By Rob Deyzel
After the dreadful performance from Arsenal on the weekend, the gunners produced a solid performance against a well organized, stubborn Partizan Belgrade team in Serbia.
The game itself was not without incident and it was a fairly timid start from the Arsenal. On 15 minutes though the game changed gear after a fantastic move between Wishere and Arshavin, ending with a superb assist from young Jack and a neat finish from the Russian, who had endured some abuse from the Serb crowd. However on the half hour mark the game again shifted with Denilson being have adjudged to have handled in the penalty area and Cleo slotting home the awarded penalty. It wasn’t again until the 55th minute that Arsenal really threatened and with Jovanovic fouling Chamakh from behind in the penalty area there was only one outcome. Red for Jovanovic and pen for the Gunners. Arshavin stepped up to the mark after Rosicky awful penalty against Sunderland and with Nasri on the bench and duly obliged with missing the pen too! But Belgrade just couldn’t hold out with ten men and on 70 minutes Rosicky cross was headed against the bar from Chamakh who was quickest to follow the rebound and make sure the ball was in the back of the net. With Belgrade pushing forward it was only a matter of time before Arsenal got their third and decisive goal. Nasri corner was neatly headed in at the near post by Squillaci. Surprisingly this just left enough time for Lukasz Fabianski to save from Cleo preventing him getting his second goal of the game and completing a fine performance from the goalkeeper.
Arsenal were certainly not at their best but it was a good response after their weekend defeat. Serbia is by no means an easy place to travel to to get a result and Wenger must be proud of their battling display. This is the kind of display that Arsenal are supposed to display against weaker opposition. Chelsea though is a different kettle of fish. Chelsea can play dogged battling football as well as sleek passing football, hence why they are champions of England. Arsenal play arguably the best style of football in the EPL, but certainly can’t play as well as Chelsea on the battling football front. If Chelsea play to Arsenals passing football strengths the Gunners could come out top. However Ancelotti is not a foolish man so be prepared for some long ball tactics on the weekend.
