Gameweek 26 : Sunderland vs. Arsenal Match Review.
Last year same date, same fixture, my favorite player of all time scored the winner in a thrilling tie to hand Arsenal a deserved win.
This time round no Henry for the finish, Arshavin yes, but we really don't know when will he next play for the gunners.
The first shock to the game came when Sagna was chosen as a Centre back after sudden injury to Koscielny, now the back line read Jenkinson(RB)-Sagna(CB)-Mertersacker(CB)-Monreal(LB), At first it didn't look an impressive back 4 at all, Monreal was still new, Sagna and Jenkinson both being right full backs have hardly played together, Per in the reverse fixture last season had tumbled to pick up a grave injury, all in all nail biting for Arsene Wenger and the Arsenal faithful.
Santi Cazorla was put back in the starting line up after starting as a sub against Stoke City, Wilshere much praised after his Brazilian pursuit, Ramsey(How much you criticize this guy, HE CAN ADAPT), and Arteta to sit back and control the midfield.
Walcott and Giroud were supposed to lead the line for the gunners.
Sunderland definitely started as the brighter side, but this last for the first ten minutes where Cattermole and Jenkinson both picked up yellow cards, Cazorla looked really bright with his usually tricks and nutmegs to get past Sunderland defenders, On the other hand Sessegnon showed glimpses of brilliance to trouble Monreal, the later just playing his second Arsenal game, In this half Giroud combined with WIlshere to shoot one just pass Mignolet, Arsenal kept pushing and increasingly dominate the game, this paid dividend when WIlshere and Walcott combined to give SANTI CAZORLA ample time to shoot pass Mignolet for the only goal of the game, at the brink of the first half Ramsey who tried a screamer was denied by heroics of Mignolet.
Enter second half and Diaby came in for Wilshere, Now Sunderland looked dominant and Arsenal coming up with the usual counter attack, and there were a few tackles flying here and there, and then exactly that happened which i thought of, young Carl Jenkinson going overboard to tackle Sessegnon and it was surely coming, Arsenal down to 10 men, Sunderland tried taking advantage of this, and how.
After this, let's put it this way,
WALCOTT HITS THE POST!
SZCZESNY PULLS SOME CONSECUTIVE SAVES TO REMIND ME OF JUNGLE BOOK'S MOWGLI!
GIROUD NOT PASSING THE BALL TO HIS TEAM MATE MAKING WENGER SO FURIOUS THAT IF ALLOWED HE WOULD HAVE RUN DOWN THE PITCH AND SLAP HIM!
TITUS BRAMBLE, ARSENAL'S 11th PLAYER AFTER MISSING A SITTER.
Enough exaggeration!
In the recent weeks Bacary Sagna has been criticized a lot for under performing, Out of position at Centreback he did everything right, My Man of the Match, He looked exactly like the Sagna we love, Diving for headers, Clearing, Tackling, Perfect i tell you!
Just after the game, his wife tweeted this,
Good game @Sagnaofficial love u♥
Looking forward to face Bayern Munich now, a very strong performance by the Gunners, Hope we keep up the good work!
and for Sagna, form is temporary, class is permanent.......
here is the beautiful, Sagna Ludivine