Arsenal 1-1 Reds - Part Two

Two very different line ups but an almost identical game and an identical scoreline. We played better today than we did on Wednesday if I'm honest. In fact our first half lead was deserved but on the balance of play with Arsenal dominating most of the second half this seemed a fair result.

I've lost patience with Andriy Voronin. He has been out for a while and is only just returning to the team but dear god he missed a sitter today and in general looks off the pace and really just not up to the task at the very highest level. He missed sitters like this earlier in the season as well.

We should cut are losses (as much as he needs to cut his hair) and get rid at the end of the season. He cost us nothing so we'll hopefully make a few bob on him but the word on the street is that he's settled in to the city and has bought a house in the area. Houses are sold just as easily as they're bought but this would suggest that he's been told he has a future at the club. But why?

Anyway back to the game and great to see young Damien Plessis get a run out. I've watched the French youngster for the reserves a couple of times and he looks good in the tackle and composed with his passing.

This was all in evidence today and he definitely didn't let the magnitude of the game get to him at all. The performances of him and Emiliano Insua towards the back end of last season has offered us the first taste of Rafa's worldwide recruitment policy and it's looking pretty good so far without going overboard.

Peter Crouch needs to take every opportunity he can get to prove his worth and did so today with a good performance and an excellent goal.

Indeed most who played today needed to take their opportunities given that our team has been so settled of late and so it was good to see Steve Finnan slot effortlessly back into full back and Lucas Leiva give another good account of himself in centre midfield.

The result, whilst a good one for us and definitely not what Arsenal needed, should have little bearing on Tuesdays match and it's outcome given that the two sides will be changed, it's a different stadium, a different atmosphere (a lot louder for starters!) and there is a lot more at stake.