Up And Gunning | What A Difference A-bou Makes

Finally, we’re up and running. And just how good does it feel!

After two disappointing goalless draws to get the season underway, it was third time lucky as The Arsenal breezed aside a fairly lacklustre Liverpool side, to take away all three points from Anfield. And despite some shaky early moments with some suspect passing at the back, we never really looked in any trouble.

Especially not after we took the lead just after the half hour mark, with Lukas Podolski grabbing his first for the club. It all came from a Steven Gerrard fuck up, that prompted Santi Cazorla to attack the Liverpool back four at pace before sliding Podolski in who finished coolly into the far corner.

Goal scorers Cazorla and Podolski celebrate our first.

The same two then linked up again for Arsenal’s second, with just over 20 minutes to go. Cazorla played a one-two with Podolski just outside the Liverpool area, and the little Spaniard drilled it home from a tight angle just in front of the travelling away fans, with the help of a horrendous piece of goalkeeping from Pepe Reina to get his Arsenal account underway too.

Despite some late Liverpool pressure, 2-0 it remained to provide us with our first win of the season, and yet another clean sheet that will no doubt delight Arsene Wenger, Steve Bould and co.

It was a very mature performance from the back five, despite the aforementioned suicidal passing, with Vito Mannone again looking comfortable between the sticks. And although Per Mertesacker picked up an early yellow card he was outstanding in handling Luis Suarez, who persisted in spending most of the match on the floor, like the diving little racist that he is. It was good to see Laurent Koscielny get on the pitch too, albeit for only a few minutes at the end. Given the fantastic defensive start we’ve had to the season, it’s going to be very interesting to see how all three of our main centre backs are used.

The midfield trio of Mikel Arteta, Abou Diaby and Cazorla are becoming a better unit game by game, and there were clear signs of further progression today. Arteta’s coordination and execution as a holding midfielder are exemplary, as he again bridged the gap between defence and midfield with total aplomb. With every new game this season, it’s becoming apparent why Wenger decided against buying a new “DM” given the brilliant job Arteta is doing. I still have serious concerns as to how we’d fare should he get injured, but that’s a thought that shall remain grounded in the hope that such an event does not happen.

But even though Arteta was impressive as always, and also not forgetting the essential contribution Cazorla provided, the day belonged to one Vassiriki Abou Diaby. It was the game of his life, with a powerful and confident display that was simply magical to watch. He has his doubters, but this is a player who Wenger rates extremely highly, and after today it’s not hard to see why. He’s set a very high standard for himself to maintain, but it’s clear he has the quality necessary to make it at the highest level, and if he keeps fit and gets more game time it’s not far-fetched to imagine further improvement. Let’s hope so anyway.

Diaby put Gerrard and co to the sword.

Up top there was again no Theo Walcott, who didn’t even get off the bench. This furthers speculation that maybe not all is rosy between Walcott and Wenger, and the less he plays the more it’s likely to believe that he could be heading for a January exit. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain started in his place, yet didn’t quite have the impact he would’ve hoped for. His potential is obvious though, and you are always going to get inconsistencies with youngsters as they break through. His time will come though, and it’s certainly no reason to be disheartened.

Podolski had his best game yet, often dropping deeper as we’ve seen a lot in the first couple of games, and his link up play with Kieran Gibbs on the left was particularly impressive, as well as his telepathic understanding with Cazorla. Olivier Giroud again failed to score despite having a couple of good chances, but his movement and work rate was admirable. I’m sure once he gets off the mark he’ll be fine, but he definitely doesn’t look too confident right now, as he continues to adapt. Gibbs yelling in his face after his first half miss probably didn’t help that too much either, as nice as it was to see some burning passion from our young left back.

After the Armageddon like reaction to our lack of transfer activity on Deadline Day, it’s refreshing to sit here and be able to write about something positive after today’s win. Although I was hopeful there would be a couple of further additions to the squad, I can understand why Wenger opted against it. Especially in defence and midfield, where our depth is more apparent than most are giving us credit for.

Tomas Rosicky and Jack Wilshere are both reportedly back after the International break, and whilst it would be unfair to place too much on them both too soon (especially Jack), it will be fantastic to have them both back in the mix. Plus, it will create fiercer competition for places in the starting eleven; ensuring complacencies we’ve often seen from players in the past don’t have to be tolerated.

Returning duo?

My main concern is up front, as we’re only a couple of injuries away from relying on Andrei Arshavin and Marouane Chamakh, which would hardly be the most comforting of situations. But let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. That we keep a fit and competitive squad, and see where they can take us. Only then would it be fair to judge the side and, more importantly, Wenger.

The away support for the team was again fantastic today, and completely drowned out what would have otherwise been silence given the poor reception the Liverpool faithful provided for their own. Liverpool did a damn good job in abiding to their ridiculous new slogan, “We Come Not To Play”, as that’s exactly what happened today, and there doesn't appear to be much improvement to their side after a disappointing last League campaign.

But still credit to our boys for going to Anfield and getting the job done in impressive style. We’re now up and ‘Gunning’, so let’s use this win as a platform to build around and no doubt future positive results will follow.

Follow me on twitter: @mattlittlechild