Arsenal v Everton. Tuesday 1st February @ 19.45.

[BigBlueConk]

Too annoyed to carry on posting last night with our 2nd half application.
Did we have a shot of any note in that 2nd 45 mins? None that I recall.

Arsenal where there for the taking after half time. They looked frustrated and running out of ideas.

So we sit back inviting them on, hoping we can hold out. Brilliant. Once it goes wrong it is hard to gain momentum again when we had looked their match for long periods of the first half.

We got it wrong second half. We have been getting it wrong a lot this season it would appear. 5 wins.

The positive is that as we keep displaying, we can have a good go against the likes of these and Chelsea, just need that killer instinct and keep kicking them while they're down, not trying to fend them off once we have the initiative.

That old tactic has changed with the personel, we are not that 'hanging on for 1-0' group of players anymore. They are good enough to keep taking the game to the opposition.

It is very annoying.

 

[fadedhour]

I was at the match yesterday and enjoyed it despite a hugely disappointing result. We did so well in the first half and really played to our strengths, controlling the ball and keeping possession very well. I thought we looked like scoring more than once and we had several good chances we should have capitalised on. Unfortunately, this was not enough.

I'm utterly baffled as to why Moyes substituted Bilyaletdinov, who had done so well in the game, for Osman. I can't at all understand why Moyes would do that and it was clearly the turning point of the game as just a few minutes later Arsenal equalised and then scored the game-winner. As soon as the substitution was announced I knew it would be a horrible mistake. It was stressful enough watching the game with us winning 1-0 so when that happened it was awful. I feel like that's the kind of move you make if you're winning 5-0, not 1-0.

I'm really pleased with how Saha has played our last few games: he seems to just get better and more confident with every goal he scores. I hope we will see more of the same from him. This is the fourth game I've been to this year and the one player who's been consistently amazing is Baines. I enjoy seeing him play every time and I hope we can hold onto him. This whole season must be really frustrating for him.

As a side note, does anyone have any clue what Moyes was talking about re: Fabregas? If you haven't heard about this, see here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/9384569.stm
It seems like we'll never know what happened unless Moyes tells us. I don't think he just made that up but he and Wenger seem equally convinced by their side of things, so I'm mystified as to what happened there.

 

[thespiritofjoeparkinson]

good first half.
saha top class
fellaini and coleman good again
arteta good in first half but dipped in second

i think everton dont have enough of a cutting edge, like someone to run in behind the defence and get them turned. Louis is great at coming short and holdin the ball up, could do with someone running in behind him when he comes short after the defence is dragged out. just makes it easier for defenders to stop attacks when its just louis up top with his back to goal. thats what i felt was missing tonight

Beckford?

Seems like the same old story this season, we play reasonably well but still lose or draw. I think tactics are a problem but we need to take control from the first minute to the last, we appear to want to score and hold on, or sit back when its level lose a goal then fight back for yes you guessed it another DRAW. We need a win on Saturday I say start with two up front...

 

[Bedfordshiretoffee]

Having slept on the game, I am buoyed by the fact we play some nice football, and can get forward with speed. But it was significant during the five minutes of injury time last night, we barely pressed. . . because Arsenal are masters of keeping the ball. Blackpool really is the proverbial must win game for us, we need to create that definite gap between ourselves and the strugglers before one of them gets the idea they can catch us. I predict joy on Saturday.