Arsenal 2-2 Everton – 09/01/10 – (Premier League) 10 January, 2010

Once we had got over the anger of a poor performance in the snow yesterday I think the general feeling today is that it was a point gained rather than two lost. We were one of two Premier League games to survive the weather this weekend so credit to the ground staff who saved us of some fixture congestion later down the line. However it’s a bit of a shame that the team didn’t turn up on the day.

Yesterday we clearly missed players, we needed Fabregas so badly, Song wasn’t there to hold us together and I would’ve given anything for Robin van Persie or even Bendtner going forward. Denilson was drafted in at defensive midfield and he wasn’t up to the job, he was muscled off the ball countless times and caught out of position. Arshavin was selected as centre forward again and had an anonymous game, again.

We really struggled to get into the game and we never got going for the full 90 minutes. Usually games are dominated by our long spells of possession and many chances but yesterday was just not our day. We couldn’t keep the ball long enough and didn’t create a lot either. This was mainly down to Everton’s hard work, they played really well yesterday and were clearly not going to accept another 6-1 punishment. They came here for as many points as they could get and stopped us playing our football.

The visitors opened the scoring after 13 minutes when Osman was allowed a free header from a corner. He came from deep and had no body tracking him at all. It was a decent goal but he had no one stopping him. I think it was Denilson who tried to head it off the line but couldn’t get enough on it.

An early lead and you couldn’t have many complaints. A quarter of an hour had gone and we hadn’t even got into the game yet. We sort of needed that goal to wake us up and we immediately tried to get back in it.

Eventually the equaliser came just before the half hour. A frustrating passing move around the edge of the box ended up with the ball being laid off to Denilson who’s shot took a big deflection totally wrong-footing Tim Howard and going inside the near post. You might say a deflected goal is a lucky goal but afterwards Arsene made a good point that we still made the chance and got enough on it to go in, so the goal deserves merit.

Half time came and we were level at 1-1. We didn’t have a good half and the absolute silence at the half time whistle told it’s own story. A lot needed to be said in that break, we were hardly in the game.

The snow really started pouring down in the second half and it was turning into a real battle. Looking back, as a neutral I guess it was quite a good game to watch. Both sides were going at it (albeit without our traditional flair) and it was quite an even match. Both sides were going for the win, it was clear that a goal was on it’s way.

We needed a change but there wasn’t much on the bench to chose from, Rosicky was there but apart from that we only had some youngsters. Tomas was brought on for Ramsey after an hour; not the Welshman’s best game, he struggled a bit against Everton but he’ll be back.

We were going for the winner and had a few chances to score but Everton were doing everything they could in defence. We had a decent penalty shout turned away when I think it was Denilson who was brought down, I haven’t seen the game back at all but at the time it looked like a pretty blatant foul. I guess the referee was consistent though, consistently shit. He missed loads of decisions and his lineman in front of me wasn’t doing him any favours either.

15 minutes from the end there were two really similar chances for either side. Cahill got down our left and beat Sagna and Gallas to go through on goal, but with an incredible angle. Diaby did well to get back and stop the play. At the other end Arshavin broke down our left and beat his man using his pace but his shot was blocked and went out for a corner.

It really was end to end stuff and a goal looked only moments away. We were pushing for a vital winner and it surprises me that Eduardo was brought off for Vela, I guess he had quiet one but we needed anyone we have up there.

Everton took the lead for the second time just 9 minutes from time and it all happened in the blink of an eye. We had a series of corners and had a lot of players pushed up, Denilson went down injured for some apparent reason leaving the midfield wide open and Rosicky unluckily gave the ball away at the worst moment. The ball was played the Cahill on the halfway line and was being held up by the last man whilst Pienaar went bursting through the middle unmarked. He ran the length of the pitch to chip Almunia and it was 2-1.

Almost immediately the same thing happened again. Denilson this time in possession fell worryingly to the ground clutching his chest and Everton snatched the ball, broke and Vaughan went straight through. This time Almunia did well to keep us in the game. Denilson was stretchered off afterwards and he may even have a broken rib, I’m sure we will get an update in the next few days but I hope he’s alright.

With that close shave and a series of about four very long drawn out Everton corners it just seemed all over. I just sat there dejected trying to feel my fingers thinking it’s all over.

However once we finally got the ball it was game on. The board showed 5 minutes of injury time and we were going to do everything we could in that time.

We worked tremendously hard to make an opening with all of the Everton defense back but a good piece of work between Diaby and Rosicky saw the latter with space to shoot in the box and grabbed us a late equaliser. There was another deflection helping it in but who cares!

We picked the ball up and went straight at them again but couldn’t find a winner. We had a couple of decent chances two in those final few minutes but I think in the end we wouldn’t have deserved the win.

Man United drawing to Birmingham later in the day made the result a little more bearable. Thanks to the weather yesterday’s game ended up being our game in hand over Chelsea and we didn’t capitalise on it. It’s not the end of the world though as we’re just three points away from them now and two behind United who’ve played one more than us. We’re in a good position leading up to the tricky run of games at the end of this month

Next up though it’s Bolton away on Sunday. We’ve got a whole week now to sort ourselves out and produce a better performance next weekend. It’s also a perfect time for Wenger to have a look at some options in the transfer market and after yesterday I think it’s clear we’re desperate for additions. Hopefully something can be done this week, thanks for reading.