Arsenal bow out of cup to Chelsea

Arsenal's lack of depth was evident as they faced a strong Chelsea side on Tuesday night. It was an extremely frustrating performance in which an individual error and then a great strike cost us a place in the next round of the League Cup. Two Spaniards, Azpilicueta and Juan Mata were on the score sheet for Chelsea as they comfortably beat us at the Emirates. Chelsea, having played Man City at the weekend were surely in a worse position to play us but they have great depth which allowed them to change their team around and still look good. Arsenal, however, was a different story. We were forced into making changes due to the fact that we have the likes of Liverpool and Man United coming up in the League.

Arsenal lost for the second time in a week with defeat to Chelsea

Overall I wasn't too fussed about the League Cup as we're top of the League. Losing to Chelsea is not a nice way to go out though, especially when we put in as bad a performance as we did. The first negative of many that I will pick up on was Nicklas Bendtner. I featured the Dane in an article back in September where it pointed out that he was willing to give everything for Arsenal this season. On last nights evidence though you wouldn't have thought that was the case. Against West Brom in the last round of the League Cup he wasn't brilliant but tucked away a penalty and then against Norwich when he came on in the League he had a pretty effective cameo performance. However this time around he was pretty awful and we were once again left questioning why he was still at the club. The reason is simple, because we didn't buy a striker in the summer. He had very little impact on the game and to be brutally honest it was like we were playing with 10 men for large periods of the game. In the second half when we were chasing the game he was eight yards out from goal and instead of shooting passed the ball away from goal. Whether this was due to a lack of confidence or not realising quite how much space he had, in that position against Chelsea, you just have to bury the chance.

I was willing to give Bendtner a chance last night but he failed to come up trumps and the need for a striker in January became even more evident. If Giroud gets injured then we really are stuck for ideas upfront. Park Ju Young even came on with 8 minutes to go, only his seventh appearance for the club after Wenger said he'd impressed in training but that didn't really fill the fans with excitement either.

The next negative is that of Carl Jenkinson. He made a mistake for the first goal which sparked absolutely fury. He has been ever improving since his arrival at the club and put in some fairly solid performances when Sagna has been injured. However his consistency is a major talking point and playing him alongside Ryo Miyaichi, a player I'll get onto a bit later, it was always going to cause problems against Chelsea. He looked very nervous, and questions were raised as to whether he was ready for proper first team action. Maybe a loan spell will do him good, but that would mean getting a right back on board to challenge Sagna who is long overdue a new contract with the club.

On to Ryo Miyaichi. He's been in and out of the first team this season following loan spells with other clubs in previous campaigns. At Wigan last season his opportunities to play were extremely limited due to injuries which have really hindered his development. However Wenger has praised his attitude to improve which should only mean he gets better. Against Chelsea he didn't really have the space needed for a fast winger to exploit and was often crowded out meaning he couldn't perform to his best. Against West Brom in the last round he was one of our better players always looking to get at a man and cause them problems. He just simply wasn't able to do that against better opposition last night though. One plus point to his game which I've picked up on is his ability to track back. When I've seen him play he's always got back and helped out the full back defensively, something that you don't always see in a winger.

The few positives that came from the game were the fact that Koscielny and Vermaelen had a solid game despite conceding 2 goals. Vermaelen looks to be re-discovering his form and hopefully that'll make him stay following a move with a link away from the club. Santi Cazorla having just come back from injury looks to have his touch back and looks in form whilst Nacho Monreal following a few sub appearances put in a decent shift at left back. He's very able competition for Gibbs. We now need a Monreal type signing at right back to provide Sagna with competition following Jenkinson's inconsistency.

It hasn't been a great start to our run of tough fixtures, losing to Dortmund, only just beating Palace and now losing to Chelsea. Liverpool is to come at the weekend, a top of the table clash which is absolutely must win. If we do win then this defeat can be quickly forgotten. However if we lose then the negative spiral will continue and the players confidence may well be hindered.

The teams lineups:

Arsenal: Fabianski, Jenkinson, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Monreal, Ramsey(82), Wilshere, Rosicky, Cazorla, Miyaichi(64), Bendtner(69). 
Subs: Viviano, Sagna, Hayden, Yennaris, Ozil(64), Park(82), Giroud(69).

Chelsea: Schwarzer, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Luiz, Bertrand, Essien, Mikel, De Bruyne, Mata(90), Willian, Eto'o(82).
Subs: Blackman, Ivanovic, Kalas(90), Ramires, Hazard, Torres, Ba(82).

My man of the match: Santi Cazorla.

Referee: Phil Dowd.
Attendance: 59,455.

Ryo scores in home town as Arsenal beat Nagoya

Arsenal travelled to Japan on Monday for the third game of their Asia Tour in which they played Nagoya Grampus. The match was a special occasion for two people involved within Arsenal. It marked Ryo Miyaichi returning to his home town to play for the first time since joining English football. Meanwhile it also saw the return of Arsene Wenger who managed the Japanese club for 18 months between 1995 and 1996 before joining Arsenal. He enjoyed a successful stint there in which he won the Emperor's Cup, The J-League Super Cup and also the J-League manager of the year in 95.

Ryo Miyaichi scored from the spot in his hometown

Nagoya are currently in the middle of their domestic season so they would provide the Gunners with a tougher test than Indonesia and Vietnam. However it didn't look like that as Arsenal got off to a flying start as Rosicky found Giroud who headed home for his sixth goal of the tour. Minutes later Ryo Miyaichi went wiskers wide with a chance from close range. The young forward was to then get an even better chance as Arteta handed him the ball when Arsenal were awarded a penalty. He then slammed the ball home for his first goal in the red and white of Arsenal. Ryo was one of the stand out performers of the game as he played the first half and proved to be very tricky down the left hand side. He's had trouble with injuries of late but finally looks to be showing his worth to Wenger.

Rosicky was another player who was playing well. He was showing signs of what he had done in the run in last campaign as he slipped in Walcott who's shot was saved.

Minutes before the break Nagoya had a great opportunity to get themselves back into the game as Tulio Tanaka found Ogawa but he scuffed his shot.

The home side started well after the break creating two opportunities in quick succession as a corner was headed wide and then a cross was well claimed by Fabianski at the feet of Fujimoto.

The second half gave us the opportunity to see another one our young wingers. Serge Gnabry once again showed his talent as he tricked his way past two players before firing wide of the far post.

It was soon 3-0 Arsenal. 16 year old Gedion Zelalem played an outstanding through ball which split the defence and found Walcott who then beat the keeper. The early comparisons between Zelalem and Fabregas are evident. His vision is incredible.

Walcott then turned provider as he picked out Gibbs at the back post but he could only find the side netting.

Wilshere had the next chance as Walcott was the provider once more but the keeper came out well and stopped the shot.

The hosts did get themselves on the scoresheet though. Hayuma Tanaka played a great ball in which found Kisho Yano unmarked in the box to head past Fabianski.

Zelalem then once more showed his terrific vision to slip in Akpom but his finish was poor and it went wide. Chuks Aneke was also involved in the build-up as he finally got a chance in his preferred advanced role. Something that I had picked up on in the game against Vietnam.

Our final game of the Asia Tour is on Friday against Urawa Red Diamonds. 

The final score finished Nagoya 1-3 Arsenal. 

Arsenal: Fabianski, Jenkinson, Sagna, Mertesacker, Gibbs(59), Rosicky(45), Arteta(45), Ramsey(69), Miyaichi(45), Walcott(69), Giroud(45). 
Subs Used: Miquel(59), Wilshere(45), Aneke(69), Zelalem(45), Gnabry(45), Podolski(45), Akpom(69).
Unused Subs: Martinez, Olsson, Eisfeld, Oxlade-Chamberlain.