Everton 1 - Arsenal 1

Van Persie (noun) - an individual of exceptional talent and a habit of performing great acts in the face of adversity

You're not telling us anything new EvertonMike....

PLaying 4-6-0 is not likely to create a huge territorial advantage. I'm willing to bet we massivly outdid you possesion wise in the middle third of the pitch, I haven't looked it up so could be wrong but I doubt it. Our only striker is Anichebe - imagine Francis Jeffers but worse... So we play Cahill and Fellaini in advanced roles, so our only threat is from crossing/set plays - so we're not going to have shed loads of shots either. Stats generally mean very little, and I'd say injuries would hit us a lot harder than you too, since we only have 19 players not including youths when everyones fit (thats counting Valente and VDM and they're both past it).

If you were playing 4-6-0 than why decry our attacking intent? The whole purpose of crowding the midfield and defending deep is to nullify our attack. I think that we should have put out a more attacking side as I said above but I can understand why we thought it was as important not to lose tonight as it was to win. There is a reason why you have only conceded 3 goals in 8 games. Criticising us for your success in negating what attack we had seems to bit wrong footed. Limited options or not what you are doing is working for you.

Diaby and Nasri would be seen as more attacking midfielders but frankly we don't have much else. Eboue would be the only other 'recognised' midfielder available. The only other option would have been to play Nasri, Denilson. Diaby and Eboue. Other than that we have only kids like Wilshere, and Ramsey.

That explains the choice of midfield a bit then, I always thought Diaby was a DM. I do only get to see Arsenal 5 or 6 times a season for a full game, and he's done nothing of note in any of those games going forward this season lol. One possible alternative to what Wenger did would perhaps be ( i know this sounds more defensive, but I think it would of offered more balance) play Nasri and RVP on the wings, with Denilson, Diaby and Song in a central 3. I know RVP is best up front, but he played pretty deep today anyway but seemed to stay centrally. Denilson was awful on the wing, but seems to usually be a decent player - seems a waste to have him on the right.

Diaby's pass completion stats are a complete misnomer because they don't detail the dozens and dozens of times a game he takes an incredibly heavy first touch and then loses the ball. He has the worst first touch of any Arsenal player in the Wenger era, is the least alert player I have ever seen mentally, ALWAYS rocking back on his heels and not anticipating, receives the simplest pass, miscontrols it and plays himself into trouble. The guy plays with so little interest, it's infuriating because you can tell there is some talent there and that he could be of some use if a) he had a touch becoming of a pro footballer and b) he gave a *****. I had this horrible thought midway through the second half after watching him lose the ball in his own half and not bother to chase back. I thought to myself, would he look out of place in a Bolton shirt? I came to the horrible conclusion that he wouldn't (not least because his tackling is very poor and he seems to kick someone in the air at least once a game). On the bright side, a moment of magic from the one player in the starting line up last night capable of producing it. RvP had a quiet game overall (though he and Ade had nothing but long, hopeful balls to go on), but he produced a real moment of quality and is beginning to quell the biggest doubters. i.e. me.

van Pizzle seems to be the only shinning light in our team at the minute. The first time he seems to have had an injury free season (please dont let me have jinxed it) and he's been our best player this campaign. If we dont get out of this slump soon we'' definately be playing Wafer cup football next season, and we need to pick it up soon because our end of season run in is ******** horrendous.

Royal Variety Performance yet again! Denilson is wasted on the wing, why not just play Eboue? If there are still Arsenal fans out there who thinks we need a DM more than a creative midfielder and winger I will concede losing all faith in Arsenal fans.

Rocky I thought i made up the name Van Pizzle and only used it with my friends. So 1) I used it on here before and you picked up on it, 2) We are on the same wave lenght 3) I heard it elsewhere and in my own mind i made it up. Strange