Morning all.
Bayern fans took to their seats five minutes into the game in protest against the high priced tickets. Arsenal fans applauded their actions….
We didn’t need Petr Cech back in the summer did we?
Well not for the first time, the big goal keeper showed exactly why we did. He was outstanding last night and he wasn’t alone either. Manuel Neuer, the undisputed number one keeper in the world was the man Arsenal had to beat if they were to score, something which was always going to be tough to accomplish.
During the first half, Neuer was at his best, his save from Theo’s header was simply outstanding. Cech was equally as good with saves to prevent Alcantara, Vidal and Lewandowski from breaking the deadlock. Bayern were battering us as far as possession goes but as we Arsenal fans know, that means nothing if a team can’t score.
That was the plan of the manager, let Bayern have the ball and then try and hit them on the break. A clever plan I have to say and not one which Arsene Wenger deploys very often, especially at home.
The match itself was superb I thought. Two teams full of great players, playing very good football.
Hector Bellerin gave us a hint of the kind of defensive performance we were to expect within the first minute as he was on Lewandowski in a flash just as the in-form striker was about to pull the trigger.
Up front, Walcott caused all sorts of problems with his pace, at the back, we were strong and disciplined. Every player was working hard for themselves and for each other. Ozil had the first chance but Neuer made the save. Cech denied Vidal before Walcott saw his shot go wide.
Alexis had a chance too but in unusual fashion, he fired over. Then came the stunning save from Neuer to keep Walcott’s header out, Ramsey had a chance from the rebound but couldn’t take it.
After the break, both Cech and Koscielny did really well to keep out Costa and then Lewandowski. Up the other end, Coquelin fancied his chances from distance but the shot went just wide. Lewandowski had another great chance but again, Koscielny was there to deny him.
Just before the hour mark, Aaron Ramsey pulled up with a hamstring injury and was replaced by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. The next change was tactical as Ollie replaced Walcott and the move soon paid dividends. In fact just three minutes after coming on, Santi Cazorla fired in a free kick from the right, Neuer had a rush of blood and Ollie ‘headed’ (with a little helping hand) home our opener. 1-0 against a Bayern side who don’t know much about losing….
Around fifteen minutes were left of the game, a game in which Arsenal had to hold on to and win….
Ollie could have had a second minutes later but his header went straight at the big German keeper.
The game was all but over and 1-0 seemed to be enough but then up popped Bellerin on the right. His pace was electric, his desire immense. He bombed forward with the ball and crossed into the box and there stood our German number 11.
Not even the great Manuel Neuer could keep his shot out.
The whistle blew, the game was over but our Champions League journey might just be very much alive…
Arsene Wenger doesn’t do tactics so ‘they’ say. Well last night proved he does and boy didn’t he get them right.
After such a wonderful performance, it’s always hard, sometimes harsh to pick out a star for the night as every player dug in for the victory but Petr Cech was simply outstanding. He really was…
Great night for the manager, the players and of course, us fans..
Happy Wednesday……
Brilliant result.
We’ve shown we can beat anyone.
Morning all.
Morning again all..
Wonder if Neuer planned to do us a favour…. 😉
Very pragmatic approach by AW which was executed efficiently by the players.
Good surmise Rico.
Surmise Ts? 😉
Oh well, catch up later….
Glowing in the gloom here! What a win, one down three too good! What price another win at the Alliantz? And then ‘do’ the other two hopefuls!
A very good morning to you all.
Nice report Rico. I relived the game all over again, and I felt………well you can guess!
afternoon rico and the house
we played against 1 of the top 3 teams in europe last night and our game plan was spot on.
having Cech in goal brings so much stability to the back line and with Le Coq tucking in the hole makes us strong as a unit.
we went too long without a top GK and a DM
hope Francis stays fit otherwise we will be in trouble
spend some money on quality in january and we could do something special this season
afternoon all….Monreal was my MOM…he made Muller look like a pub player
A wonderful performance indeed rico, one that will stick in the memory for a long long time if you were at the game I bet, just begs the question why oh why can’t we reproduce it week in week out.
The conductor made me laugh, spent 64 quid on his ticket and spent most of the game with his back to the pitch…..bonkers.
Respect to the fifth official re Ozil’s goal, most would have bottled it, seen it all now !
Bayerns first defeat of the season I think.
What a fantastic result!!! Soo so happy for our boys. That Neuer doesn’t even have the good grace to acknowlege that we fully deserved our win!! Pffff!!
rico, great write, btw. 🙂 Where is everyone??
Mickooooo!! How are ya?
Malaga, anyone that knows football will tell ya Le Coq is average at best, it’s only the quality players around him that make him look good !
Micko, I think Coq has done alright. He’s not the quickest or most technical or whatever, but he’s not nearly as bad as some make him out to be. 😉
Keeping my good side out agag, your not skiving are ya ?
Ozil owed us that last nite for the penalty miss a few seasons back or was it a back pass, can’t remember.
Afternoon Agag, Micko and all. It was a really great evening at the Emirates last night and reflecting on it today has made it even better.
It was a penalty miss, Micko. And he looked so rattled after. 😀
Good to hear, Micko. 🙂 So busy with work, yuuuuuuckkkkk. 🙁
Hello, hello, Adam. Long time!! There’s nothing like a win to wake up to, yeah? In my case, to wake up for, as well. 2:30 am all for the love of Arsenal. 😉 How’s the weather in London? Do you have to be all bundled up now?
The boy done well agag.
George, thought Bellerin had a blinder, chased down everything, Costa looks some player for them as well.
I’m guessing you would rather have Matic and the way he’s been playing this season ? Le Coq is one of the first names on the team sheet. Name a better DM since January.
Hey Agag. It was quite mild yesterday evening really. I guess that means freezing for you though. 🙂
Ha ha ha, Adam. 😀 I quite struggled with the ‘cold’ English summer. But that was really because, I did not have warm clothes. When I was there, I had to buy a few cardigans; a denim jacket, and my aunt gave me sweaters, lol.
I really hope we get a top, top player in January. I know Wenger is averse to that window, but it only makes sense!!
Ozick hasn’t gone near the penalty spot since, I don’t think? He has been outstanding most of this season. His touch, vision and technical ability allow him to do stuff that we mere mortals can only gasp at! He appears languid, lazy even but really he is so much control of his body and feet that he just doesn’t have to hurry! What a class act and he’s ours!
Adam, was it up there with the Barcelona game, that was a nite to remember !
Stack my vitals! OZIL not the bollocks my iPad made up!
Wavy, I think the pens went back to Arteta after. 🙂
You’re right Agag but now he’s not a regular the few we have had I think,Chavez been taken by Santi. I don’t think either Arteta or Cazorla have missed one since?
What it is to have reliable players! (Hope that’s not the kiss of death!)
Afternoon folks…
Micko, loved your comment on Coquelin- irony at its best…. Lol
Chavez = have……how it ends up creating a dodgy South American I’ve no idea!?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3282782/Jose-Mourinho-looks-like-s-begging-sack-d-stunned-Chelsea-says-Dietmar-Hamann.html
Funny, a friend of mine said the same about the Mourinho 7 min rant. He reckoned he’s begging for the sack….
rico, I realized Micko was being his ironic self, after he addressed my comment, hahaha. 😀
Yep, Santi’s our resident penalty taker. Sanchez has also missed for us, hasn’t he?
And who are all these exotic players, Wavy? Ozick and Chavez, who next? 😀
Agag, Micko is the best on here for irony. I sure chuckle away silently most days….
Glad someone did rico !
Wavy, Neurer and Ozil have been practising penalties against each other since they were 12/13 years old, Neurer was always gonna have the edge imo, anyways it’s history now I guess, last nite went a long way to making up for it.
Micko, Coquelin gets a real hard time imo – without him we’d be stuffed!
Coquelin is doing a great job but does need an alternative for the times that he will be missing through injury or suspension.Incidentally our ref this weekend is none other than Lee Mason who did not send him off at Palace and got himself demoted . It’s his first match since then I believe.
Evening Rico and the house
Le Coq is the dogs bollox, the player we’ve been looking for since Gilberto
top summary Rico
Agree Potter, and I personally don’t think Arteta or Flamini is that guy. Maybe a Jan signing…. Maybe not…
Evening Mg.. Agree re Coquelin and I teasly don’t understand where his critics are coming from….
Micko. Mmm, almost but perhaps not quite. The Barca game was still the craziest atmosphere I have known at the Emirates. That Arshavin goal really lifted the lid. Last night was great though. Bayern are a fantastic team and without Robben on the pitch there was no cheating or time wasting or gamesmanship or fouling or just being generally disagreeable. Watching the tactical evolvement of both teams as the game developed was really something. I really enjoyed it.
And no bitching from Pep afterwards either. 🙂
Adam, that’s the most positive I’ve possibly known you to be….
Thank you Rico. I am a purist at heart.
Had I popped my last comment onto Word to be reviewed, I guess it would have been changed to…
Gosh Adam, that’s possibly the most positive you have ever been on HH…. 😉 😉
Adam, I’ve realised that for a long time now…
I was going to mention that Rico but I know how sarcastic you can be to me when I do. 🙂
Ouch Adam! Lol
I’m sarcastic towards everyone, it’s in my dna…..
So I believe..
You’d be right to….
I’m off, need to catch up on the planner before the live Emmerdale tomorrow night… 🙂
Night all…
Night Rico.
Coquelin is average then….?
Is that because he didn’t cost £25 million?
Ok, fair enough…
I think he’s rather good Kev..
Morning all…
Morning Rico and all,
Good to see the arsenal faithful with a smile on their faces after that win…
Mg- BM is not amongst the top 3 teams in Europe imho..
PSg, Barca, RM and Juve are imho…
As someone who is quite informed on Bundesliga, I would say there are lucky to have not lost this season.
Their best performance this season was against BVB; Muller and lewandowski has saved Pep’s back big time. and like OG12, Lew’ goes through patches with regards to goal scoring form. Difference may be that lew goes 3 to 4 goals during dry spells whilst OG12 can go 7 games…
View on BM is based on squad depth and variety I must add…
Morning Ts..
New post up now..