Lightning Strikes A Second Time, 46 Years On
Nov 23rd, 2017 by 'holic
A more experienced eleven than was expected took to the pitch in the RheinEnergie Stadion. Calum Chambers returned to the side at right wing-back, so Reiss Nelson started on the bench. Francis Coquelin partnered Mohamed Elneny in midfield allowing Jack Wilshere to slot in behind Olivier Giroud and Danny Welbeck.
The Arsenal made a bright start and Wilshere presented an opportunity to Ainsley Maitland-Niles from a tight angle which was cleared at the expense of a corner. The hosts got their first corner in the sixth minute when David Ospina had to go full length to tip away a dangerous cross-shot from Cordoba.
Just before the quarter of an hour an unlikely face provided a fierce drive from twenty yards the just missed Horn’s right-hand post. It would have been Coquelin’s first goal in four years had he hit it a couple of feet to the right. From the away end an appraisal of Tottenham’s future rang out. Talking of unlikely goals Wilshere managed to win a header in the box but aimed his effort straight at Horn.
Maitland-Niles, ever-willing to get forward down the left, crossed to his opposite number but Chambers didn’t connect cleanly with his volley and Horn saved comfortably. Also getting forward with regularity, Coquelin smacked another effort against the post. Next up with a potshot was Danny Welbeck but he saw his effort pass the far post.
Cologne lost their captain, Mahro, to a hamstring problem ten minutes before half-time. Rausch came off the bench to deputise. As the half limped to a close Elneny hit a rising shot into the crowd behind the goal.
The second-half started with Alex Iwobi on for Welbeck. Klunter’s tug on Maitland-Niles earned the defender a yellow card and a free-kick which resulted in a wasted corner. The home team made a second substitution when Olkowski came on for Cordoba. An unlikely opening appeared for Guirassy but the striker bobbled his effort straight at Ospina.
Then Guirassy blatantly dived and the gullible Mr Bezborodov pointed to the spot. The same player drilled his effort into the middle of the goal as Ospina threw himself to his right. Was that a wake up call that the Gunners would heed? Could the hosts hang on to repeat their controversial 1-0 win 46 years ago?
Cologne 1-0 Arsenal
Wilshere saw an effort from the edge of the box parried by Horn before he once again won a cross but headed the ball high and wide. Reiss Nelson came on for a tiring Chambers and proved his worth with a speedy recovery to dispossess the growingly confident Guirassy. Cologne sent on midfielder Lehmann for striker Osako. The Gunners now had a dense red wall to attempt to penetrate.
I hadn’t spotted that the Germans had an outfield player also called Horn. It was somewhat fitting for the team with a goat for a mascot should have two Horns! They combined to deny Giroud when he beat the offside trap. With only seven minutes left on the clock the manager finally turned to Eddie Nketiah and Debuchy was withdrawn. A game of attack versus defence had long since developed and the attackers needed the extra man.
Guirassy found himself in the book for a late challenge on Per Mertesacker. Nelson’s mazy dribble ended with his effort being saved by the goalkeeping Horn. Nketiah was close to an equaliser but the defenders scrambled the ball away and were rewarded with a goal-kick. News that Red Star had drawn with Bate Borisov and that result confirmed the Gunners as Group H winners.
Wilshere’s rasping drive in added time was spectacularly tipped over by Horn. The final whistle was cheered to the the rafters by home supporters who had been magnificent all night. Their chance of making the knock out phase is very much alive. It was a first defeat for the Gunners cup team, but they will struggle to work out quite how it happened.
32 Responses to “Lightning Strikes A Second Time, 46 Years On”
Thank you for the report Guvnor.
Unfortunately, I missed the game
due to er…. drunkenness, but it’s
not the end of the world as we have
qualified top anyway. Win the
last to get back the winning habit
and all will be well.
I’ve just heard one of my grandsons is singing at John Lewis on the night we play BATE. Mrs TTG has already indicated where our priorities lie and frankly I can’t work up the enthusiasm to go to see this level of football on a freezing night. Family occasions take precedence every time over Mickey Mouse Football. Whether we’ve qualified top or not the Europa League has provided hideous fare , every bit as bad as we feared. It may lead to glory nights in the spring but not with this team and then we will see the true strength of our squad. There will be some good sides in the later stages of the competition but I’ve found it an excruciating experience to see us flailing around on Thursday nights. Let’s hope it’s for one season only
Would have loved to have been in Cologne but sadly not. Planned to watch it on TV, but my 85 year old Dad was rushed into hospital with pneumonia and a loss of mobility two days ago so spending a lot of time in hospital wards at the moment. All I can say is, NHS staff rock.
As for Arsenal, we’re through as group winners. That’ll do me.
Nice write up ‘holic – gave me the detail nicely.
On the upside ; I managed to do a huge pile of ironing and cook a meal for three people whilst the game was on in the corner…nothing else to add really.
#3 – Well said ; NHS staff are total heroes and deserve so much more pay and respect than they currently get. Hope your father’s health improves in the coming days.
c100
all my very best to your father
as grumpy thunder T said
real stuff is more important
but selfishly
i wish you were at the game too
yer away reports
(which as you know i love)
would’ve gone a way to shine
what was a dull turd of a performance
.
my two hour round trip tonight
was wet and windy
it was raining and breezy too
Excellent summary H. Another incompetent referee is conned. Video review of penalty decisions must come soon accepting that there will be some that defy rational analysis. This was not one of those. Blatant dive for me.
The game was a very dull watch with a distinct paucity of penetration, decent final balls and decent chance creation. Giroud’s flicks around the box were distinctly unproductive and we filed to use the width of the pitch and kept trying unsuccessfully to penetrate the crowd scene in the middle. An upside was another run out for LJW and good experience for Maitland Niles and that we ‘kept going’ but apart from that there were few positives.
Group won so I suppose we have to deem it ‘job done’. However we need to be better than this if we are to progress in the final stages. Some of the unseeded qualifiers from the CL will provide this team with far too great a challenge on today’s showing.
All the best to your father cm100.
Countryman
I may be grumpy but I wish your dad the very best and hope he can recover soon
Spot on Bath @6. We have to bring the first-team into play to have a serious shot at this one
Hope all is as well as it can be with your father, c100. Trying times.
All the best for your Dad, Countryman.
Three things learned from the Cologne game. First, Calum Chambers is not a wing back. Second, Sir Arthur Niles-Maitland of that Ilk is a player. Third, Reiss Nelson is a talent, but should be playing further forward than wing back.
Fine write up, Guv’nor of a game that we never really got to grips with. 0-0 would have been the fair result. Giroud had lovely hold-up play but his lay-offs were poor all evening, and he seemed to spend more time sitting on his rear end appealing for fouls than on his feet.
What everybody else said better than I could, countryman.
I forgot the game was on, then remembered, looked at the team and cooked my dinner instead, then watched some NFL.
As for the game, a very frustrating night of poor crosses and final balls and, when anyone did find themselves with the goal to aim at, shots most often wide of the target.
Nelson and Wilshere had decent efforts near the end but it was another case of the lion’s share of possession, chances not taken and a nonsense of a refereeing decision leaving us pountless at the final whistle.
A more clinical performance by a more creative attack will be needed if we are to make a serious effort to win this competition – which we should.
As one approaching your dad’s vintage,countryman, I applaud your priorities and wish him the best.
As you may have gathered you missed absolutely nothing. It was like playing Wigan away on a freezing North England night in a two-legged tie after winning the first 6-0. Dull as ditchwater, depressing even.
Only Nelson looked like making a difference, although Jack gave the impression of real quality on occasions, before dithering and losing his way every time.
Countryman, sorry to read that. Hope Dad makes a full recovery in good time.
chris
speaking of oul farts?
the mighty mighty SWEEPER’s opinion
was fuckin no nonsense stand on yer neck
heeded and needed
(song no2 on neu75)
song fer you
the end of the world is neu
neu – seeland
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XENiO6TnteE
This bar is like a family, thanks to the genius of the landlord. Thank you all for your kind thoughts and wishes. Dad’s also deep in the grip of Alzeimer’s, which has robbed us of the joy of discussing the football, or the Test match. I feel he may be approaching at best extra time, at worst injury time.
As ‘holic has expressed so eloquently in the past, we owe so much to our Fathers, and as we become Dads and Grandads we give that back.
Chris I had no idea you were old enough to be my Dad (I’m 60). You would never guess your age from your repartee on here. Long may you prosper (even if we don’t always agree!)
Up the Arsenal
C100 all the best to you and your Dad
I said ‘approaching’ your dad’s vintage, countryman, I’m still a decade short, so just 15 years older than you. I’m pretty sure I am the senior citizen here, and it’s a wonder to me that this should be so. Last thing I remember was having a mildly outrageous midlife crisis in my 40s, and then almost without blinking I find myself 75 with a variety of aches, pains and bits wearing out, but still looking at life as if nothing has changed since the ’80s … even as my own 80s loom on the horizon.
The one downer in my life currently is the present state of the football club I have supported since 1950 … bearing in mind I have determined not to die until they win the CL. And that could mean hanging on indefinitely!
Cheers H. I’ve not seen any of the game. As on several occasions this season I have the game recorded. As on an equal number of occasions, I will just hit the delete button.
On Saturday, we took the spuds to the cleaners and gave them a right kicking. Tonight we made 11 changes and finished the game having topped the group with a game to spare. All that with the first team fully rested for the weekend. We had some really crap times recently but I wouldn’t suggest that the last few days are not some of them. One stat I did get from the radio commentary I heard was that Jack has played for only 25 minutes in the Premier League this season. This surely a stat that has to rapidly change?
Countryman. All the very best. Everything crossed here.
A big week in the Steve T household so will pop back into the bar when I can. In the meantime, drinks on the bar for one and all.
chris ?
(20 c100)
yes and no
this place is like a family
as the handsomest
*get pushed to the front*
i find myself unnecessarily given attention
i’d like the lame and lazy
and
perhaps the not so STRIKING
to get a fair sheik too
?
h ?
¿
What’s a ‘fair sheik’, cba? I thought they were all dark-haired with a bit of a tan.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IgZOYt5kH9Q
sheik sheik sheik
sheik sheik sheik
sheik your booty
27 people !
don’t drop yer aitches/hitches
like what i done did
countryman, all the best to your dad and family. your positive enthusiasm and talent for excellent drinks are something for your old dad to be proud of.
as for the game, a blatant dive, but we top the group. 11 juniors for the last game, and let go the handbrake.
Competition time >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>