Sting In The Tail Frustrates
Apr 27th, 2018 by 'holic
During this season of stumbling to a likely sixth place finish in the Premier League, losing our grip on the FA Cup attempting the first hurdle at a second tier club, and our no-show at the Carabao Cup Final we have all experienced many lows, so many disappointments. The Europa League semi-final draw at home to Atletico Madrid doesn’t rank too high in my personal list.
The afternoon had started with a false alarm. Reports of blocked train lines between Slough and Paddington got the pulse racing and hastened my departure by an hour. The brand new train made good time and delivered us into the capital some five hours before kick-off. Half a gallon of Guinness and a cheese dog with jerk and barbecue sauce later we took our seats in the stadium for the ritual fluttering of the red plastic and tin foil flags.
That display was remarkably effective and an energised stadium let the chants roar from their throats. It was so far removed from the most recent trips to the Grove to sit in a nowhere near full stadium dripping with apathy. This was a hark back to the memorable (and even some less than memorable) European nights at our two stadiums in the last 55 years.
We started impressively, zipping the ball about and frustrating Atleti’s high press. Vrsaljko opted to take man, not ball, and having cut down Jack Wilshere in the second minute was shown the first yellow of the contest. Who would have guessed he would also get the second eight minutes later when he scythed down Alexandre Lacazette, only to be followed down the tunnel by his manager, Diego Simeone, for his part in the first of many Atleti bench clearances demanding cautions for the slightest of Gunners infringements.
An explosive opening thirteen minutes had seen the Gunners set to inflict serious damage on a wounded opponent. Lacazette hit the post with his first attempt, headed his second from a Nacho Monreal cross straight at the impressive Oblak, and Danny Welbeck also drew a fine save from Atleti’s much sought-after goalkeeper. Still the determined hosts poured forward.
Lacazette couldn’t get the right contact to another Monreal cross, Aaron Ramsey saw his effort blocked, Jack Wilshere put a rare header too close to Oblak and the goalkeeper was equal to another Welbeck effort. Lacazette and Koscielny missed the target as the pattern of the first-half was set. This was a much more forceful performance by us and yet hinted at the same old failings of converting possession into chances, and into goals.
Mesut Ozil fired high and wide of the target, Lacazette misdirected another header, and Ramsey saw another shot blocked by the massed ranks of the visitors experienced rearguard. Monreal too put one wide of the target with his swinger but just after the half hour, a warning, Griezmann drawing the first important save from David Ospina. He drew an even better save from the Gunners custodian minutes later. Atleti’s ten men were close to turning the tide.
Granit Xhaka, urged by the home support to shoot and not for the last time, cut across his effort. Back came the visitors and Gameiro forced Ospina to react quickly to save a well-directed header. As the half drew to a close Ramsey completed a hat-trick of blocked shots. An eventful and enjoyable half hinted at goals as the ten men tired in the second-half.
So with half an hour remaining we finally ended the resistance when Wilshere crossed from the goal-line and Lacazette placed the perfect header beyond Oblak and just inside his left-hand post. Surely there was more to come with the visitors choosing to sit in and limit the damage. The rare raid from Griezmann aside they were posing little threat to this point. They sent on Gabi for Gameiro in another move intended to sure up the defence.
The time-wasting, evident from the early minutes increased blatantly and the referee could not be encouraged to act on it despite Lacazette’s frequent signalling to him from an imaginary watch. The Spaniards were pulling every trick in the book to delay the contest, to steal yards, and to buy free-kicks of their own. Rather uncomfortably you had to respect their determination and cynicism.
Still the Gunners created opportunities but most were off-target or blocked by a defence prepared to put their bodies on the line. Time for fresh legs for them as Savic replaced the slow-departing Correa. Torres was prepared to be the third with eight minutes remaining when we contrived to undo all the good work of the first eighty-two. Torres was due to go on for the luckless Griezmann but then a hopeful ball was punted into the Arsenal half, the French striker hounded his international team-mate, Laurent Koscielny, into a hideous mistake, and after Ospina had blocked his first effort he lofted his second into the roof of the net over the grounded Ospina and Shkodran Mustafi, offering almost comical support to his partner.
For the main part this was a gripping evening of hunter versus prey, but Atleti have a stubborn resistance to being picked off, and we make rather limited marksmen. Until eight minutes from time I had thoroughly enjoyed the contest. Clearly what happened was too much for many on social media and after a quick look I decided it was a place best avoided in the immediate aftermath.
We need to emulate our west London neighbours 1-2 win in Madrid which was the result when Chelsea played there in the group phase of the Champions League. I’m even thinking 2-2 is a very possible outcome. We are down but, as yet, not out. A huge night awaits us next Thursday.
37 Responses to “Sting In The Tail Frustrates”
First drink?
I’ll have a pint of water and a dash of lime please
What kind of drink is that?
The sort of drink you’d have if you’d got what I’ve got
What have you got?
Fourpence.
Good old Citizen Smith.
Halftime drink.
The match I saw and the same emotions Guvna. Also the same prediction for the second leg. It’s only half time. It’s all square. What kind of player gives up at half time?
COYG
Superb effort, bath, 72% possession, 80% of the shots, we have to improve only on the 50% of the goals, unless our 2-2 comes in. ?
still sick about it this morning.
but hopeful, until the red card we were by far the better team. nothing to stop us from showing the same in madrid. but we have to convert that advantage, which we didn’t yesterday.
after the red card they were playing for 0-0 or a miracle 0-1, and came too bloody close to the latter. thankfully we’d put one in, but rather than come after the game they doubled-down on the 9 men behind the ball and got their luck. why kozzer didn’t kick the ball out behind the goal i just don’t understand.
We appear high up in the ineptitude stats on The Guardian website
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/apr/27/the-premier-league-teams-ineptitude-index-2017-18
Not a surprise.
Great report Holic and the right tone to adopt. If we’d won 2-0 we would have gone into the game like we did in Moscow and ballsed it up. This way we have to come out and give them a game, not overcommitting but ready to pick them off and we should have Mkhitaryan back. I think we have a chance. Atlético have a lot or pressure on them and we can do it. Koscielny will get our winner
Good luck to the Youth team tonight
Halftime entertainment.
https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/vieira-100-cent-ready-manage-arsenal-says-pires
Personally, bt8, I’d rather have those inflatable Sumo wrestlers back for my HT jollity.
Frustrating indeed and the sting is still burning. Tie could easily be done and dusted. However, last time I was in Madrid there were no mountains there so the climb may not be overly-arduous and I like the sound of that 2-2.
Very well said Holic. Best report of the game I’ve read by far. Let’s hope for a Paul Vaessen moment over there.
These, Cynic?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_vUROlfu3M
Skip to the 3:20 mark for the start of the wrestling.
hey, on a completely separate note, anyone know much about the neighborhood *around* the tollie? we’re thinking of an airbnb located between tollington, seven sisters, holloway and a103. walking distance to the tollie…thanks!
Under 18’s done like a dinner.
In control midway through the 2nd half with a 1 nil lead,and a single long ball over the top of our defence leads to Chelsea equalizer.
Ship 2 more as confidence swings Chelsea way.
Big task in 2nd leg on Monday night,against a Chelsea side unbeaten in the league this season.
On a much happier note,
Santi in an interview after training on Thursday night,said he was feeling great and is looking forward to a full pre season.
I am looking forward to next season already. !!
Thanks for the report Guvnor.
A bit frustrating indeed but we
really weren’t that bad – 2-1 in
Madrid will do nicely.
Next stop old toilet, and a win
would be a nice way to end our
miserable run away. Auba will be
back I guess and Cech but no idea
who else will play.
ministers sinisters banisters &
(especially)
canisters
Misgivings expressed in previous drinks aside, we can expect a more open second-leg as Atleti are unlikely to rely on 0-0 to win the tie and we are a much better at counter-attacking
than laying siege to a row of buses. So perhaps we can mount a serious challenge after all. It’s a great opportunity for those who failed to break through yesterday to redeem themselves.
Miki’s guile was sadly missed. He could have made all the difference in breaking down that wall and deciding the tie when it was offered on a plate. Hopefully he’ll be back in Madrid, with maybe a cameo against Manure as a warm-up.
In a more open game I would back us to score, so Atleti will need at least two and that should keep the game open. I just hope Xhaka lasts 90 minutes.
A Rambo double to decide it. There, positivity at last.
I knew you could do it Chris
🙂
Clive
The one thing I couldn’t really tell against Blackpool was how good the defence was. I had slight doubts about the full backs defensively but thought we were solid in the middle but maybe lacked pace.
We’ve got it all to do and Chelsea are clearly very talented but I think it should be a great game on Monday and am sorry I can’t be there . We’ve certainly got some real quality coming through. If Nelson doesn’t play tomorrow he will be eligible but I think and hope he will as Zi hope Nketiah plays.
Tomorrow is a meaningless game compared to Thursday. And nice old Jose would want Arsene to sign off with a win. He can’t say enough nice things about him now he is going!
TTG
Agree re Sunday.
I would just play the under 23 title winning side against Utd.
They have had a good week off since last Friday. ☺☺
fuck me
geese are angry cunts
.
stay away from farms fellas
fuckin jungles
.
.
They are vicious cba. They used geese to guard the Ballantyne’s Distillery stores in Dumbarton. No dogs, no guards, just a flock of geese.
i knew they were vicious bath
but fuck me
this morning unbelievable
fuckin had to admit defeat
beat a retreat
dirty bastards got me sausage and egg bap too
.
not to mention my dignity
.
.
bastards waddle past me front window
regular as fuckin clockwork early evening
one fuckin smart ass look from one o them
and SO HELP ME GOD !
.
herself is gettin sent out !
Geese are great, they get a bad rap. It’s those bloody geese herders who are the problem, the cider drinking, pickled egg eating bastards.
Lunch gone? It’ll be a trail of breadcrumbs to the flock and the herder looking all innocent.
Never trust a goose herder with your crusty buns, that’s all I’m saying.
Mind you, if you have crusty buns you’d be best off seeing a GP not listening to the likes of me.
A word to the wise.
Don’t waddle home drunk on a path littered with fresh goose droppings.
.
.
ali carter’s celebration
all the believability
of the clash
.
.
a hoy hoy steve
?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8rCy173y7Y
Hello. Good evening. Welcome, to nothing much.
Mkhitaryan in full training and Elneny back in light training. Good omens for Thursday. Osei- Tutu and Mavropanos travelled to Manchester. Dare g3 play them or put them on the bench?
Light training?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0Uj7GtG0zA
Four hours of writing complete. (I had another article to pen tonight, more on which next week, thanks Cynic). >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>