Arsenal 5-0 FC Porto

Arsenal 5-0 FC Porto

Postby Rockin' Robin » Tue Mar 09, 2010 10:18 pm

Brilliant win for us, at home to Porto in Champions League Round of 16 2nd leg. We trailed 2-1 from the first leg at the Dragao, thanks to both dodgy refereeing and dodgy goalkeeping from Lukasz Fabianski. The team was Almunia, Sagna, Campbell, Vermaelen, Clichy, Song, Rosicky, Nasri, Diaby, Arshavin and Bendtner in the 4-1-4-1 (or 4-3-3) we have deployed all season. Cesc Fabregas and William Gallas were short-term absentees from the squad, while Robin van Persie, Kieran Gibbs, Aaron Ramsey and Johan Djourou will still be on the sidelines for some time.

After having a header at the far post saved well by Helton, Arshavin made a darting run down the middle through a gap left by Porto's defence, and Nasri played a good ball for him. Although it was intercepted, the weekend's villain for some, Nicklas Bendtner, was on hand to slide the ball into the empty net and celebrate his goal. Arshavin should have been flagged offside when he drifted back from an offside position to nod the ball back to Nasri, but after the poor refereeing of the first leg, I think we were due some luck in this tie, and we got it.

More great play from Arshavin saw him manouevre brilliantly past three players and cross the ball for Bendtner to tap in again on 25 minutes, although it wasn't to be the best individual moment of the match. 2-0 up after 25 minutes, 3-2 up on aggregate, and things were looking pretty good. Bendtner, Diaby and Nasri all had efforts saved, before the half time whistle blew.

Half time sub Cristian Rodriguez had a header cleared off the line by Nasri, before the Frenchman produced a wonderful moment. After receiving the ball back from Abou Diaby on the right wing, Nasri bamboozled two players and ran into the area to be confronted by three players around him. Twisting and turning more times than a country road, Nasri finally spun away from the trio of bewildered defenders to smash the ball in off of the post from a tight angle, and wheeled off in celebration - it was a truly fantastic goal. Having been nervous previously, we seemed to be finally home and hosed.

Eboue came on, and just less than a minute later we were defending a corner. Gael Clichy nodded clear, and the ball dropped to Arshavin, who set off with Eboue racing forward in support. With just two Porto players in front to stop him, Arshavin proceeded half way through Porto's end, before slipping Eboue in, who rounded the keeper superbly to slide in our 4th and his 1st.

The rout was complete when Eboue won a penalty (we seem to be getting more of those recently!) and it was only going to be Bendtner who took it. After a slight delay that could only have made Bendtner more nervous, he slotted home as the clock struck 90:00 to complete his first hat-trick in senior football. What a way to end a fine, fine win for the Gunners, without our two arguably best players in Fabregas and van Persie.
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Re: Arsenal 5-0 FC Porto

Postby maslo » Tue Mar 09, 2010 11:28 pm

great report, you write with real maturity.
was a great match and you summed it up well.
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Re: Arsenal 5-0 FC Porto

Postby mg86 » Tue Mar 09, 2010 11:30 pm

maslo wrote:great report, you write with real maturity.
was a great match and you summed it up well.


Its TMG, a head and shoulders above the rest of the pack his age, you come to expect it. Great read as usual.
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Re: Arsenal 5-0 FC Porto

Postby She_Gunner_Wales » Wed Mar 10, 2010 12:11 am

Nice account & well written as always. :clap:

Have to agree with the above, sometimes its hard to believe your age with the way you write, maybe a future career in tabloid journalism? ;)
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Re: Arsenal 5-0 FC Porto

Postby ayN » Wed Mar 10, 2010 2:21 am

Great report! I'm jealous!!!
Wenger please go away
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Re: Arsenal 5-0 FC Porto

Postby gooner-geeza » Wed Mar 10, 2010 2:40 am

Nice report dude :arse flag.gif:
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Re: Arsenal 5-0 FC Porto

Postby Gunner Down Under » Wed Mar 10, 2010 7:00 am

I so wish I watched the 2nd half, I had to go to early morning school training, and it wasn't actually on! :BangHead:
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Re: Arsenal 5-0 FC Porto

Postby Inchpräctice » Wed Mar 10, 2010 7:25 am

When you think about this result you have to credit the boss.
Key players missing, well the spine of the team in fact (RVP, Cesc, Gallas) plus two babies playing up front in Theo and Bendy.
A Grandad at the back that might've been playing for Notts County last night if things hadn't panned out, and we overturned a deficit from a game that we lost under harrowing circumstances.
Six of the starting line-up were returning from injury and we still BATTERED one of the top European sides.

:hail:



Good report by the way.
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Re: Arsenal 5-0 FC Porto

Postby Gunner Down Under » Wed Mar 10, 2010 7:26 am

Notts county to Arsenal? Who knew?

Sol was quality in the first half, dunno about the second :)
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Re: Arsenal 5-0 FC Porto

Postby Inchpräctice » Wed Mar 10, 2010 7:27 am

GPS Justin wrote:Notts county to Arsenal? Who knew?

Sol was quality in the first half, dunno about the second :)

He was quality in the second, don't worry. ;)

Very strong in the tackle.
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Re: Arsenal 5-0 FC Porto

Postby Gunner Down Under » Wed Mar 10, 2010 7:28 am

Can't wait to watch the replay.... tomorrow :(

I can see him playing for another two years
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Re: Arsenal 5-0 FC Porto

Postby Rockin' Robin » Wed Mar 10, 2010 7:29 am

Thanks all. :D
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Re: Arsenal 5-0 FC Porto

Postby Gunner Down Under » Wed Mar 10, 2010 7:35 am

The Midfield General wrote:Thanks all. :D


As usual! :biggrin:
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Re: Arsenal 5-0 FC Porto

Postby Gooner4 » Wed Mar 10, 2010 9:17 am

Inchpractice wrote:
GPS Justin wrote:Notts county to Arsenal? Who knew?

Sol was quality in the first half, dunno about the second :)

He was quality in the second, don't worry. ;)

Very strong in the tackle.


Didnt think much of him in the first half, seemed to be nervous..
Second half he was brilliant, Couldnt have asked any more of him to be honest.

Makes you wonder what we would have done if he never walked out on Notts County
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Re: Arsenal 5-0 FC Porto

Postby Marilo » Wed Mar 10, 2010 12:14 pm

Great Game! Watched it and loved it ;)
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Who the f*k is Messi?

We've got Cesc Fabregas!!!
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