Marseille: Solid

Well I seem to be in the minority here in thinking that our performance against Marseille was unspectacular. There were flashes of excellence but in my opinion it was a competent victory at best. Ozil missed penalty aside (for the moment) I thought we were sloppy across the midfield and although stats seem to disagree with me, a few big timers from this year disappointed.

However, our opponents still made us look a bit 1970's Brazil in comparison with what they had to offer. It was a grey, drab and turgid display from the French side who genuinely showed up to get beaten. It made leaving their star players Valbuena and Thauvin (who seems a good prospect but a nasty fella) on the bench plain illogical; surely you either play them for a bit of pride or leave them at home to chill for a few hours? Anyway, they really were a poor advert for European football, in particular due to the fact that they come from one of UEFA's stronger nations.

We started badly. Ramsey gave the ball away from the kick off. Then we did better. We won it back, Sagna played one pass which cut through the Marseille back line, Wilshere picked up the ball and, well, scored. Yes Marseille made it kind of simple for him but the way he looked up, cut back and just lifted the ball beyond Steve Mandanda was Pires-esque. He made it all look ever so easy.

Then, in a manner fearfully reminiscent of the opening day of the season, we got cocky. Having established the status quo within the first minute, people started making silly errors. Ramsey should have buried a chance and instead shot at Mandanda, Ozil failed to control a wonderful scooped ball from the Welshman when through on goal and all our midfielders gifted possesion to Marseille. Had we been facing an opponent with better ball retention, we could easily have conceded. The only saving grace for me was our uber-solid defence. And the Marseille manager's ridiculous ski-wear themed attire. On the former, special mention to Nacho Monreal who despite well documented frustration at a lack of proper playing time, came in and did a first rate job down the left. I was mightily impressed. I still love Gibbo though.

When we won a penalty, it came almost as a relief. We were clearly the better side but were having difficulty finishing off moves. For the record, I think it was an incorrect decision. The foul on Ramsey came outside the box but the mistake was marginal and his little flick deserved something.

As Mesut Ozil stepped up to take it, he did not for one minute look as if he was about to score like a striker brimming with form and confidence may have. Perhaps it was those eyes. Actually it wasn't. It was the way he stuttered like Musharaf in his run up, leaving himself very little backlift with which to strike the ball. He proceded to pass it towards the goalmouth and Mandanda saved easily. It was an insipid spot kick and he looks short of something at the moment. Not that I'm heavily criticising; he's world class and that will shine through at some point.

In the second half we were improved. Ozil for example upped his game to an acceptable level. However we still lacked the second goal. There was a sense that the football Gods may punish our lack of ruthlessness with a skiddy own goal or something so when we did knock in a second, it was very soothing. Jack Wilshere tapped in after good approach play and it was just what we needed after Valbuena and Thauvin's respective introductions to the game had significantly improved Marseille going forward.

Although the second goal made things safe, it was nice to have the options of Cazorla and Walcott to bring on late from the bench. They both stretched Marseille and if the lead had remained at one goal or we'd suffered a freak sending off, this could have been invaluable as neither of them are or ever will be Nicklas Bendtner.

Overall, I found myself upset but not worried that we scored only two goals when so many more were possible. Although I like the 'play ok but still win' Arsenal of the last couple of games, it would be great if we could see some real form going into another sticky run of fixtures. And with Cardiff and Hull our next two fixtures, there's a high probability of that happening. We face the Redbirds/Robin Blue Breasts on Saturday in Wales. We'll speak again then. Farewell.