Porto 2 - 1 Arsenal
Posted: Thu Feb 18, 2010 8:02 amSimply not good enough, and there are several reasons in why feel that way. The blame of the defeat to Porto cannot be put onto the shoulders of Arsene Wenger, as he played a team capable of bringing back a precious lead back to the Emirates Stadium. It was the below-par performances of players that should be doing better. Let’s face it, I don’t expect Porto to go through because we’ll be too strong at home for them, but we aren’t putting ourselves in a great position.
The game didn’t start too kindly for the Gunner’s. Falcao, who was a constant threat in Portugal, ran at Sol Campbell and got behind the English defender. But Sol didn’t give up that easily and found a world class diving tackle to pull the ball away from the Columbian. The Portuguese Champions were running wild, and Hulk could have made it advantage Porto, having dragged his shot wide. They were missing chances, chances that they would rue at the end of the day, but they made their breakthrough in the 11th minute after terrible goal keeping from Fabianski. Silvestre Varela’s cross should have been easily caught by the highly rated Polish International, but he had let weak cross roll hurriedly into the back of the next.
Nobody could believe this. We had just conceded a silly goal that could have a key role in putting us out of the Champions League, but maybe that was over exaggerated. The Arsenal contingent fought back, and in style. Cesc Fabregas, who was continuously bullied throughout the tie, was the orchestrator as we got out vital away goal. Our first ever goal in Portugal, and guess he scored? Our beloved Sol Campbell of course, and in fairytale fashion having scored his last Arsenal goal in the 2006 Champions League Final. The Spaniard sent over one of his better corners of the evening, the brilliant Tomas Rosicky lashed the ball back into the area at the far post and big Sol was there to smash it home. It was awesome, it was classy, it was Arsenal.
We approached the 2nd half being the better team. Nicklas Bendtner was leading the front line very well, Tomas Rosicky was working hard and so were the rest of the team. It had been a pleasing encounter so, and we were in the driving seat, rearing to get our 2nd goal and the game. And we looked more likely in doing so as we started the second period as the better side. Arsenal were driving, harassing, and simply outplaying Porto, and we should have had a penalty when Rosicky fell in the area due to contact. The penalty was denied, and Porto went up the other end to make us pay. The non-communicating Pole pulled off enough piece of thoughtless goal keeping when he picked up a back pass from Campbell where he should have booted the ball out at first thought.
Quick play from the tricky Brazilian, Hulk, had set-up an easy opportunity for Falcoa to take Porto into heaven. The striker easily dispatched the ball home in controversial manner. Porto was in heaven and we were in hell, the Gunner’s were livid, not just the players but the fans too. We now had to find a goal back against such a resilient defence. But we could play through them, or could we? Bruno Alves and co kept us at bay, and that was game over, we had missed many chances to beat Porto. Abou Diaby and Cesc Fabregas were goal shy all night when they really should of had a go at goal. We weren’t playing quick football; it was all too very slow with too many touches in between the passes.
It was a frustrating evening, but don’t lose faith yet, because these Gunner’s aren’t going to give up the fight just wait. Bring on the 2nd leg!
The game didn’t start too kindly for the Gunner’s. Falcao, who was a constant threat in Portugal, ran at Sol Campbell and got behind the English defender. But Sol didn’t give up that easily and found a world class diving tackle to pull the ball away from the Columbian. The Portuguese Champions were running wild, and Hulk could have made it advantage Porto, having dragged his shot wide. They were missing chances, chances that they would rue at the end of the day, but they made their breakthrough in the 11th minute after terrible goal keeping from Fabianski. Silvestre Varela’s cross should have been easily caught by the highly rated Polish International, but he had let weak cross roll hurriedly into the back of the next.
Nobody could believe this. We had just conceded a silly goal that could have a key role in putting us out of the Champions League, but maybe that was over exaggerated. The Arsenal contingent fought back, and in style. Cesc Fabregas, who was continuously bullied throughout the tie, was the orchestrator as we got out vital away goal. Our first ever goal in Portugal, and guess he scored? Our beloved Sol Campbell of course, and in fairytale fashion having scored his last Arsenal goal in the 2006 Champions League Final. The Spaniard sent over one of his better corners of the evening, the brilliant Tomas Rosicky lashed the ball back into the area at the far post and big Sol was there to smash it home. It was awesome, it was classy, it was Arsenal.
We approached the 2nd half being the better team. Nicklas Bendtner was leading the front line very well, Tomas Rosicky was working hard and so were the rest of the team. It had been a pleasing encounter so, and we were in the driving seat, rearing to get our 2nd goal and the game. And we looked more likely in doing so as we started the second period as the better side. Arsenal were driving, harassing, and simply outplaying Porto, and we should have had a penalty when Rosicky fell in the area due to contact. The penalty was denied, and Porto went up the other end to make us pay. The non-communicating Pole pulled off enough piece of thoughtless goal keeping when he picked up a back pass from Campbell where he should have booted the ball out at first thought.
Quick play from the tricky Brazilian, Hulk, had set-up an easy opportunity for Falcoa to take Porto into heaven. The striker easily dispatched the ball home in controversial manner. Porto was in heaven and we were in hell, the Gunner’s were livid, not just the players but the fans too. We now had to find a goal back against such a resilient defence. But we could play through them, or could we? Bruno Alves and co kept us at bay, and that was game over, we had missed many chances to beat Porto. Abou Diaby and Cesc Fabregas were goal shy all night when they really should of had a go at goal. We weren’t playing quick football; it was all too very slow with too many touches in between the passes.
It was a frustrating evening, but don’t lose faith yet, because these Gunner’s aren’t going to give up the fight just wait. Bring on the 2nd leg!
