……….Is qualifying for the Champions League last sixteen from a cupcake group…At least if you are Arsenal FC, that is. I did not enjoy this evening’s match – not one bit. In fact, I commented after the final whistle that I cannot recall being so angry after a match in which we won. Fortunately, I did not sit down to write a match report then and there. Instead, I went about other things, and when I sat down at my home computer a few hours later, my perspective had evolved enough to bang out something with a more balanced view of the picture.
My emotions during and immediately after the match were borne almost entirely out of frustration that we have contrived to make such a mess of qualifying out of such a weak group. I do not think it is an exaggeration to say that we were drawn with perhaps the two worst sides to ever (dis)grace this competition, in Braga and FK Partizan. And nothing I saw of Shakhtar Donetsk over two ties has convinced me that they are anything other than an ordinary Eastern European side waiting to get picked off – with their vaunted “home advantage” – by a lesser seed in the next round.
We were truly our own worst enemies from matchday four onwards, with a casual “no big deal” effort in Donetsk, and then a negative, cowardly effort in Braga. It was almost comical that after getting 9 points – and scoring 14 goals – from our first three fixtures, we went into the final fixture facing still needing a result (or Braga loss at Donetsk) to qualify. This after the three other English teams – Chelsea, Man United, and…yes…the Spuddies – had all taken care of business and secured qualification by the end of matchday five. Fortunately for us, we were facing the worst of the worst – FK Partizan – at home. Zero points and only a single goal scored (no prizes for guessing who that was against) from the previous five matches told its own story. Surely we could not mess this one up…Could we?
I frowned when I saw the team sheet, with Song and Denilson starting together. I do not think that we play especially well with these two together, and I have the impression that Denilson is often included to accommodate Song’s forays forward. Arsene is going to do what Arsene is going to do, but I would prefer that Song stay as the defensive midfielder, and someone else get forward – Jack particularly. I suppose Arsene wanted to avoid using Jack – who was named to the bench – ahead of Monday night at Old Trafford, so I understand his apparent reasoning. Plus I thought Song had a pretty decent game, so I think Arsene got this one right tonight, and I am making something out of nothing here.
Regardless of who started, the team began nervously, I thought. We hogged possession, and moved the ball around, but too many passes went amiss, and we did not carve out any real chances early on. Partizan were happy to let us have the ball, as they packed their defence and challenged us to find a way through. We certainly played at a slower pace than normal – almost as if we were afraid of getting too far ahead of ourselves, losing possession and getting hit with yet another sucker-punch goal (see minute 52).
The pressure told on us, and the nerves were there for all to see. Our first problem arrived on 15 minutes, when Kieran Gibbs did his ankle yet again. He was stretchered off, and then tried to play on, but clearly could not continue. With Clichy unavailable through an apparent illness, we had to bring Eboue on; I hope that Gibbs will not have another injury-enforced layoff, but his (injury) history does not inspire confidence.
Nevertheless, Partizan did not take advantage of our defensive weakness down the left, and with half an hour gone, we finally made the breakthrough. Song – in an advanced position – was there to get on the end of a ball into the Partizan area. He crossed it directly off a Partizan defender, and Robin latched on to the deflected ball. As he moved the ball across the area, heading away from goal, Jovanovic stupidly tripped him for a clear penalty. Robin picked himself up and blasted an unstoppable shot down the middle. Robin’s first goal of the season and first European goal for over 12 months. I really hoped he would get one from open play tonight, but it wasn’t to be.
We should have had a second goal just before the interval when Robin played Chamakh in, but the latter hesitated and the chance was lost.
So 1-0 at the half and with Braga doing nothing at Donetsk, we were halfway to qualification. We came out with more purpose at the start of the second half, and we had two excellent chances in quick succession in the first five minutes. First Chamakh (who had a poor all around game, in my opinion) was again slow to react and had a tame shot saved. Then Nasri controlled a nice cross from Denilson, only to shoot over the bar from inside the area. It only took a couple of minutes for us to pay. Ilic sent an angled ball forward, Koscielny stepped up to intercept, missed, and the ball found Cleo free on the edge of the area. His shot deflected off a backpedalling Squillaci and looped over Fabianski. Predictably, that was Partizan’s first shot on goal, and another example of the shambolic nobody-knows-what-the-other-guy-is-doing defending we see all too often these days. So, from looking comfortable, we were back level, and a single Braga goal could have potentially sent us crashing into the Europa Cup.
For a few minutes, Partizan had the initiative, and we were all over the place, as we often are after conceding a goal out of nothing. Fortunately for us, Partizan are who they are, and we were gradually able to reassert ourselves. Theo came on for the ineffective Arshavin around the 65th minute. In the 70th minute, Robin crashed in a free kick that the Partizan keeper had to tip over the bar. Three minutes later, we finally moved back in front. Jovanovic – who had given away the penalty Robin converted – headed a long ball directly into Theo’s path, which the latter instantly controlled and rifled a right footed volley into the far corner. Good goal, but not quite enough to settle the nerves. This was evidenced by Fabianski’s shanked clearance just over a minute later – it reminded me of Steve Weatherford’s shanked punt for the New York Jets in the Monday night game at Foxboro earlier this week. That punt traveled all of twelve yards and Tom Brady was only too happy to jam it down the Jets’ throat. Fortunately, we were facing Partizan – not the Patriots – and Fabianski was able to get away with it.
Just over a minute later, we got a bit of breathing room. Song and Bendtner (who literally just replaced Chamakh) played a great give and go, with the former feeding Nasri, who shot under the keeper. By this point, Shakhtar were 2-0 up on Braga, so qualification was all but secured. There was still time for a bit of calamity, with Sagna bringing Lazevski down on the edge of the box, for a straight red (deemed the “last man”). Fortunately, Fabianski made a fine save from the resulting free kick. There was still time for us – with ten men – to create a couple of breakaway chances that we contrived to waste. No matter, as Partizan did not threaten and we held on comfortably.
In the end, we made it to the next round, so perhaps this is all a big deal over nothing? Not quite – I agree the result was the most important thing, but I also maintain that it should never have come to this, considering the low quality of our group’s opposition. Earlier in the day, I said (on the blog) that if I could give one piece of advice to Arsene, it would be to win this one tonight, and worry about looking pretty next time. It seems to me that is exactly what we did, so I think I need to do a better job of following my own advice. We also wasted an opportunity to put in a fluid, confidence building performance, and yet again, failed to keep a clean sheet – against a team incapable of scoring against anyone else! Not every game will be a dominant, controlled demolition, but we have had none of those lately, and if there was ever a side ripe for a hammering at our place, it was Partizan. But due to the position we put ourselves in, we were too tense and inhibited to have a real go at them.
We got the result, but the performance was certainly nothing to be proud of. In fact, I will go further and say that qualifying – as runners-up – from this cupcake group is nothing to be proud of either. After all our experience in this competition, this should not be considered an achievement, rather the minimum expectation. Unfortunately, too many at Arsenal – perhaps even Arsene – took it for granted following matchday three. Hopefully an important lesson was learned through this experience.
Still, as the saying goes, “You have to be in it to win it”, and we are certainly still alive. Arsene was bullish after the match, maintaining that we do not fear anyone. Nor should we. But the reverse most likely applies as well – four clubs licking their chops at the prospect of drawing us in the next round. I don’t think anyone will be afraid of facing us, on the evidence of matchdays four through six.
But…Some of this may well work to our advantage. For one, the next tie does not happen until early February, and a lot can happen between now and then – both for us and our potential opponents. We may, just may, find that elusive consistent form, start keeping clean sheets, and line up in February with a full strength squad – minus Sagna, of course, who will be suspended for his straight red. Similarly, our opponents may lose their respective form, and have injuries and domestic league issues to deal with.
I also have a sneaking suspicion that the nature of the next tie may work in our favor. We will be drawn home first, then away, in a knockout format. The sense of urgency should already be there, and I think it will help us. Not the tension we saw tonight over the prospect of failure to qualify, but the purpose and motivation that comes from knowing we have to give everything from the go in order to progress.
We’ll know our next opponents on Friday. As runners-up, we will draw one of the eight group winners: we cannot face four of them – Shakhtar (from our own group), Chelsea, Man United, and Spuds (!!) (all from England). That leaves Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Schalke 04. None of them are easy – the two German sides are both stuttering in Bundesliga play, but have been quite impressive in the CL this season. Schalke may look like the easiest match on paper – and perhaps they are, compared to the others. But there is a difference between being easy compared to other teams, and being an easy tie. I assure you they will be anything but the latter. If we draw them, we will be able to get a first-hand look at Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who many think we should have tried to sign this summer. Not that Schalke – who are going all out to try and win the Bundesliga and European Cup – would consider selling at this time. When they eventually do sell him, it will most likely be to Bayern anyways.
I have a sneaking suspicion we will draw Real Madrid. We will start as huge underdogs against them or Barcelona, and rightfully so. But much will depend on our – and our respective opponent’s form – leading up to the ties. It will be tough, but not impossible.
If nothing else, we can relax for the moment regarding the Champions League, put it on the back burner until the new year, and look ahead to domestic business. With this tie in the books, now it’s time to focus on our Monday night visit to Old Trafford. I doubt United will be scared by anything they saw tonight, but they have not been any great shakes themselves, and our Arsenal side should have nothing to fear from them. Our league away form has been generally excellent, and we bring something on our domestic travels that cannot seem to consistently find at home – focus, determination, and grit. We will need all of those elements in abundance to win on Monday, but we can do it. Gibbs seems certain to miss out, and I don’t expect Cesc or TV to feature, but hopefully everyone else – including, perhaps, the missing-but-not-necessarily-lamented Vassirki “Abou” Diaby – will be fit and available for the trip.
We may not be happy with our general play…We are certainly not happy with our defence…And many of us are not at all happy with Arsene. But, somehow…We are on top of our domestic league…We are in the last sixteen of the European Cup…We are in the last four of the League Cup…Are things really so bad? Admittedly, our form, fitness and defensive problems can put us in crisis in the proverbial blink of an eye. But some of these elements can also propel us much further than we sit now.
I am frustrated with a lot of things – mostly tactics and style of play – and I need to consciously tell myself to slow down and look at where we are at the moment. When I do that, things are not nearly as bad as I am trying to convince myself they are. Let’s sit back and see what our team can do for the next few weeks.
We may…Just may…Be pleasantly surprised by what we see…
Written by Oliver
Afternoon all, sorry its a late one, but i sure think it was worth the wait, good one oliver and thank you….
George Graham gave us ‘boring, boring arsenal’ now arsene gives us ‘nervy, nervy arsenal’
doesn’t he just didee….
Not a great performance, but we got the job done.
Good to see that we could bring proper quality off the bench who can make a difference to games. Walcott’s introduction was clearly the turning point, Bendtner was involved in the build-up to Nasri’s goal, and we had the luxury of leaving Rosicky and Wilshere on the bench.
Now all we need is to draw Schalke in the last 16, and all will be well again. But, to be honest, the CL is the last of our concerns for the next couple of months: we have United, Chelsea and City in the next month, then there’s the FA Cup and the Carling semi. For all that people keep hammering on about our weak defence, our complacency and our struggles to put weak opponents away, we’re in a position which any of the other 19 PL teams would gladly trade for. This media-fuelled “crisis” is pathetic.
http://thearmchairsportsfan.com/2010/12/08/spluttering-arsenal-stumble-into-the-last-16/
the CL is not the problem but nervy performances, ignoring the obvious faults and worst of all ‘I wont buy in January’ oh snap!
i’m agree with you, even that we should be relax for the LC since two weeks ago. However 2 things: Except Madrid, Shactar had more points then something else. They are a very consistent and strong team (I watched yesterday the match versus braga), but how they are after this break and the beggining of UKraine League next March? Second- For Madrid, the mean goal for this season is the LC. Is not good for us in this round. I had also watch Schalke versus Benfica. Typical german team with Raul and Gerardo(?), two spanish players who modified the way that Schalke plays. Also, they have nothing to do in the German League and were ahead Lyon and Benfica…So, let’s wait and see. Until there, we can win a trophy(finnaly !!!:-))) ), stay in the top of the league and maybe close the FA Cup final….
Boo! oliver, my sentiments exactly. 🙂 We were palpitatingly bad for long spells of the match. I felt drained of energy after watching that shambles of a team (ours) try for three points against that, and I can only be honest, utter rubbish of a team (Partizan).
These days though, I really don’t care for pretty. And I’d take a win however delivered.
rico, Robin scored, Theo scored… I’m just waiting for TR7 to open his scoring account. Monday’s as good a time as any, I reckon. 🙂
Hello, everyone. 🙂
lets not go over board here, there is a difference between winning ugly and being lucky, we are lucky to be playing crap teams and other top teams loosing points, we need to step it up generally and close it up at the back otherwise its all gone in a puff
Oliver that was long – will read it later , am sure it is insightful.
Hello everybody, i was busy today .
We won now what ? Barcelona ?
Boo to you agag, Theo’s goal was the bright light of last nights performance, Gibbs was the dark and sagna’s sending off… well…..
didee, the only way wenger is going to stop this nerby stuff is to bring a couple of big boys in in january….
well i hope he is bluffing with the ‘I wont buy in January’ statement
I was trusting you to say that about Theo, rico 😀 Haha. A great goal, to be sure. 🙂 May more of the similar find their way past the opponent keeper! Monday sounds like a plan, too. 😉
didee, AW may yet surprise us. Not betting on it. But who knows?
Hello, SD.
nerby = nervy 🙂
I get more concerned when he says he is buying 😉
hi all. hopefully i did not put anyone to sleep with that rant. thanks again for covering, rico…
it’s done and we are in to the next round, so we can put this behind us. all teams are flawed, there is no doubt – but we seem to retain the same flaws year after year. or if we correct one, another emerges in it’s place.
i do have to say that i disagree completely with tim’s contention that everything will be fine as long as we draw schalke 04 in the next round. i think any of those four sides would be favored to beat us, on current european form. plenty can happen, but the supposition that schalke will be easy because they are not a glamourous name – and i am not saying that is tim’s thinking here – is dead wrong. look where that sort of thinking regarding partizan and braga got us – and those two sides actually are garbage! schalke are a top bundesliga side, and consistently do well in european competition. they will not, in any way, shape or form, be a walk-over.
LMAO, Rico u r killin me.
Agag, is too late to send a request to Santa, cos i wanna ask for at least 3playas (Given, Cahill, Suarez)
well i gat to go home now ladies, see you 2moro
RICOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Wenger is not going to buy.
oliver, your match reports never bore me, and i’m just sorry it was late going up 🙁 But I had to get home…
We may be through but last night didn’t convince me, i’m hoping it didn’t convince wenger either and he does something about it….
But yes, we are through and you never know, we could be a lot more focused against the sides we know are hard to play against, all the so called bankers are the ones we fail in…..
didee 😆 you have a good evening …
Hi SD, bet you 50p wenger buys at least one 🙂
Player that is 😉
Excellent write up Oliver. I entirely agree with you.
After the game I was in quite a bad mood, which was odd after a 3:1 win. I said to Rico yesterday that I thought it would not be as easy as some were suggesting.
But the reason I was in a mood was because we were so awful. RVP and Chamakh looked as if they were running in treacle; Song and Denilson seemed to think they were playing for Braga with all the misplaced passes; and the Meerkat looked as if he could not be bothered.
I did not enjoy that one bit! 🙁
hi ra! seems you and i saw virtually the same things – right down to our reactions to what we observed. we are not going to accomplish much playing like this, so my hope is the fear of not qualifying completely stifled our players…
carl crawford and the red sox agreed on a six year, $142 million dollar deal. yanks opened the cliff lee bidding as the first team to make a formal offer: seven years, $140 million. i expect texas to make a counter-offer, but the yanks to win out here.
rico 😆 Hola, oliver! Bye, didee. See ya. 🙂
Oh, with our luck, we’ll probably get Barcelona. But I’m sensing a few injuries to the Catalan side. Just a feeling. Or maybe it’s just wishful thinking. 😉
Hi RA, it should have been 😉
rico, red Arse, oliver and others hello.
I didn’t even see the game,just the highlights and wrote a post,but not half as good as Oliver,but generally I think we are all in agreement that it wasn’t one of our better displays.
For sentimental reasons I would like us to get Schalke 04,as I lived in Gelsenkirchen for a couple of years,many moons ago,and they are the local team and I used to watch them regularly.
Hi kelsey – i think we suffer with a ‘the oppo are poor, and the games won’ before we play – if we look at the games we should have won but lost, the pattern unfolds..
We are over confident, well, in my opinion…
That is easy to sort out, but the man that needs to isn’t doing it…..
Oliver,
You raised my hopes re Carl Crawford but I will forgive you if we can tie up the Clif Lee deal! 🙂
Rico, I have not had any reason to think AW will budge on his “no buy” policy. We have so many established and potential midfielders, I can understand that. But the same is not true about our central defence, backs and forwards.
So I hope your optimism is proved correct.
My own view is that he should take the money for RVP, he is only a second away from injury every game; sell Bendy, (we may get more money if we sell his lead boots separately), and rationalise the midfield by selling those who are not able to get in the team regularly.
Then INVEST the money in high quality replacements.
Someone recently listed our midfielders and there were about 14 in or around the first team. Too many!
hi kelsey – would you agree that schalke are a very good side then? i understand the veltins arena is one of the best in europe, as well…
if i am not mistaken, our very own jens lehmann is a schalke man at heart – despite his spell with dortmund – having had his start there and spending over a decade with them.
Funny how lots of people said the same thing in relating, how they felt after the game,do you think we have been spoilt over the years with sharp crisp passing and more posession at 1.1 my txts started coming through “your going out” i read and instead of replying with my usual, “you f–k off” i found myself txting back Yeah probably,i have now changed my mind and were going to win everything again, its unbelievable how a game of football can wind you up so easily, i was swearing and curseing at the tv and finaly the old woman said thats it thats enough i cant take anymore and went to bed, games like this are so frustrating, i thought i’de go to bed and chance my luck, but you have to keep watching, and at last Walcott put one in. he usually frustrates me when his on, but i could have kissed him in that instance, so my legover went out the window and when the game finished, i sat there, we had just one 3.1 and i am still down, never had the urge to go to bed so carried on watching the teams we are going to bore in the next round.
kelsey, Real Madrid have our name on the fixture, but Schalke would be my favourite ane i haven’t ever lived there 😉
Steve,
Couldn’t help smiling, but perhaps a little too much info! 🙂
ra, i had thought crawford would go to anaheim…i think he would have been a great fit for the yanks, but cash may have been reluctant to commit before locking lee up. starting pitching is by far their biggest need – the rotation simply was not good enough in the alcs. pettite may finally retire and i will be surprised if burnett returns. that leaves cc, hughes, and…who? lee is the obvious choice – and i think the yanks will be the only ones who will be able to afford him.
i agree with you – and rico – and agag – that quality investment is both sorely needed and overdue. as we continue along this path, the question “what is the point of our wonderful financial situation if we are not going to invest in necessary quality and experience” becomes more and more relevant. we have too many one-size-fits-all midfielders at the club. ball skills seem to be emphasized for everyone – including vito mannone – but ball skills didn’t help last night when koscielny and squillaci got into an awful mess…and then there is the smug “show up and we win” sense of entitlement that still does not seem to have been completely eradicated from our squad.
Sorry mate still frustrated
we all are, steve. it should never have come to this.
three weeks out for gibbs. no chance of an eboue or koscielny “overnight” recover this time, i fear…
Oliver,
I ca’t really answer that as isaw Schalke in their old stadium, but remember the germans have a winter break whilst we are playing every other day,so to speak,so in conclusion with the home leg first any of the 4 will be a hard two legged affair.
Spot on oliver, and we’ve been saying that for ages, lots of money but whats the point if the players we have done ‘have it’ – some might prefer so sit in the ‘all will be rosy world’ but that world won’t get us trophies, titles and happiness….
I know which i prefer…
Though contraversial i agree with RA about RVP.Great player,no doubt but for 4 seasons he manages about 1 game in 3 and how can a great player maintain any real form if they are repeatedly injured.
it appears this season we are nursing him back even more cautiously than before,though he appeared to come out unscathed last night.
i am looking at the legistics,but most probably will be proved wrong.How long should we carry such a player.The infuriating thing is that he is top drawer on his day.
RVP we’ll keep him till he’s worth somthing again shouldnt think he’s worth bugger all the way he’s fittness is wait untill his about to turn it on then sell him thats about right
kelsey, been saying for a while now, as have a few on here, RvP needs to quit international football first and foremost….
I said legistics 🙂 no one realised .Of course I meant logistics.
By the way rico, did you read about the fixing on the X Factor.Mary went out but Cher got the lowest vote.tut tut.
Now that shows how good the football is
kelsey, one thing we don’t do here is pick anyone up on spellings – we all knew what you meant 😉
kelsey, i did, what a farce – that cher should have gone a while ago, tracey should still be in over her…
Steve, i think footie is a fix too……
Oh rico,
you mean Treyc 🙂
I do kelsey, i’m so sorry 😉 😉
Roci,
I ham appy yuo siad taht! 🙂
Red Arse,
we need a hot line between sites 😉
and i bet you don’t know what rico and i are talking about 😉
Sorry rico,
She had me in the loft getting the tree out.your right about the fixing no doubt in my mind about that,i could understand a yellow last night but a straight red was a bit harsh.
There has been talk of players being bribed, but on the wages they get, it must be a big bribe
Kelsey,
You know me too well! 🙂
Steve,
one could write a whole post about match fixing,bribery and coruption.Wherever there is gamblig involved there is a possibility of players and officials being bribed,and it has already been proved in a variety of sports,including low ranking FIFA officials,and i am talking before the WC draw.
Kelsey,
I love you, but your making my head spin! 🙂 Just been talking to your twin, elsewhere.
I’ve got to go and lie down, especially as Roci isn’t tlakng to me! 🙂
Nite all.
Trust you RA 😉
I am here, just busy with the aftermath of a few days break… mind you, you men wouldn’t know about that as you leave it for someone else 😉 😉
Nite Rico. Oops my spellin is bcak!
Tomorrow, tomorrow I’ll see you tomorrow ………
steve/kelsey – i am sure it goes on – how they do it i don’t know, maybe a kind of brail mark on the balls they draw or a paint spot… but i’m sure it’s all a fix…
kelsey, that’s a great idea, i wish i knew enough to write one, sadly, i don’t 🙁
Good night rico and you as well red arse.
lie down and take the pills and if you run out give me a call, i have plenty.
is that a hint,rico 😉
hi all…popping back on for a bit…but nothing to really talk about. no weekend match.
mme, you know me too well kelsey 🙂
no pressure and of course only if you would like too and i don’t want anyone else to be offended if you do…. thats wouldn’t be fair…
I will be in touch by telegram,rico 😉
You are always a day away RA 😉 Have a good evening 🙂
telegram kelsey, i’m still on the two cans 😉 😉
regardless, i look forward to hearing from you 🙂
hi oliver, its been a while since we had a monday night game, not a good place to go to either too with this cold weather…. i actually wouldn’t mind if this one gets called off….
nor would i. i kind of wish that we already played them. i would much rather play chelsea now – they are really down and i am concerned they will have righted their ship by the time our ems fixture with them arrives. no better time to give chelsea the thrashing we owe them, than now.
i think a lot is going on with chelsea oliver, not sure if that will be sorted in just a few weeks, thankfully they wont get any new blood in before we play them but what i feel has gone wrong is the departure of wilkins, maybe he was the ‘real’ coah and their manager now is being exposed – his head is truly on the line right now – and how i would love us to be the side that deals that fatal blow….
it’s interesting you say that rico – i think their problems go back a bit further to the summer. when quality and experience in the shape of ballack and deco were shunted out the door. balla’s loss, in particular, has hurt them. he may not have been everybody’s cup of tea, but when fat frank went down, he would have seamlessly stepped in and helped to hold this thing together.
i actually think all these things we mention signal that abramovich is once again hands-on with that club – shedding blood in the management structure and undermining ancelotti show who is in charge there.
as much as i hate chelsea, i have no problem with carlo ancelotti. i think he is a good manager and a decent fellow. but it is pretty evident that he does not have support. i don’t think butch is necessarily a better coach than ancelotti, but i think both the manager and the players relied upon him hugely for support. and i agree completely with you – butch’s dismissal has shaken that structure far more than any other single recent event. i actually think ancelotti will jump before they push him…
oliver – it started after their defeat to Inter according to Wilkins in his recent i/v – i dont care about the chavs really and the worse they do, the better it is for us and the PL, it will show that despite money to buy players, if the top of the club don’t gel, it dosesn’t work…
oliver – i have to go now, you enjoy the rest of your day and i’ll catch up tomorrow… thanks again for the post, i thoroughly enjoyed reading it and your emotion comes through… i totally understand how you feel as well….
Morning all, new post up….