A magnificent performance from the boys, who threatened to run riot in the first half and then strolled through the second. Villarreal were surprisingly poor, and rarely have I seen one player (Marcos Senna) missed so conspicuously – it was like their defence and midfield had completely lost their bearings.
There’s been more than enough yabbering about what happened. I only want to add a word of praise for Alex Song, man of the match for me, who put in a mighty shift at the heart of midfield. Whether he was spoiling, blocking, chasing, clearing, or passing searching balls out wide, everything he did – pretty much – seemed to come off on a night where he came of age as a top flight footballer.
How do you replace The Invisible Wall? Perhaps with a Very Visible Wall.
Minor Gripe: Ade. Now, over the tie he scored twice and of course that’s what you ask for in a striker. From a distance, he did well, making decisive contributions in both matches. But, wouldn’t it be so much nicer if he appeared to give one? If he found himself onside every so often? If he was on his toes ready to pounce for loose balls in the box and if when moves broke down he got back into a dangerous position rather than losing interest and looking mystified? I’m not saying he shouldn’t start, because 4 goals in 3 games is rather a nice ratio, but I just don’t see why this has to be accompanied with such a grudging attitude, as if playing for Arsenal is this horrible thing that he’s being forced to do. Plus, the game would have been over by half time last night if he’d been that interested in it. Interested to get some readerly opinion on him.
Amid the hype (see below) about the United match, no-one should forget that this is only the second time in the Club’s history that we’ve made it to the semi’s of the Big Cup. Greater and far more celebrated Arsenal teams with big names and world-beating reputations have failed to get this far before, so to make it here with what is essentially a youth team is a sensational achievement.
Now it’s time for the kids to do some proper giant-killing.
Ten years ago, in season 1998/99, we should have won the double for the second season in a row. Instead, United won the FA Cup Semi-Final, pipped us in the league thanks to some shameful rolling over from T*ttenham, completed the treble with an incredibly lucky win against Bayern… and we still haven’t heard the end of it.
We now have the chance to knock them out of Europe, deny them the chance of back-to-back Champions’ Leagues and put a massive dent in their league campaign. It doesn’t get any bigger.
We will be playing at home in the second leg, by no means a decisive advantage but one which it’s great to have before a ball’s been kicked. Arsene said the percentages in favour of the home team in the second leg is 55-45 – which isn’t half bad if he’s right (and yes I’ve read Finkelstein on the subject, I just don’t really believe him). In any case, when we’re at home in first legs, things always seem to get very cagey and we end up going away with a very slim lead to defend.
It’s still 2 weeks away, and we’ve a massive match at Wembley in between, but I already feel too nervous to eat. I’m off to put a few quid on a spectacular Eboue winner at the Emirates.
Tags: Alex Song, Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Emmanuel Adebayor, Manchester United, Villarreal
April 16th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
Song was man of the match for me too. Silvestre put in a good shift too.
April 16th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
As a United fan the only way I could stomach Arsenal knocking us out would be for Thierry Henry to grab a last minute Barca winner in the final. I was actually dreading beating Porto last night because it was the last stage where I could cope with a failure to qualify, I’m not going to enjoy anymore games this season thanks to the overwhelming feeling that we aren’t the strongest team in any of the three competitions we are going for and yet failure to win any of them would feel like a disaster (I could probably just about stand Everton winning the FA Cup)
April 16th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Re: 55/45
Have you read Finkelstein on the subject?
Re: Ade
He’s certainly frustrating, and his knockers say he’s had a shit season but he’s on for 20 goals, and we’re in with a shout for 2 cups. And Actim reckons he’s had a (much) better season than RVP, Fabregas and many other more celebrated Arsenal players.
What I love about him, is that he occupies defenders … in fact, he occupies whole defences! Through athleticism rather than talent. He’s not a natural goalscorer. Hell, he’s not even a natural onside-er, but we’re a stronger team for his being there, and we’d struggle to replace him.
April 17th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
i dont understand y ade took such flak in the first leg, i seem to remember him up front by himself running around like someone possessed-a number of times he held the ball up waiting for someone to catch up with him. I really think its times like this that wenger needs to man up and let him know whats what, he has the ability and attributes (also footy manager rekons he will) to be one of the worlds best. As much as i love the arm waving frenchman i dont think many other managers would let it go on for this long just after getting his 80,000 a week or have allowed the flamster to go.
slightly depressing that noone comes to mind for player of the season, reckon its probs too early to say. personally i would go for arshavin tho, he may have been here for a very short period of time but is the only one not to have had a bad spell and has given the rest of the team a lift. If we dont have anyone proper we should all vote messi as arsenal player of the season, persuade him to come to london..