Arsenal Reserves 1 Spurs Reserves 2

Game of two halves.

Locked out with a hundred or so others for the first half. Heard Spurs scored two in the first 25 minutes.

Quite frankly the PR machine has to be far better. Some stewards shouted behind the iron gates, “it’s full.” But everybody could see loads of empty seats, which made people’s blood boil. After people had travelled quite a distance to see this match and it was bitterly cold. And not so much as a tannoy announcement.

When I got in at half-time I overheard Cole had been tackled heavily in the fifth minute and limped off. Ex-Arsenal player Paul Davis who was passing by said encouragingly: “He’ll be back.” Apparently it was a sprained ankle.

The second half, Arsenal pressed and were the better side, even though Spurs had first team players in such as Gardner, Bunjevcevic, Davenport, and Jackson.

Muama and Song dominated the midfield and Lupoli lead the line.

On 68 a neat through ball from midfield, saw the Italian, dink it over Burch.

Lupoli had another chance driving in from the right, but saw his shot just wide.

Stokes showed some nifty footwork, and from a similar move from a Muamba through ball, saw his shot narrowly miss the right hand post.

Bendtner showed remarkable dexterity for a six foot three forward, and also headed a chance for Lupoli to run on to.

Arsenal Reserves were a carbon copy of the first team – full of quick passing moves.

On the way to the game I was asked the way to Underhill. It turned out to be a friend of Lupoli, from Parma, who lives in Chelsea.

He said Arturo and Rossi of Man U are good friends from their Parma days. The Italian press said Rossi was ready for the Man U first team when arriving in England, while they said Arturo would be a good player in a couple of years.

Lupoli on this showing is deceptively quick, has an eye for goal is brave and has a change of gear.

Martin Jol made his way to the exit during injury time, having the decency to stop and sign autographs.

This was English soccer at its rawest and most honest – free, eccentric and slightly anarchic as families sipped tea from Thermos flasks, while an endless procession of people walked by for various reasons blocking other people’s views.

I recommend going – provided you can get into the spirit of the thing – and provided you can get in.

Arsenal: Almunia, Rodgers, Cole, Song, Kelly, Connolly, Simpson, Muamba, Bendtner, Lupoli, Stokes: Subs Randall, Mannone, Efrem, Elston, Tracy

Spurs: Burch, Lee, Bunjevcevic, Lewis, Davenport, Gardner, Davis, Jackson, Barcham, Dawkins, Daniels Subs Smith, Forecast, Maghoma, Martin, Hamed

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Game of two halves, Gary. Trouble is ninety minutes count. Forty five don’t. The ghost of the White Hart Lane draw affected this match.

It started OK. Upson even fashioned a chance for Vieira in the Deportivo area.

But the Arsenal Euro-away day self destruct button struck as early as the eighth minute.

Campbell, like on Saturday effected two lusty English clearances in the Arsenal area. But third time unlucky, as he hoofed the ball with his right, not left.

This is Europe when a split second wrong decision can be punished and cost millions, not only in TV revenue, and gate receipts, but on share price.

The ball rebounded to in-form Ron Makaay, who, with the aid of a deflection, hit a goalbound shot, towards a goalkeeper, whose confidence was also shot. And in over Richard Wright’s hands it went. Far corner.

Arsenal’s confidence and resolve evaporated.

Arsenal couldn’t keep posession. Wiltord lost it on several ocassions. Van Bronckhorst couldn’t find colleagues with passes. Henry ran offside with frequent regularity. And exhibited boyish tendancies, by kicking a ball away after he failed to control it on the touchline. That yellow could cost dear come March.

Arsenal needed men. They cried out for Tony Adams, with that galvanising 3D leadership.

Mid-way through the first half we could have witnessed the destruction of a young Arsenal goalkeeper. Tristan had the ball on the left of the area, Lauren backed off, and the highly rated forward unleashed a near post curler.

Wright looked as if the post-Poyet trauma affected his decision, aiming to push it round the post, with a distinct lack of confidence, rather than catch it. He was some distance from saving it.

Beaten at the near-post. A cardinal error in the goal-keepers union.

Did Wenger make a brave decision at half-time, by substituting Wright with Stuart Taylor? The stated reason was knee trouble. Wenger said he felt his knee on the second goal.

Houllier sacked Westerveldt after letting in a howler. And bought Dudek. Wenger, it is said preferred Wright to Dudek.

Would Dudek have saved both Deportivo chances that lead to goals? These are the leaps of faith that managers have to make, and take responsibility for.

It looks as though Wenger can give a half-time team talk which motivates.

He switched Ljungberg and Pires to alternate sides and pushed Wilord up with Henry.

Immediately, Vieira had a chance after a mix up in the Deportivo area. But Mauro Silva cleared.

Vieira, who was assuming a captain’s role, had another chance – which fell kindly, but which curled wide.

Ljungberg won a free kick near the end. But Henry, who had an off night, curled it just wide.

Arsenal made a fist of it in the second half, despite bookings for Lauren and Upson. And Deportivo were ordinary.

But this is the sixth defeat on the trot for Arsenal in Europe.

Would the missing players with experience – Adams, Dixon, Seaman, Keown and Bergkamp, have made a difference?

Wenger said:”They [Deportivo] looked little bit more mature, we looked a little bit nervous at the start of the game.”

He added:”You need a good start. Everything went against us tonight.”

Coach Javier Irueta may have decided that the game was won at 2-0 and told the team to sit back.

Irueta is a fine tactician. A Catholic, who instils, pride, team spirit and discipline in his team.

Arsenal want the latter three qualities for the whole ninety. Not just the forty five in Euro-away games in future.