By Karl M. Tinsley

MY 3 STARS

http://d.yimg.com/i/ng/sp/empics/20100313/20/353333578-soccer-barclays-premier-league-hull-city-v-arsenal-kc-stadium.jpg1. NICKLAS BENDTNER: Anytime you score a 93rd-minute goal to pinch all 3 pts late in the season…in a match we absolutely had to have…then you deserve Man of the Match honours.

Showed a good nose for goal and a quick jump in his legs with the way he was the first to react to that greasy rebound spilled by Myhill, leaving him “Johnny on the Spot”. Congrats to Bendtner for bouncing back with goals after his horror show against Burnley 1 week ago and the withering abuse he has taken.

2. ANDREY ARSHAVIN: His first goal showed again the “Russian Schemers” sick ball control and two footed dribbles as he forced his way between and past the two Hull City defenders. Arshavin is flat out lethal with either foot and as a result can turn any defender on the planet inside out.

Love how he gets his shot off with pace from strange angles and timing that often catch the ‘keeper flat-footed. He is still wasting his fair share of opportunities…but lets hope it is just some lingering rust from his recent injury down-time. Bottom line he’s been scoring and setting up goals in the 3 matches since he came back from injury. Hoping he maintains and improves his form in the coming 2 months. We need him.

3. THEO WALCOTT: Used his fresh legs and pace to break down the left flank of the Hull City defence and open up quality chances for himself. His introduction into the match saw him contribute immediately as he used his pace to break free on the right flank and then serve up a delicious cut-back ball that Nasri touched on to Arshavin who skied his effort wide.

Walcott then teamed up with Arshavin to gift the Danish Striker another good opportunity on the net that unfortunately went begging. Later, Theo had a decent opportunity on the net when he received a lovely cut-back ball from Arshavin but unfortunately he wasn’t ablt to properly connect and dribbled his shot wide.

HONOURABLE MENTION:

THOMAS VERMAELEN: He controlled the centre of the pitch effectively and did a good job of getting back quickly when Hull managed to launch counter-attacks. Wasn’t at fault on the first Hull City goal when he cleverly stepped up to play the Dutchmen offside but the correct call was ignored by the linesman in favour of giving Hull City a way back into the match.

BACARY SAGNA: Had a good showing up and down the right wing and was also getting his crosses in and over but with much more snap and bend to them. Hull City didn’t offer much in the way of attack but Bacary was able to thwart any dangerous attempts on net.

LEMON(S):

SOL CAMPBELL: His clumsy tackle on Hull City’s Vennegoor of Hesselink in our 18 yard box gifted the Hull forward the opportunity to sell the contact and win the P.K. . The ensuing P.K. was stroked home by Bullard. Sol avoided the goat horns when we were able to grab all 3 points courtesy of a greasy rebound late in the match.

Sol didn’t have a terrible match…but he needs to be more delicate with his marking and tackling inside our 18 yard box…yesterday he was able to escape costing us a win…but next match he may not be so lucky.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

Most definitely NOT a fun or offensive minded effort yesterday. But it was interesting to see the club dig deep and manufacture a late goal that we so very desperately needed. For many years now The Arsenal have had an immediate dip in form after a positive night in European football. Last night was no exception to that pattern.

But thanks to Denilson and Bendtner we were able to work togther and gain a positive solution deep into injury time. Hopefully we can get Cesc Fabregas, Tomas Rosicky and Arshavin working on the same page in the next few days. We will need to do better over the next 8 matches to ensure that we can finish the season strong, to the tune of 7 wins and 1 draw. Stranger things have happened and I feel confident that we can do it.

Until the next match,

GUNS IN GUNS OUT

Karlos

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