Let me start off by patting myself on the back for an accurate team prediction, though it did not require me to be Nostradamus considering our lack of options because of injury 
. There are several good match reports and player ratings out there in blog world, so I will not attempt to create another one. Here though, are some random thoughts on the match.
1. Bendtner through the right and RVP through the center – this still evokes a lot of comment among gooner followers. I had said this in one of my previous blogs.
“The other quirk we have noticed in pre-season is Wenger playing RVP down the middle and Bendtner on the right. I feel Wenger is doing this because (a) Bendtner is better in running at people than RVP and (b) RVP is a better player with his back to the goal and has the ability to release a tasty pass every now and then. RVP is a explosive player – with his back to the goal, I expect him to score a few where he traps, shields the ball, turns the defender with a cute trick and fires a howitzer into the top corner. However, he does not have either great pace or a great physical stature to play well if he gets isolated. Wenger believes that the likes of Arshavin and Walcott won’t let him get isolated. Chamakh on the other hand would be able to handle a 4-5-1 much better than anyone else in our team.“
One other potential reason why Bendy is being played out on the flanks could be his height. In spite of what media might say, the long ball up front has always been an Arsenal variation (a Plan B as some may call it). Usually it is played in to the tall man up front, as it was with Adebeyor. But Wenger possibly feels that it may be more effective against a full back. Why? Two reasons – fullbacks are are usually shorter and less commanding in the air; the striker often needs to contend against only 1 full back as opposed to 2 central defenders.
2. The team spirit looks great! Cesc actually looked like a captain – I don’t know what has changed, but Cesc was actually directing operations and it has been a long time since I have seen someone from Arsenal doing that with authority. Also, everyone in the team seems to like Eboue – did you notice how he was encouraging the players when they came back on for the second half
2. How hard did we press Everton? How long has it been since we continuously defended from the front for an entire match?All the pundits say Everton were poor, but they played pretty well till the first 30 mins – we broke their will, waited for them to disintegrate with that great first goal and then tore them apart.
3. We still need either a defensive midfielder or a center-half or (hopefully but unlikely) both.
5. Looks there is going to be a lot of competition for bench spots when everyone is fit. Assuming today’s starting 11, how are you going to pick from Djourou, Silverstre, <new CB>, Eboue, Gibbs, Traore, Nasri, Rosicky, Diaby, Ramsey, Merida, <new DM>, Wilshere, Walcott, Vela, Eduardo, <Chamakh>. That is 6 positions for 16 players or 13 for 6 even with no new signings.
Vox Populi