So happy with our win. Everyone played superbly well, yes even Giroud wasn't half bad. Was a great team performance. Couple of points as usual.
1) Credit to Mannone. Didn't rate him but he did well today. Was confident coming for crosses and only shaky moment was the shot he parried away. Still weakness in parrying shots away from danger areas
2) CB pairing as solid as ever. Joke of a yellow on Mertesacker for Suarez dive. People who was worried about big Per's pace against nippy Suarez proven so wrong. Intelligent positioning won the day. Then again, I also realised how much Bould influenced our defensive shape. No longer do we try to play high line, but we plays deep and leave more spaces in front of defences. Abit worried about those spaces but Liverpool didn't exploit by shooting from range. How do Kos even come back? And if Mannone stays solid he won't be dropped. Wenger style.
3) Walcott and Gervinho's absence proved a plus point for us. We kept possession well and was more solid in nulifying their wing threats thanks to some hard work from Podolski and Chamberlain, especially the latter who fought very hard against Sterling. Would love us to keep this team all the way till we need to rotate. Should be our first choice from now.
4) Give Giroud more time. He will come good. He tried too hard today but the quality was there. Fought really hard and defended from the front. Won quite a few knockdowns as well.
5) Cazorla and Podolski, what a pair of signing. Brilliant interchange play all round. Podolski didn't help our LW shape but it created alot of space for Gibbs to exploit.
6) Jenkinson and Gibbs, our much maligned fullbacks was absolutely brilliant today. Jenkinson was shaky at the start but grew on during the match and was so superb with his sliding tackles. Sterling was very good but Jenkinson kept him at bay totally. Gibbs needed alot of help from Podolski to nulify Johnson's forays but he showed alot of heart, ran his lungs out. Crossing still leave much to be desired though.
7) Allen was very good for Pool. Think he is definitely worth 15m. Young and quality. Sahin wasn't half bad too and its only his first match. Think given time Rodgers can make them play like Swansea. They had some good possession today.
8) Finally, Abou Fucking Diaby. What a performance. Those who didn't put any faith in him at all should be ashamed because he proved you wrong big time. The game was won in midfield by his masterful performance. If this game didn't remind you of Vieira days I don't know what will because it was so similar. Won every ball, stride forward and passing was immense as well. Shows what confidence can do to you. Also dispelled the myth about him being a bad passer. Should finally push the haters off his back. (Then again Rosicky was brilliant for awhile last season and some haters still continued so..) Arteta was brilliant too in intercepting their plays. If this trio continues like this I don't know who to drop when Wilshere comes back.
All in all, great day and Manure is losing now so... 😃
