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After taking a look at Arsenal’s best games of 2012, here is a list of the Gunners worst games of 2012!
10. Queen’s Park Rangers 2-1 Arsenal, Premier League, Loftus Road, 31st March 2012
(QPR- Taraabt 22, Diakite 66; Arsenal- Walcott 37)
After going on a 7 game winning striker, beating the likes of Tottenham, Liverpool and Newcastle on the way, QPR released all the steam that Arsenal had with a determined performance at Loftus Road. Adel Taraabt hoodwinked Thomas Vermaelen to open the scoring, before Theo Walcott netted in front of an empty net, after his initial shot rebounded off the post. QPR maintained good pressure, and Samba Diakite scored the second goal, to seal 3 points against a lacklustre Arsenal.
9. Swansea City 3-2 Arsenal, Premier League, Liberty Stadium, 15th January 2012
(Swansea- Sinclair (pen)16, Dyer 57, Graham 70; Arsenal- van Persie 5, Walcott 69)
Swansea completely outplayed the Gunners in Wales. Joe Allen and Leon Britton ran the show in midfield. Arsenal took an early lead in the 5th minute through Robin van Persie. Scott Sinclair equalized 10 minutes later from the spot. Nathan Dyer scored a fine goal after half-time. Theo Walcott equalized when he was sent through. But, within no time, Gylfi Sigurdsson set up Danny Graham for the winner.
8. Arsenal 0-2 Swansea City, Premier League, Emirates Stadium, 1st December 2012
(Swansea - Michu 88, 91)
Arsenal suffered the 4th defeat of the season with an insipid performance. Arsenal were poor in the first half, as the Swans managed to control large parts of the game. Arsenal came out with more intent in the second half, but lacked the cutting edge to score. When they came close, Gerrhard Tremmel denied them. In the 88th minute, Spanish striker Michu, after playing a 1-2 with Luke Moore, found himself free of the Arsenal defence and tapped home the opener. And the win was sealed in injury time, when Jenkinson’s poor backpass again fell to the path of Michu.
7. Fulham 2-1 Arsenal, Premier League, Craven Cottage, 2nd January 2012
(Fulham- Sidwell 85, Zamora 90+2?; Arsenal- Koscielny 21)
Fulham dealt a late punch to Arsenal, on a cold night in January. Arsenal took the lead through a Koscielny header, and managed to keep the lead well, and maintained some good pressure for the rest of the half. The second half, however, was a different ball game, as Fulham constantly pressurised the makeshift Arsenal defence. With Djourou and Coquelin playing as full-backs, Fulham created many chances on goal. Djourou got sent off harshly, and former Arsenal midfielder Steve Sidwell equalized for the Cottagers. Deep into injury time, Zamora scored the winner.
6. Manchester United 2-1 Arsenal, Premier League, Old Trafford, 3rd November 2012
(Manchester United - van Persie 3, Evra 67; Arsenal - Cazorla 94)
In a match that was billed to be a chance for Arsenal to prove to Dutch traitor Robin van Persie, that they were still a force to be reckoned with, the Gunners came woefully short of any sort of desire or intent to win the game. They were put on the backfoot in just the 3rd minute, when van Persie capitalised on a Vermaelen mistake to score the opening goal. Arsenal lacked any sort of creativity, and Manchester United should have doubled the lead, but Wayne Rooney scuffed his penalty. Patrice Evra, of all people, made it 2-0, before Jack Wilshere was sent off seconds later. Arsenal finished with a bit of a flourish, as Cazorla scored late on, but it was a terribly uninspiring performance. The match was also overshadowed by the infamous Andre Santos shirt incident.
5. Norwich City 1-0 Arsenal, Premier League, Carrow Road, 20th October 2012
(Norwich - Holt 19)
One of the most terrible performances from an Arsenal side I have seen. Norwich had almost their entire squad at home during the international break, while Arsenal had almost the entire squad on international duty. But, that was no reason for a poor performance, against a struggling Norwich, who outfought and outran the Gunners. Grant Holt made most of a Mannone fumble to poke home the opener, and it took the Gunners 85 minutes to force John Ruddy into a save.
4. Arsenal 0-2 Schalke, Champions League Group Stage, 24th October 2012
(Schalke - Huntelaar 76, Afellay 86)
Arsenal produced another terrible performance, just days after the Norwich shocker, this time at home to German side Schalke. Schalke looked more dangerous throughout the game and came close to scoring on several occasions. They finally got their reward in the 76th minute, when Huntelaar beat the offside trap to score past Mannone. 10 minutes later, more calamitous defending resulted in Schalke’s second goal, scored by Ibrahim Afellay, off a cross on the right from Jefferson Farfan. What was more shambolic, was that it took Arsenal precisely 92 minutes and 49 seconds to register their first shot on target, which came from 17 year old substitute Serge Gnabry.
3. Sunderland 2-0 Arsenal, FA Cup 5th Round, Stadium of Light, 18th February 2012
(Sunderland- Richardson 40, Oxlade-Chamberlain (O.G)78)
Having been trounced in Italy 3 days earlier, a weary Arsenal were well beaten by Sunderland, on a tractor pitch in the FA Cup. Sunderland took the lead through a deflected shot by Kieran Richardson. Despite some brief response from the Gunners, Sunderland sealed the win after Larsson’s shot was turned in, rather unfortunately by the impressive Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, into his own net.
2. AC Milan 4-0 Arsenal, Champions League Round of 16 1st Leg, San Siro, 15th February 2012
(AC Milan- Boateng 15, Robinho 39,49, Ibrahimovic (pen)79)
Arsenal were well and truely beaten by the Italian giants, AC Milan, on a pitch tailor made to suit their needs, and to disrupt Arsenal’s strengths. However, the Gunners didn’t have any cause for complaint as they were meted out an Ibrahimovic master-class. Milan took the lead, through Ghanian Kevin Prince Boateng, who unleashed a thunderbolt past Szczesny. Ibrahimovic then set up Robinho twice, before completing the rout himself by winning and converting a penalty.
1. Bradford City 1 (3) – 1 (2) Arsenal, Capitol One Cup Quarter Final, Valley Parade, 11 December 2012
(Bradford - Thompson 16; Arsenal - Vermaelen 88)
Arsenal were knocked out of the Capital One Cup in humiliating fashion by League Two outfit Bradford. The Bantams truly deserved the result for the enormous effort they put in over the course of 120 minutes. On a questionable pitch, and an extremely cold night, Bradford set about hassling their esteemed opponents, and scored the opening goal on 16 minutes, thanks to school boy marking from Arsenal. Arsenal huffed and puffed, but barely troubled a well drilled Bradford. There was no creativity, incisiveness and certainly no inspiration. Arsenal got their equalizer on 88 minutes, when Vermaelen headed in a Cazorla cross. Arsenal came close to scoring in extra time, but the post came to Bradford’s rescue. The post helped them secure passage into the semi-finals as well, when Vermaelen konked his decisive spot kick on to the post.
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