We got out of Lisbon with an extremely handy one-nil to the Arsenal thanks to a late bit of quality from Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz, the substitutes combining to find us an injury time winner that we probably deserved on the balance of play but that did not look like coming right up until it did.
It was not a classic by any means, but we got the result we wanted and that was all that mattered ahead of a huge game in the PL on the weekend.
Our lineup looked good, and we began with some possession in defence, just to draw the sting from the early whistles of a crowd who were well up for this one. And well might they be. The match was barely five minutes old when Sporting’s Irish centre-back O’ Diomande played the best pass I have seen all season. With the outside of his right foot, he knocked it through our whole team, bending it between Saliba and White, with the perfect pace to slow up in time for the onrushing Araujo to take it on and smash a shot that looked to be heading in until a fingertip from Raya took it onto the bar. Great save, but the through ball was sensational. It was Sporting’s magic moment, but they failed to capitalise. When ours came at the other end of the ninety, we nailed it. Fine margins.
We slowly took control of the first half, having a lot of the ball, playing lots of passes in their half, but not creating a huge amount (I should have this sentence saved to speed-dial). Madueke hit the bar from a corner, but I think European VAR might have disallowed it for a slight push from Gabriel on their keeper.
As the game trundled on, I considered that I don’t much enjoy playing Portuguese teams because they whinge about everything. I don’t enjoy watching them foul our players and then make the diving gesture. I don’t much enjoy listening to their fans cry for a foul any time two players make any type of contact. There was plenty of that tonight, and I look forward to the return leg where our fans will be making the noise (although not complaining when the ref gives the opposition free kicks that we can all see are justified!)
We came closest in the thirteenth minute when an Odegaard free kick from wide looked to be on its way only for Diomande to get a head to it. The ball bounced down and out for a corner, but the big defender will have been relieved it didn’t hit the net. It could have gone anywhere.
Apropos of nothing much, although it was one of my standout first-half observations, Trincao has good hair and a dashing moustache. He looks like he’d make a fine swordsman as well as a tidy midfielder. Needless to say, the actual football was not thrilling. Unfortunately, this continued into the second half.
Ben ‘Jammin’ White gave us a mixed bag, mixing some good actions with some moments when he looked either off the pace or, at least, out of sync with his teammates. Still, I assume that he will get more match fit and then every little thing is gonna be alright. Similar from Odegaard, but the minutes will have done him some good, unless it turns out that he picked up an injury. He went down briefly and came off soon after but took his place on the bench and seemed okay. Fingers crossed, as we need him so much to knit our game together.
Trossard was rusty. Rice full of running and duel winning but not at his best going forward. Zubi looked like some rest has helped, but we need to keep him as fresh as possible as he’s so important. We had the ball in the net in the 64th minute after he crafted lovely finish, but it was ruled out because Gyokeres was clearly offside in the buildup on what was an underwhelming return to a ground where he has scored 4,139 goals.
Madueke had an interesting battle with Araujo, which probably ended about even. I don’t know how the defender avoided a yellow for a long series of fouls, but Sporting fans seemed to think Calafiori was given too much leeway, so maybe that ended up even. (Although the ref was good overall). Noni went on the outside too often, and his last action of the night was to finally cut inside and whip a dangerous ball past Trossard at the back post before they were both subbed with fifteen minutes remaining for Martinelli and Dowman.
We had spells where our press was effective, but we did not turn it into an advantage. We were the better side, but they were in the game and what actual chances there were fell pretty evenly. It looked like it was going to peter out goalless but Sporting wanted to find a winner. Luis Suarez showed some neat skill to get past Calafiori and put a good cross in, but Raya made an excellent save down low from Geny’s header. He made another double save when he blocked a low shot that squirmed out to the feet of some lad but our Spanish stopper made himself big, blocked the shot and gathered it in.
At that point, it did not look like we were the side more likely to get a winner, but that’s what happened and we will take it all day long. Martinelli dribbled around two players, chipped a curling cross into the box where the intelligent Havertz had ghosted into space, and the German took the ball down immaculately in front of him and finished exactly how we wish he’d finish all the time. It was easily our best piece of play all night and deserved to win us the game.
So… we kept a clean sheet, got the win to take back to the Emirates, and got a look at a side who we should be beating at home next week to go through to a second consecutive semifinal. All good.
Now, all eyes back on the Premier League.
Until next time, ‘holics.
Thanks GSD for a superb distillation of the 90 plus minutes into the essence of the affair (Perhaps, you can tell I’ve been in Scotland for a few days). I had the privilege of watching the game in the Polworth Tavern in Embra alongside members of the Arsenal Scotland Supporters Club. A nice pub which I commend to you if you’re in these parts and a good bunch of guys who would blend nicely into this community if given the chance, which I will do. Here’s a prescient half-time response before Kai’s goal:
Dino, a very sober and accurate review of the game. But I am over the moon. There is nothing better than a late, great winner. I’ve had several large malts 🥃 since the game ended. To repeat my previous drink:
Seen the goal back half a dozen times now. The drive infield by Gabi. Vik dragging the centre backs away, leaving yards of space around the penalty spot. Great curling ball from Gabi. Great first touch with his right foot by Kai and better finish with his left. Oh My Word.
A mina mina hey hey
Wake wake hey hey
60m down the drain
Kai Havertz scores again!
A wee problem with the image of the lads from Arsenal Scotland but hopefully this time:
A fine collection of gentlemen and scholars Bath!
Spot on C100 @ both 2 & 4!
Thanks GSD, very quick report and sharper than a Kai Havertz ghost into space.
Great result really, the lads looked pleased at the end and hopefully it
will steady the nerves of some of our shakier brethren.
Thanks GSD
I’ve sent about 25 WA messages to so called Gooners moaning that we didn’t play well tonight suggesting they realise that this was an away QF against a side that have won their last 17 at home .
We looked much better with Raya back, our two CBs together , Declan and Zubi and a committed display . The goal is well described but GSD and C100- it was a beautiful move. Let’s hope it supercharges us for Saturday !
One of the organisers of Arsenal Scotland shared this photograph with me tonight of a ceremony performed at the gravesite of David Danskin which was rediscovered in Coventry not long ago and at which Pat Rice was in attendance:
TTG @7, you need to fillet your contact list, mate!
Great photo Bath @8
I’m very impressed Pat Rice is getting along to
the ceremony too, every inch an Arsenal man.
That is an incredibly rapid, sucinct and perceptive summary of the game, GSD.
A late winner is always extra tasty icing on the cake.
Bath@8: lovely photo.
Great result Arsenal. Great report GSD. What is there not to like. Not to be looking for any such thing 😎
Excellent summary.
We look much better when the majority of our first team are on the field.
Great pity that Gyokeres didn’t think about getting back onside before Zubi put the ball in the net. That alone would have been his best contribution of the evening.
Cheers GSD! Well played to you…and the team.
Not an easy game, but a job ultimately well done in that first leg, I actually enjoyed this more than recent matches, not just the result.
And Raya is such a difference-maker.
Great photos, baff!
Feels good to be kicking back after a good away win,
not too bothered about who beats who in tonight’s CL
games, and much more relaxed over the Bournemouth
game.
Cheers GSD that was a very speedy and accurate match report. At the time I thought we played a good game against a team in good form and a fantastic home record. Twenty four hours later I’m of the same opinion with the added thought how trepedatious I was beforehand following the 2 below par performances in the cup games.
Let’s hope it’s the precursor to a return to good form in the remaining matches this season.
Cheers GSD – a great result against a team who had won their last 17 home games. Safety first performance but a home leg to come against a team that doesn’t travel well – and we have a one goal lead. No complaints here – and a lovely goal by Martinelli and Havertz. A shame another great finish by Zubimendi was chalked off too.
Nice work, GSD. I thought it was a tricky game against a side who played very much like the away team – they stayed in a rigid formation so as not to be opened up and looked to break quickly when they won the ball back. Arteta was spot on with his tactics of wearing them down and largely refusing to be drawn into the trap. In the end the substitutes made the difference, coming on against tiring defenders. 1 goal is a very slender cushion and I imagine we will see a similar game play out next week. Although they won’t have the benefit of a noisy home crowd and perhaps next weeks referee won’t give Araujo freedom to foul on the same Silva- Rodriesque level this one did.
I wasn’t impressed at all with the referee. He gave no real sense of calm or authority.
How many personal fouls must a player (Araujo) commit before a yellow card is shown?
He penalised Calafiori for a foul throw, raising one foot off the floor – I haven’t seen that law pursued for the last 10/20 years! I hope not to see him again.
UTA
@17,18. Yeah, the Araujo thing was just weird 😃
I thought the ref was ok overall and better than the guy in the Barca / Atleti
game who simply bottled the obvious Barca red card at first. And then didn’t book about 5
Atleti players and Simeone for waving imaginary cards.
I’d prefer Atleti if we do get through, but none of the quarters look done and dusted to me
though each has a clear favourite.
Sorry, that was meant to be @18,19 CER and Noosa as they both mentioned Araujo
Just a wee bit of local SA biffo
So i am a longstanding resident of Sarf Ostraya…and the recently appointed Mgr of my golf club – Blackwood (highly recommended, btw)..countered with the showing of my AFC cap
with ‘weren’t you in 2 cup-ties of late?”..Oh yes i responded but here’s the thing “we’re still realistically looking at the EPL Championship & possibly UCL #1 whilst you maybe working out the best way to get to Lincoln..he’s a Spud!
It was very pleasing to see the solidity back against Sporting…
COYG
Seems that Eze and maybe some others that MA wouldn’t say!
This maybe the most cheerful story of the week, from the FT:
AI models lose their shirts on Premier League bets
AI models from Google, OpenAI and Anthropic lost money betting on football matches over a Premier League season, in a new study suggesting even the most advanced systems struggle to analyse the real world over long periods of time.
https://www.ft.com/content/544cbd80-492e-4ee8-a8b4-66e447361651
And Spurtz slide silently into the relegation places
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>