Arsenal 1 PSV 1 (PSV though the CL quarter finals 1-2 on aggregate)
This is like a Rorsach test.
Which side of the fence do you sit?
One of those seasons when the luck just wasn’t there. Or Arsenal are never going to break through to another level with the current set up?
The atmosphere was disappointing. It was too tense. Maybe the directors should have given out Arsenal flags, or T-shirts, or something to bind or bond the crowd. The vibe wasn’t right. Compare the Anfield game to Ashburton.
Given the problems in the Reading game – you ain’t gonna change players, and their first touches overnight. The line-up didn’t inspire confidence. Hleb made a mistake at the same time as the Reading game by giving away an unnecessary foul. Was it tiredness or naievity?
The quality of finishing just wasn’t there. Arsenal had enough chances to finish – but didn’t take them. Henrik Larsson may well have scored from some of those. There’s a lot of Arsenal fans who think the only thing wrong is the lack of a sharp striker.
Would van Persie, Rosicky and Eboue have made a difference? Most probably.
Toure, at right back, looked like he was the most likely to score in the first half. He broke through in the first 11 but shot wide instead of passing to the unmarked Adebayor.
But maybe the Togo forward wouldn’t have taken it. Because when Fabregas dinked it in his control was missing and Gomes saved. Would van Persie or Larsson have scored – possibly.
Ljungberg set up Toure for a low drive – saved by Gomes.
Denilson sent in a good cross – similar to Robben‘s in the Carling Cup Final – but Adebayor headed wide. Thoughts of ‘you get what you pay for’, surfaced, unfortunately.
A lucky rebound from a Fabregas effort found Baptista who should have scored – but again – the curse of too much power – saw it shake the crossbar
The main chance PSV had came from a right wing cross with Cocu heading just wide.
Baptista tired an ambitious overhead at the other end – wide.
And then Gilberto, playing centre back with Gallas, lost the ball to the maruading Farfan, and was lucky not to concede a penalty.
The goal from a well struck corner by Denilson. Adebayor got a touch and the Chelsea connected Alex knocked it into his own net.
The crowd awoke. It was like a cold wet blanket under an ever-tightening corkscrew was lifted.
The technically and tactically defensively astute PSV changed shape – abandoning the five at the back – with a sweeper when Arsenal attacked – suddenly became an attacking side.
Adebayor should have finished it though when one on one with Gomes – but he blasted it straight at the big Brazilian.
Fabregas could have scored too with a rising shot.
Henry came on for Baptista. But he looked as if he shouldn’t and appeared to pick up another injury (stomach and groin). He still set up some lovely moves and had a free kick beaten out.
Denilson was lucky not to give away a penalty when he ran into Farfan.
Hleb‘s foul near the corner was bad. Alex leapt high – Diaby didn’t get nearly as high and the Brazilian powered it past Lehmann.
Arsenal looked to have given up when that went in with seven minutes left. Some of the crowd left. But respect to those Arsenal fans singing: “Arsenal till I die” right to the end.
We miss Pires with his goals and fast through balls, badly. And one or two other experienced players. Chelsea rely hugely on two spinal players which win matches costing £32m – Cech and Drogba. Wenger has to buy big to get quality in two or three key positions. Ferguson got two match-winners, Rooney and Ferdinand for £58m.
One ANR reader points out that Arsenal have been dumped out of the three cups with goals in the last ten minutes, and that we need a defensive leader to keep concentration until the end.
Woodgate, Eto’o and Akineef are all linked at the moment – and are what Arsenal need to supplement the youngsters.
After all, it is not risk free playing youngsters. Being knocked out of three cups in eleven days could permanently scar some of them.
Arsenal: Lehmann, Clichy (Walcott 85), Toure, Gallas, Denilson, Fabregas Gilberto, Ljungberg, (Diaby 75) Hleb, Baptista, (Henry 66), Adebayor. Subs not used:Almunia, Djourou, Traore, Aliadiere
PSV Eindhoven: Gomes, Alex, Xiang Sun, Salcido, Féhér, Cocu, Mendez (Väyrynen 92), Culina, Simons, Kone (Afellay 41), Farfan (Addo 89) Subs not used: Moens, Marcellis,Tardelli
Referee: Alain Hamer