We approached this game in a state of disarray. 3 games lost out of the last 4, where we had lost fewer games than that in the previous 40. I and many others, had been to Wembley, Southampton and the Emirates and seen 3 performances the only descriptor for which is bloodless. We had had talk from Mikel about bringing lunch and dinner and getting behind the team. Ahead of this game the talk from the manager was of “no fear, pure fire.” After such Stentorian calls to arms, there could be no hiding place. Mikel has always been one for fierce words. Of late though, it has increasingly seemed that he has been shouting into the void. A performance aligned with the rhetoric was required.
The teams were announced and the injuries continue to be considerable, with Havertz not starting and Saka, Timber, Odegaard and Calafiori not even making the bench. Merino is still out. The bench contained 16-year-olds Dowman and Salmon, 19-year-old MLS and 20-year-old Harrison Dudziak, along with 2 keepers. Out of an 11 man bench. What is Arteta supposed to do?
Pre match, the crowd was deafening. A fabulous rendition of NLFE. What little hair I have was on end.
Arsenal started at great speed. Pressing from Madueke. Arsenal noticeably started very fast with quick forward passing. Players like Eze and Madueke showing, taking responsibility early on. Great to see as it is this that has been missing for the last 6 weeks. For the first 5 minutes, this was the Arsenal we have wanted to see for so long.
After 10 minutes Sporting began to see more of the ball. 12 minutes, a Sporting player with a name alarmingly close to Catamite faked an injury in a sad attempt to get a penally. The nominative determinism adjacent Sporting player was truly pathetic, and was treated as such in one of the, at best, scatty, referee’s more insightful decisions.
17 minutes, Arsenal played around their press really well, only for Saliba to play a terrible pass giving the ball away and allowing a bloke with a tache straight out of a late 70s porn movie to take a shot. Fortunately, this went wider than I imagine the bell bottoms on said porn stars trousers may well have been. Had I seen such a movie. Which I haven’t.
20 mins, some other bloke should see a yellow card for a cynical foul on Madueke. Free kick. Terrible short free kick routine from Arsenal. Fortunately, Martinelli raced back to rob the Sporting player. Hmm.
28mins – best move of the day brilliant pass from Eze sees Zubi pass to Gyokeres who scuffs. Corner results but nothing comes of it.
Raya on 39 made the kind of awful pass out from his box that we would have absolutely slaughtered Kepa for, but, not for the first time, he got away with it. Then, on 42 they hit the post, a cross to the back post from Araujo who oughtn’t even to have been on the pitch after his first leg performance, went to Catamite who, unmarked, hit the post.
Half Time Arsenal 0 Sporting 0
Sporting started faster. When we had the ball, Gyokeres was a complete passenger. One long ball saw him rooted to the spot while his marker ran straight past him to chest it down. This is not good enough.
On 49 from a short free kick Eze hit a shot which went 5 feet past the post. On 55 Madueke went past 2 on the right, crossed and Martinelli hit over. On 56 the invisible Gyokeres was taken off for Havertz.
Madueke had another shot just past the post on 56. Better. On 60, Madueke was taken out, yet again no foul. The referee was not good. Madueke had to be replaced by Dowman.
On 65 the professional cheat Araujo made an absolutely shocking dive trying to get a penalty. This player should not even be on the pitch at this point, after his dozen fouls in the away leg and rightly the referee ignored it.
After 71 minutes, Arsenal won what seemed like our first header by a forward. Havertz wins these, Gyokeres cannot. He increasingly seems to be a man confined to the ground as if he were wearing Neil Armstrong’s moon boots.
An alleluia moment on 78 when finally, Araujo finally received a booking after 170 minutes of seemingly licensed fouling. Presumably, the referee was simply embarrassed into it.
We then had 2 subs – Trossard for Martinelli. Jesus for Eze.
On 83, a looped corner from Dowman wide of the back post saw Trossard head from 6 yards onto the post. It was noticeable how the vacuous commentary pair of Champion and McCoist reacted rather less animatedly at this one that the Sporting one in the first half.
Arsenal played the game out, pretty much without event.
Final Score Arsenal 0 Sporting 0
Notes:
Firstly. my moral cowardice meant I didn’t attend tonight. I went to Wembley, Southampton and then home to Bournemouth. I couldn’t take any more. Pitiful. I apologize.
Secondly, We are now in the semi-finals of the Champions League/European Cup for the first time in consecutive years. Ever.
Thirdly, 2 of the other 3 clubs we have beaten in the qualifying rounds. None of the other clubs plays in a competitive league.
D. Arteta has clearly known that we have been running on fumes for the last 6 weeks. As a result, the only tool he has had is rhetoric. It has been difficult, but sometimes this is all a leader can call on. This might not be our finest hour. But sometimes, we need to be told that that we need to put the effort in as if it were. I was lacking. The players were not.
Whatever happens from here on in, let’s just try to hold that in mind.
Cheers CER!
Happy? Not for me. Relieved, yes. Been a bit of a mad few days at work, which hasn’t helped, I could have done with some entertainment.
Watching the Arsenal while not in the stadium has become a bit of a chore here. Grateful for that late goal in the first leg that potentially saved us an extra 30 min if this one had turned out the same pattern.
Mind you, I suppose I’d be happy enough with a boring 0-0 on Sunday, the way we are playing. I’ll be working at the same time though, so can’t have an exciting game, heh.
At least this was better than against Bournemouth.
Thanks CER for taking on the task of putting lipstick on a pig. That game was a tough watch. We are playing like actors who are trying to perform a familiar routine but can barely remember their lines and amongst whom the leading roles are missing. And yet, we are into the CL SF and for the consecutive year, for the first time.
Many have commented on how flat they feel despite that huge achievement. That is understandable. Last night we snuck into the SF like a thief whereas, only a few months ago, we appeared to be sweeping all before us, conceding few chances and seemingly scoring at will. Nonetheless, despite recent calamitous performances (and I still haven’t dared to watch the Bournemouth defeat),last night, our defence once again restricted a respected opposition to a single shot on target and we achieved our objective of reaching the SF. I don’t know if we could have moved up a gear had the opposition scored. Fortunately we didn’t need to find out.
I am reminded of the path of Clough’s Forest to their European Cup triumphs – I seem to recall lots of tedious, tight, uninspiring games. No-one carps about the route, if you lift the prize. Just do it, Arsenal. Get the job done. There are no prizes for artistic merit.
Sadly, Madueke looks well crocked. Get the masseurs on the rest of them.
COYG
baff, as usual, put it far more eloquently than I did, but the feeling’s the same. 🙂
Thanks for a fast-paced report of a game of which I have only seen the highlights, CER, but you can take the hair shirt off now. Bath is spot on in saying that no one carps about the route if you lift the prize.
Let me also repost some stats from the previous drinks: We restricted Sporting to an xG of 0.29 (and 0.21 from open play), allowed them eight shots all game (vs our 15), of which only one was on target, and conceded a single ‘big chance’. The shot map shows how well our defence controlled their attack.
Well done CER. I suspect this may have one of those nights when it was more difficult to watch the game on tv than live because you don’t have the catharsis of shouting, singing and swearing at the referee (who made some very odd decisions). I was very proud of the team last night. They gave their all and smothered Sporting. The defence and midfield were excellent. Zubi got MOTM and he did play well, much better than recently, but my MOTM was Hincapie who was immense at left back. The front four just didn’t click, although Eze was good. I would play Kai up top against City.
The crowd were immense, loud and proud from the start. The only people complaining are the folk seated in front of keyboards rather than standing on the terraces. As long as the team gives everything, and they did last night, the crowd will be behind them, cheering every tackle, clearance and interception.
We can do Atletico. In the form we are in I wouldn’t fancy us against Bayern Munich or PSG in a two legged tie but anything can happen in a one off match.
Thoughts now turn to Sunday. A long drive to Manchester for a vital game in a stadium I dislike, against a team who have cheated consistently, whilst mingling with home fans who are obnoxious. Squeaky bum time.
That tifo. Bravo.
Cheers CER. Good stuff.
I’m very much with Coutryman. I thought we played a smart game under the circumstances and was more than happy with the performance. We were already a goal up, and played like it.
Our template has to be that we keep things as solid as we can and make ourselves hard to beat. Then we rely on set pieces, moments of individual brilliance, or the occasional team move actually coming off to get us the goals we need. This was a step in the right direction.
I suspect this may have one of those nights when it was more difficult to watch the game on tv than live because you don’t have the catharsis of shouting, singing and swearing at the referee
I’d say you probably nailed that feeling there, C100.
Cheers CER, a correct report of the tight game we played against a well drilled Sporting side..
Otherwise what GSD said @8
COYG
Entertaining and amusing summary of a game which seems to have been a difficult watch (unless like C100 one was pitch side) and I can confirm was also a difficult listen – although I almost witnessed an Arsenal radio all-time first when Adrian Clarke came close to completely evacuating his bowel on air when Raya made the error to which CER refers.
The achievement of a second consecutive semi-final is a remarkable one that delights me. I will try very hard to obtain a ticket for the home game and hope mightily that Mikel can add, JT, MO, RC, BS and who knows, maybe even MM to his match day squad without the absence of a single one of the gallant company that locked things down so well last night.
I too would, most certainly, start Havertz up front on Sunday in possibly a 4-4-2 formation.
Finally, I thought that Mikel and Declan’s post match interviews more than got the job done. Mikel’s sparked an interesting numpty fest afterwards on BBC.
Cheers CER for stepping into the breech, not an easy match to purr over.
Our defence and midfield performed well and restricted the Sporting attack to just 1 shot on target – although Raya did give them their assist of the match which so surprised their forward he couldn’t take advantage of tge opportunity. Zubi retu4ned to form @nd rightly was nan of the match.
Our forward line was hopeless and only Marti’s track back to def3nd their breakaway was worthy of note. Nonetheless to get to consecutive SFs a fantastic achievement but we do need to find our goal scoring form – even our set pieces seem to h@ve lost their effectiveness. Still much to look forward to ( in hope ) in the next few weeks.
Thanks CER for a very interesting take on a game I didn’t see but which is likely to go down as a considerably bigger game in our club’s history than we considered it to be at the moment it was played. An even more important game awaits us on Sunday which I may just about be able to see as I land at Split airport in Croatia a few hours before kickoff so will be looking for a place to watch the big game with appropriate atmosphere and if possible with fellow Gooners. COYG
Thanks CER, a fine report and fair summing up
of the situation. Others have said everything worth saying
about the game really, though I might be alone in thinking
the ref had a good game.
On we go
RIP Alex Manninger. Very very sad. 🙁
Very sad news reached us that Alex Manninger our reserve goalkeeper in the 97/98 double season had died after his car has been hit by a train . He was a very fine keeper and will be fondly remembered in the football world He was 48 . RIP Alex
Firstly many thanks to CER who stepped in to do the report when my travel plans vs k from the game changed
If Mourinho had been in charge of Arsenal we would have had paeans of praise for a catenaccio person of high quality , Defensively we were good and so agree re Hincapie he had a super game especially as he was coming back from injury , Sadly we were anaemic upfront and Gyokeres was particularly disappointing. Eze and Rice toiled hard and Martinelli worked back very well . It is a substantial achievement to be unbeaten in twelve games in Europe having conceded only twice . Sunday looms large . A point would be wonderful
@13 bt8, I had success in Split at O’Hara’s Irish Pub. Several other Gooners there on the night. Croatia’s a fantastic place for a holiday. Enjoy.
Catenaccio person should read ‘ performance’.
I omitted to compliment CER on a very good report of a strange game . One further point – despite Raya’s shot- stopping brilliance I think he sometimes unnerves the defence by faffing around with the ball at his feet. He certainly unnerves me
Alex Manninger rest in peace.
Fantastic summary, CER. Full stop.
I wish it could permeate the Gooner network worldwide, because this is the sensible discourse we need.👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
Roll-on Sunday.
MCMBD
RIP Alex Manninger.
Reports are emerging from Marseille today that Ethan Nwaneri is not being played by OM because ‘ of an impression of nonchalance’ . Apparently the loan fee reduces the more he plays . I was very impressed by his performance at Portsmouth but this is not a good impression to create
TTG. That sounds like a load of old cobblers to me – leaked to make the OM management looked better.
If there is even a hint of truth to it then I’d suggest that taking the diffidence of a naturally shy 19 year old in a foreign country as nonchalance tells us more about the OM management than the player.
Adrian Clarke on the game:
Took my morning walk round the park and ventured to listen to the Athletic “Handbrake Off” podcast this morning. Frankly, I was blown away by Amy Lawrence’s positivity. She was fantastic. The “ Up Your Arsenal” section was nothing short of inspirational. Do yourself a favour and listen to it.
COYG.
I’m with GSD on Nwaneri.
However, loaning him there purely on the basis of De Zerbi being the manager at the time (as Arteta himself basically stated) was a little risky, given how instable that club can be.
It worked with Saliba, but obviously, Saliba’s own more extroverted personality…and mother tongue, made it a lot easier for him in that Marseille context.
I only had contact with Alex Manninger once, in a very fleeting way. I had held a dinner at Sopwell House in St. Albans for our panel of advisers. A merry night was had and a full English was the obvious follow up .
As I left breakfast I saw Tony Adams and Steve Boukd strolling through the hotel in their training gear. This was during the period where their training facility had been burnt down and they had not built the state of the art facility we have now.
Some players were having breakfast and given Wenger’s views in nutrition and my own gluttony I was interested to see what they were devouring .
Alex Manninger had three large croissants, demolished them and went back for three more! He was a growing lad but I’m not sure that was on Arsene’s diet sheet ! I didn’t feel quite such a glutton thereafter .
I’m not aware he had a full English afterwards though!
Nice anecdote, TTG! 🙂
That’s an interesting anecdote, TTG. Alex Manniger must have had a very high metabolic rate to consume so much carbohydrate at breakfast and not turn into a blob. He was an excellent keeper, making several match winning saves as I observed in the review of the 1997-98 title-winning season. Alex Manninger’s death at the age of 48 is truly a tragedy. As Andrew Mangan said in his blog this morning, this puts angst over a football game firmly in perspective. RIP Alex. Thank you for your sterling work for the Arsenal.
TTG@28: Nice story. Elite sportsmen need to eat a lot. Your anecdote reminds me of one a US comedian, Paula Poundstone, told after learning that a particular US Olympic swimming gold medalist consumed 12,000 calories a day. America, she said, doesn’t have an obesity problem; it has a swimming problem.
Thanks, CER for an enjoyable read. I’ve only just made it after a bit of a week.
I’ve kept away from all other things to do with football as I’m bored and angry at all the negativity, supplied mostly by people who probably struggle to get themselves dressed in the morning.
This was a different Sporting side to the one we played last season. I’m honestly not sure whether that is down to a change mainly in personnel or coach and attitude. However, different they are and we did well to see them off, once again without conceding, especially in the light of our ongoing fitness issues.
RIP Alex Manninger – gone at 48. Terrible ❤️
Thanks CER for the comprehensive review. I thought we got better in the second half, and speed of passing as well as positive intent both sharpened. Very promisingly, Zubimendi seemed to have found a semblance of his original form. May this be the beginning of a steep upward curve towards our best. Can’t wait to have Timber/Saka/Calafiori/Ødegaard back.
Very sad news about Alex Menninger. Condolences to his loved ones.
About Nwaneri — what I heard is that the new manager dislikes Ethan from earlier when he was Rennes manager and apparently there was a challenge by Ethan on one of the Rennes player (an ex-gunner I think) which started this, small minds and all that …agree with Ollie about the trustworthiness of anything that comes out of that club …
bt8@13: Split in April is great. I have been there in all seasons and spring is my favorite. The mad crowd of summer hasn’t formed yet but all the places and especially all restaurants are open. Swimming won’t be the pleasantest but other than that everything else is perfect. The islands as well. As BtM mentioned, O’Hara’s is a good choice for watching the match, unless there is a Hajduk match in Split that day. Another lesser known option is maybe the lovely upscale restaurant inside the Santa Lucia hotel — a bit away from the Riva and inside the palace area — where you can request them to turn the match on in the bar.
Heh, Ned @ 31 😀
Many thanks BtM and Dr F for your Split recommendations. I am staying a bit south of town so hopefully there will be time to get to those places.
Hajduk don’t seem to have a game that day Dr.F. Thir next league match is on Tuesday so I hope ai haven’t overlooked sone Euro competition they may be involved in. 👍🏼
It’s a great city. Make the time, bt8. And visit Hadrian’s palace and the old town.
bt8@36: Hajduk isn’t playing in Europe so you should be all set for the pub. If by south of the city you mean towards Podstrana/Omiš you can take a quick bus, if it’s further south to Brela etc. and you are driving then plan on arriving early for parking. Enjoy your time in Dalmatian coast! 🙂
Bath@37: I think you mean Diocletian’s palace. 🙂 He was born along this coast in Solin and returned back after retirement.
Got to love the cosmopolitanness of this fine establishment—as au fait with the Dalmatian Coast as Dalston.
A marvellous tribute from Martin Keown (there’s only one…) to Alex Manninger:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/ckgxpklxj5wo
Thanks, I stand corrected Dr F @38.
Thanks Bath, that is great from Keown, I wouldn’t have imagined
Martin, Alex, Stephen Hughes and Matt Upton as a Play Station quartet.
It’s a nice thought.
>>>>>>>