I think it was certainly our best performance of the season but up there and very much up there best overall in recent years - mainly because of how balanced the team was. I don't accept that Man City didn't turn up and that's all it was. They're a team flooded with excellent players. And Nasri. And it was a big game for them. Arsenal's midfield and defence were so strong that they hardly had a look in. They were definitely a little cautious but they have conceded the least no. of goals in the league and are generally very good and keeping teams out - so were playing to their strengths. It's not often that everyone does their jobs - the goalkeeper and defence did their jobs and intercepted the ball as soon as it came never them, the midfield kept control well and the attack were very unlucky not to score (Van Persie could easily have had 2 goals but luck wasn't on his side).
You could level the 'opposition didn't turn up' argument whenever you beat any team better than you. Did Barca play anywhere near their best in the second half versus us? Of course not. In the first half, we were lucky they didn't demolish us. The Chelsea game this season involved too many defensive mistakes for my liking. The Tottenham game is also up there because I reckon we were very unlucky to be 0-2 down...although they were able to cut us up early on. So in terms of balanced performances, this one is the best to my memory (over the last couple of years or so). It probably narrows it down that we don't often win big games (against better teams) so there's not a lot to choose from.
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Originally Posted by Syn
