Football Update: Arsenal Analysis- More Positives for the Gunners
Arsenal will play Champion League fixture against Portuguese side Braga at the Emirates on Wednesday night. Gunners should be brimming with confidence after their recent wins against Bolton and Blackburn, as both of these were tricky fixtures for them. Arsenal notched up four goals, and earned a well deserved three points from the Bolton game at the Emirates.
Arsenal is currently on the second position on the league table, just 2 points behind the English Premier League Champions Chelsea. However, there were few areas of concern for Gunners after the game against Bolton last week. Nevertheless, there were more than a couple of positives for the Gunners to take inspiration from. Here are some of the positives from the tough encounter against Bolton which Arsenal won 4-1.
Cesc Fabregas' Return to Form
Cesc Fabregas, the skipper has been one of the most influential and dominant player in the Arsenal side. It was really important for the Spanish midfielder to find form against Bolton. Fabregas, now a world champion looked short of match fitness in the games against Blackpool and Blackburn. Fabregas managed to show his exquisite talent against Bolton, who could not stop him from providing defence splitting passes time and again. Fabregas bagged three assists from that match, and very looked well on his way to attaining his best form. It was Fabregas one of the best performance for Arsenal.
It is great for Gunners that their inspirational skipper is in striking form at the right time, when games come thick and fast. They will hope Fabregas can reproduce his great form from the previous and lead the Gunners to an English Premier League title or any silverware.
Sebastien Squillaci's Impressive Debut
Any centre back defender in the world will find a tough challenge when they are up against the physicality of Bolton Wanderer’s skipper Kevin Davies and tall and heavy Johan Elmander. Sebastien Squillaci, who was making his English Premier League debut, was very impressive in Arsenal’s defence line and was up to the tough task in front of him. What makes the Frenchman performance even more impressive is the fact that he did not partner the experienced Thomas Vermaelen, who was injured and was not able to start. The experienced French defender was with Laurent Koscielny, who is a talented but inexperienced defender.
Arsenal signed experience Frenchman from Spanish Club Sevilla for €4m on 26 August 2010. Squillaci was signed to fill the gaps in the defence when Arsenal two centre backs; former captain William Gallas and Sol Campbell left Emirates earlier this year.
Sebastien Squillaci looks to be a competent and talented Centre Back, and having played in important UEFA Champions League fixtures for his former clubs (Lyon and Sevilla), he brings with him a lot of experience to the squad. Experience is the need of the time at the Emirates for the young and talented defence line up.
Laurent Koscielny's Bravery in Defence
Laurent Koscielny was signed from French Club Lorient in the summer by Arsene Wenger. The young talented centre back looks to be one with a lot of potential.
Even though Koscielny was red carded on his debut for Arsenal in English Premier League, also made that glaring error, which lead to the equaliser for Bolton, he was exceptionally good in the air, and cut out numerous Bolton attacks. For such an inexperienced yet talented defender to be facing against the very strong and physical Kevin Davies, the young French defender showed a lot of heart.
Koscielny had a disastrous collision with Davies in the second half, which would have hurt badly, without a doubt it was the moment of the day, but he managed to continue playing after some treatment. He was brave even after getting hit on the head, and was not afraid to go into aerial battles, which got a special mention from the manager.
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