Honestly, they were that poor in the first half I think he could have done it without anyone near him. They overloaded in the second half which is why he REALLY didn't do anything but first I think he could have done more.Harsh to expect him to impose himself more fully WITHOUT Allan alongside him. If anything, his performance was all the more impressive for keeping the Arsenal midfield under control in the absence of the Brazilian dynamo.
I see your point tho about cover.