Gunners Grind Out A Valuable Three Points
Nov 25th, 2018 by 'holic
Not for the first time Unai Emery swung the axe on a big player and Mesut Ozil joined Aaron Ramsey on the substitutes bench. Alexandre Lacazette was adjudged unfit to play at the Vitality Stadium.
Bernd Leno started behind a back three of Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Skhodran Mustafi, and Rob Holding. Hector Bellerin and Sead Kolasinac were the wing backs either side of Granit Xhaka (captain for the day) and Lucas Torreira. The attacking trio selected to start were Henrikh Mkhitarian, Pierre-Emerick Aubamayang, and Alex Iwobi.
In a lively opening phase Sokratis did well to deny the rapid Wilson but it was Mkhitaryan who got the first attempt on goal only to see his shot blocked. Bournemouth’s high press was forcing Leno to kick long and invariably the ball was coming straight back at us. The Cherries thought they had taken the lead but Brooks cool finish was ruled out by the assistant referee’s raised flag, erroneously it transpired.
Immediately we struck back through the unlikely route of a fierce drive against the post by Torreira. The rebound fell to Alex Iwobi who couldn’t keep his volley down with the goal gaping. Encouraged, the little Uruguayan tried another long range effort but missed the target by some distance.
Daniels one-two took Mkhitaryan and Bellerin out of the game far too easily and his driven low cross thankfully avoided a final touch in a crowded box. Interestingly we didn’t man either post from the ensuing corner.
We finally showed a little more purpose in the shape of a Kolsinac burst into the box which ended with a snapshot by Iwobi comfortably saved by Begovic. Midway through the half we won our first corner which found it’s way via Ake’s head to Aubameyang who chested it down and hit a half-volley narrowly over the top.
Sokratis was the first recipient of a yellow card somewhat surprisingly after a six of one, half a dozen of the other, grapple with King. The frustratingly twice taken free-kick that followed earned a damning assessment of the aptly named Craig Pawson from the travelling faithful.
As the half hour approached we had a spectacular own goal to thank for the lead against the run of play. Kolsinac crossed from the left flank and Lerma’s attempt to volley it behind was misdirected. A bizarre but welcome gift. Would we go into half-time with a lead for the first time this season? No.
AFC Bournemouth 0-1 The Arsenal
We threatened a second but Begovic at full stretch was equal to Iwobi’s curler. For the first time in the match we were pinning the hosts back, but they are made of stern stuff down on the south coast and Eddie Howe’s team were soon pushing to get on level terms.
A decent end to the half was developing and Bellerin’s runs were causing problems for Bournemouth. Mkhitaryan fired a volley wildly over from one of the Spaniard’s raids. The Armenian kept his next attempt on target but Begovic fell on it and the danger was gone.
In the last attack of the opening half the Cherries broke from one end to the other, Brooks teed up King on the right hand side of the box and his left foot finish food the far corner. In truth they deserved at least that. Once again we were not ahead at the half, and had only ourselves to blame as the back three were gathered around the invisible Maypole in the centre of the box.
AFC Bournemouth 1-1 The Arsenal
As the second-half took shape Ake found himself in the book for scything through Mkhitaryan from behind. The end to end nature of the contest picked up where it had ended in the first-half. Fraser’s diving, at both ends, should have drawn the attention of the referee.
The excellent Torreira was once again the man looking to fire a spectacular strike and his burst through the inside-right channel resulted in a wasted corner. Mustafi’s attempt to spring Aubameyang was sadly overhit. Bellerin did slip the striker in behind but his cross avoided the inrushing support. Mkhitaryan repeated the feed but Aubameyang lifted his effort high over the crossbar.
After Lerma had seen yellow for pulling back Mustafi by the throat we finally saw why we were trying to put Aubameyang in behind. Kolasinac presented him with an impossible to miss opportunity. The man from Gabon slotted home what would prove to be the winner.
AFC Bournemouth 1-2 The Arsenal
Two should have become three when the goalscorer put Mkhitaryan in on goal but he delayed his shot and the chance was gone. After Leno saved a straightforward effort from Fraser Eddie Howe responded by sending on Stanislas for the impressive Brooks, and Cook for Gosling. Similarly after Kolasinac fired into the side-netting Unai Emery replaced the outstanding Torreira with Matteo Guendouzi.
The slenderness of our advantage was emphasised when Stanislas drew a close range save from Leno against the run of play. Again we were largely controlling a second-half which remains a mystery. Aaron Ramsey came on for Iwobi and Bournemouth sent on Mousset for King.
With six minutes remaining Lerma let fly from thirty yards and saw his effort bounce back off Leno’s right hand post. It was to be a nervous finish to another game of two halves. Leno was called on to make two saves under questionable ‘challenges’ by Wilson. Four added minutes were signalled. In the third Ramsey took a tumble in the box but won only a corner. Cue the time-wasting introduction of Eddie Nketiah for Aubameyang.
In the fifth of four added minutes the hapless Mustafi game away a free-kick right on the edge of the box and one last nerve-fraying opportunity fell the way off the hosts. Stanislas hammered the free-kick high, wide, and handsome. We had the points, although it had again taken another huge turnaround in the second-half to secure them.
The match against the Middlesex Nomads next week now has a prize of a top four berth up for grabs.
68 Responses to “Gunners Grind Out A Valuable Three Points”
1st?
Happy with the win, however we still look lethargic, we give the ball away like there’s no tomorrow! We are almost half way through the season and we still don’t know what is our best first eleven.
Miki is really frustrating to watch and I’m not sure why he was allowed to remain on the pitch for so long. Our defence is really our defence and there is nothing to add. Sokratis and Mustafi are no different to each other in my eyes, they are both accidents waiting to happen.
Even though Kolasinac wasn’t that great defensively he assisted the winning goal but we are still looking vulnerable on that flank.
Onwards and upwards it seems a win is a win that matters the most!
Quick as ever Guv.
Auba did his job and is joint top scorer
in the PL with Aguero now.
We got some joy down the left
and Bournemouth had their first
choice right back out which was
possibly what allowed us to nick
the 3 welcome points.
I was as baffled as anyone else that
Mkhi stayed on the pitch. And I thought
Torreira was man of the match.
I hope we leave most of the first team
at home for the Ropey League trip but
I guess UE won’t.
A very rapid and detailed review of the very match I watched, Holic. An away win at Bournemouth isn’t to be sneezed at and brings a welcome transition from drawing to winning. Hopefully that can be continued in the next two PL games. I wouldn’t grudge Bottenham a Carabao win in return for these six points.
The one thing I saw differently was the dance around the invisible maypole. In my recollection Mustafi was standing off their left side attacker, not bothering to close him down and then enjoying his close-up view of their equaliser. Your last paragraph description of him as ‘hapless’ is kind in the extreme. Neither he nor Kolasinac would get on the bench at any other of the top six clubs.
Some off-screen chatter with Bath on a possible New Years Day get together. More to come.
I don’t agree about not knowing our best first eleven. I don’t think there is such a thing in today’s game. It varies depending on whethe4 you are home or away, the opposition and of course levels of fitness. I do agree with ATG about the early lethargy though. It isn’t a coincidence that we haven’t led at half-time in the league this season . While it is gratifying that we dig out much better second half performances we will pay for this soon if we don’t rectify it.
Nice and very fair report Holic. We had the rub of the green today but I was very impressed that Emery thought the game out beforehand and used our wing-backs to pin Bournemouth’s wide players back. I was also pleased that he has the balls to drop anyone irrespective of reputation. I’d like to have seen Ozil replacing Mkhitaryan who I find an underwhelming player with disappointing end product but I was particularly impressed with Iwobi , Holding and especially Torreira and I really like Leno and Sokratis. Three of those players were new to the club this season and that allied to Emery’s good work at half time are the reason we aren’t a soft touch away from home this season.
Ps- I think I said 2-1 yesterday ?
Once again an excellent match report, which remains no mystery. 😉
Aptly named refs. What will they think of next?
3 points to the deserving. Odd subs by Emery but otherwise his tactics seemed spot on. Mkhitaryan is a true mystery.
We could use an easy one at home but that’s not likely to happen for a while yet.
IBtM
I’m sympathetic to your view of Kolasinac as a left-back in a flat back four but as a wing-back I find his attacking play very effective. I thought offensively he did well today and his ball to Auba was excellent. He can’t defend however which is a pretty basic requirement in a left back! I don’t know how much of a future he has or indeed how he was voted the top defender in the Bundesliga but I can see a use for him where we want to generate width in the absence of an attacking wide player
good win
mediocre football
Yes, TTG, he’s ok going forward but, I’d say, no better than Nacho is. Nacho comes with the added bonus of some ability to defend either as an out-and-out LB or in the left CB position (although we’re pretty well stocked in that department now).
I think it would be prudent to identify a new LB. Hopefully Nacho has another good season in him but he’s at the stage in his career when injuries of the type that have him sidelined may become more frequent. The prospect of watching Kolasinac start at LB in the next two games isn’t a prospect I find comforting.
Unai Emery slily disguises the identity of our opponent next week:
“We are going to play another match against a top team like Tottenham.”
Intended or not intended, it sounds pretty clever to me. 🙂
I will be judging his English not by the standards if the grammar handbooks but by their impact on the footballing World. ?
sead is more a CD
a tank with pace
and he was playing there in 04
IBtM
Absolutely no argument in any comparison between Nacho and Kolasinac. Nacho is way better as a defender and one hopes this injury is one he can recover from asap. Kolasinac has lot of power and can be a threat in the other team’s box in the air. But Nacho was one of Wenger’s best signings , arguably the last really good one he made.
On a more general note I understand Ozil was left out because Emery believed Bournemouth’s style was too intense for Ozil. That’s quite a step to take and might mean he’s benched quite a bit in a league like the PL going forward because almost every team plays with high intensity. But it does show Emery does what he thinks best and no player is untouchable . It may also make Ozil look to add some intensity to his game.
As for Thursday I’d take a shadow squad maybe
Cech Jenks Mustafi Plegezuelo Osei- Tutu ( assume Lichsteiner is injured)
AMN Elneny
Mkhi Ramsey ESR
Nketiah
That should do a decent job
8ball ?
kolashinatz is only 25
why sell him…put him in the centre of defence cause panos is years
away from…something
and lolo is at the end
same height as boom boom minter
kola not kos
Fine report Guvna. A somewhat distressing watching experience but a win is a win and we remain in touch with the top four.
I agree with the observations made about our defence and I am guessing that we played a back 3 in part because Unai agrees with us that Kolasinac is a liability at left back. I do think that we need to get Nacho back asap. I may have to sacrifice someone’s goat to Wotan to secure his early recovery.
In the slightly longer term we desperately need a young back-up to Nacho and a dominant CB to develop a long-term partnership with and to mentor Holding who looks first choice CB at the moment. Musafi’s erratic dive-ins are going to cost us more points this season. I think the NLD is coming a bit too soon for him but hopefully Koscielny will pass with flying colours his first full match on Monday with the yoof team and show that he has recovered full fitness so that he can add a calm head to the centre of defence. The failure to get van Dyke when he was affordable is, in etrospect, a major regret.
Meanwhile the prospect of this defence facing a rampant Marshdweller front three is making me look forward to next weekend’s NLD rather less enthusiastically than I usually do. I’ll have to find another bloody goat for Wotan.
TTG@13, I fully agree with that team for Thursday. I wouldn’t take anyone who might be first choice for Sunday on the trip. Also if I were Unai, I’d nip down to the Tollie on Monday night and invite some of the regulars to fill the bench if the yoofs are too knackered to make the trip after their match. I’m sure he could find a few volunteers as mobile as Per and as skilled as Jenks.
Bath
A lady along the road used to keep goats. My wife helped her take one to the vets once but they’ve long disappeared. Maybe they could be in someone’s freezer? Does that count for a sacrifice??
Probably not for an NLD!
Remember Mustafi was quite brilliant in the game at our place last year. He scored one and defended like a hero. No nutty leap-ins or anything like it. Frankly I would go with Sokratis who is a wily purveyor of defensive shuthousery and Holding who is fulfilling his potential with a run of games. Assuming the sacrifice to Wotan takes we have a more solid Bellerin at right back and Leno who I really like at the back. We’ve been in worse shape.
How fit is Jordi Osei-Tutu? He was out for a couple of months with injury and only returned to training a month ago? He doesn’t seem to be playing competitive games again yet, so a starting place on Thursday may be asking too much. More likely to see AMN filling in there or even Dominic Thompson, a young left-back but who has had some U23s games this season and who Emery apparently rates highly. He may be the long-term replacement for Monreal, though is probably behind a fit Osei-Tutu in the pecking order at present.
TTG@5: You did say it would be 2-1, and I think I said you would be right.
3 points masking yet another average performance, not complaining but stating the obvious. We clearly have only 2 CB’s at the moment, Holding and Sokratis, Mustafi is just a joke and if Unai or anyone else believes, Kos coming back is the solution, then they are wrong. Our Frenchman’s best years are over. Sead is not a left back, he just gets lost so many times.
Most disappointing though was Mhki, appallingly poor, no sense of decision making and just doesn’t seem to be aware of what is happening around him. These are games he needs to dominate and force himself to the playing 11 but he is nowhere close.
Torreira breath of fresh air, not only put in the foot where it matters but has a very understated passing side of his, very efficient. His reading of the game makes him even better.
Not playing Ozil and saying he would have found it tough against Bournemouth is a poor reflection on him, he is our best player and yesterday would have had a telling difference on the game.
We missed Lacazette big time, his hold up play is influential and he compliments the overall balance to the team in more ways than Auba, Auba has his merits but as a central striker, Laca is far better. Auba as a wide player is perfect as an attacking option but does not track back.
On to the NLD, the game mostly won on emotions than personnel, if we stop treating kane like messi, we are winning that.
boom boom minter
The Extra Strong ones make me fart an’ all.
Isn’t Bramall fit now as well?
Anyway, I’d go with
Cech
Jerks, Plegezuelo, CB, AMN
Elneny, Guendouzi
ESR, Ramsey, A young kid,
Eddie
Whichever CB isn’t playing against
Spuds and the likeliest young attacker
would do fine.
Thanks for taking out the trash
this morning Guv.
A fine report H.
Like many, I still don’t think we are playing to our full potential yet but there are definitely signs of improvement. I said when the new manager was appointed that we should not judge him too much until he has had at least 4 transfer windows to form and mould his own team. Yesterday was yet another example of where he is intending to take this team.
The defence needs a total rebuild. Leno is the first piece of the puzzle. I’m not sure that any of the current defence will still be here in 28 months time. We have been weak in the middle for ages. Bellerin needs a good kick up the arse and we are nowhere near to finding a top quality left back. That will take time.
However, yesterday showed many positives. We are on a great unbeaten run and if by the 6th December we can still say the same thing then we are definitely ahead of schedule.
I agree with those above that want the kids in midweek. Then for a Sunday of proper spud bashing.
Agree with nearly all of that Steve T
– I think Hector has been better this
season so far.
Vinay,
Don’t forget Mavropanos who is due back soon. He did very well last year
Cheers for the well wishes from the last drinks. I’m just back in London now. I suppose at least it’s warmer than Vorskla.
OM @24. Bit harsh there on our long serving right back.
Count me in as another who has not forgotten Mavropanos and the bright promise he showed last season. A 24-27 year old experienced centre half signing would still be welcomed as we won’t be seeing Koscielny or Papa in the medium term time frame.
Koscielny is back for the U23s tonight. I think he must have dyed his hair.
Interesting that Nketiah, Willock, Jenks, Medley, Pleguezelo and Martinez are not involved . Osei- Tutu on bench.
I don’t know who remembers my match report of our game against the Spuds a few years back when I watched it in a weird pub out in the sticks that was straight from Royston Vasey (there must be a few League of Gentleman fans in the bar) but this is a heads up that I am likely to be returning to the same venue for this Sunday’s match, and if events unfold anything like they did last time, then I will certainly post a match report for the edification and warning of the bar.
If I make it out alive.
“Don’t worry Tubs. He won’t get far”
*reaches behind counter and raises crossbow*
Apparently it’s ‘they’. And not from behind the counter. But the vibe is EXACTLY the same…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJzLtMrV01E
I’m with bt8 and the rest in being really interested in Mav’s development. Obviously too early to be conclusive but I like what I’ve seen.
And agree that we need a signing at CB. I seriously rate Holding (his passing is so crisp and it is so useful in the modern game to move the ball on that extra second quicker), and I like Sokratis quite a bit, even though he is no long term option and has a few rough edges. Top attitude though.
I hope Kos returns to Boss status but he is aging and it will be no shame on him if he does not return to his previous heights. I can think of no Arsenal defender who has performed so miraculously within the framework of a midfield that has been a walking (yes, walking) invitation for the opposition to attack us at will. Next to Adams or Campbell he would have looked like a God. Kos was a Wenger signig through and through. Fitting that they both got nicknamed Boss.
Also, buggrit, millenium hand and shrimp (for the Pratchett fans), I’m not scared of the Spuds. Bring the LWCs on.
I look forwards to us raising our game and taking the 3 points.
In as far as ‘one game at a time’ goes… I couldn’t really give a toss about Vorskla. I think it unlikely that we’ll finish second. But if we do, and we get a tougher draw, then I’ll still back us. If a team with genuine Champion’s league aspirations is fearful of any team in the last 32 of the Europa League then we’ve got a problem. Unai knows how to win that cup. I can’t see it hinging on our performance in conditions that would have an Inuit reaching for a hot water bottle up their jumper…
If cba doesn’t get in here quick then I’m thinking of making a dash for the half ton!
Do the Women’s team ever get an invite to train with the Men’s first team?
I bet they’d love it. And show our boys a few things about determination and grit. You wanna see Kola defend? Watch him get skinned multiple times by some of our awesome female attackers and see if he develops a sense that tracking back might be a good idea? What do people in the bar think of the cross-gender training? It seems such a no-brainer to me.
I’d like to point out that I’m not suggesting for one second that the gender of the person making you look like a muppet in defense SHOULD matter, but, despite all our advances as a society, some things have not YET changed as much as we would like, and some of our women would take Kola to the cleaner’s. And he might not be happy about that.
We are one club. And those Ladies (or women, if ‘Ladies’ has become mystifyingly derogatory to describe a group of people who have no issue with referring to each other as “the girls”) sure know a thing or two about how to dominate a league. There is no clear class divide between them and the other top teams they face, even if they are clearly better than some teams in their division. They are ravaged by injuries, yet they embody everything about the togetherness of our club and exemplify all of the things that many of us associate with the ‘true Arsenal spirit’. And they keep winning and winning and winning.
I want to see photos of them training with the men. Of Unai and Joe in conference on how to setup a training session. Screw it, I want to see Laca, Mesut, Auba and the rest as part of a 300 strong crowd cheering on our women if they get a rare Sunday off. These people are top professionals and a vital part of our club. We have always been trailblazers for the women’s game. It matters.
Who would like to arrange a Sunday meet up of Holics for a drink and a women’s match in the New Year? At 6 quid a pop, can you afford not to go?
Lumps a high ball into the middle for GSD to fight for.
*Traps ball in centre circle and plays keepie-up whilst waiting for GSD to get up after tripping over his tail in an effort to get to the centre circle.* ?
Good spot @29 GSD 🙂
Corporal Carl to me from
now on.
Gets into centre circle and launches reckless diving header.
Sees ball cannon out to a revamped Kola
Picks self up and darts forwards for the return ball
The ball comes fizzing across across the field. At the last moment dummies it, taking 2 midfielders out of the game as the ball lands the the feet of the lungbusting run of…
el mio, who does a rainbow kick that lands ahead of the post-dummy gsd as he hares towards the box…
*Selects fine Havana panatela, lights it, draws a finely scented smoke deep into lungs, blows three concentric smoke rings, traps ball in crook of ankle, takes another blast of Cuban smog, flicks ball into air, volleys it across field to…..*
the back of my head (I was watching the cute blond in row 7) and ricochets down to my arse, which sends it shooting across the pitch like a Danny Welbeck strike to…
The Masked Lurker, who smoothly
shins the ball off the refs head and
up his baggy Arshavin memorial
shirt while said ref is prostrate then
waddles upfield and deposits ball
like a surreptitious chicken on the
edge of the area for……..
A cheeky and indecipherable backheel for …
The simplest of finishes, all the hard work having been done elsewhere.
Team goal of the season so far. Total football taken to new heights. The stuff of dreams. Everyone’s earned oranges there.
I’m looking forward to the GSD spuds report from the trenches but I wonder whether consideration should be given to a new disguise.
Perhaps an ET mask? Any other suggestions?
UTA.
Having been a little removed of late from the broader league season, can anyone help with an update on the fortunes of two players ex of this parish, much debated, Theo and LJW? Have they been tearing up trees?
UTA.
Mike Dean appointed to ref the NLD. No surprises there.
GSD, if you do that report email it to me and I will run with it. No way will I be getting back from a NLD in any sort of state to write it up until Monday evening.
speaking of nomads, two things.
first, it appears we’re now playing in kiev at the same scheduled time as our game would have been in poltava. i guess martial law in parts of the ukraine means we’re going to have an easier ride of it. sucks for the fans, though, unless uefa does some serious negotiating with hotels and such.
secondly, and this makes me laugh. our ostensible leader of our local supporters club has been approached by the ostensible (and shite-filled) leader of the local nomads supporters club, who don’t have a bar in which to watch their game. the reason for the approach? they want to watch the NLD at our bar sunday morning. with us. and have asked us to “act civilly”. needless to say when polled and discussed, “whattaya think about tottenham” rang out on facebook, and the poll is running a resounding “f$&! no”. this fan club must have been kicked out of their mother’s basement, or somesuch. can you imagine, gsd, if your bar at royston vasey was full of spuds, too? yeesh!
Noosa@53 – Others will be able to give you a fuller reply. As far as I recall, Feo has been getting a few assists and a goal or two for the Toffees about what yiu might have expected him to do for us in an “all right” vain of form had that been combined, unaccountably, with a long run while LJW’s season had no soiner started than he got crocked and he hasn’t played since.
So, essentially – No, the trees are safe.
Noosa,
2 goals, 2 assists for Theo in 13 games.
2 big chances created, 22 crosses, 0 yellow cards
and 3 defensive clearances – stats from the
PL Fantasy League. He’s not in my team 🙂
4 games for Jack before he was injured.
0 goals, 0 assists and 2 yellow cards.
No upturned trees and no regrets so far.
Ox before he was injured and Gnabry I
suppose are doing the best of the players
who left – though there was still no end
product for Ox before he was injured and
he didn’t look any different to me.
OG gets the odd game for Chavski as the
Plan B he said he didn’t want to be and
Kieran is playing in the Chanpionship for
WBA.
I wonder if we took too long to decide on
most of them.
If UEFA have security concerns about
playing in the Ukraine then the game
shouldn’t go ahead – in the end it is
simply a game of football.
I don’t see moving it to Kiev is any safer
and as usual the away support get fucked
over.
I guess it may reduce our travel time but
it’s a half-arsed decision from a half-arsed bunch
of wankers.
Sol is the new manager of
Macclesfield Town. The only
way is up!
Well, unless they get relegated.
I saw the Macc Lads live once,
just to share.
The upside of switching Thursday’s game to Kiev is that the team can fly in and out of the city directly, and obviate the need for a two-hour bus journey between Poltava and the airport at Kharkiv near the Russian border and thus in an oblast under martial law. Still sucks for the away fans, though
Pangloss and OM
Thanks for the update on Feo and LJW. Plus ca change etc..
Scruz – no stadium for the team and no bar for the supporters. Ha ha ha repeat…
UTA.
I see Jordi Osei-Tutu got a run out with the U-23s in the 5-0 thrashing by Derby Co yesterday before being sent off for grabbing an opponent by the throat. Three red cards in the game which ended with ten playing nine.
Kos also played the first half, with no apparent mishap.
The Kiev venue also will hopefully provide a greater likelihood of Arsenal coaches and players evading Russian newly deployed “air defense systems” in Ukraine. A second article apparently calls the air defense systems for what they are, missiles. Between Azerbaijan and Ukraine, the sooner we can get out of this group the safer and saner we will be. Unless we draw Russian opposition in the next round.
Let’s hope the game is called off as it is a farcical situation and won’t affect the top two places. Moving to Kiev is like moving our game to Leeds. I’d hardly expect fanatical support . The conditions will be feeling but it will be good experience for the young lads if we play.
If Medley is ineligible as Jeorge Bird suggests ( and he is rarely wrong) I can’t see who will play CB with Holding . I guess it will be Elneny or Lichsteiner .
The squad we’ve sent out there is spot on. We’ve sent very few players who will play on Sunday. The Totts have a massive game tonight but are to all intents and purposes out and hopefully they knacker themselves completely in a forlorn cause.
Sorry I meant freezing not feeling!
PSG defender with a Mustafi-patented needless slide tackle to concede a PK to Scousers in last minute of first half. PSG thus only up 2-1 and poised for a typical second half implosion.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>