Everton 1-0 Arsenal

Dear oh dear.

Once again Arsenal have fallen, succumbing to a last minute scrap. The game epitomised arsenal's season, we dominated, we pressed, we had our chances but didn't take them. And everton punished us well and truly.

To say i'm frustrated, disappointed and utterly upset is an understatement. I just can't believe how many times we have lost a game 1-0 this season. hmm, sheffield, west ham, man city, with fulham and bolton being the exception. One thing that didn't change was that arsenal didn't take their chances.

Today's matchup started with great promise for arsenal, with wenger choosing to make only one change to the side that showed great resilience in overcoming villa in midweek, rosicky coming on to replace denilson in his first start since his injury. Everton opted for inexperience and youth in their unfamiliar 4-4-2 system with Vaughan, a young striker, partnering AJ up front.

As arsenal took the match by the scruff of the neck with some neat passing in the middle of the field, everton responded with pure hard work and determination to huff arsenal down. Carsley with a cracker of a shot midway through the first half on the half-volley, smashing the post from 25 yards out and rattling lehmann's goal. This was to be arsenal's first warning of the match.

Unfortunately, the gunners did not heed the warning and failed to make the most of their chances, squandering possession too easily in midfield, and failing to shoot when it mattered. When they did, the men in blue quickly closed them down, preventing any real opportunity for arsenal to take the lead. Two genuine penalty claims were given, with arsenal's the most convincing after aliadiere was felled in the box by tim howard after he had knocked the ball past the american keeper. Referee Clattenburg waved away arsenal's appeals, to the sarcastic approval of the crowd.

Neat interplay passing showed what devestation arsenal's passing can do when it actually works out, with fabregas breaking down into a great position through the middle, but once again, the spanish maestro is let down by his disappointing finishing, always on target but never confident nor convincing, the ball flying straight into howard's gloves. Baptista had one more chance at the end of the first half, putting a firm header after a flick-on from a corner, but with no one challenging him, disappointingly put it over the bar. With arsenal failing to take their chances, you could forsee their impending downfall.

Nice release on the left gave rosicky a chance to run into the box, cutting a nice ball back for aliadiere, but the young frenchman failed to capitalise with a wild left foot shot. Yet another unconvincing performance from the youngster could leave him at the bottom of the pecking order, and with the likes of henry, van persie and adebayor ahead of him, aliadiere could soon be packing his bags!

As the game progressed, everton fought on. Their efforts were nearly rewarded after yet more fox-in-the-box stuff from leon osman (arsenal should get him!). Osman stole in with an opportunistic shot after a tiny scramble in the arsenal penalty box. unforunately his ball deflected off the post and drifted away. Everton were getting closer.

Eventually, as the snow poured down heavily in springtime, arsenal lost their focus and concentration in the torrential weather. A simple corner wasn't cleared and the eventual scramble allowed an unmarked AJ to smash an unstoppable left-foot shot in. An injury time winner for an everton team who may not have deserved to win, but fought hard to make sure that the hope for 3 pts would always be in their grasp.

"Football has a nasty way of punishing you when you fail to make ur chances count," they always say, an arsenal have been left ruing their chances for the 6th away game this season. You feel that wenger would have to bring in one or two class signings to take charge next season. If they are to challenge for the title, arsenal have to ensure that they are more ruthless not only at the final third, but mentally as well. The youngsters have to intimidate their opponents and mature quickly, or arsenal would gradually be a far cry of the unbeaten class of 03-04.

Full credit to the toffees, who look to push on for europe. With the likes of arteta and AJ, and a great partnership at the back with yobo and lescott, everton deserve to be up there with the big boys.

Glen's verdict: So sad :(

I just hope wenger hardens the team further. they have to start practicing some long range shooting in training, as well as fast paced pressing and clinical finishing. In all i din feel so upset today, cos i'm already so used to losing in the final minute of the game. Arsenal may be poor this season, but they also haven't had the luck that man u have been having. Arsenal may not have deserved to win in a number of their defeats, but neither did they deserve to lose. I think henry's absence has depleted the team's morale and we lack a calm finisher in front of goal.

Anyway i think i report quite nicely!! i felt my words flowed out so nicely and it's a great feeling to talk about football for a living. but i hope i dun get to report arsenal matches because not only am i biased, but i tend to talk about arsenal more, and it's tough talking about them when they lose :(

Goodnight!

p.s. hello baby!