One thing that made being home sick yesterday a lot more bearable, was getting to see the Arsenal v Barcelona Champions League Match, yesterday, won, in an upset, by Arsenal 2-1. And yes, I was sick.
I’m a fan of both teams, although I was a little more inclined to pull for Arsenal as they have never won this competition, nor have they ever beaten Barcelona. Notwithstanding Barcelona controlling 66% of the possession in the game, Arsenal had more shots then Barcelona (13 v 11) and matched them with shots on target (5).
I believe the key to the game were the coaches. I like Barcelona’s coach Pep Guardiola, but his substitution for David Villa with a one goal lead was key to the loss as the substitution of Andrei Arshavin for Alex Song (virtually a mirror image of the Barcelona substitution) by Arsenal coach, Arsene Wenger was literally key to their win as Arshavin scored the winner.
The first goal for Arsenal was squarely on Victor Valdes. The otherwise solid goalkeeper made an inexcusable error, leaving much too much room at the near post for the ball to careen through.
The smart money is still probably on Barcelona. The Nou Camp is a tough venue for visitors and Arsenal will have to, at minimum, prevent Barcelona from scoring, or tie Barcelona as a 1-0 home win by Barcelona will see them through on the away goals rule.
There is some good FA Cup action taking place in England (go Crawley Town!) and I hope to have a breakdown tomorrow as to who is playing, when and what channel(s).
PS: I neglected to mention the terrific play of Jack Wilshire. This bodes well for England as well.
Pooh
Arsenal’s 2nd goal was one of the best we’re likely to see all season, imo.
burnspbesq
As a former keeper, I rise to the defense of Valdes.
Van Persie did a great job of selling the idea that he was going to cross. It was analogous to a quarterback or point guard “looking off” a defensive player to create room for himself.
Auguste
I agree with Pooh.
I was hoping non-fans were watching, because that goal was appreciable by anyone.
Randinho
@burnspbesq:
I don’t know. I still think you have to protect the post. A great goal in any case.
Agree with Pooh as well. There as something about striking a ball well on a first touch volley.
Jonas
“Arsene Wenger was literally key to their win as Arshavin scored the winner.”
It’s trivially true, on this conception, that coaches are always literally key to all the wins. After all, if Barcelona had won, Guardiola was the one who selected Villa. The coaches are trivially the key to every game!
Both coaches made reasonable and fairly predictable moves. Guardiola, with a goal up, opted for more defense. Wenger, with a goal down, opted for more offense. Are we to believe that their reasonable and fairly predictable moves are the products of genius strategery?
(For comparison, Wenger’s switch of Bendtner for Walcott was more surprising, especially given Walcott’s very good performance, but that didn’t end up mattering as much.)
Pooh
@Randinho: Not just the actual finish, but everything about the move, from Wilshere’s very cool first time pass from a tight space to Fabregas releasing Nasri to Nasri having he patience and vision to pick Arshavin out.
burnspbesq
@Jonas:
My impression was that Walcott was gassed.
Randinho
@Jonas: I don’t know. I think Barça let the game slip away, much like they did last year when they were ahead 2-0 and ended up tied 2-2. I think Villa should have stayed on and I think that Guardiola should have considered what happened before.
@Pooh: Agreed. I was thinking about Auguste’s comment for non-fans.
Dollared
Randinho, everything is good news for England, all the time, when the next Cup is 42 months away.
Randinho
Yeah, but Wilshere will be what, 22-23 by 2014? There’s also Euro 2012 to consider.
Dollared
@Randinho:
True. It really is a biannual ritual, that whole-hype-and-be-crushed thing.
Randinho
@Dollared: Now, now. I’ll dedicate this to the 3 Lions fans.
Good night all!
Little Boots
keep forgetting how AWAKE this site is.
Steeplejack
@Pooh:
C’mon, I’m still getting over Wayne Rooney’s winning goal against Man City last weekend.
Little Boots
I’m so lost. So is this where we talk about the Wisconsin budget? Yeah, I’m so lost.
mcd410x
@Steeplejack: I’m still getting over Wenger pulling Fabregas on 74 minutes and the Arse’s subsequent and immediate collapse in the 2006 final.
Steeplejack
@mcd410x:
Five years? Okay, your “Dude, let it go”-ness is far worse than mine.
djangone
Wilshere played the kind of game that reputations are made on, as if he were facing Dag & Red instead of the mighty Barca. Wenger’s judgment of talent, irrespective of age, is once again borne out.
Another key tactical move by Wenger: the high defensive line. It choked off the midfield, but it meant the Gunners needed to be perfect at the back, and Gael Clichy rarely approaches perfect. But I think that brave decision kept Barca from scoring four in the first half, and it certainly kept Alves from exploiting acres of space (against Clichy, no accident there).
Once Barca scored, it looked like Arsenal would lose all confidence. It was Wilshere and to some extent Koscielny and RVP who seemed immune to the yips. I think a bad defeat would have carried over into league matches. It was a fantastic spectacle of football at its most beautiful for any fan, regardless of the result.
Temporarily Max McGee (soon enough to be Andy K again)
I’ll be absolutely shocked if Barça doesn’t go through. The Gunners will have a tough time getting a the road goal, let alone keeping Barça off the scoreboard.
What, no mention of Spurs beating the fascist bastards at the San Siro? Lovin’ those Yids!
wengler
As a Spurs and Barca fan, I can tell you that the result yesterday left a bad taste in my mouth. I am comforted in the fact that 100,000 screaming Catalans are going to confront the Gunners on the return leg and Messi will do penance for the 2 goals that he missed on Wednesday.
And also here’s hoping Spurs don’t screw up after their amazing win on Tuesday.
Thlayli
The two North London clubs started a total of five English players combined this week: Crouch, Dawson, Lennon, Walcott, Wilshere.
(Some people claim there was a Jonathan Woodgate sighting, but those reports are not really credible.)
The two English clubs playing next week are likely to show a similar percentage — Terry, Fat Frank, Cashley, Rooney, maybe Carrick.
jomo
Enjoyed the hell out of the Gunners win but there is no way in the world they do it twice.
JayP
I agree that Arshavin’s goal was awesome, and was amazed by the win from Arsenal. But, and this goes for my Tottenham team as well, there are still 90 minutes left in the tie. Tottenham are lucky in that they get to play at the Lane. (They can still lose it though.) Arsenal though have to go to Camp Nou, and that’ll be a tougher road to hoe. Here’s hoping they go through so we can have a North London meeting in one of the next rounds. How insane would that be?
Annelid Gustator
(Some people claim there was a Jonathan Woodgate sighting, but those reports are not really credible.)
Sure it’s credible, if a stretcher and a physio were colocated with Woodgate. That dude is always falling apart. Like a leper.
Sarcastro
Very smooth Voyeur!
Great week for the English. Disastrous week for the Italians. C’mon Roma! Losing to Shaktar Donetsk? At the Olimpico? Yeesh. And next week Inter gets a Bayern squad that just reloaded with Robben and Ribbery both back from injury.
I’m giddy that Schalke took a point and an away goal from Valencia. We’re at the Veltins next and Schalke can win that one. Need that huge next-round pay package to fix the roof! And buy some defenders.
handsmile
Late to the party as usual….
Let it be noted that both Arsenal goals were scored after Theo Walcott had been substituted. Perhaps not too surprising, as when playing a team as bountiful as Barcelona, why even a squad as meager as Wolverhampton, it is preferable to field eleven competent players. Walcott’s lack of meaningful participation essentially yielded a man advantage to Barca. His fractional improvement this season cannot disguise the fact that pace comprises his entire footballing skill set. Walcott’s greatest value to Arsenal remains the sum to be obtained for him on the transfer market.
Djangone’s comment (#18) above that “Wilshire played the kind of game that reputations are made on” gets it exactly right. In this regard, it was reminiscent of Gareth Bale’s scorching performance against InterMilan in Tottenham’s Champions League group stage matches last fall. Predictably, in their orgasmic reaction to Wilshere, the British footballing press has found a new talisman for the salvation of the national team.
In doling out credit for Arsenal’s delicious victory, praiseworthy mention should be made of the sterling contributions of Laurent Koscielny, Alex Song, and Sami Nasri, particularly on his first game back from injury.
Now I must go and offer daily prayers for the continuing health of Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie. Today’s chants will include a wish for Randinho’s speedy return to match fitness.
mcd410x
@Steeplejack: I mainly threw that out at the praise of Wenger’s tactical nous (the same that was present for the 4-0 cough-away to Newcastle).
Great at spotting talent? Usually. A brilliant strategist? Maybe. Master tactician? Not really.
(The biggest key to success of this team? RVP’s health).
Randy Paul
@Temporarily Max McGee (soon enough to be Andy K again): I will be, too, but bear in mind that Arsenal does not have to score in the second game. If they somehow manage to knick one early, then Barça will need to score three goals and hold the line to go through. Not impossible, but a challenge nonetheless.@handsmile:
Bear in mind that while Puyol may be back, Piqué will be suspended.
@handsmile: Thanks. A weekend of FA Cup action should be helpful to my recovery.
dollared
Ooh. Pique out is a big problem. Arsenal showed best in the world speed this week, and Puyol is almost as old as I am. And speaking as the fastest man in my over-50s division, no one is fast past 35.
SteveinSC
I changed my plane reservations to make sure I would be able to see the Arsenal v. Barcelona match-up. Great, great, game. Well worth the price of admission. Arshavin was the spark plug the Gunners needed. Finally, Lionel, the mighty midget, brought low!