Poor Performance Leads To 3rd Round Replay

Podolski tucks away a well taken goal to equalise late on 

The thought of a 3rd round FA cup replay is painful. Once again an unconvincing performance and terrible start to the new year. Our busy schedule in the next few weeks shouldn't consist of a replay against Swansea and a victory today should have been expected.

Throughout the course of the match, I had noticed of a few things that let us down and that would ensure a 3rd round replay. Our full backs seeming inability to put a decent ball into the box. If we are unable to put pressure on any team and fail to assist our attackers to produce aerial chances, what hope do we have? 

Giroud had a few chances that he could perhaps made more out of but his most suited style of football is when the ball is played out wide and a cross is delivered into the box. He hasn't had enough of that this season and when he does play, Wenger tries to encourages this style of football but it too often proves to be ineffective.

Both Sagna and Gibbs have pace. On top of that they have support on the wings in either Walcott, Ramsey, Gervinho or the Ox and yet they are incapable of crossing a threatening ball. Today balls were delivered too deep and too late and proved to be wasteful, excluding Walcott's corner from where we scored our first goal.

It took us until the 75th minute to put the Swansea defence under pressure. I'm not a professional tactician but its obvious that when you run at a teams defence they get nervous and become more hesitant. Both our goals came from continuous pressure we put on the Swansea defence. Why did it have to take 75 minutes to do this?

It is pretty clear that if we had fallen behind 1-0 to either City, United, Chelsea or Tottenham and only decided to wake up a play proper football in the 75th minute we would be lucky to get a draw. How does this frailty seep into the psychology of our team ? It really doesn't look promising. One has to look at the manager and lay that question at his door.

Podolski came on late in the game and made an impact scoring a well taken goal, on the swivel. A good substitution from the gaffer. However, Swansea used all three subs and we used one. Yes thats right.. ONE. You are given the chance to bring on three players off the bench. They are there in case of injuries, poor performances, sending offs and tactical changes. Today there were numerous poor performances and tactics needed to be changed. If these changes had been made the game could have had a more positive outcome.

As well as this, Cazorla hasn't been the same player as he was at the start of the season. Is he tired? Does he need a rest? or have the opposition sussed him out? In my humble opinion, Sagna has had a diabolical season needs a boost in confidence. Why did Wenger not use the other two subs to let players have a rest ? Players coming off the bench at the right time give you pace and extra sharpness (as proven with RVP yesterday) and thats what we lacked and where Swansea flourished.

The deal about set pieces must be sorted out. Over the last 3 years both Walcott and Arshavin have jumped at the opportunity to take a freekick and corner and all got to waste. Early on, we had a freekick on the edge of the area. Walcott stepped forward and hit it straight into the wall . The rebound fell back to him and it hit the wall again.

Usually, the set piece taker is the player with the best technical ability as well as a balance of power, swerve and accuracy. Why Cazorla, Wilshere or Arteta didn't take ? I have no idea.

Moving on we must put this game behind us and make sure that next time :
1. We use all our subs
2. Have the correct set piece takers
3. The whole team follows Jack's desire

Man of the Match : Jack Wilshere

Up the Gunners

Keep the Faith

Arsene Wagner


P.s ( Please leave comments and follow me on Twitter @ArseneWagner )