I switched on my television and there it was, Bodo Glimt 3-1 Man City and to be honest, Bodo looked well worth their win whereas City by comparison looked worn out. The fall off in recent games from the Eastlands Mob is quite astonishing.
But it really is as easy as that to lose your form and your confidence, it goes so so quickly, especially after a few injuries and negative results, both mentally and physically. We Arsenal supporters should know only too well because it’s happened to us a few times in the last three seasons so Arteta was taking no chances in our match.
Never mind the online pundits and experts suggesting that Mikel should pick a team similar to the one he selected for Portsmouth, maybe going even more with the yoot. No Mikel went his own way thankfully with a very strong starting XI, resting ‘regulars’ like Odegaard, Gyokeres, Rice and Gabriel but bringing in some top top talents. Ethan Nwaneri, despite the rumours, was on the bench.
Arsenal came out of the blocks like a team possessed and almost scored within 90 seconds when Jesus got free but his shot was blocked. The red shirts swarmed forward and Saka came close on 4 minutes. Arsenal were imperious during these opening minutes although Inter had the odd turnover which was a warning. Then on 10 minutes following another impressive spell of Arsenal dominance, Myles on the edge of the area found Jurrien Timber charging into the box, the Dutchman misdirected his shot, straight to Jesus who carefully turned it home for the opening goal. The man who belongs to Jesus was all smiles as he usually is.
Up until then it had been almost all Arsenal and memories of that 1-5 Thierry Henry inspired thrashing many years ago came flooding into the memory bank. But then Arsenal got sloppy and Inter got tighter and the Gunners didn’t heed the warning signs. One such turnover on 18 minutes led to an Inter break and they broke quickly and in numbers. Arsenal defenders made a few great and sometimes desperate blocks but eventually an equaliser was steered home and it was game on. Eze almost responded a minute later but he put his shot wide.
On 27 minutes with Arsenal pushing forward again in numbers, with Jesus in a great position, but a slack pass and Inter were again down the other end where an outnumbered Mosquera held his ground and forced Thurman wide where he blasted his shot over the bar.
It was quite a see-saw game for periods and then on 31 minutes a Saka corner was driven to the far post where Leo did exceptionally well to not just stop the ball going out of play but to head it back into the danger area and via the bar where it found Jesus who calmly headed home.
On 36 Saka burst into the box but narrowly fired wide. It was a great entertaining game and the referee was excellent, such a change from the dogmatic Premier League.
Inter still posed a threat and with Arsenal trying to manage the game, Zubimendi of all people gave away soft possession. Forward flooded Inter but their strikers shot went wide. The Italians were looking really dangerous on the break and often only some last ditch defending kept them at arms length. Another attempt at Arsenal game management broke down via Eze on 42 and again the blue shirts piled forward but great goalkeeping by Raya saved the day. A minute later it happened again, a slack pass and the blue shirts were in, but again Raya saved well. An entertaining if anxious half ended with the score at 1-2.
Inter came out flying and the ball fizzed across the Arsenal penalty area in the opening minute, it was eventually cleared. On 50 minutes Arsenal broke and following some slick passing Trossard found himself in on goal but he hesitated for a second and the chance was blocked, with Jesus unmarked. The match was finely balanced. On 53 some great covering from Myles saved the day as Inter again threatened. Saka did some great work 3 minutes later and he crossed to Trossard on the far post but Leo thumped his shot just wide – that was so close.
Around the hour mark a diagonal cross into the Arsenal penalty area found Mosquera too tight on Thuram , the big French centre forward spun Christian and shot powerfully on goal but Raya held his shot. Arsenal came back again and after some sustained pressure Jesus slipped Saka into the danger area, but again a seconds hesitation and the chance was blocked.
A couple of minutes later Arteta acted. Off went the disappointed and disappointing Eze for Rice and Timber was sensibly withdraw for White. On 67 minutes Mosquera got too tight again and was turned again with the Inter forward firing just wide. It was a difficult game for our young Colombian-Spaniard defender but it was also a great education for him and despite his inexperience at this level he was doing ok.
The clock was ticking down and Inter needed a result, but after 75 minutes Arteta sent on Gyokeres for Jesus and Gabriel for Mosquera to close things out and then on 79 Martinelli for Trossard to add a bit of pace as Inter became increasingly desperate.
After two successive CL defeats Inter threw caution to the wind and they upped the pressure again eventually forcing a corner. Fortunately it was cleared to Martinelli who carried it a few strides before he spotted Viktor streaking into the Inter half. Gabby struck a fabulous 40 yards pass with the outside of his boot and the ball arched and curved into the stride of our center-forward. Viktor took the ball well and pushed it forward to Saka who had sprinted past him but the ball rebounded from Saka back to the big Swede who simply adjusted his shape and drove a long shot into the net past the desperate hands of the goalkeeper, who actually got a slight touch on the ball.
That was the killer.
From then on the Intensity from Inter fell away and Gyokeres almost got a second, but he lifted his shot well over the bar on the 90 minute mark. A minute later Viktor did more great hold up work to put Gabby in but it got cleared. On 93 Gabby held up the ball and won a free kick which was taken and then the referee finally blew for time.
A great result which barring a calamity means that Arsenal will finish top of the Champions League table. The enormity of that achievement shouldn’t be overlooked, but I dare say that in some quarters it will be!
Merino and Rice received yellows which means they’re suspended for the next, ‘dead’ rubber game where I expect this time to see Arteta actually play his ‘Portsmouth’ team – mind you some Luddites will probably find fault with that.
For the rest of us on HH…
We march on…
By Kev
If we beat Kairat and stay top of the league we will earn over £100 million . So far we have £ 98 .63 and another win is a further £ 1.80 million. We also have the advantage of getting second legs at home in the knock out stages , so I am not unduly surprised at the team selection it needed to rest some but be enough to win the game .
Should be £ 98.63 million.
Wow, that’s incredible money. Two players 😂
Good report Kev, morning all. I think Arteta got it just right, half the team changed, and rotations giving key players a little rest. Except Zubi, but maybe health figures show him keeping levels up. Feel for Norgaard, only seems to get time out of position. But team comes first, and can’t criticise Arteta when you see our positions in the tables. Inter top in Italy and to do that with half team changed shows just how good our squad is. Great strike from Gyokeres, and still Havertz to fully return. Oh and City😆
Morning Kev, all.
Good post Kev. Thank you.
Thoroughly enjoyed the game. Two sides wanting to win with a referee who let the game flow. A game not for the purists no doubt, but I’m not fussed about that. lol
Pleased for Jesus and Viktor, and what a ball from Martinelli 👏
Great game, great write-up, thanks Kev and good morning all.
That prize money will help to keep P S R at bay. Some can be used to sign Piero Incapie when his loan expires in the summer, perhaps a genuine right back too.
Morning Gooners, thanks for the positive responses chaps, that’s an amazing amount of money, it certainly puts any concerns about PSR back in its box.
Morning Rico, yeah I thought that Martinelli was totally switched on to getting quick ball to Viktor. Now for Man United because we need to get back to winning ways in the Prem.
Agree Kev, I wonder if Utd will sit back or have a go at us.
At first I was miffed at Arteta’s line up as we all know that Inter Milan can be a hard team to play in the Champs League. Just shows when they all put their minds to it what a great team Arsenal are. Great game, great result. Praises all around especially for keeping the momentum going through out the entire match. Ok a few silly mistakes made, but hopefully lessons learnt.