Cannonballs: Normal Service Has Resumed
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Thankfully. Saturday saw the return of normal league play as Arsenal hosted Wigan Athletic at the Emirates Stadium.
The international break finally completed and Arsenal came through with a few knocks. Alexander Hleb picking up a hamstring while playing for Belarus will more than likely mean he will miss three weeks. Mathieu Flamini injured his thigh while earning his first cap for France. Abou Diaby has a sore back and Gilberto was returning from Brazil leaving his inclusion in question.
So what is a manager to do? Arsene Wenger went with who was available. In all honesty when I saw the Arsenal lineup it looked more like a Carling Cup side in the midfield. Tomas Rosicky, Lassana Diarra, Denilson, and Emmanuel Eboue comprising the middle of the park with young Theo Walcott slotted just behind striker Emmanuel Adebayor. A young but talented midfield. The backline was more of what Gunners fans were used to seeing with the skipper William Gallas and Kolo Toure anchoring the central defense and Gael Clichy along with Bacary Sagna flanking on the wings. The goalkeeping was once more handled by Manuel Almunia even though Jens Lehmann played for Germany during the internationals.
The first half ended nil-nil with Arsenal being the more aggresive but that was to be expected as Wigan were bunkered in defense. The young midfield did look a bit sluggish as the quick crisp passing game that has graced the Emirates pitch this season was slow to develop. The best chance fell to Adebayor but it was saved by Wigan keeper Mike Pollitt. For my money though the best player for Arsenal in the first half was Walcott. He was creative with his passes and his pace always threatened the Wigan defense. This type of play from young Theo should lift the spirits of England fans. Even though England crashed out of the European Championships with a loss to Croatia, Walcott is the type of player that England currently does not have, a player with speed who can change defending into attack in a blink of an eye.
It was finally late in the second half when the breakthrough came. William Gallas headed home a perfectly placed cross from Sagna to give the Gunners the lead in the 83rd minute. The goal forced Wigan to come out of their defensive shell but that change in tactic spelled their doom. A quick counter attack led by Arsenal substitute Nicklas Bendtner saw him finding Rosicky open on the right. Rosicky took one touch and found the back of the net off the far post. Two-Nil to the Arsenal and the points were safe.
The Arsenal win was made even sweeter by Bolton's victory over Manchester United. The Gunners win coupled with the United loss puts Arsenal 3 points in the clear at the top of the table with a game in hand. It seems the change in manager at Bolton has them playing back to the way they used to with all the physicality and nastiness that Premier League fans are used to from that bunch.
A return to Champions League play this Tuesday as Arsenal travel to Spain to face Sevilla. Gael Clichy won't be available though as he got a thigh injury in the Wigan match. An Arsenal win ensures that the Gunners win the group. A win isn't that crucial though so I shall be happy just to see everyone return healthy.
