After the Monaco catastrophe we needed a response and we got it Given the results elsewhere a win was important and we are back in third just four points off second placed City.
Olivier Giroud
Boy, he needed that goal. His celebration said it all, it was more relief than joy. Giroud now has 9 goals in 11 starts this season. Those are quite impressive numbers. Arsene Wenger kept faith in the France international and his compatriot didn’t disappoint. Wenger was spot on in his post match assessment:
Olivier’s great quality is when his back’s to the wall – he has the personality and the character to respond. Because I know him better now, that’s one of the reasons why I kept him in the team.
While Giroud no doubt vindicated his Manager’s decision, he also proved that the Monaco performance was just a one off. His salvation will be complete if he gets a hat trick in a 6-0 Arsenal win at Monaco. That should be easy.
David Ospina
The Colombian was criticised for his midweek performance and rightly so. However yesterday he produced a fantastic display, his decision making was spot on, he was brave and his distribution much better. He still hasn’t convinced that he’s Arsenal’s No.1 but performances like that of yesterday will go a long way in cementing his position. His tackle on Lukaku outside the box was a game changing moment. Had he got that wrong it would have been a straight red. Now he’s got to put in such displays week in week out starting with the game against QPR.
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Mesut Ozil
The German despite covering longer distance than any Arsenal man in the Monaco game had one of those ineffectual displays where everything went against him. Against Everton the German was quietly effective, he led Arsenal’s passing with 43/47, Arsenal’s final third passing with 29/31. He made 5 key passes and more importantly got two assists. The pass for Rosicky’s goal shouldn’t be overlooked, not many players can spot that.
The German could have scored were it not for a last ditch block from Phil Jagielka in the Everton defence. Ozil has been excellent since his return from injury and with Alexis misfiring, Arsenal need Ozil more than ever.
The team was pilloried after the Monaco game and deservedly so. But credit where it is due, players redeemed themselves, got the season back on track and have silenced the haters atleast for now.
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