Premier League - Match #20

Everton 1 Cahill
Arsenal 4 Eduardo 2, Adebayor, Rosicky

Arsene Wenger seemed could do no right these days.

To his critics at least. After the drab goal-less affair at Portsmouth they said he lacked a Plan B when the opposition played a physical and defensive game Arsenal would left bereft of ideas. Then, when his side traveled to Everton and scored three goals through route one football the critics said he did not try to play the beautiful game.

For us Gooners, it was just as good as watching Wenger's team ran amok twice at neighbouring Anfield last season.

The home side was deservedly ahead at the break. Arsenal seemed lost and most of the traffic were going towards Manuel Almunia's goal. The Spaniard should be able to cement his position if he goes through this season without a stretch of high profile errors. The home side's goal came in the 19th minute when Arsenal defence failed to deal with a corner and from the scramble saw Aussie Tim Cahill getting the last touch.

Wenger started the match with the Carling Cup strike-partner. Eduardo and Nicklas Bendtner were paired-off for the first time from the start. This was the partnership that I have been advocating at the start of the season, our own little and large combo.

Arsenal were back on level term pretty quickly in the second half. Gael Clichy's long pass found Eduardo in the 47th minute and his control enabled him to turn and slotted the ball past Tim Horward. It was his first goal in the Premier League. Like a suddenly opened flood-gate, Eduardo found the net the second time just over ten minutes later. Another long pass and the Croatian international turned past Phil Jagielka before finishing the move in a calm manner.

There was a hint of handball but football fans knew better that it was a decision that could go either way, and today it went Arsenal's way.

Then Bendtner joined the Arsenal red-card club with fifteen minutes to go after getting his second yellow card of the match, even though many would not complain if referee Martin Atkinson decided to dish out a straight red. In a way it spoiled the day for Eduardo who was looking to complete his hat-trick. He had to make way for Manu Adebayor.

The Togolese nudged Arsenal further ahead four minutes later. Again it was route one football. Everton defender Joseph Yobo's hesitation in dealing with Almunia's long punt opened the opportunity for Adebayor to steal the ball and slotted it home. Everton were completely demoralised.

The home side was reduced to ten men themselves after Mikel Arteta caught Cesc Fabregas in the face to earn himself a red card from the referee. Tomas Rosicky came on two minutes from time and found himself on the score-sheet with a wonderfully taken shot from the edge of the box. A typical Rosicky goal.

The bigger picture here was the Gunners are back at the top of the Premier League, capitalising from the defeat of the manures at Upton Park. Ironically, while we are thankful to West Ham for defeating the manures, we must now beat them at the Emirates on new year's day to ensure our place at the summit is consolidated.

Up the Gooners!!!

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