1 – 0 McFadden (2
1 – 1 Walcott (50)
1 – 2 Walcott (55)
2 – 2 McFadden (90 pen)

Sent Off: Taylor (2)

The terrible injury suffered by Eduardo overshadows the match and the result. My thoughts are with him and his family and wish him a full recovery. Speedy does not come into; just a full recovery.

The tackle was simply horrific; it was high and late. Alex McLeish claimed it was not high, landing on the ankle. If he believes it was not high, then he should look at the photos again; it was over the top of the ball, onto his shin and ended at the ankle. There can be no excuses for it, no dismissing it as a ‘getting to know you challenge’. Quite simply that does not wash.

The television coverage has been shabbily sensationalist. Sky’s sanctimonious refusal to show replays because the player was hurt yet they have no reticence about replaying dangerous tackles over and over again in other games. Should the defining element of such decisions be about an injury suffered? Possibly but do not try to pass it off as being a caring broadcaster.

That as much time has been spent ‘analysing’ William Gallas’ reaction speaks volumes. Arsene said afterwards,

William did not kick anyone in the whole game. Tomorrow it will come out that William was crazy and Taylor gets away with it

He was half right. Patrick Barclay in The Telegraph does not let him off the hook although the attempt to compare Flamini’s challenge on Nani at Old Trafford with Taylor’s assault is vacuous at best. The News of the World does its best to prove Arsene right with a headline of ‘Gallas Goes Ga-Ga’. Match of the Day joined in and all sought to prove their theory that the pressure of the title challenge was getting to Arsenal.

In doing so, they missed the point. Gallas had witnessed a horrific injury to a colleague on the pitch, seeing the damage inflicted at first hand. If the reactions of Fabregas, Hleb and Adebayor were anything to go by, shock will have impacted on them all. To have turned the match around in difficult circumstances to then have it taken away through a combination of a lapse in concentration and another poor refereeing decision, little wonder that Gallas exploded in emotion. You or I might believe we would not have reacted in the same manner. Quite possibly that is true but until you are in those circumstances, how would we know?

In the circumstances, focussing on the match is difficult. Theo Walcott’s brace on another day might well have been viewed as a coming of age; he took his chances well. Were it not for some lax finishing, Adebayor might have had a hat-trick to celebrate. He is being chastised for not squaring to Bendtner to score what would have been a decisive third but such criticism is easy from the comfort of the press box or studio. Did he look up to see the Dane? I don’t think so but in the media’s and blogosphere, it is more indicative of their relationship still being soured.

Referees come in for some harsh criticism. Mike Dean deserves a welter; he was spot on with red card, being called a ‘brave’ decision. Why? It was a dangerous tackle and it should not matter whether it is in the first or last minute. He got plenty of the rest wrong. Had Arsenal snatched a point through the award of the freekick for Birmingham’s opener or the penalty award, it would have been ‘more bias from officials towards the big four’. They were shockingly soft decisions to give. Clichy clearly took the ball first for the penalty; little wonder Gallas was upset by it. The outcome of the match is summed up by the team having twenty-three efforts on goal and scoring twice. Birmingham had four yet managed the same return.

At the end of the day though, the team are three points clear at the top with a home game against Aston Villa next weekend. They have the week to clear their heads and to recover their composure in readiness for bigger matches in the next month.

‘til Tomorrow.