Real Legends Have The Edge – O’Leary Out!
Jun 3rd, 2018 by 'holic
The years were rolled back in Madrid this evening as the Legends of Real Madrid and the Arsenal renewed rivalries once again. The pace may have been a little slower than these players were capable of in their prime, but the quality of the passing on view was still impressive. David O’Leary would have a busy evening re-shuffling his team throughout.
Unfortunately for Sol Campbell the big man didn’t last too long as he tweaked a hamstring clearing a cross from Roberto Carlos. Pascal Cygan was on the pitch earlier than he might have expected. While the Gunners were re-organising themselves they were caught when Raul was allowed to get his head on a long ball in and head beyond the reach of David Seaman.
Powered on by Xabi Alonso, clearly the fittest player on the pitch, Real looked different class in the opening phase. Somewhat unexpectedly we got on level terms when Luis Boa Morte produced an excellent near post finish on a rare Gunners foray forward.
That deadlock lasted around two minutes and Gutti restored the hosts advantage when he nutmegged Matthew Upson before toe-poking the ball inside Seaman’s far post. Real deserved it. They had the strength of ‘the beast’, Julio Baptiste, with the guile of Luis Figo and the subtlety of Raul.
Upson was the next to fall foul of a niggle and he made way for Emanuel Eboue, before Emanuel Petit was replaced by 47 year old Gilles Grimandi. The Gunners were reliant on the pace of Nicolas Anelka on the counter-attack but too seldom were we able to release him in the opening half. Anyone who doubted the competitive nature of the game had their answer just before the break when Eboue raked his studs down the thigh of Clarence Seedorf.
Among the half-time substitutes were Manuel Almunia and Jeremy Aliadiere for the visitors. The pattern remained one of Madrid domination. A fierce free-kick from Figo brought a superb save at full stretch by Almunia. Eboue relieved the pressure with a wonderful weaving run brought to an end by Cesar’s clever foul on the edge of the box. Boa Morte’s free-kick was straight at the goalkeeper. ‘The Beast’, having played for Real in the first-half was sent on in the red and white he wore for a season.
Almunia was tested again by a left foot volley from close range by Seedorf, but the goalkeeper was quick to get down to his left to make the parry. On a rare break Aliadiere got clear on the right but had nobody in the box to cross to. Eboue was in a similar situation and won a corner that Anelka glanced just wide of the far post. As the Gunners grew into the game Robert Pires drove an Aliadiere cross over the bar.
At the other end the impressive Almunia denied Morientes. The Arsenal immediately attempted to hit back but Anelka’s drive was straight at the goalkeeper. The same striker got on the end of a driven cross from Aliadiere but couldn’t quite find the target. Aliadiere was looking very impressive as a makeshift right wingback. Grimandi came close to getting on the end of a Pires corner.
Legs on both sides were tiring so when Pires sent Boa Morte scampering clear on the left flank again we faced the problem of nobody being able to get into the box, and that isn’t a criticism by the way. Raul finally made way for Butragueno with thirteen minutes to go. At 54 the latter shared the honour of being the oldest player with Nigel Winterburn who put in a full ninety minute shift.
Anelka had another opportunity to equalise but sliced his effort high and wide. Back came the hosts and Rivera chipped Almunia and, luckily for us, the crossbar too. The same player was the next to upend the marauding Eboue on the edge of the box. Pires curled his free-kick towards the top corner but Solari was on the post and headed clear. He then appeared at the other end driving a tired effort over Almunia’s crossbar.
As the clock was ticking towards time Almunia produced another excellent diving save to deny Morientes. In the final minute the Arsenal were looking to work one last opening but couldn’t find the breakthrough. We had certainly been more competitive in the second-half but the result reflected Real’s overall performance. The two teams embraced at the final whistle knowing there is a return to be played at Ashburton Grove in September.
That will be a match worth putting in the diary.
17 Responses to “Real Legends Have The Edge – O’Leary Out!”
I only came to read about Eboue.
Eboue looked fit and skilful enough to play in the first team. Pity he never did when he was actually in it??
Re: the title
Does this mean their legends were real and ours were fake?
Eboue back and flying. Who’d have thunk it??
Nice post H
Thanks for filling in the bits I missed. Eboue and Boa Morte looked twice as good as I remember them. Pires looked every bit the maestro I loved to watch, just a wee bit short of pace. Nutty deserves an award for playing the full 90 minutes at his age.
So… Fellaini then… Christ.
We tried to buy him from Everton
according to the rumours at the
time so it’s not that big a surprise
now that he’s on a free.
Sell Xhaka for money, get Fellaini free.
That might appeal to an accountant who’s
never watched a game of football.
https://angryofislington.com/2018/06/05/wenger-v-the-rest-arsenal-managers-complete-stats-since-1886/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6a4ujSub5QA
Is 10 the new ton, or would that be sir isaac?
Sir Ulrich has signed
Won Serie A seven years running. He’s coming here for the eighth, obviously. 🙂
Let’s hope that the Fellaini story is just malicious gossip. Seriously though Arsenal MUST be better than that.
PS. Let him go back to Everton.
Since when did we play in Serie A???
@12 : Blimey, at 34 & after all that he must be K-knackered. ‘Ere’s ‘opin’ the ol’ boy has summat left ‘neath him’s bonnet.
UTA!
Make this his ninth title coming up. He’s won the Swiss League too!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>