Determined opposition take advantage of an insipid display.

Ipswich Town are 19^th in the Championship so perhaps, in the cold light of day, their committed display in last night’s semi-final first leg will frustrate their fans as much as our no show will frustrate ours. Still, there can be no doubt who were the happiest set of supporters leaving Portman Road last night.

Tamas Priskin sealed the win in the 78^th minute after another long ball from Ipswich’s comparatively limited side brought about a predictable misjudgement from our centre back pairing. The former Watford striker broke clear and slotted the ball past Wojciech Szczesny with the kind of finish that had eluded us all evening.

Both Theo Walcott and Cesc Fabregas were guilty of glaring misses but sloppy passing in the final third meant we failed to create as many clear cut chances as our possession stats would have suggested. It is easy to find a scapegoat on the pitch when perhaps those selecting the players should be held most accountable but Denilson stood out as someone who could not care less. In his rare interviews the Brazilian says the right things but his passing was sloppy and his desire to track back pathetic. All too often he disappears in matches and occasionally he will throw in a diabolical performance, Wolfsburg were rumoured to be lining up an £11 million bid but maybe that was just wishful thinking.  

After the match Arsene Wenger explained that we had dominated possession and that their goal was ‘just’ on the counter attack, as if it is a tactic he is not prepared to acknowledge as a worthwhile way of playing the game. He also threw in the ‘fatigue’ excuse which given the rotation he has been able to use in the last few games is laughable, particularly when compared to Ipswich’s threadbare side which took a demoralising beating only 3 days before.

Wenger’s excuses are beginning to become tiresome but the reality is that if we do not lift a trophy this season there will be no excuses. We are joined in the last four of the Carling Cup by three struggling sides, arguably the strongest of which we beat 3-0 away only 2 weeks ago. If we do not win at Wembley the manager will have a lot to answer for as he has been given the opportunity to end the club’s infamous trophy drought on a plate.

Inconsistency is the most irritating trait of this Arsenal side and if it doesn’t end soon then Arsene Wenger will begin his slide to the exit door. However, there have been signs that we are capable of turning the corner this season so now is not the time to pass final judgements. We have the opportunity to put in a performance of intent in the return leg and, after the result in the first leg, the atmosphere at the Grove will make it very hard for the team to continue with their complacent approach.

Photo: Action Images

Arsenal Polls