On 90 minutes, this was going to be an upbeat piece on how it's a measure of how far we've come under O'Neill that we had played a tactical game against the Arse and been as good as them.

As it turned out, it didn't quite work out that way, but still…

Our bus broke. There have long been rumours that the driver was a Mag, but when he arrived at the Station and told us the gears were knackered, we feared for the worst. Change of vehicle at Tursdale, a much posher job but absolutely icebox. Never mind, we survived, and saw the Lads line up

Ming
Bards O'Shea Turner Rico
Larrson Colback Gards McClean
Sess Campbell

Well, for the first half both teams played the same tactics, which made for a fascinating if less than exciting 45 minutes. It took a while for us to have a go, when Sess dribbled his way around their defence, then Campbell's shot was deflected for a corner, and they did much the same in terms of attacking. Both sides sat and watched, waiting for the break from defence which so nearly came a couple of times through McLean. Van Persie, the man to back for first goal scorer most weeks, found Turner in excellent defensive form and got nothing. The pitch didn't help – several time for both team a move ended with a silly bounce. Sort it out Niall – watering it in sub-zero temperatures can't help matters, so stop it, please.

Rico was a very unlucky recipient of a yellow card on 18 as the ref decided to be a complete pillock for the rest of the half. We played chess with them, they played chess with us, but we still passed our way out of defence well. Perhaps a bit more urgency going forward from midfield would not have gone amiss, but caution is still a good mindset against Arsenal. With Rico covering the brainless Walcott well, there was more space and time for Oxlade-Chambelain down their right – but Bards is a formidable barrier, especially when backed up by Campbell, who spent a lot of time out on the right. On 38 minutes came the first half's big talking point, as Meertersacker looked to take the ball on his chest (mebbe a penalty) then pushed it away with his arm (definite penalty to me and thousands of others). Of course, we didn't get it.

Campbell was then booked for a fairly harmless challenge as the ref continued to lose Wearsiders form his Christmas card list, the wall did its job from the free, and we almost broke through with McLean in the one added minute.

Fascinating first half, if not that obviously entertaining in a shots and crosses sort of way.

The second half started with us showing a bit more urgency and fire, and Gards saw his shot saved, O'Shea fired over from the corner. Fraizer got his first real run on goal after 53, but the ball was a touch too far ahead of him, but an indication of what we could produce. we played it well down the right with Bards prompting, and won a few corners, then things changed, They replaced Oxlade- Thingy with Henry on 65, and five minute later we burst away from a corner. Meertersacker turned his ankle and fell over, McClean picked up the loose ball and ran into the box and blasted a left-foot shot across the keeper and into the far corner. Brilliant.

Having said that, the replacement was on hand a few minutes later to hot a shot off Ming's right hand post which rolled along the line and eventually went in. Bugger.

Campbell burst in from the right to be fouled on the edge (in?) of the box – let's see MOTD for an accurate assessment) but when the free dropped in the box, O'Shea fluffed his effort and it was cleared. We perhaps sat a bit too deep waiting to construct or attacks, and couldn't quite get into their box often enough.

Ji replaced the tiring Campbell with five to go, and we dreamt of a City repeat. Unfortunately it was Arshavin who did the damage. Without Campbell to help him, Bards had the little meerkat all to himself, and with 90 on the clock and four added just announced, the little bugger slung in another that was touched in by Henry.

We piled forward, as you're supposed to do in these situations, but couldn't do any damage. A defeat is disappointing, but maybe a good reality check.

Man of the Match? Great job on Van Persie by Turner, great shift by Colback in the middle – no real disappointments apart from Campbell spending too much time out wide. Another good day for Rico and Gards, and the usual from Sess, but again it was McClean, adding a left foot strike to his catalogue of goals, who was my top man.

Keep the Faith

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