PSV 1-0 Arsenal – 20/02/07 – (Champions League) 21 February, 2007

Oh Shit. All I wanted out of this fixture was one away goal, I said I’d settle for a 1-1 but I was trying not to sound too confident as I actually thought that side could’ve battered PSV. Somehow, we lost and although it’s a slender lead it does make the 2nd leg tricky; we’re going to have to score twice to go through.

Gallas started at right back ahead of Djourou. I have no idea why, Johann has played well there when called upon and Gallas is a left back if anything. I suppose Djourou is being rested for Sunday but still. We went for a 4-4-2 with Adebayor partnering Henry instead of the 4-5-1 that’d served us so well last season. If Henry was the same player he was 12 months ago then I would’ve said play him on his own, but he’s nowhere near as good as the old Thierry anymore. We started well actually and Arsenal looked the most likely to score. Rosicky nearly did early on but the ‘keeper just took the pace off it and it was cleared from rolling over the line. Also in the 1st half Henry had a good shot, flicking the ball up with his left and driving it with his right, but the shot went straight at Gomes and it was a comfortable save. Henry had a few shots outside the area, cutting in by the left corner of the box and trying a looping and bending shot into the far top corner. Every time it just wasn’t quite good enough but he did have the goalie worried a few times.

I thought in the first half we were by far the better team and it looked like if anyone would score, it’d be us. PSV had a couple of chances on the break but nothing really came of it and Lehmann didn’t have an awful lot to do in the first 45. Eindhoven were coping with us, just, so we needed to come out in the second half all guns raging but we didn’t. PSV were there for the taking and I’m not sure what the hell went on in that second half. We went back to that old Arsenal giving the ball away and not creating anything decent. To be fair PSV weren’t getting much closer to goal either but were not afraid to have a go from distance. In the end it paid off in the 61st minute when Edison Mendez had a shot 25 yards from goal and it went right into the bottom corner. I don’t think Lehmann really had a chance saving it, it was a well-struck goal and I didn’t think we were coming back from it. Toure tried to block it but I wasn’t too happy with Senderos though who just stood there and watched it go in.

The only good chance we had for the rest of the game was Cesc Fabregas’ effort. He and Rosicky played a clever one-two setting up Cesc just outside the area, he hit a swerving shot just going under the bar but it was too close to Gomes and he made a good save tipping it over the bar.

The game finished 1-0 and I’d say overall it was a below par performance. I was pleased with the first half but I just don’t know what happened in the 2nd. Henry didn’t look bothered again, Cesc wasn’t his usual self and Gallas was lost a right back. Senderos and Toure kept the defence well but there was nothing they could’ve really done about their goal. It leaves us with a lot to do at the Emirates and the crowd will need to pull their finger out and show some support.

Why do we need the likes of Spurs and Man United to inspire the crowd to make some noise? On Saturday the atmosphere was shocking, I know it wasn’t a full crowd but it was still 56,000 people and that is more than enough to make a deafening sound. I know if there’s not a lot going on, on the pitch then there’s not a lot we can sing about. On Saturday the players attitude was not very inspiring to the fans but it works the other way round for the players too. We’ve got a few matches to sort it out before the 2nd leg, starting with the Carling Cup Final on Sunday and I can’t wait.