April 6th
In the cold light of day the match last night seemed to fly by but watching it seemed to take ages, if that makes any sense. However, also in the cold light of day is the fact we put in a magnificent team performance and have made it through to our very first Champions League semi-final where we’ll play Vilarreal. And like all of you I am absolutely chuffed.
Juventus started brightly and looked like they might be dangerous but that was until we realised their plan of action was to pump long balls to Ibrahimovic or Trezeguet and that was meat and drink to Kolo and Phil at the centre of the defence. They had one decent effort through Zambrotta in the first half and that was it. At the other end a beautiful pass from Cesc and a sublime touch from Henry created and opening but Thierry’s shot was too close to Buffon who was by far their best player. The only slight downside to the first half was a Flamini booking for not touching a Juve player and a yellow for Reyes for time-wasting in the 35th minute. It looked like the ref was going to be a bit pernickity but I thought he was pretty good all night and didn’t fall for every single one of their little tricks.
In the second half Thierry had a great chance early on but he overran the ball and did the same thing a little while later, crashing into the Italian keeper who looked like he might have cracked a couple of ribs. There were one or two moments when Juvimbledon troubled us. One a great save from Jens when Ibrahimovic’s shot deflected off Gilberto and another fine save from Nedved as he ran onto the only header the Swede won all night. It got worse for him then as he picked up a booking for a crude challenge on Eboue and a second yellow for an even worse challenge. His pathetic attempts to fool the ref by pretending to be injured himself were laughable. He had to contend with Jens standing over him and there’s a great picture of 18 year old Cesc pushing our keeper away.
Late on we had chances when twice Cesc put Freddie clear. Once he should have cut back and squared it for the incoming Pires and the other his final touch was too heavy and again Buffon saved bravely. In the end though there was no doubt that Arsenal deserved to win the game despite the 0-0 scoreline and Juve were booed off by their own fans – a beaten and jaded team having been run ragged by the young Gunners. How they must feel sick that they let Thierry Henry go. Oh well, serves the cunts right for stealing Liam Brady.
It’s hard to single out anyone as man of the match because it was a nearly perfect team performance. It seems unfair to single out any one player above the other so I’m going to give it to a group. The back four plus Jens were just outstanding. At times it was like watching the legendary back 4. The way they moved together as a unit had me asking if Keown had been roping them together like George Graham did. They caught Juve offside time and time again and it was like watching synchronised swimmers. They kept a perfect line every time. They won almost every header, every tackle, the read the game brilliantly – Senderos in particular seemed to have some kind of magnetic connection with the ball – and they have set a new record in the Champions League for the longest time without conceding a goal. This so-called ‘makeshift’ back four has now played twice against Real Madrid and twice against Juventus without conceding and that is a serious achievement.
They’re so good together that you have to start thinking they should stay together no matter who comes back from injury. Is there any reason why Sol Campbell merits a place ahead of Senderos? No way. Does Mathieu Flamini deserve to lose his place just because Ashley Cole is fit again? No chance. Can Lauren really expect to replace the pacey, energetic and enthusiastic Eboue? It’s hard to see it. They might have been cobbled together temporarily because of injuries and suspensions but they have taken their chance and they deserve recognition for the way they have performed. Add to them a goalkeeper in the best form he’s probably ever been in and you have a solid base on which to play your football.
We can’t just laud the defence without acknowleding the contribution the midfield gives them. They ran and tackled and covered and although I felt we were sitting too deep too early in the second half they didn’t give Juventus the time to play football which is what forced them to resort to the long ball tactics Jack Charlton would even have squirmed at. And up front we’ve got the best player in the world, in my opinion, and a player who is now growing into the captain’s role which did look like a burden to him earlier in the season. I would also like to add a word or two about the manager. If Rafa Benitez or Jose Mourinho had beaten Madrid in one round and Juventus in the next without conceding a goal we wouldn’t hear the end of their ‘tactical genius’ and so on, so I hope people will take the time to give Arsene Wenger the credit he deserves for these great victories.
Post match reaction from Henry: “I’m really proud but I’m a winner and this is not the kind of history I’m looking to make. We’re trying to go all the way and that means winning it. It’s a good day for the club but let’s extend it.“
Post match reaction from AW: “We are very proud. Overall I feel we have become better and better over the past three or four months and that’s why we’re in the last four.”
Nice of Sky’s chief gobshite Geoff Shreeves to his best to dampen things by asking the manager about a bust-up with Robert Pires but no matter. We’re in the semi-finals and with the greatest respect to Vilarreal, because they are a very good side, we have a great chance to to make it all the way to the final. I love the lads!
