Sparta Prague 0-2 Arsenal - 15/08/07 - (Champions League Qualifier) 17 August, 2007
Posted by lasagnechef in Champions League.trackback
Perfect. The performance might not have been amazing but in games like these, goals and results matter. Goals from midfield through Fabregas and Hleb, and fantastic assists from full-backs Clichy and Sagna. Before the game I was going to get my shirt printed with Clichy 22 and tonight he proved again why I’m really starting to love this player (in the end I was too late and the shop was closed but I’ll get it done soon).
It was the same team that started again Fulham in that new 4-4-1-1 formation. The first half was very physical and we were getting pushed all over the park and the tackles were flying in. We knew exactly what we could expect from their captain Tomas Repka and he was living up to his reputation. Around about the half hour mark he committed a bad challenge Van Persie but Cesc Fabregas was having none of it. Next time Repka picked up the ball it was time for Cesc to give him a bit of retribution and the resulting challenge saw Thomas having to be subbed a few minutes later.
Not an awful lot happened in the way of chances in the first half but you’d have to say the home side were on top. They looked on form and they weren’t allowing us to play our football. However we had another 45 mins to sort that out.
The game started off again in the same pattern as we left it however 10 minutes in Sparta old boy Rosicky played a nice ball to RVP who’s neat shot was saved well. It took until the 72nd minute for our vital goal to come and it was Cescy boy who got it. Sparta were knocking about the ball in their area but Clichy decided he was having none of it and raced to intercept a pass. He went on a short run taking one a couple of players and then played a beautiful little lay-off to Fabregas who finished well across the ‘keeper.
It was the vital away goal we needed and this 1-0 would’ve been a great result for us. Sparta hadn’t given up though. Lehmann was called into action a couple of times and it could’ve easily have been 1-1. They were having the final attack of the game deep into injury time so they had quite a few players forward but they must’ve not done their homework on Arsenal, kings of the counter attack. Lehmann picked up the ball and saw Sagna free on the left. He threw it out to him and Bacary charged down the full length of the field. He played a brilliant ball to Hleb who was being closely marked but Alex’s finish was even better; a cute little ball across the goalie into the far corner that just trickled across the line. All this with a Sparta defender right at his feet. Did he mean it? Probably not to be honest but no one cares. 2-0 to Arsenal full time.
Sorry about the lateness of the report. I’ve got to go now; I literally have work in 6 minutes. Bye!
1st?
Good to win away from home. Much less pressure in the return tie. And its good to see us scoring goals on break again.
deer arsenal
ggggg
i think hleb did well to poke the ball in … he was losing his balance and that was the right thing to do before he made a meal out of the excellent run and pass by sagna … great thinking by hleb … total class ….
I agree with mickey with the team with the exception of gilberto. i think there is simply more talent than him available within the squad (diaby, denilson) and it’s near certainty he will be playing as a back up central defender this season if he is still at the club come two weeks time. I think he’s done well for us but this year something different is required in the middle if we’re going to progress from last year, so i’m pretty sure both denilson and diaby have the nod over gilberto now. I do agree however with walcott coming in i think given a run of games he will get better..i dont think eboue is crap i just think he’s erratic. some days he’s outstanding on the right and was last season at times coming on as a substitute aswell as in pre season against inter, but i guess given time he will be a force on the right too…i also agree rosicky was quiet against sparta but was lively against fulham…so i think he’s another that needs to add consistency to his game, at the moment hleb is more reliable and quite rightly merit’s his place in the team. I think our strikeforce is absolutely frightening if everybody is fit…i think bendtner is proving now he has what it takes just like harlan said..he has the ingredients to be explosive for us, a top talent. eduardo is another 1 i cannot wait to see..looks a top player someone who isnt scared of any1 and is willing to work hard for the team, his movement is unparallel and i think he will score a sensational amount of goals this season and i think he will cement his place upfront alongside van persie sooner rather than later. Ade is a good player but is wasteful as quite rightly pointed out, but his strength and link up play is a big plus for the team and i still believe he will get better, coming on as a fresh substitute with 15 mins to go in games he’ll give us something different and he has the ability to change a game, remember portsmouth last year at the emirates? i expect a good game and i think we’ll keep a clean sheet too and wont be bullied. i’m getting more and more impressed with sagna..and clichy is proving to be a real real force and i cant wait for sun i smell another victory and a better performance than the other two to go with it.
I am really happy for hleb. at least gunners will not cut him some slack, he has always been one of my favourite players cos of his close control
crikey, now eboue and rosicky are injured, leaving us…what?
hleb on the left and theo on the right? i like theo, but I think we’ve all seen that he’s not really ready to start yet. when’s arsene going to sort this situation out?
Hola a todos los asiduos de este blog. Por motivos de funcionamiento interno me he visto obligado a una mudanza forzosa de casa. A la espera de poder redireccionar mi antigua URL, os comunico que a partir de ahora estaré en un nuevo ‘domicilio’.
Os espero aquí. El ‘Hacha’ de Uría. Os rogaría que linkarais mi nueva URL. Un abrazo amigos, gracias.
sanfrangoon - Walcott will never improve unless we give him games to build confidence and experiance. The game against Blackburn will be an ideal game for him as it will be physical, but Blackburn also have players who can play very good foootball. I honestly think that he has a major part to play for us this season.
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