Arsenal Lose Plot, Lose Match Against Shaktar

Displaying a lack of killer instinct as well as an element of let's say, insouciance, Arsenal gave up a 2-goal lead to lose 2-1 away at Shaktar Donetsk. Adding insult to injury the winning goalscorer was noone else but little Eduardo, who Wenger had judged too crocked to continue at Emirates. Arsenal were missing key starters, but that is little excuse for this outcome.

Shaktar started the game with high intensity and put the Arsenal goal under some pressure early on. However, Arsenal fought their way into the game and scored a brilliant goal on a lightning counter-attack combo from Wilshere and Walcott. Young Wilshere commandeered the ball in our defensive third, took a touch wide when he looked up to see Theo Walcott racing up the touchline against a solo defender. Wilshere hit a beautifully weighted and located pass over the defender, allowing Walcott to catch the ball in stride, dribble into the box and shoot past the Shaktar goalkeeper.

Walcott of course, has been showing vast improvements in his game and this strike was excellent. He had enough time and space to bring the ball closer, but he looked up and saw the angle for the far post and had the cockiness and calmness to shoot from distance. It was a strike reminiscent of Thierry Henry, for those who care to make the comparison.

And that was about the end of the highlights, unless you were cheering for ex-Gunner Eduardo. After taking the lead, the Gunners went into the tank. They stopped challenging, they stopped winning balls out of the air. Gael Clichy - who continues the baffling inconsistency in his game from last season - epitomized the Gunners effort when he eschewed an easy clearance upfield, allowing Srna to disposess the ball and waltz into the box before gift-wrapping a pass to Eduardo for the easiest of goals.

Coach Wenger accused his team of complacency and I say that's a fair, if restrained, assessment. Look, champions don't lose these types of games, against weaker opponents. That is a major difference between us and Chelsea.

There were two bright spots on the field for the Gunners, Jack Wilshere and Fabianski. In this match, Jack looked like a first-teamer slumming with the reserves team. He ran hard, challenged, tackled and was the lone bright spot going forward. This kid is the future of Arsenal. Fabianski had another solid effort in goal for Arsenal. He stopped a number of good Shaktar efforts and most importantly, he patrolled and protected the box like a man.

The loss leaves us tied with Shaktar on points at the top of Group H with a match coming up Nov. 23rd in Portugal against Braga. Hopefully, they'll have shed the complacency, as well as got a few of the boys back.

Oh, and Bert Van Marwijk is a wanker.