So i use the term “Magnificent” loosely.
I loved the performance of the team on Sunday and i loved that we won, but the performance has to be taken into context. The West Brom team didn’t even seem to be trying and they were safe and secure so they had nothing to play for. We took advantage and won.
Now with that said it doesn’t mean our performance on the day wasn’t superb. I loved the fact that Walcott got a hattrick. When i saw the team sheet i was just hoping he’d score and score he did. The first goal was my pick of the bunch as it was arrowed in from a difficult angle into the roof of the net. That was some badass shooting right there.
I had mentioned earlier that this was a game where rotation would do us some good as some players would be playing hard to put themselves in frame for a starting spot on Saturday.
I feel Arsene will be tossing and turning in bed all week after the performance Walcott and Wilshere turned in and it is now pretty hard to pick a team for the final. All in all after three games of being unable to score at home it was pretty nice to get a bunch of goals and only the woodwork and Myhill’s heroics stopped it from being more. This performance gives me a lot of confidence ahead of a cup final i don’t think we can afford to not win (really trying to avoid using the four letter L word).
But even in the magnificence of the performance (Wilshere’s performance) i still have some worries. Two actually.
One
Ospina was unconvincing. In a game which we thought Arsene might go for the Szcz to give him minutes before the cup final, Ospina kept goal instead and to my mind he wasn’t at his stellar best. Now it could have just been an off day and he’ll play a blinder in the final (if he’s chosen) but it was worrying. His save for the corner that WBA scored from was unconvincing. Then there was the goal itself which i thought he could have done better with and there was that weird one where the ball hits him in the hands and fortuitously goes against the crossbar and out. It was scary and it gives credence to those who feel we need a new keeper in the summer. I don’t think i’ve really formed an opinion on that, my default opinion is; if you can find a player better than the one you have who’s available and affordable, then by all means go for him.
Two
Attack. While Walcott and Wishere were busy ripping it up, Alexis didn’t get in on it. Don’t get me wrong, he played well, but i was a little worried with his fatigue and all. I’m probably overthinking things but i am an Arsenal fan, so i guess it comes with the territory.
And then Giroud
He was just….i dunno.
Don’t get me wrong, i love Giroud, i absolutely love him and i feel he’s had an amazing season in the circumstances we had. But he hasn’t scored in ages and it SHOWS. He came on and was a mere passenger, no shots on goal, no nothing. It felt like he was dropping too deep to receive the ball, it was worrying. Seeing as Welbeck will be unavailable for the final, Arsene has a bit of a problem; Play Giroud and hope he rises to the occasion or find some alternative to the situation.
I have no idea what Arsene is going to do. Winning was good and i think it puts us in a good place come FA cup final day. Fingers crossed and COYR!!!
