Portsmouth 1 Arsenal 1
Arsenal and Adebayor blew it big time. Fourth place is no longer in their hands. Has anybody ever missed such good chances – open goals – in the same game? And how costly will those missed chances be?
Would Ashton or Samaras who moved in the January window for roughly the same price have missed those chances?
Adebayor is rough cut. Not the finished article. Buying him was a gamble. And his control and finishing was sub-standard last night.
Did this Arsenal performance deserve a win? Was the team playing for Henry‘s Arsenal future? If I were Henry and looking at those misses, to be honest, I’d wonder whether I’d prefer to be putting Messi, Ronaldhino in than Adebayor or Ljungberg next season.
Wenger tried a lot of new working relationships on the pitch tonight with Song and Diaby in the centre and Djourou in for Eboue. Campbell was reunited with Toure. Sensible approach to rest key players, but probably one or two new relationships too many.
Arsenal tired during the game, looked jaded at times and faded. The central midfield started well enough, but needed experience in there to carry through.
Was the Old Trafford effect working? Has Rooney set in the rot again, for the third time?
Quite a few Arsenal fans thought three points was a forgone conclusion. But Blackburn couldn’t beat Portsmouth on Saturday and they’d got 10 points from the last 12.
Arsenal played within themselves, appearing to do just enough. The way they played after the goal went in on 37 – it was a draw waiting to happen.
More bad news came in the form of Sol Campbell’s broken nose.
However it was the second record in three days for an Arsenal visit. It was the highest Premiership crowd at Fratton Park. Opposing fans want to see the type of football Arsenal play.
Arsenal were fast out of tracks. Portsmouth pressed.
Djourou sped like Eboue down the right wing.
Diaby settled in earely and set up Henry who lost control. Then the captain set up Flamini who wasn’t switched on.
Adebayor won a corner.
Diaby, bursting forward with purpose set up another attack, but it broke down on Adebayor. Diaby then set up Henry who miscontrolled.
Sol Campbell looking like he’s shed some weight was tested by Lua Lua’s little runs – but he coped well. Toure cleaned up a mistake at the back with his speed.
Reyes lost it, or gave away possession around four or five times in the half and once left Arsenal in trouble – he was rollocked by Toure who looks like a natural leader from the back.
Henry brought a high ball down but Stephanovic cleared.
O’Neill sent a ball over the top. Lehmann stumbled and Toure rushed back to clear.
Ljungberg was fouled by Taylor on the right, on the area line – a deliberate push. He complained and was booked – terrible refereeing by Rennie.
Adebayor was asleep as Stepanovic makes a mistake. A bit of alertness and he’s in one on one. But he loses it again taking it too far wide.
Henry loses it too. But shows professionalism and determination and steals it off Davis, set up a one-two with Adebayor ran into space and sidefooted it to Keily’s right, in off the post.
Campbell cleared Adebayor headed on to Reyes who took three touches and fired across to Henry on the side of the area. He passed to Adebayor to score into an open goal – but currently the man lacks quality and missed.
Benjani had a header and hooked shot wide. Mendes tried a long dipper.
At the start of the second, Benjani perpetrated a sly foul on Sol Campbell, coming in at an oblique angle with a raised arm and cut his eye.
Arsenal sat back and played a dangerous game on the counter. With Reyes off colour, and Adebayor and Ljungberg unlikely to score, that was likely to be ineffective.
Adebayor – showed a horrendous lack of control. Then Henry sets him up agin and he missed the chance. Van Persie was the obvious substitute – but he only got 13 minutes to salvage three points.
Midway through the second half, Campbell gave away a free kick on the left. D’Allessandro whipped it in. Arsenal’s zonal marking system allowed the smallest man in the area, Lua Lua to score. It nearly happended in the first half – but the warnings weren’t heeded.
Lua Lua injured himself with his celebration. Hughes came on and Portsmouth played a smothering 4-5-1.
Arsenal, who had played within themselves, looking like they’ were doing just enough, couldn’t find another gear
Henry set up Ljungberg, but the Swede has lost his goal-scoring touch and fired straight at Kiely.
Djourou missed a sitter on the angle from a corner.
Arsene Wenger, asked whether Tottenham are now favourites for fourth spot said: ” No. There few games to go. We didn’t lose tonight.”
Harry Redknapp said: “Great point to come back against Arsenal. Their forward line didn’t look too bad. Their teamsheet didn’t encourage us. They keep unearthing kids from somewhere. That one in the middle is a great player, looked like Vieira at times. The fans kept us going.”
Linvoy Primus said: “Anything is a bonus – lot of teams around thought we’d be beaten. We thought we had a chance given the week they’ll have.”
Portsmouth: Kiely, Taylor, Primus, Stefanovic, Priske, Mendes, O`Neil, Davis, D`Alessandro, Lua Lua, Mwaruwari Subs not used:
Ashdown, O`Brien, Routledge, Hughes, Todorov
Arsenal: Lehmann, Toure, Djourou, Campbell, Diaby, Flamini, Song, Ljungberg, Reyes, Henry, Adebayor Subs not used:
Poom, Eboue, Hleb, Bergkamp, Van Persie