Let’s be honest, after a faultless Champions League qualifying campaign where Arsenal won every match with the minimum of fuss, each and every Arsenal supporter, myself included, fully expected the Gunners to return home to North London from North-Rhine Westphalia with a comfortable win under their belt. But football is never that simple – and that is its overriding attraction even if it also gives us the yips.
Arteta made 10 changes from the FA Cup trip to Mansfield where all our key players had had a nice rest, so therefore it should follow that they’d be refreshed and sharp and ready to turn on the style in the Bayarena.
It seemed so obvious to me. On the bench we had the welcomed return of the sorely missed Ben White, there was also Kai Havertz returning home for the first time since he left Germany and Max Dowman on the cusp of becoming the youngest player in CL history.
The match referee from Turkey was officiating in his first Champions League tie, apparently he’s one of the best referees from Anotolia and from the start he made it clear that he wasn’t going to mess about. With barely 2 minutes gone Gyokeres spun his marker Andrich, the Leverkusen skipper, and was just unceremoniously hauled down, the referee spectacularly flourished the yellow card. I thought to myself that in England Gyokeres probably wouldn’t have even got a free kick let alone the perpetrator getting booked so I was cautiously optimistic. That optimism lasted roughly another two minutes when Gyokeres again beat the lumbering Andrich who then cynically body checked Viktor leaving him flat on the ground. It seemed a worse foul than the first but the referee suddenly became very shy about his cards. That wouldn’t last.
Leverkusen going down to 10 men would have totally changed the game and the end result but that’s the way the cookie crumbles, or as the locals say ‘So zerbrockeit der Keks’. Leverkusen continued to go for it which was very refreshing and encouraged me to think that this was going to be an end-to-end contest. Raya made a couple of saves following Bayer attacks but as the game ticked over the 15 minute mark the Gunners began to dominate and look dangerous.
A flowing move on 19 saw Timber, Eze, Saka and Gyokeres combine to set up Martinelli who looked certain to add to his 6 Champions League goals but his rasping shot hit the crossbar and went to safety. He probably needed to score that goal.
Bayer were very good at stretching the game by using the full width of the pitch, it led to a few counter attacking situations which had Saliba and Gabriel at their limits. A few pulled shirts and a Saliba yeillow card followed, it was worrying. Also I felt that some of the Bayer challenges were borderline yellow cards but the referee didn’t agree. I also thought that several Bayer players hit the floor with very little contact in a very dramatic fashion. We needed a strong, competent referee and I wasn’t overly confident that we had that guy, he was too unpredictable and I worried that we might actually get the red card.
I have no idea when it happened but Bayer seemed to make some tactical changes and fell into a deep block around 25 minutes, leaving their very physical centre forward chasing every lost cause. From then on the snappy passing and smart movement from Arsenal, in particular, just upped and left. The accuracy of pass began to disappear and the game became more sterile as Arsenal probed unsuccessfully on the flanks and nothing of note came through the middle. Whilst Bayer relied on transitions and their big burly striker.
H/T 0-0
Arsenal were mentally it seemed, still in the dressing room when the restart began. Bayer went for it from the kick off and Raya made a great save tipping a header over the bar. From the resulting corner our nemesis Andrich lost his marker and was completely unmarked on the far post as the cross zoomed into the box and as he headed home, the Bayarena went bananas. That was in the 46th minute, from then on Bayer just fell into their low block and Arsenal couldn’t find the answer, it was a frustrating half of football. There were a few more mysterious decisions from the referee and the game became predictable and a little boring.
I’m not sure if he was carrying a knock or had picked one up earlier in the game but I couldn’t remember Saka ever being less effective. Martinelli was running in circles on the other wing and both Zubi and Rice lacked any zip coming through the middle where Eze was fairly inconsequential. Bayer looked comfortable and Arteta needed to do something so on the hour he took Bakayo off and brought on Madueke.
Noni began to run at the Bayer defence and created a few situations but there was precious little movement from his team mates. On 74 minutes Havertz came on for the fading Gyokeres and on 82 minutes Jesus came on for Eze. On 83 minutes Timber got on the end of a cross and maybe should have done better but his attempt cleared the bar.
With the prospect of Arsenal losing for the first time in Europe and only the 4th time this season, Madueke burst into the box on the 86th minute, beat his man who then in turn brought him down following a clumsy challenge. VAR checked it, my son said they’d overturn it but they didn’t and on the 89th minute Kai Havertz confidently punched his shot into the corner of the net.
There was still a little time for Havertz to get booked for doing absolutely nothing except getting fouled himself at a corner which was a bizarre decision but in keeping with the performance from the referee who had also booked Zubimendi for bugger all whilst ignoring him getting clattered earlier. The BBC website said Martinelli was also booked but didn’t mention Saliba so who knows what happened?
On the positive side it was so enjoyable watching a match which didn’t tie your stomach in knots but that will change over the weekend, until then.
Wir marscheren auf.
By Kev
A disappointing result but it turns out to have been the best of the English results and leaves only Liverpool and ourselves as likely to progress to the Qtrs. So to the second leg COYG!!
Not the best performance from them last night but lets hope this was just a “blip”, especially with Saka who to me looked a bit green under the gills. Fingers crossed nothing serious. They must now take advantage of being at home next week.
Not looking good for The Spuds, MC, Chelsea and even Newcastle who will be playing at the Camp Nou. Not going to be “a walk in the park” for them.
Looking like it will be Arsenal and possibly Liverpool going into the next round of the Champs.
This Saturday. More nail biting. Here’s to a win and a good match.
Morning Kev, all.
Good post Kev.
Atletico 5-2 Spurs
Madrid 3-0 Man City
PSG 5-2 Chelsea
Galatasaray 1-0 Liverpool
Yep, 1-1 and we’re still in it. Just need more next Tuesday.
Arteta on if he was disappointed with the way we defended at the corner for Leverkusen’s goal:
“There are always two sides to that – one is the element of the opponent, that they picked that weakness and that lack of attention or urgency in both situations. And the other one is us because we knew, we showed them three clips from last weekend in three different ways and we weren’t ready for it and we got caught.”
Morning Gooners, morning Rico or should I say guten morgen und danke.
As Balkaneer says, the best of the English results, we aren’t the story today much to the chagrin of Sky Sports and Talk Rubbish.
To me both teams looked knackered at times, it seems the relentless of modern day football is having a negative effect. From what I’ve seen up till now Bayern look red hot favourites, I wouldn’t bet on Arsenal getting the better of them as it stands.
We face another strenuous test this weekend when a nicely rested and resolute Everton roll into town, I’d like to see Havertz and Gyokeres starting as a pair in that game.
Did Madueke do enough to start? I think so, Saka is still not totally recovered from his hamstring injury that burst over the first few yards has left his game. Arteta has to look after him.
I actually thought that Eze was fouled as they scored and that the forensic PGMOL might have overturned it . However this is European football where VAR only interferes if it’s clear and obvious and the goal stood . As Kev said the referee was to say the least erratic and some of his decisions were debatable , dubious and a little bit dodgy.
I wonder if the PGMOL are having an affect on our players and not just Arsenals as players expect fouls to be called whereas continental refs see things differently.
None of this excuses our performance which I can only describe as turgid. We lack dynamism we had no thrust in the forward line until Madueke came on and in fact just after 70 minutes the feed I was watching said Arsenal 1 shot on target . Which kind of sums it up.
I said before the match that there were two scenarios and that we either played and won but had the ability to stink the place out, which we did .
We got a draw with a fortunate penalty decision . LUCKY LUCKY ARSENAL.
Kev, I think the European clubs still have a winter break whereas we don’t. If I’m right, it makes a huge difference imo. We seem to be mentally knackered rather than physically. Perhaps it’s because of the stage of the season we’re at and nerves have set in I don’t know but we seem to have lost our grip on the basics.
Good point about the officiating but Arteta and the players should know what Europe is about by now. I still don’t know why Zubimendi got booked and it’s frustrating because cards tot up.
The penalty, terrible decision imo but perhaps there was a bit of levelling up for not sending off the Bayer player early in the game.
Good morning Kev and all.
1) Saka, since his new contract, pay rise, and promotion to captain, there has been a considerable drop in his form, fitness levels, goal attempts and assists. Last night subbed after sixty minutes, and not before time.
2) Game management. Bayer defender booked after two minutes for a foul on Gyokeres, a second offence, again on, Gyokeres brought him a severe warning. We then stopped playing balls up to our striker when we should have taken every chance to get him sent off and, thereby, making him unavailable for the return leg.
3) Eze, as is so often the case he was totally ineffective in his role, hardly able to play a forward pass, just recycling the ball before inevitably losing possession. Subbed after eighty-two minutes for Jesus.
4) Jesus, did he actually touch the ball in play? If so I didn’t notice it.
5) Madueke, showed Saka what he should be doing, getting behind the defenders and attempting crosses and even shots on goal. Deserves an Oscar for “winning” that penalty.
6) Gyokeres, left stranded up front with no service. See 2) above.
7) Havertz, cool as a cucumber with the penalty.
8) Saliba, just a footnote, is he fully fit? Has he lost a bit of the aura surrounding his partnership with Gabriel?
9) Arteta, team selection Eze as apposed to Havertz, my opinion only. Substitutions, Havertz for Gyokeres, Havertz should have replaced Eze so he could team up with Gyokeres and between them terrify the Bayern defenders.
10) In general, Saka, Martinelli, Eze, when he plays, should all be encouraged to carry the ball into the penalty box to cause panic in the defence and, thereby, “win” a few more penalties.
I’m sure the old theatrical expression will be apposite on Tuesday, “It’ll be alright on the night”
I hope!!
Morning Cicero. I too don’t understand taking off Gyokeres for Havertz, the two need to be on the pitch together imo as they click. I get not starting Havertz because of his fitness etc but if he’s coming on, let it be for our benefit not detriment.