Favourite Son

By Boris Mellor
October 19 2008

As I heard the team sheet announced I groaned and remarked to a fan near me "when will Wenger learn you play a right back at right back". I knew it would go wrong, we are always poorer without Sagna, but even poorer when Wenger picks a poor replacement.  Now I believe Song has talent (sounds like a reality show "Song Has Talent"), but he is a tank of a player with a large turning circle. Right backs have to be nimble and quick to turn, Song cannot do that.

Last year Toure was a disaster at right back, and Song has even less experience in that position, well none to be precise. Now Moyes isn't Capello, but even he realised that it would be best to push down on Arsenal's right hand side.

Yes Arsenal made a few chances in the first half, not that RvP, or Ade ever looked like scoring, and RvP wasted two gold plated chances in the first half. However it was Everton that looked the better team. Fellaini was causing havoc on the Gunners right, and Song was all at sea. The team had no shape, and even less imagination.

The goal was one of the worst I have ever seen Arsenal concede, Arsenal do not concede tap ins. Arsenal concede from corners, free kicks, and wonder/freak shots from outside the box, but not tap ins.

On nine minutes Everton came into the Arsenal half in great numbers and had quite a few in the box, three defenders stood off Osman three yards out. Awful.

Blessing in disguise

At half time a friend text me that Fellaini was running the game, we agreed that Eboue needed to go to RB, Song into midfield and bring on Walcott. However we expected that Wenger would persist with his awful formation until the 70^th minute, and it would be too late.

However when the team came back on Eboue was at right back, Song at centre half, and Walcott on the wing. Within three minutes we had equalised, a great shot by Nasri. I text my mate, what a difference a better formation and a kick up the arse makes. I dread to think what would have happened if Toure's injury hadn't forced Wenger's hand.

At last the crowd had something to believe in and now they, roused from their stupor, roared the team on. Walcott and Eboue immediately built up a great partnership and now it was the Arsenal right flank that was running the game.

The second goal looked like it would never come, and I was certain that RvP would never kick the ball into the net even if he played for another two hours; I was right, he headed in Adebayor's assist.

Walcott's goal was the icing on the cake and made the game safe; however it was great cameo appearance (all eight minutes) by  Diaby, for it was his screw back that was the perfect assist for a perfect goal. Oh how the crowd love it when their favorite son scores, it's worth three of any other player's goal.

Some fans moaned that Wenger should have played Walcott from the off, but I can see Arsene's point on that. Theo had a poor game midweek, and will be needed in Istanbul on Tuesday. If had started he might have been as poor as the rest of them. It was good motivational management by Wenger, and Walcott will be fresh for the CL.

If Wenger had started with Eboue at right back, and Song in midfield there was no reason why the team shouldn't have played better. This was Everton's first defeat on the road so no one should have expected a walkover.

Silvestre had a fairly good game, and he and Song looked as good a pairing as any in the back four this season. I just hope that Arsene plays a right back at right back in Turkey.

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