EVERTON VS ARSENAL 2-2 DRAW REVIEW

With the midweek game against Besiktas in mind and some of the Arsenal squad still to get up to speed, Arsene Wenger opted for a bit of an experimental selection for the away game with Everton. And with last season’s naive performance at Goodison still fresh in the memory, the Gunners were determined to be more solid and hard to beat.

It was working fairly well until Everton stunned us with the opening goal against the ruin of play. A bit of a defensive switch off and a great ball in from Gareth Berry left Coleman the freedom of the penalty area to head past Szczesny.

Then the old adage that goals change games came into play, with us looking more nervous and Everton with their tails up. We still played some good stuff and could have scored with a bit more luck and a bit more sharpness around the box from Ramsey and the Ox. Then our bad luck really hit home, with the Toffees getting away with a Lukaku foul and a Naismith offside to hit us with a real body shot on the stroke of halftime.

Wenger brought Giroud on for Alexis for the second half, hopefuly to save the Chilean for Wednesday rather than a knock. And the Frenchman nearly got us back into it straight away, but his well struck volley flew over. We were not quite firing in attack, but Everton were very good defensively, throughout their team. When we did get it right, they were always there to snuff out the danger.

Arsenal finally broke through with Cazorla feeding Ramsey from the left but there was not long left and Everton were doing their best to kill the game, but the big man showed his strength and Monreal found him with a pinpoint cross to get us a point.

This was miles from the drubbing we got there last season, but we nearly got nothing from the game and will need to bounce back well to make the Champions League group stage. And I think Giroud will be starting that game!

Arsenal v Newcastle United: Arsene Wenger predic ts Alan Pardew will be calmer after touchline ban

If he had been available all of the way through, then I think their season would have been a different story. They look like a completely different team with him in it.
Yes, you want people like Theo Walcott in the team for their pace but it's Ramsey who is so important for them. He is the player who runs forward and gets beyond the other team to open the game up.
When you have him making runs, it gives other players, such as Santi Cazorla, more time on the ball. The other players in the midfield don't do the same thing. He's also a finisher and gets big goals as well.
When he got injured around Christmas time, he was probably the best player in the league, scoring big goals in big games - and he has done the same since he has come back. If he hadn't got injured, then it would have been massive for Arsenal.


I think most teams that play Newcastle between now and the end of the season will expect three points with the way they are playing.
I don't think Liverpool need to worry about beating them on the final day unless a major improvement occurs over the next two weeks.
They are completely and utterly gone at the highest level. We saw Sunderland go to Chelsea and end Jose Mourinho's 77-game unbeaten home run and nobody saw it coming, but that was a team fighting for their lives.
That can't be said about Newcastle, who are in the middle of the table and simply can't win a football match for toffee.

Struggled

They sold Yohan Cabaye in January and shortly after that they got safe in the middle of the table and they haven't been able to pick themselves up again.
I watched them a few weeks ago against Hull, in the game when Alan Pardew headbutted David Meyler, and they were outstanding. They ripped apart a Hull team that was on a bit of a run, but they've struggled for wins since then.
They can't win their home games, so what chance have they got at the Emirates? I think Arsenal will win this and cement their position in the top four.
If they can do that and win the FA Cup, then I think that would be a brilliant season - and I think they will do both.
Arsenal ripped Hull apart last week - and Hull won't have Nikica Jelavic or Shane Long in the Cup Final. Psychologically the Hull players will be worried about that.
March was a nightmare for Arsenal. They had hard games and got punished in all of them. We all said they would be a force if they were still in it in April - and while they are no longer in the title race they are winning these games as expected.
This is a fairly easy prediction for me - it has to be an easy home win.

ARON RAMSEY AND SANTI CAZORLA SIGN NEW CONTRACTS WITH ARSENAL

LONDON -- Midfielders Aaron Ramsey and Santi Cazorla have signed new contracts with Arsenal.
The Premier League club did not reveal details of the deals but manager Arsene Wenger said on Tuesday that both internationals are "key players for us" and "have committed their futures to the club."
The 29-year-old Cazorla joined from Malaga in August 2012
and was voted Arsenal player of the season last term. Ramsey scored 13 goals in 27 matches this season before the Wales captain picked up a thigh injury in December.
Arsenal also announced that 17-year-old Gedion Zelalem signed his first professional contract at the London club.
The Gunners are attempting to win their first Premier League title since 2004. They are third in the standings, four points behind leader Chelsea with a match in hand.

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2014/03/18/6246969/cazorla-and-ramsey-sign-new-deals.html#storylink=cpy