Never in doubt

Evening Gooners,

Sorry for no midweek post, I've had a lot of wrk recently, and I felt that with so many eulogising over Jack Wilshere's performance on Wednesday night, my voice wasn't necessary.

However there was some rather more unwanted residue from the international break which sprung up very suddenly roughly 15 minutes before yesterday's game at Sunderland, as Laurent Koscielny encountered som calf issues in the warm-up. With both him and Thomas Vermaelen now on the treatment table, it does mke you question why Wenger didn't take the opportunity to strengthen his complement of centre-backs over January, particularly with Djourou on loan and Mertesacker struggling to maintain his excellent form from the first half of the campaign.

Our injury problems could hardly have been helped by Sunderland's approach to game. Last weekend I launched a bit of an online assault on Stoke's approach, but if anything Sunderland were even more agricultural. Lee Cattermole, who is possibly the most talentless, violent and generally subhuman piece of limescale to walk the pitches of the Premier League since Michael Brown, took roughly one minute to pick up a booking having made his mark on Aaron Ramsey. Sunderland struggled in the first half and their main approach consisted of fouling Wilshere, something which seems to have become accepted practice. Jenkinson meanwhile produced a poor challenge of his own to gain a yellow card which could have been a crucial moment in the game. Giroud meanwhile drove wide when he should have found the corner after Walcott had already fired a couple of warning shots. Ramsey's deflected drive brought the very best out of Mignolet, but eventually Arsenal's pressure told, Wilshere combining seamlessly with Walcott, who laid it off for Cazorla to drill home emphatically. Cazorla had endured a slight dip in form over December and January but hopefully as the weather starts to warm up again he can continue the form he showed against Sunderland. Ramsey then had a brilliant chance to double Arsenal's lead before halftime but Mignolet saved well. Ramsey was excellent again yesterday, even when moved to right back, but his finishing left a little to be desired and that hopefully can change, I feel one goal will give him a real confidence boost.

In the 2nd half we were very nearly punished for our wastefulness in the first - Jenkinson lunged in on Colback, and was shown a 2nd yellow for a stupid and clumsy challenge. I'm a big fan of Jenko and I personally think he should start for us but that showed why still need Sagna as an option, and that Jenko has still got a lot to learn about the art of defending. Ramsey slotted in well as a makeshift right-back however (I'm told he played there at school) and with some gritty defending, we managed to see out the game. Szczesny was a brick wall in goal, blocking Fletcher's effort after Mertesacker cleared it straight into the Scot, and then tipping his header dramatically over the bar. He then made another crucial stop, before Titus Bramble somehow shanked wide. Only Titus. Sagna was at the centre of everything too, far more impressive as an improvised centre half than he has been at right-back recently, whilst Nacho Monreal was again quietly effective. Even with ten men we could have sealed it, Walcott striking the post and Giroud making a poor decision at different junctures. However finally we saw out that familiar scoreline - 1-0 to the Arsenal.

Other than those mentioned above, special mentions for individual performances have to go to the two centre midfielders, Wilshere and Arteta, who both helped dominate the first half. Arteta has got back to his best you feel after an indifferent last few months and his injury - he=is ball retention and discipline was crucial today, as he allowed Wilshere to maraud forward as he is so good at doing. Jack did pick up a slight knock which forced him to go off, but the Boss said it was a matter of a few days and that he would be back for Blackburn and Bayern. Let's hope his information is correct, because we need all the drive and tenacity we can get against ze Germans.

Till Wednesday,