Two goals of sublime quality from Samir Nasri on Saturday gave Arsenal a much needed win going into their crunch week. Samir Nasri has been in tremendous form this season, and has easily been the most impressive player in the Premier League. Nasri has taken responsibility in games, something his defensive team mates just aren’t doing. Arsenal, going forward with Nasri look a team that could win everything. Defensively, they look a team well short of winning titles this season.
Arsenal were their usual selves on Saturday. They started the game with a real swagger, playing stylish football and Fulham were chasing shadows at times. When Arsenal play like this they are the best team in the Premier League. They can out play most teams in Europe, but again defensively they are too naïve. After their great start, Fulham started to cause Arsenal problems. However, they were problems that Arsenal were making for themselves. Fulham were simply playing the ball over a high Arsenal line. Arsenal were pressing Fulham, but they didn’t react to the tactics of the opponents. Only a few tight offside calls spared Arsenal’s blushed in the first half. It really isn’t good enough for such a simple tactic to cause such problems. There is nothing wrong with a high line but when neither centre half could match the pace of Diomancy Kamara. Surely they should have adjusted themselves – that is what top defenders need to be able to do. Sadly, Sebastian Squilacci and Koscielny are not up to the job.
However, it isn’t just the defence that needs to take responsibility. The strike force are not killing games off early enough, and are inviting pressure onto their fragile back four. Just taking the Fulham game as an example, Arsenal should have had the game won before Fulham equalised. Samir Nasri was pulling the strings but his team mates were missing chances aplenty. Both Marouane Chamakh and Alex Song were both guilty of more profligate play that would come back to haunt the Gunners. In the second half it continued. Again Marouane Chamakh missed a guilt edge chance to end the game at 2-1.
As bigger tests await Arsenal they need to improve both defensively and in front of goal. In big tests this season Arsenal have come up short. Against Chelsea earlier in the season, the game could have been over in the first five minutes. Arsenal opened Chelsea up time after time but failed to convert the chances and were beaten comfortably in the end. Away to Shakhtar in the Champions League – a collapse of concentration turned a professional performance into a humiliating defeat. I only say humiliating not to disrespect Shakhtar but they way in which Arsenal were defeated.
With a trip to Old Trafford to come on Wednesday week they can’t play anything like they did against Fulham. Samir Nasri was different class, but that does not paper over the cracks at Arsenal. Arsenal can’t hide behind such a performance and think everything is fine. It is not, and it needs serious attention. Arsenal just are not good enough at killing a game off – be it defensively or offensively. The two great goals from Nasri should be celebrated without question. However, the issues need to be addressed if Arsenal and Nasri are to be rewarded for their fine play this season.
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