Arsenal 0 Real Madrid 0 [Arsenal through to CL quarter finals 1-0 on aggregate]
Electric night at Highbury – one of the best European nights. The tie was on a knife edge – or should we say Toledo blade – and at times it seemed to hang over Highbury and the young team like the sword of Damocles.
If last night was good versus evil, this was youth versus experience, or rather youth and guts versus experience. Arsenal were without Cole, Campbell, Lauren, and started without Bergkamp and Pires and needed van Persie. Looking at the sides – it looked a ridiculously unbalanced contest.
On the way to the match, wondered if this was the last European night at Highbury and thought of Juventus in the early eighties, and Deportivo in the nineties and for some reason Hadjuk Split, a Lokomotiv side and Auxerre. There would have been more memories but for the Wembley experiment.
Beckham, Guti, Ronaldo and Zidane were passing fast in a little group in front of the West Stand in the warm up. Technically superb. To be honest, I thought Madrid would sneak it.
Arsenal were in a vigorous group training exercise, by comparison.
There was great vocal support in the stadium tonight – with a couple of terrace songs from the sixties – the Arsenal Boys and You are my Sunshine, along with regulars – Red Army, Greatest team etc; Someone had a whistle in the Madrid section and it took a bit of getting used to – you expected the game to stop all the time.
Madrid pressed. Ljungberg was upended near the Madrid area – but no foul was given.
On 3 Ronaldo could have put the tie up for grabs but he failed to give any direction to a free header from a cross from the right.
Roberto Carlos had a shot wide.
Henry and Reyes linked up and the Spaniard had a shot across the goal. But Madrid kept up the pressure for the first 15, with Arsenal dropping off.
On 15, Ronaldo had another chance – seemingly through on goal and ready to shoot, Gilberto performed an incredible saving tackle. After that, he faded.
The Spanish team favoured long diagonal balls for Raul and Ronaldo.
Reyes had the best chance of the half as Henry slipped him in with just Casillas to beat. But the Spaniard hit the crossbar as he lifted it over the sprawling keeper.
Hleb came into the game more – he was my Man of the Match – time and time again, his silky skills threatening the heart of the Madrid defence, linking up well with Henry. Although Thierry tied up the majority of the Madrid defence, holding the ball up well, ofetn dribbling and getting shots away. He enabled the midfield to stay as a tight unit.
Beckham had Lehmann scrambling back with a lofted free kick.
The referee was fussy – giving a lot of fouls Madrid’s way, which on another night could have cost Arsenal dear.
The second half was more open than the first. Madrid continued to pump long balls, but Toure was magnificent and Senderos grew in confidence. Flamini was only beaten once badly by Beckham all night, conceding a free kick on the edge of the area.
Ljungberg was effective in his new midfield role – linking the play well. His charge down on a Carlos free-kick was symbolic of his overall performance. The effect of a rejuvenated Freddie has on the team, biting into challenges cannot be underestimated.
Eboue came into the attack more, linking well with Hleb and going on some mazy dribbles.
Hleb and Eboue dribbled into great positions but their shots were deflected. If Hleb can be taught to shoot – he could be a helluva player.
Henry had a couple of chances – the first, a bender was tipped round the post. The second after a dribble he sent past the opposite post.
The turning point was Lehmann‘s spectacular one-handed save from Raul. From a Beckham knock down, Raul struck a firm half-volley which hit the post. Quickest on to the rebound, he fired towards the far corner, and Lehmann had to re-adjust in mid-flight to parry the ball out.
With Madrid throwing everyone forward, the ball broke to Pires (on for Reyes) and he ran half the length of the pitch, kicking the ball goalward – but it lost momentum and was saved inches from the line by Carlos.
Highbury had a heart in mouth moment as Senderos had a Willie Young moment and miskicked a Beckham cross over his own bar.
Robinho had a shot which could have won it in injury time, but Lehmann saved well, low down.
Arsene Wenger said: “Two good games. Another demonstration you can have a great 0-0. We had a shaky start, but after first fifteen, we created chances. Something is happening in this team – it is gelling together and we can show chararcer. We’ll represent the Premiership with proud dignity and style and fight as hard as we can in the quarter finals to go through again.”
Asked about Madrid putting new stars on, he said: “I felt it was important not to panic and score on the break. Keeping clean sheets gives us great confidence. We are quite consistent.”
Cesc Fabregas said: “They put us under pressure. We are not scared of anyone. Of course we can win the Champions League – we beat Real Madrid. No-body is invincible.”
Thierry Henry said: ” It was very tense, they sent long balls to Baptista and Zidane – top players. We’ve shown character. I think we should have won the game.
“It was tense. There was suspense at the end. Both teams tried to play and there were chances. It was not a boring game. Not conceding against Real Madrid – it was special. The referee was not used to the English game and gave a lot of free kicks around the box. Jens’ save turned the match.”
Henry added optimistically: “With great desire you can achieve a lot.”
Arsenal: Lehmann, Eboue, Toure, Senderos, Gilberto, Fabregas, Flamini, Hleb Bergkamp (86), Bergkamp, Ljungberg, Reyes, Pires (68),
Real Madrid: Casillas, Carlos, Ramos, Gravesen, Baptista (68), Raul, Cassano (73), Ronaldo, Salgado, Robinho (84), Beckham, Zidane, Guti,