Arsenal’s missed opportunity

BOTH Arsene Wenger and Theo Walcott have been at pains to insist this week that Arsenal are not a one-man team but with Robin van Persie left on the bench against Marseille, there was a lack of inspiration as they were held to a disappointing draw at the Emirates.

The result should not do major damage to Arsenal’s chances of reaching the knockout stages (they top Group F with two games to go, a point ahead of Marseille and four clear of Dortmund) and perhaps a clean sheet after Saturday’s 5-3 victory at Chelsea was just what the doctor ordered.

But with van Persie controversially given a rest until the 62nd minute there was a lack of cutting edge to Wenger’s side that may worry the Frenchman as the season reaches a climax next year; and he must also accept this was a missed opportunity because victory would have guaranteed an early place in the last 16.

Asked if he was frustrated at not being able to qualify last night, Theo Walcott said: “Of course, we had the home support, we need to be winning our home matches, but we were solid at the back, we managed to keep a clean sheet, but our strikers didn’t manage to get it in the net this time.

“But it’s a point and all we can do is look forward to the weekend now.

“Saturday did take a lot out of us but we know what to expect in the Champions League. They’re a very strong team, we found it quite tough out there as well.”

After the drama of Stamford Bridge, there was a real sense of returning to earth in north London, even though Marseille looked a tidy and pacy team.

Perhaps by resting van Persie, Wenger made that inevitable but even so this was a very different Arsenal to the one that went hell for leather in west London only a few days earlier. So perhaps it’s a decision he will rue.

Marseille had the upper hand in the opening stages, at least until Walcott forced goalkeeper Steve Mandanda into a sprawling save in the 10th minute and the ever-energetic Aaron Ramsey wasted an excellent opportunity at the far post soon after.

The pace of the home team’s passing did not match the heights of Stamford Bridge and at times it was careless as Loic Remy fired narrowly past the post for Marseille. But they should have gone into the break a goal head when Ramsey found himself through on goal but hesitated and allowed impressive Nicolas N’Koulou to block his shot.

Gervinho, too, wasted good opportunities and you wonder who would take on van Persie’s mantle for Arsenal if the Dutchman, a victim of injuries so often in the past, were to miss too many games in the coming months.

Perhaps that is being too negative, however. There were at least signs here of more solidity in defence with the return of Vermaelen from injury.

But even so it was uninspiring for Arsenal’s home support, whose adrenalin was still pumping from an eight-goal thriller at the weekend.

The second half was even more pedestrian than the first, lifted only by the eventual arrival of van Persie after 62 minutes and of Andrey Arshavin 15 minutes later.

But even then Arsenal struggled to create opportunities and van Persie’s chip, easily gathered by Mandanda, was their only real effort of note — while Marseille’s Morgan Amalfitano had two chances to score on the break but failed to punish Wenger’s side.

Wenger won’t feel too disappointed with a clean sheet — only Arsenal’s third at home in all competitions this season. And at least he now has his first-choice centre-back partnership of Meretesacker and Vermaelen together.

“I thought our partnership was okay,” said Vermaelen, who was solid on his return. “We had to work hard for a point. In the second half we had moments when we dominated but unfortunately we couldn’t score. But the most important thing is we didn’t concede a goal. It’s good for the team.”

That may be true. But Arsenal know they will need to be much better than this to achieve any of their aims this season — and they certainly can’t afford to leave out van Persie too often.

ARSENAL: Szczesny 7, Jenkinson 5, Mertesacker 6, Vermaelen 7, Andre Santos 6, Song 6, Arteta 6, Walcott 7, Ramsey 7 (Rosicky 66) , Gervinho 7 (Arshavin 77), Park 6 (Van Persie 62).

MARSEILLE: Mandanda 6, Fanni 7, Diarra 6, N’Koulou 7, Morel 6, Diawara 7, Andre Ayew 6, Valbuena 7 (Gonzalez 74; 6), Cheyrou 6, Jordan Ayew 6 (Gignac 84), Remy 7 (Amalfitano 68; 6).

Referee: Paolo Tagliavento (Italy)