that again.
Believe.
Forward.
Thanks for Reading.
Lick my Arse.
@Arse_Licker.
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