Campbell Continues To Show He Is Arsenal Quality

Match Review: Arsenal 3 Sunderland 1 - FA Cup 09.01.2016

Job done. Saturday’s third round win wasn’t completely comfortable, but a rotated team got the job done. Despite some defensive wobbles, the players that came in stepped up and put in a pretty decent performance to kick off our challenge for a third consecutive FA Cup.

With away games at Liverpool and Stoke within the next week, Wenger made a host of changes, but also kept a good balance with the first team regulars. Gabriel, Gibbs, Chambers, Iwobi and Campbell all came into the team, with Özil, Mertesacker and Flamini all missing from the squad and Ramsey and Monreal on the bench. This meant a midfield pairing of Chamberlain and Chambers, while Iwobi took Özil’s more advanced role. There was also no sign of David Ospina, which indicates he’s either injured or on his way out of the club. Matt Macey was the back up keeper, with Reine-Adelaide and Willock both hoping for a chance to show their potential.

Initially, we started positively, with Chamberlain, Giroud and Gibbs all somehow ignoring a wide open Walcott, before Gibbs forced a save from young keeper Jordan Pickford. We looked to be settling down fairly nicely until a horrendous mistake gave the visitors a shock lead. Koscielny was the guilty party, picking up the ball after Gibbs had won it, only to get the ball stuck in his feet and end up up being robbed by Lens. The Sunderland forward quickly moved into the area and slammed the ball beyond Cech. Koscielny has been and still is one of the best centre backs in the league, but recently he’s been making some really uncharacteristic and costly mistakes. Maybe he needs a rest or a kick up the arse, but he certainly isn’t his usual dependable self at the moment.

Fortunately the team responded well and less than ten minutes later we were level, with a well worked goal. Iwobi played Walcott in down the left and he cut the ball back across the six yard box for Joel Campbell. The Costa Rican showed excellent touch and skill to guide the bouncing ball perfectly into the corner, giving the keeper no chance. Another great contribution from Campbell who is really starting to show he’s got the quality to succeed at this level.

Sunderland spent most of the second period pinned in their own half as we had all the possession and looked the much more dangerous team. Iwobi looked lively and seemed to be relishing his role in the first team having waited a long time for a proper chance. Chamberlain also looked better than he has in recent games and was unlucky not to give us the lead as he hit the post from twenty-five yards. We still looked a little vulnerable at the back though, as Steven Fletcher beat Gabriel to power a header against the bar. However, Sunderland attacks got less and less frequent and the introduction of Aaron Ramsey made the difference.

The goal was excellently constructed, culminating in a burst of speed. Bellerin played a one-two with Campbell, racing onto the return and cutting the ball back for Aaron Ramsey to convert a simple chance. Campbell’s through ball to Bellerin was excellent, first time and perfectly weighted for the right back to use his pace and burn the Sunderland defence. Just three minutes later, he was the provider again, benefitting from an excellent ball from Chamberlain that found him plenty of space down the right. This time it was less about speed, more excellent technique as the right back threaded a superb pass through four Sunderland defenders for Giroud to tap home.

There was still time for the referee to deny us a stonewall penalty when Giroud was taken out in the box, but it didn’t matter hugely. The important thing was getting through without too many problems and resting some senior players. In that sense, it was a job well done and it also had the added benefit of allowing some fringe players a chance to impress. Gibbs and Chamberlain both put in solid performances having been in terrible form recently and Gabriel also put in another solid showing. But Alex Iwobi will probably be happiest, having had a chance to show exactly why Wenger likes him so much. He’s clearly very talented and while still raw and inexperienced, he’ll be happy with the way he performed. Now the team will be hoping for a favourable draw before turning their attention to Wednesday’s clash with Liverpool.

Teams

Arsenal (4-2-3-1)
Cech, Bellerin, Gabriel (Y), Koscielny, Gibbs, Chambers (Arteta 67’), Chamberlain, Campbell (Reine-Adelaide 81’), Iwobi (Ramsey 67’), Walcott, Giroud
Subs
Macey, Debuchy, Monreal, Reine-Adelaide, Willock, Arteta, Ramsey

Sunderland (4-5-1)
Pickford, Yedlin, Coates, O’Shea (Jones 65’), van Aanholt, Cattermole (M’Vila 57’), Toivonen, Watmore, Graham, Lens, Fletcher (Mavrias 76’)
Subs
Mannone, Jones, Borini, M’Vila, Defoe, Mavrias, Beadling

Player Ratings

Cech - 7/10 - Made one good save, no chance with their goal
Bellerin - 9/10 - Excellent and ultimately helped settle the game with his assists
Koscielny - 6/10 - Made a very basic error for their goal
Gabriel - 7/10 - Another solid outing
Gibbs - 7/10 - Not spectacular, but steady in a way he hasn’t been for months
Chambers - 7/10 - In a makeshift partnership he held his own
Chamberlain - 7/10 - Under scrutiny and pressure at the moment, but played well
Walcott - 7/10 - Solid showing, but will be hoping for more impact at Liverpool
Iwobi - 7/10 - Valuable experience for a player with much more to show us
Campbell - 8/10 - Continues to show why Wenger always believed in him
Giroud - 7/10 - Got his goal and also should have had a clear penalty
Subs
Ramsey - 8/10 - Changed the game when and got the goal he’s been desperate for
Arteta - 7/10 - Good to see him back, a sign that the injury crisis is hopefully abating
Reine-Adelaide - N/A - Hopefully not the last time we see the Jeff this season

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