Arsene, playing in the snow is not the best move

Arsenal 2, Everton 2

I didn't see the first half, but I heard that Arsenal weren't that good. More on that in a minute. What didn't surprise me was that Arsenal aren't really a snow team. Arsene seemed upset that we couldn't get the game in on Wednesday against Bolton. I understood his reaction. At home against a mangerless Bolton we should have won, so against Everton there was no chance of a cancellation. But in retrospect it should have been cancelled. Arsesnal are never going to be that good in the snow. And it was true, and the result, a draw plus it looked like Denilson out for a couple of months after being stretchered off. He had been fouled by Neville earlier. A high kick not called, but he went down now under no pressure late in the second half. Either his back or hamstring. So all in all a game that should have been cancelled. I just wonder what Arsene was thinking.

The conditions were terrible. Blizzard conditions. The field was like an away game, or at least it neutralized our game. A team like Everton, all guts and grits, big hackers at the back like Phil Neville and the big hair bloke broke up our attack. Full marks to Everton they played the way they play.

I did see the second half. We were industrious and had a few chances but couldn't break through. We had a penalty shout and Everton were scrappy in defence. No one on Arsenal shone through. Rosicky came on for Ramsey. Eduardo had a chnace but didn't want to shoot with his right. Traore looked weak at the back beaten for pace by Donovan. Gallas was beaten by Pinaar. But Arsenal was the better side in the 2nd half, I felt, but neither was that good. The Everton countered and beat Arsenal at their own game going up 2-1. It started with a give away by Rosicky in the attacking third, 1-2-3. A goal. Arsenal then went off the boil and Everton had 3 or 4 corners in a row resulting from bonehead defending by Traore. We pressed and pressed for a goal, finally got one from a Diaby run and a decent finish from Rosicky which took a defelection.

In the end a decent result, seeing as we were looking like losers. But the result puts into perspective that without Fabregas, with RVP and without Walcott we lack pace and trickery and play making. There have been some lucky wins and not convincing performances, but the team has been on a decent run. Hopefully the run will continue against Bolton. But if it it snowing ...

Almunia-4
Obvious the defenders don't trust him anymore
Sagna-6
Provided a good outlet on the wing for crosses, some of which were decent
Gallas-6; Vermaelen-6
Why was Traore and Nasri the last 2 back on the second goal?
Traore-4
Had a bad game. Donovan went passed him easily, unnecessarily conceded 2 corners at the end.
Diaby-7
Is in a real good run of form at the moment.
Denilson-6
Is not Song. Somewhat lucky goal, which we needed. And what happened when he fell down?
Ramsey-5
Disappointing from him, as his last 2 games had been very good.
Nasri-6.5
Was alright.
Arshavin-5
Had maybe one good run. He can't play in that centre forward role, he gets to isolated.
Eduardo-6
Played alright.
Rosicky-6.5
Gave ball away for the second goal, but his goal made up for it.
Vela and Merida-N/A