COLUMNIST KEN BUCKLEY

From my seat: Arsenal (H)

Blues lose unbeaten run at home from a game that was full of ifs, buts, and maybes... aided and abetted by a Ref that managed to rile both sets of fans.

The game opened on an even footing with both teams coming to terms with each other and as early as the 10th minute the Blues could and maybe should have laid down a marker when Coleman outpaced Fabregas and put in a great cross that the usually dependable Cahill managed to make a mess of when a header on target would surely have opened the scoring as the goal gaped.

Arsenal had survived our opening pressure and started to assert some of their own and alarm bells rang in my mind as our central midfield pairing of Arteta and Heitinga seemed to be misfiring spectacularly. Arteta just could not assert any pressure from his position and Heitinga was trying the patience of the Ref with some lunging tackles with the least of these bringing a yellow card but maybe it was for the totting up principle.

Due to Arteta and Heitinga being less than active, Arsenal had the better of midfield and Arshavin twice flashed shots just wide from midfield promptings. Fabregas got away with a stamp on Distin as the Everton man cleared the ball by going down and feigning injury, although it was right in front of the linesman (you just can?t call them assistant refs); only a yellow was shown.

With 10 mins to go from the break Arsenal put together a fast passing move that saw Nasri shoot low toward the corner and Howard making a decent sprawling save that pushed the ball away toward the touchline. Arshavin was first to it and he pulled it back to the right back Sagna who fired home past Howard at his near post. From my seat, I thought it was the keepers? error but maybe I am a bit harsh.

This took the wind from our sails and until half-time we were more laboured and the crowd increasingly becoming agitated with the performance of both Arteta and Heitinga as they struggled to show urgency and desire.

Half-time break and the chat centred on what the hell was up with Arteta and Heitinga. The outcome of that conversation was that Arteta has flu and Heitinga just doesn?t want to know... as well as carrying a knee injury??

Second half and Heitinga is replaced by Rodwell (the manager would probably say it was to prevent a possible red card). Also Arsenal replaced Wilshere, who had been prone to leaving his foot in, with Denilson. We had barley appreciated how the change may affect us when Arteta virtually gave the ball to Denilson and two passes later Fabregas was stroking the ball home with some aplomb. 2-0 down and still 42 mins to go ? what would the manager do?

Nothing was the answer... leaving those who had got us in the mess to sort it out. Rodwell almost did; after some good work by Pienaar, he strode forward, received the pass but shot just wide. We got a bit desperate now and Arsenal were looking to pick us off and on the hour mark almost did ? twice.

First Nasri went past Jags with pace that made Jags look as though he was walking but Howard rushed out and narrowed the angle and blocked the shot away with his body. Then Fabregas got clear down the right and put in a superb cross only for the Arsenal striker Camackh to shoot over with the goal open.

Surely the manager would do something to liven us up as we were giving the ball away and Arsenal, being Arsenal, kept it for long periods without really going anywhere. On the 70th minute he made two substitutions: Yak and Beckford replacing Neville and the right out-of-sorts Arteta. These changes also saw us go 4-3-3 (now there?s a novelty!), Yak left, Saha through the middle and Beckford right.

Yak and Saha soon changed places as it wasn?t working and going into the final 15 mins we started to play with more passion. Cahill was driving from midfield where Arteta failed, Pienaar seemed to get a second wind, and Jack was doing the best he could after so long out. Coleman was at right back but not afraid to charge forward and for the first time we started to pose questions of the Gunners with the pace and determination not shown previously.

Arsenal did have a two-goal cushion which enabled them to sit deeper and try to soak up this pressure but we were getting closer and Beckford with one delightful turn and shot brought a top class diving save from the keeper. We gained in confidence and the keeper made two more good saves from Saha and Pienaar.

Just a minute to go and our pressure caused mayhem in their box and Cahill scuffed home. A good portion of injury time went up on the board and I wondered ?Could we??... well we tried but the Gunners saw it out. A muted end to the game from the faithful ? no boos... no calls for manager?s or chairman?s heads ? just an orderly filing away.

Overall I thought it was a decent game but very frustrating as in particular Jags, Arteta, Heitinga, Neville and Baines had a really off-day and all are players we know can offer so much more. Whatever the problems, it is certainly something for the manager to address. Rodwell was well off the pace but I am sure as he gets some games under his belt, he will be fine... but the way the league is this season time to sort things out is of the essence.

The crowd were quiet for most parts of the game except for rising to some of the ref?s (Mr Webb) decisions, especially when Saha was brought down from behind by the last man, who only got a yellow; but Arsenal fans were just as disappointed with him and in one chant they sang out that he was ?Fergie?s rent boy?.

MotM was hard to call but I would give it to Cahill for putting in a good shift wherever he was asked to play. Pienaar and Distin also had sound games. Arsenal didn?t play that well today but we played that bit worse and lost. If the tempo and determination of the last 15 mins had been shown all game... who knows?

Sunderland away next and no doubt another stiff test... ? Will we step up to the plate? See you there to find out.
UP THE BLUES

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