Wow… First off, this was NOT the way this game should have gone. You could actually do a complete reversal of minutes and that would have made far more sense than what just happened today. Second, I was not thrilled with the starting lineup. I suggested Jack not start, I suggested AOC/Poldi start on the wing and leave Jack off with Santi running as a true CAM… Instead, Arsene started Jack, played Santi out of position (again) and we essentially formed a 4-4-2 instead of a 4-3-3. The result? Arsenal played sluggish and Norwich went ahead on shite defending on a set piece (seriously, can the game get any worse at this point?).

Before we get into the last 30 minutes of the match, I have to touch on what I watched for the first 60 minutes. Jack should have never started. That was obvious from the get go. He was a bit sluggish, off on his passes and had trouble holding on to the ball in situations that normally he would have easily controlled. You could tell from some of his dejected looks after misplaying the ball that he was not happy with his form (boy wears his heart on his sleeve). Look, this was a reminder that our golden boy is playing in what is his first full season with first teamers and he is going to have some ups and downs along the way; especially when he hasn’t played in weeks and he gets thrust back into the starting lineup in a must win game! That said, I am happy Jack was able to play 60 (albeit too many in my opinion) and stayed healthy throughout the match.

Next, don’t get me started on Gervinho. Look, I know there are many fans that say Gooners are quick to turn on the lad. Hell, the announcers even touched on that during the match and I am not without guilt as I don’t hide my distaste for him or his boneheaded play. But the Ivorian is like that girlfriend you dated not once, but twice. Things started out good but never worked out and so you broke up. Then, you reconnect after some time has passed, think she has changed and things yet again start off well. After a some nice flashes in the pan with her you quickly start to see the girl of old and why you broke up the first time. That is my relationship with Gervinho and this game proved it to me. He had the WIDE OPEN play, took an extremely heavy touch (no excuse for a guy who is “in form”) and ran himself out of an easy goal. We don’t need that. Not now, not ever. We need the guy that steps up in those situations; not buggers it up for all to see. That, my friends, was my moment where we broke up again. Sorry mate, your real nice and I’m sure someone out there would really love you but it’s just not working for me anymore. I’m gonna need my key back…

Now, on to the meat of the match. As I said before, this game should have been a complete reversal of what happened. We should have went up 3-0 quickly with Poldi/AOC in the lineup already. Then, after we hopefully had the lead, the late subs should have been defensive or about getting Jack/Theo minutes to get back into the rhythm of the game. Instead, we went down in our usual fashion by playing tentative football and allowing an EASY set piece goal. What is it that causes our heads to burrow up our arses when we defend set pieces? That damn goal looked like training ground perfection against the U-18 defense… shitty. Just no other way to put it. BUT, like it our not, we know that is our weakness and achilles heel this year so I guess I just have to get passed it until we can get that damn problem out of our heads…

Once we gave up the goal, I was happy to see Wenger move quickly to interject some pace/speed into the lineup in hopes of equalizing. The moves, with enough time to actually do something (thank God), were exactly what we could have hoped for: Jack/Gervinho off, Poldi/Theo on. The changes show just how serious Arsene was taking this game and the effect was instantaneous as Arsenal almost converted instantly. Theo’s movement and pressing behind was exactly what we needed (and were missing all day). After the first set of changes, Santi slotted back into his correct position (WHY!? Why don’t you just start him there from the get go Arsene!?) and Poldi sat waiting to use that rifle leg of his (his first touches looked like a guy who hadn’t received much first team football-hint hint Arsene, start that man more).

After threatening multiple times it turns out that it was the pull on Giroud that gave us our first goal (via penalty of course). It was pretty obvious that Giroud was pulled to ground and I was glad to see the linesman call it but thought it should have been called by the head ref (maybe he didn’t want to impact the game with a call?). Anyways, I always get nervous at penalty shots; especially when our set taker had missed one earlier in the season. I worry that Arteta’s mind goes straight to the one he missed and surely if I was a defender that is all I would be screaming about. Thankfully, Arteta slotted home and the race was on to try to slot home the winner.

Shortly after the penalty we nabbed not one but two goals (LOVED the Podolski shot, so glad he popped one into the net) to put this one away: instant pace created instant space and in less than 15 minutes we had this one in the bag.

It was obvious that the pace put in to the game that late, via Theo and AOC, was WAY too much to handle and Norwich were  on their heels trying to cover defensively in an instant. In the end, I’m still not happy about how this game played out but more than joyous that we took 3 at home. We should have won 3-1 in a much easier fashion but I’ll give it to our boys for sticking with it and not settling for a tie and instead going for the win (really fun to see Poldi/Theo/AOC/Giroud/Cazorla all on the pitch at the same time pressing forward).

Now, who to start come Tuesday…