Manuel Almunia: inaccurate and slow, even at avoiding friendlies.
[Photo: AFP/Getty Images via Daily Mail]
In the midst of an epic blizzard the Toffees travelled to the Emirates today to dramatically draw a game which was a complete antithesis of the the first game of the current season. The previous matches for the Liverpudlians resulted in two draws followed by two solid wins. For the most part of the encounter, the fans were frustrated as they saw a weak and nervy side without their best three players. All that is expected is just a Chelsea draw, that is highly unlikely to happen -- as Manchester drew earlier on with Birmingham. Next week there will be another double match fixture against Bolton; there the Gunners must take all their power to ensure their confidence and momentum keeps growing, despite this match against Moyes force.
Landon Donovan, one of the most hated persons throughout the Mexican republic, shone in his icy debut at the Grove, providing one valuable assistance and a great performance down the right side. For the most part of the match the Arsenal players were unable to deal with his constant threat.
Pienaar lobs in front of a helpless Almunia.
[Photo: Getty Images via Daily mail]
In an arctic start Saha was denied a chance as well as Diaby just before the Toffeemen took the lead through a blistering header by Lee Osman. The mistake was due to some childish defending: again Gallas forgot what a defender must do in the box and let Osman head with a freedom of a striker. Again the old story was about to be retold in the freezing conditions: the Gunners regained possession and tried to build their way past the visiting defence. Throughout fifteen minutes they did it with quite easiness but no actual effectiveness until the equaliser arrived in the 28th minute.
Denilson, who scored in the first leg of the previously mentioned match, shot into Howard's, but a deflection helped the home team to square things up. With fifteen minutes to finish, the Londoners could not make a difference, with the likes of Nasri and Diaby offering little to a visiting side that stood resilient in front of goal.
Fortunate deflection for the Londoners.
[Photo: Reuters via Daily Mail]
The fifteen-minute break did more damage than help to both sides, since a lot of snow covered some areas of the pitch in spite of the effort the stewards pitch maintenance crew. With a thundering display by the American Donovan, the Gunners suffered from his incursions in the left side, now deputised by Traore. Even with the possession in 72% favouring the Londoners there wasn't real danger coming from them
After a couple of substitutions there wasn't a good panorama at the Grove. Denilson was on the verge of another goal but it went out wide after a deflection. Even with efforts such as Vermaelen's, who nearly tickled one in, the Gunners kept their scoreline as it was in the previous half. Reaching the 70th minute, the siege by the London team aggravated the Liverpudlian defence. In that same play, the entire Stadium claimed a penalty, the occasion--the Brazilian Gunner went down inside the box.
But the South African Pienaar looked sharper to counter all Arsenal efforts as the defence was caught up off place and Cahill released him down the middle; he run into Almunia and chipped it in to give Everton the advantage. As the view looked gruesome the Gunners pulled out of their sleeves another late show when Rosicky got Arsenal back on track. The shot was fierce and there was nothing Howard could do.
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