The Correct Response

FA Cup Quarterfinal Match - Arsenal 4 - 1 Everton
Match Stats

A wonderful response to the Stoke City match.  What Arsenal lacked in energy, drive, and urgency against the Ogre's, was on full display against Everton.  I was put at ease early on with the way the Gunner's started the 1st half.  I knew it was going to be one of those games Arsenal would win.  You could see the team was ready and willing to compete, and as Arsenal supporters that's all we crave, is for the team to consistently competes with urgency, NO MATTER WHO THE COMPETITION.  Arsenal beat a good Everton side the way Arsenal are supposed to, with more class, more technical ability and an all-around better squad with better players.  Better players who were fully committed and ready to  compete from the opening whistle.  Hopefully Arsenal can replicate this mentality for the rest of the season, and end the ear-beatings about the trophy drought Arsenal supporters endure on a weekly basis.

The Good - The team as a whole played outstanding, they were intense focused and ready to play from the beginning & kudos to Wenger for having the team mentally prepared Saturday.

Santi Carzola had a great match.  This whole season Ive been half heartily telling myself "Santi's coming around, he's getting back to form", but now, with full conviction, I can honestly say, "Santi's coming around, he's getting back in form." Saturday his play reminded me of the player we relied upon so much last year, buzzing around creating opportunities, and setting up the 1st goal with a killer pass to Ozil.

Mesut Ozil, the man has been taking more hits than a Colorado pot head.  Saturday he showed all the haters his class by scoring the opener and dishing a wonderful dime to Giroud. Was there another player in the world who needed to have great game? I cant think of one, and the overly excited German's response to all the criticism was well timed.

The Ox once again set it off from jump street, flying around the pitch creating danger bullying players loosing the ball and getting it right back out muscling fools scratching clawing not staying down complaining not whining earning a PK, and most importantly, showing the drive and passion it takes to earn a victory.

The Not-So- Bad - Mikel Arteta had quite a few loose touches and passes for his high standards, and he was really becoming rattled during that little stretch before the penalty.  You could clearly see he was getting angry with himself, Everton players, and the ref's, which makes the fact that he could calmly make back to back PK's even more impressive.  Be honest how many of you could watch that 2nd PK?  I couldn't watch either, I know right.

The Ugly - Mark Clattenburg's John Terry haircut, and the decision to have the PK re-taking was ugly and uncalled for.  To me, its always going to look very suspicious if the ref makes that decision.  Why, in a well contested big game does the ref make that call on something that happens on all PK's?  Why would the ref choose to possibly decide the game at that moment? No coaches or players complained or asked for that call to be made.  That's because they and the ref know it happens every PK, it even happens right after the ref chooses to make that dumb-ass decision(Giroud does the exact same thing on the 2nd PK). Mark Clattenburg is an attention whore who loves putting his sticky hair gelled fingers all over the game, he loves everybody talking about Mark Clattenburg, why else would he make the most unnecessary match deciding decisions. 

Peace Out,
Blanco