Middlesbrough 1 Arsenal 1

The Riverside is usually a tough fixture. We lost there last season, so that may have more to do with the combined absence of Cesc Fabregas and Alex Hleb, two members of the team who had been integral to our magnificent start prior to that defeat. 1-1 then isn’t terribly disappointing, though of course missing out on what could have been an additional two points at a time when we are desparate to make up ground isn’t ideal and it truly feels like an opportunity missed what with the rest of the ‘top four’ also recording stale mates.

Though the game was on Sky Sports I didn’t see it, a rare blip on my part. I woke up late round a mate’s house after a heavy night of alcohol consumption and couldn’t secure a lift back home to see the game until it was too late. So as with the Porto game, I’m going by the accounts of others with what I write about the game and haven’t much to say.

We didn’t look great, lacking sharpness, creativity and looking unbalanced and lacking width owed to the injuries of our natural wingers.

So yeah, truly not a lot to say but that’s partly because of laziness and me being seriously hungover. Sorry.

Man Utd, Chelsea and Liverpool all drew (with Tottenham, West Ham and Hull, consecutively) so at least we’ve not lost ground but on the other hand it was an opportunity to make up ground. Villa won though, which moves us to 5th and we should probably be just as concerned with our title chances right now as losing our Champion’s League spot to Villa.

Arsenal 1 Wigan 0

A short one today. I’ve been ill and still am so that explains the recent lack of activity and in particular lack of anything on the mid week Carling Cup result where we bowed out to Burnley.

Let’s get started with the whole Eboue episode then. He had himself a poor game but to be fair to him he had just come back from injury and was expected to play more than Wenger had probably wanted him to as Nasri got injured fairly early. He was also placed on the left flank, a position quite unfarmilar to him. The treatment he recieved at the end of the game was very harsh. It didn’t help matters at all, it merely took away all his confidence and after that he became a real danger. I’m pretty sure Wenger didn’t want to take off Eboue and subject him to the chorus of boos or rather, cheers but he was left with no choice. I was there and felt very sorry for him. I can understand those that booed though, it was a nervous last ten minutes and the fans took their frustrations out on Eboue which only made him worst, which then only made the fans worst. I don’t condone it but I understand it, it’s easy to get carried away in the heat of the moment. Coming back from that will take some character.

Where the other players were concerned, I was very impressed with Denilson. He was the outstanding player in my opinion and in a position which I don’t feel is his best. Van Persie looked lively and close to scoring. Cesc was also good, not at his best but good.

I don’t think we were that bad but it wasn’t great, was it? We created chances and should’ve finished a lot more of them off, which might have saved us from the nervy final ten minutes of play that inevitably followed. There’s still a bit of a dent in confidence around the squad (maybe because of what happened after the Man Utd game) but with three wins under their belt in a row (The Carling Cup squad being an entirely different team) hopefully that’ll get better and better.

Chelsea 1 Arsenal 2

I wasn’t at all sure what to expect for this one. Consecutive defeats to Villa and City ensured our confidence would be shot but on the other hand, despite some indifferent Premier League form, we had recently turned up and beaten Manchester United in a game I had expected us to lose, maybe even heavily. I thought hard about how it would turn out and decided a draw the most likely of outcomes, as we were after all at the Bridge. Some were less optimistic but I knew we’re always up for it against the big teams, irrelevant of recent form.

The opening 10/15 minutes showed we lacked confidence and had me a little on the nervous side but we grew into the game as it went along and come the next fifteen, up until Chelsea’s equaliser, it was I would say an evenly matched game. Right on cue Almunia misplaces a quick throw, Chelsea win possession, a cross comes flying in and Djourou fires it in to the wrong net. More fault with Almunia there than Djourou. Sky commentators and pundits suggest Almunia had no reason to attempt the quick throw with Chelsea players still in our area but he was obviously trying to spark a counter attack and just got the throw a little off key. It happens. Despite Chelsea having one shot on target he had a bit of a shaky game and made some unnecessary punches too. Djourou though didn’t let it get to him and recovered accordingly to have himself a good game.

Chelsea then enjoyed the share of possession though failed to capitalise on it. They didn’t trouble us too much as the one shot on target all game statistic proves. Robin Van Persie is presented with a chance in the 59th minute and fires home. It’s later shown to be offside in the replay but I don’t care so much, we were due some luck, certainly. Not long later and RVP pops up again with another good finish, this time onside and it’s 2-1.

Chelsea may claim they were unlucky in this fixture given the offside but despite that, they must be disappointed at how they failed to pose any real threat to us after we went ahead. At home and knowing Arsenal struggle at times to hold onto a lead they should have done more but we held on comfortably and almost knocked in a third. Scolari complained afterward that the offside killed his players. Well then I’d question the mental strength of such players myself. The referee wasn’t pro Arsenal anyway, Ivanovic was very luck not to receive two yellows and Terry made a two footed challenge out of frustration late on that could have seen him shown red.

As a Chelsea fan you may have something to complain about but I’d be more concerned with your lack of ability to threaten at home and practically concede defeat with a fair while of the game to go. They’ll also be worried about their record against the top four this season (2 home defeats, 1 draw.)

Does this mean we can win the title still? Maybe and a slim maybe at that. Looking at the rest of the top three there are frailties there and there’s the potential for a good December, the challenges of which comes in Villa away and Liverpool at home before we get to January where I expect Wenger to strengthen the squad with a defensive midfielder which will make a world of difference, believe me. Our problems aren’t that deep. It’s still possible, we’re not completely out of the race but it’s tough, especially considering there’s another three teams in that race.

Plymouth argyle in the FA Cup third round at home 3rd/4th Jan weekend. Should play the kids and win that game, might even pop along for it.

Burnley tonight in the Carling Cup, set to play the youngsters again which is no surprise. Vela for another hat-trick?