Seeing Theo back in action reminded us what a great squad of players we have and if they can all stay fit we will not be far away come May.

Maybe if they were in the condition we was for this game, they would have lost too, Liverpool did din’t they, oh and didn’t Sunderland go to OT and draw (nearly beat) Man U? So we got edged out by this Sunderland team – it happens.

Oh and by the way, Wigan beat Chelsea handsomely remember, the same Wigan that just earned itself a name in the history books by getting spanked 9-1 by an average team (Tottenham).

So all those critics, just calm down down OK.

Arsenal 1 – 2 Sunderland

That’s quite a departure from ALFC’s usual form, so it’s looking as though the usual 4 trophies might not be a dead cert this year. Bring on the summer league!

Eduardo was not removed cos he was not playing well he was removed cos we have at least 6 games to play before RVP might return.

I wouldn’t say they will win this game for sure mate. Sunderland have shown that they’re no pushovers this season and it will always be tough to play at Stadium of Light.

Plus, we could ask ourselves too: will we beat Wigan or Burnley away? I’d say we got a great chance playing those teams while manu and chelski lost there.

It’s a disappointment but it’s one that we can at least get it over quickly.

The rest of this was cut because it is a direct cut and paste job from Online Gooner. What sort of self-regarding idiot goes around cutting articles out of one publication and putting them in another?

Sunderland had only one shot on goal and they scored from it. So in the whole we had a good defensive performance just one unlucky fluke where the ball should have gone out by the cornerflag, came of the knee back to the player who scored. If you speak of unlucky goals….

I also would have left Eduardo on the field. He just didn’t get the service that RVP usaully gets. The absence of Diaby could explain a bit, the rather cautious approach from Song to avoid a yellow card (still had a good game) another bit.

And then something that should not be forgotten. With Rosicky, Eduardo and Nasr we had 3 players in attack who have sufferend long and serious injury the past years or months. The first 15 minutes the game was not venomous and they played without fear. Then I saw tackles, unpunished and dangerous form behind, that gave me goosebumps. I must say I have ended my, not so impressive, football career after a leg breaking tackle and I know a bit of how a human being reacts to playing football after such a thing. If you see possible leg breaking tackles flying in, without the ref doing someting, you may think in your head: safety first. A normal human reaction. So our 3 attackers with maybe one percent caution in mind is a big difference.
Maybe this was also the reason that Wenger decided to take Eduardo off the field at the end. Better a healthy Eduardo over the next months in stead of anotheer leg breaking incident that shatters the whole team ?

The penalty…. well if even the MOTD pundits said ‘it was a strong call” says it all. They couldn’t say any more because they hate the Arsenal. If it was Liverpool they would have said: it was a clear penalty. And it was. But like I said earlier, or was it on the Benelux site, even if a defender would take the ball in his hands and walk with it half a minute in his own penalty area the ref still wouldn’t give us a penalty. He would punish an arsenal player and book him for claiming a penalty instead.

-his movement is sharp and clinical.
-his anticipation is brilliant.
-he moves his body in relation to the ball and defender extremely well. one of those players that when you defend, your always thinking ‘i can get that ball’, but never can cuz its always just out of reach or his body is just where it would force a foul.
-he knows what he wants to do well before he receives the ball.

however, ive been watching the way he runs and the way he shoots. i even browsed through some old games and highlights….

it makes me so sad that he was mauled as he was. im not sure that he will ever be the player he should have become, a true great of the game. i think that because of his mental qualities he is still a very good player, and as he gets games and the team gets used to him up front, hell start getting goals.

but when i watch him shoot, it seems a little unnatural. its not that natural softness of foot, and easy swing of the leg.

i really hope im just trippin, has anyone else noticed this?

i think that with rosicky and nasri out wide, we looked alot like we did much of last season. lots of passing and not enough penetrating. when vela, shava and theo came on we looked alot more dangerous.

i really like both rosicky and nasri. but they arent wingers. they are offensive playmakers. arshavin seems to lose the ball alot but hes trying to do the unexpected all the time, i dont see nasri and rosicky being those kind of players.

the problem is, if they are best in the middle…will we ever see the best of them? with song as the anchor, and cesc guaranteed his place that leaves alot of players fighting for one spot. denilson, diaby and ramsey seem to be preferred by wenger.

rosicky and nasri can both play up front for us. but not at the same time. we need to balance the team with someone more direct or inventive.

they are both awesome players but im not sure they will ever get a chance to shine in their natural positions.

The referee’s approach to managing the game also played a significant part, allowing some highly physical play, and disregarding at least one incident that might have led many referees to award a penalty. This favoured Sunderland’s game plan, which was to defend in depth and disrupt our attack with ‘robust’ tackling.

Not that I am alleging deliberate favouritism. We should have the ability to deal with teams using these tactics. However, I was slightly sickened to see the overt level of chummy familiarity shown by the referee towards one of the Sunderland players when the teams left the field at half time. I feel that to be fair and objective requires referees to show detachment, and this was not evident in the referee’s behaviour.

What was also demonstrated is that our attacking style of play relies for its success on scoring several more than we concede. When we are unable to field our best attacking side, we become vulnerable to teams who are set up to defend in depth, and who can hold onto a single goal lead.

So for most of the match we looked composed and had much of the posession, but didn’t show our usual level of enegy, and couldn’t sufficiently disrupt their defence to score. When, in the last 10 minutes or so, we had a more actively attacking lineup, the chances came much more frequently, and we were denied a very credible appeal for a penalty.

As for World Cup football, not really interested. See you at the Standard Liege game, but probably not at the Chelsea match because I cant get a ticket. Stu

Our women team, at the moment, are as sunny bright as the height of the summer. Our men’s team will soon outshine that. You wait and see.

I need a double dose of ‘Jacko Jones’!!!

Eboue gallas verma traore

Fabregas Song Asharvin

Theo Eduardo Vela

These guys should start and take on any team anyday, Nasri and Rosicky to come in after 65.

But we will win next week, yes we will.