Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal – 15/08/10 – (Premier League) 16 August, 2010

So we’re back underway with a new Premier League season and I guess at the end of the day I’m happy with a point. Anfield is always a tricky place to go, it’s one of the hardest opening fixtures I can remember us having and going into the match I probably would’ve taken the draw if it was offered to me.

A lot of the pre-match talk was on who we were actually going to play, with so many injuries already, a couple of players not quite match-fit yet and a goalkeeping dilemma that just wont go away it was anyones guess. Before the match Arsene said whoever he picked in goal would be his no.1 for the season, whether that meant we weren’t signing anyone or not I don’t know but I think a lot of us were worried he would stick Fabianski in nets for the season. In the end he did the right thing starting with Almunia but it was obvious we still need a signing there. With Mark Schwarzer‎ handing in a transfer request and Shay Given set to do the same with Joe Hart being picked this weekend I think we will be close to signing one of the two before the transfer window closes.

The two new additions we have already made had eventful games yesterday. Koscielny and Chamakh can be reasonably happy with their debuts I think, the latter was named Arsenal.com man of the match which I guess was for his part in our goal or for the fact you couldn’t really pick a stand out player yesterday. Koscielny can be happy to for the simple fact he hasn’t got a broken leg. Joe Cole was rightfully sent off just before half time for a wild lunge on our new centre back. I accept that Cole was probably just trying to get a block on the ball but it was ridiculous challenge, especially in that area of the pitch and he was lucky not to have broken Laurent’s leg.

I felt that we made a good start to the season with those first 45 minutes; we had lots of the ball and looked threatening but just lacked that little bit extra in the final third.  With Liverpool down to 10 men and some tasty options to come off the bench I fancied us for the second half. However that was all scrapped when Wilshere miscontrolled on the edge of our own box allowing Liverpool in and David N’Gog to make it 1-0 just seconds into the second half.

It galvanized the home side and for a long period we found it hard to break down the 10 men. Wenger finally made some changes bringing on Rosicky and Walcott for Eboue and Wilshere. Eboue looked upset to be taken off but we needed Theo on to threaten Liverpool and Arsene went for a straight swap on the right, as for Jack well his first league start for Arsenal wasn’t his greatest performance, he looked a bit out of his depth but it’s early days for him I’m sure he’ll do much better if selected next week.

I was praying for van Persie to come on and eventually he did with 10 minutes to go. Once all three of our subs had been made we really did look like scoring. Rosicky missed a great chance late on when his quick feet on the edge of the box made room for a shot that looked like it might’ve just been dipping under the bar but Reina made a great fingertip save. It was looking like we were heading for an undeserved opening day loss when in the 90th minute Chamakh rose for header beating Reina to it, the shot hit the post but rebounded back into the Spanish keeper and he embarrassingly fumbled it over the line. There was a few moments of uncertainty whether the referee might give a foul on Chamakh but he saw nothing wrong and the goal stood. What a relief! I know everyone’s said this already but it’s just perfect karma for his part in the Barcelona shirt ‘prank’ on Cesc Fabregas.

In the 5 minutes of injury time we pushed for a winner but I think the draw was a fair result in the end. Debut-boy Koscielny was sent off for a completely undeserved second yellow with a few minutes to go; the ball was kicked up into his arms and there was nothing he could do about it. I don’t know if we can appeal it but I certainly think we should, it was the definition of ball-to-hand. It leaves us very short at the back with a one-match suspension for Laurant, however I guess we can look on the bright side that he’s not out for months with a broken leg. Our only first team centre back is Vermaelen and unless Wenger makes that signing in the next few days we’re going to have to play Song or Nordveit there. Alex Song was on the bench yesterday so maybe he will be alright to start this Saturday, I would be confident with him at the back next week but it doesn’t get away from the fact that we’re desperate for at least one more defender, ideally two.

The match proved that Wenger still has lots of work to do in the transfer market and needs to get it done quickly. I believe Schwarzer‎ could arrive imminently and I’m hoping a top class defender too. We’ve only played one match and we’re already in a crisis with the squad down to the bare bones! Same old Arsenal, we’ve missed you.

Thanks for reading.