Arsenal 6-0 Braga

Arsenal 6-0 Braga

Postby Rockin' Robin » Fri Sep 17, 2010 9:16 pm

What a win. We often have a great game in Europe where we either surprise a giant or destroy a minnow - this was the latter. To be fair to Braga, they aren't exactly minnows; beating Celtic and Sevilla, both over two legs, is no mean feat. Those upsets in qualification just make the victory seem sweeter though - some were expecting a tough game. But really, Braga didn't seem like their hearts were in it after a while. Fabregas (2), Arshavin, Chamakh and Vela (2) got the goals on a fine night in North London for us, as we ripped apart the Portuguese side.

The only change from the 4-1 over Bolton a few days earlier was the return of Samir Nasri from a month out on the sidelines, and he made his first home appearance of the season, replacing the in-form Tomas Rosicky. We kicked off the match, playing as usual towards what is now the Clock End. We had an attack straight from the kick off, but it came to nothing.

Just a few minutes later though, Cesc Fabregas had two good shouts for a penalty turned down in quick succession - the first when the skipper nipped the ball past a defender as it dropped from the sky, and the defender, stretching for the ball, seemed to take Cesc's legs just inside the area, but the referee from Luxembourg, much to Fabregas' disappointment, wasn't interested.

A few minutes later Cesc charged through the middle, and looked like he was sandwiched in between two Braga defenders, and went down under the challenge of the player on his left. It seemed a reasonable shout, but again, nothing doing.

Fabregas was in the thick of the action as usual, and soon he would become even more key in our performance. He took the ball down, turned, and slipped Marouane Chamakh in on goal. Our Moroccan striker skilfully took the ball past the goalkeeper Felipe, who slid into Chamakh with his legs. The referee just had to give it, and he did. Cesc strode purposefully towards the ball, and planted it on the spot.

He had the chance to get his first goal since that penalty that broke his leg against Barcelona, who he'd been strongly linked with through the summer. The referee blew his whistle, Cesc began his run-up - a little pause - and then a powerful side-footed finish into the corner of the net. Felipe, who had been booked for his foul on Chamakh, went the right way, but couldn't save it, such was the quality of the penalty.

Minutes later, Cesc was at the heart of another flowing move from Arsenal, as we got out of a tight crevice in the corner, and raced up the pitch in mere seconds. The ball was floated into the area for Fabregas, he touched it down to Wilshere, but his volley was saved. It was wonderful football.

Braga sort-of threatened once or twice after that, but they really weren't in the game at all, and we made our dominance pay in the 30th minute. Fabregas ghosted past the despairing challenges of three Braga players, and cleverly slipped in Arshavin. Felipe afforded him a gap at his near post, and Arshavin said "Thank-you very much", and drilled the ball into the goal from 10 yards out. And then celebrated like a mental patient.

Our crazy Russian was heavily involved in our third minutes later. He received the ball from Jack Wilshere, and looped the ball into the area, probably aiming for Wilshere. Chamakh helped it onto the English youngster with his chest, and Jack took a touch, and flicked a delightful back-heel through the legs of his marker. Chamakh pushed the ball out of his feet, and slotted powerfully into the bottom corner, Felipe powerless. Arsenal fans oooh'ed and aaaah'ed at the replays of Wilshere's ingenious piece of skill, as he celebrated with Chamakh and Fabregas.

We went into half time 3-0 up, having played some brilliant football, scoring plenty of goals - and came back out in the same vein. Fabregas chased after a through ball, and blocked the defender's attempted pass, and the ball spun out to Arshavin on the left. He took a couple of touches, and as Fabregas drifted towards the back post, he signalled that he wanted the ball in the air. Arshavin duly obliged, lifting the ball perfectly onto the head of our captain, who nodded home his second of the night from close range. 4-0 to the Arsenal. Are you watching Tottenham, was the chant from the crowd. If they wanted to learn how football was meant to played, they would be watching.

Soon, Carlos Vela and Denilson were on for Chamakh and Alex Song. The former substitute didn't take long to make his mark - a darting run into the area was seen by Arshavin, who found his team-mate, and Vela clinically clipped the ball over Felipe to make it 5-0 to the Gunners. A sublime finish from a supremely talented young man.

After Arshavin drilled the ball against the post, Wilshere then played a perfectly weighted high through ball to Cesc, giving him a chance at his hat-trick. He took it down, but unselfishly found Vela, who fooled the 'keeper, slotting past him at his near post, and with that, it was 6-0.

It finished like that, and Arsenal fans, players and staff alike could go home feeling satisfied with the evening's match. Dazzling football, plenty of terrific goals, and an emphatic win. What a way to start the Champions League.
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Re: Arsenal 6-0 Braga

Postby NYg00ner11 » Fri Sep 17, 2010 9:28 pm

Another quality write up, keep it up RR
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Re: Arsenal 6-0 Braga

Postby singaporegooner » Sat Sep 18, 2010 3:13 am

Great stuff..
Keep it flowing RR!
In Arsene We Trust!!
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Re: Arsenal 6-0 Braga

Postby Git » Sat Sep 18, 2010 6:33 am

Nice report mate. :)
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