Red Army 4-1 Red Army
Apr 5th, 2018 by 'holic
The Arsenal went into their first European quarter-final since 2010 with what is undoubtedly Arsene Wenger’s idea of his strongest available eleven. Petr Cech was named in goal and that was explained as being due to David Ospina having an ‘ankle injury’. The back four as expected saw Hector Bellerin and Nacho Monreal picked outside a central pairing of Laurent Koscielny and Shkodran Mustafi.
In midfield Granit Xhaka and Aaron Ramsey got the nod to accompany Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Jack Wilshere, and Mesut Ozil. Mercifully Alexandre Lacazette was deemed to be fit to start. That persuaded me to place my bet on 3-1 to the Arsenal rather than the 2-1 I had tipped up on Tuesday’s ABW podcast. What an under-estimate that would prove to be.
The first opportunity of the match was engineered by Monreal and Ozil for Mkhitaryan who fired into the side-netting. Within a minute though we were grateful for the assistant referee’s flag when Musa burst clear and appeared to have been played onside by Bellerin.
The other assistant denied us what looked like a wonderful opening goal when Ramsey lashed home Ozil’s cross and turned to see another dubious raised flag. Ninety seconds later, however, he repeated the finish from Bellerin’s driven cross and the Gunners had the early lead to lift a far from full-house crowd.
The Arsenal 1-0 CSKA
After a defensive flap by Xhaka and Mustafi six minutes later Koscielny carelessly conceded a free-kick on the edge of the box and the star man of CSKA , Golovin, chipped the perfect free-kick just inside the top far corner of Cech’s left hand post.
The Arsenal 1-1 CSKA
The visitors were dangerously close to leading a minute later when Musa was put clear in the inside-left channel but dragged his effort into the side-netting. Warning bells should have been going off all over the Grove. At the end another awful offside flag denied Lacazette an opportunity. Again it only delayed maters briefly. Ozil’s mazy dribble into the box was ended by Schennikov’s trip and Lacazette slammed home the penalty past Akinfeev.
The Arsenal 2-1 CSKA
With both defences at sixes and sevens that surely wouldn’t be the last goal of the night? It wasn’t even the last of the half! In the 28th minute a magnificent midfield build-up ended with Ozil chipping to the unmarked Ramsey who finished with a magnificent side footed lob over the onrushing Akinfeev. That was like the Wengerball of old.
The Arsenal 3-1 CSKA
A nigh-on identical move ended with Monreal picking up – you’ve guessed it- Ramsey, unmarked in the box again but this time not quite able to get his header on target. The Gunners put the foot full on the pedal. Another flowing move ended with Xhaka and Ozil combining to pick out Lacazette who finished with a fine left-footed drive through a crowded box.
The Arsenal 4-1 CSKA
Another threat arrived when Musa passed Bellerin as if he wasn’t there and crossed for Dzagoev to fire over from close range. The same player tried his luck from long range but sliced it high, wide, and not so handsome. Next Musa was again played through the middle but his effort under pressure from Xhaka bobbled into Cech’s grateful grasp. Ninety seconds from the break Xhaka picked out the run of Ozil who side footed over the target with his left foot. The half-time whistle brought to a close a magnificent half of crazy football.
The second-half started with Ramsey and Lacazette hunting the next goal to claim the matchball. It nearly fell to another when the mercurial Ozil picked out Mkhitaryan at the far post but the Armenian couldn’t apply the finish the cross deserved. The long overdue ‘Red Army’ chant finally pierced the North London air.
Monreal cut the ball back to Ramsey who was denied his hat-trick by the heel of Ignashevich. Mkhitaryan saw another shot parried by Akinfeev into the path of Ramsey who couldn’t quite get over the ball and lobbed it over the bar. The Welshman was clearly in the mood to add to his brace.
It was sad to see Mkhitaryan limp off on the hour after being the victim of a yellow card ‘tackle’ by Schennikov. Hopefully this will be nothing serious for our February and March player of the month. Alex Iwobi came on to replace him.
In the 64th minute Dzagoev headed home from such close range that there wasn’t a single Gunner between him and the goal. Praise to the assistant referee for getting that one right. Musa made another run through the centre that could have brought a greater reward than a simple save for Cech. We seemed to learn the lesson and Iwobi attempted to tee up Lacazette but the angle was too tight for the Frenchman to secure the first hat-trick.
Not for the first time the ‘We’ve got Ozil, Mesut Ozil’ song rang out. The orchestrator of all that was good about this performance, he picked out Monreal with a beautiful cross that the left-back headed too close to Akinfeev. The German nearly made it five himself but his curling effort drew a right-handed save at full stretch by Akinfeev.
Disappointingly Lacazette was hooked before he could get his hat-trick, replaced by Danny Welbeck with 16 minutes remaining. He looked less than enamoured at that. Mohamed Elneny came on for Wilshere too and was involved in the move that ended with Ramsey crashing another effort against the post. Vitinho‘s header just over the bar caused some consternation as the end game approached. The changes had seemingly disrupted the Gunner’s style.
Welbeck almost claimed a typical Welbeck goal with a deflection rather than a shot from point-blank range but the veteran Akinfeev was equal to it. Iwobi put Ramsey in on the left but he pulled his shot wide of the far post with Welbeck well placed. Mustafi’s lung-bursting run half the length of the pitch with just 3 minutes left came to nought and earned him a reprimand from his manager.
Wernbloom’s turn and shot narrowly wide as the clock ticked over caused a gasp or two. There would be a big difference between taking a 4-1 or 4-2 lead to Russia next week. A trio of added minutes was played out to a rapidly emptying stadium and one final doubtful offside flag. This was indeed a very good night.
77 Responses to “Red Army 4-1 Red Army”
Drink!
😀
Özil!
😀
Drink Ozil !
?
Super Mesut Özil !
Salut!
Excellent report to match the excellent performance.
Could have been double figures.
Then just when i should be enjoying the rest of the evening comes the sad news of the death of Eric Bristow from yet another heart attack.
Only 60 years young,Ray Wilkins only 61,two gentleman of their respective sports gone far too early.
On the injury front,
Miki has a knee problem won’t play Sunday’s game,and Ospina out for 2 to 3 wks .
Re the other Ties,
Athletico look to have done enough after winning first leg 2 nil.
Lazio beat Salzburg 4 – 2,and Leipzig beat Marseille 1 nil.
Well, I promised the reflection in me least dusty door knob that i wouldn’t watch that meaninglessless bunch of bollox, and i stuck to it (the promise, not me knob).
But still I is BANG on SHURE that, THAT so-called game of wassername was un-fukkin-ac-fukkin-ceptable … 4-1 – utter, utter – shite … which, coincidentally, is what i do best .
DON’T enjoy IT, basterds – else it shows that U treacherous, joyless CNUTs don’t get that sport is all about proving THAT some fukkwit, self-regarding predicktion THAT I might’ve made about a decade or so ago was BANG ON THE THINGY (i can’t quite remember exactly what it was, when, where or even why – after all a decade is nearly donkey’s wassernames ago, ish, I think).
Anyway, I’ll give you MY FULL, considered opinion of the match, IN FULL, later on, after I’ve pawed over/fallen asleep pissed in front of the highlights on the tele.
AND don’t tell me THAT THEY weren’t shit though ( jus’ sayin’ it how it is, schmuks – in a guessy, wessy, fingers crossy-wossy sort of a way).
SO, stay tuned to ME CHUMPS. And REMEMBER – we’re SHITe, till I say DIFFRENT. SO don’t ENJOY IT, till I say SO! (Good result mind – but THAT is SO NOT the point though!!!)
WANGER OUT!!! MINE IS!!!!!
Thanks for the cracking report Guvnor
Fingers crossed that Mhki’s injury
isn’t too bad. I guess a couple
more will be rested for the
Soton game.
Holic
I read your excellent account on the train home not long after the match and you summarised it very well indeed. It was a slightly mad game which could have ended about 8-2 . It should have been around tgat score given the amazing openness of the gam3 and the easiness of the chances. At times we were sublime with Ozil at his playmaking best and Ramsey getting contunually into brilliant positions . Lacazette really showed what an excellent finisher he is. His combination with Auba could be awesome. We had some disappointing performances too. Bellerin had all sorts of problems with Musa who looks well worth a close look, Mustafi, Xhaka and Koscielny combined like the Keystone Cops to present Golovin with his brilliant free-kick and Jack had a very erratic game.
But it was a feelgood game nd we should have done more than enough to qualify next week. We still need to be a lot less open when teams break on us but we do play some lovely football. One day the crowd will start enjoying it like we used to.
‘Holic, I largely share your and TTG’s view of the game, except that the score could have been 8-6 if CSKA could shoot. Ozil was sublime in his vision and passing at times in the first half. I would have liked a couple more goals to take to Moscow and felt we went unnecessarily flat in the second half, especially after Mkhitaryan limped off. Given this team’s ability to lose 3-0 to anyone, I am a bit apprehensive about the second leg.
Musa is an interesting one. Leicester bought him from CSKA ahead of the 2016/17 season but he didn’t establish himself there (5 goals in 33 games) and Leicester loaned him back to the Russian club in January. He does have 65 Nigeria caps, though, and is quick enough to have given Hector a torrid time.
Musa was a bit of a surprise – watched him
a couple of times for Leicester and he
didn’t seem all that to be honest. I guess
he didn’t settle or didn’t suit as he was
far better for CSKA.
Mkhi is starting to look an important
player for us. I like his attitude.
We could of have got more but I
guess most of us would have taken
4-1 before kick-off. Onward to
Moscow.
“like the Wengerball of old” – ‘holic OP
My thoughts exactly as it was playing out in the first half, I couldn’t have enjoyed it more. Unfortunately the second half was business as usual in recent times.
I have to agree entirely with Ned in #11, teams other than CSKA would have scored several and we were unnecessarily flat in the second half. I had visions of them scoring a second and us panicking allowing them a third. Fortunately they were poor in both halves and we should have a big enough advantage. Should have…
Lovely to see Ozil and Rambo in such great form, but Jack was very disappointing. And either Bellerin has lost some pace or Musa was channeling Usain Bolt.
Mkhi is out for Soton but I’d still rest
Ozil ahead of the Moscow trip. Will
leave us short creatively but a chance
for Reiss-Nelson to start perhaps.
I would rest Ramsey too. Agree OM that this is a good opportunity to give youngsters Nelson, Nketiah, AMN etc., a chance, but I doubt Wenger would do it. At best, he may give them ten minutes or so if we are ahead.
Nice report H.
My Europa debut was a very happy affair I must say. The Grove was as full as I have seen it in recent times and the crowd were in good spirits from the off.
There’s not much more to add to what had been said. We still look vulnerable at the back. Rambo and Özil were both excellent. Jack worked hard but had an off day. Mkhitaryan looks a real player and Laca also looked sharp.
Like others, I can’t help thinking that our Achilles Heal is not putting games like these totally to bed. 4-1 up and in total charge, but we then almost sit back. We become slightly tentative. I so wish we would become far more ruthless and kill the game completely. That said, if we lose a 4-1 lead over there then we don’t deserve to go through.
All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable evening.
Achilles Heel even…
Trev’s spillchucker at its best.
?@8.
ksn,
A team something like below would be
fine for me vs Soton
Cech
Hector, Calum, Kos, Kola
Elneny, AMN
Nelson, Jack, Danny,
Auba
Gives Mus, Nacho, Ramsey, Ozil
and Laca a break but should be
solid enough for Soton.
Very good team Matt
I would give Macey a league debut and put AMN at right back and Holding at CB and bring Xhaka in for AMN. Hector looks below- par and Kos needs to rest that Achilles. I’d also try to get Nketiah some game time from the bench. Ozil must be frightening the life out of CSKA with a view to the return. They either have to try to mark him out of the game but they won’t be able to devote the resources if they need three goals. And away they were even more open than us. I’m told Mavropanos looks fantastic for the U23s . I’d like to see him before the end of the season. If he is as good as my mate suggests he might be part of our planning for next season.
I wouldn’t be giving Laca a break, I think he’s getting a bit pissed getting hauled off early all the time. Probably wondering ‘Why me all the time?’. He needs game time.
In case you missed the Comm Games opening ceremony (and why wouldn’t you if you had any sense!) it wasn’t all bad. They had a lovely whale and a whale of song from the lovely Delta …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzfxesYt87U. Makes one proud to be an Aussie. 😀
On a family break in Norfolk. Ended up following the game from Great Yarmouth’s Greyhound stadium.The Arsenal’s tremendous first half performance coincided with three straight canine winners on the NDR pound. Echoing the game the winners ran out for us later on in the evening but still left the track a fair few quid up !
Nice to know there’s still a dog
tracks around. Seem to have disappeared
in London.
Not so nice for the dogs, Matt. 🙁
All fair points TTG as was Chris’s about
Laca. My only worry about starting
Laca is we’re an injury recurrence
away from Danny at CF again.
You don’t think they like racing
after a toy rabbit Chris?
🙂
Laca has only just come back from surgery. I would ease him back. He hopefully has 4 really important games left this season that he needs to be sharp and 100% fit for. Aubameyang can play the league games.
I also think that Cech should be playing in every game now until the end of the season.
@LegRashian
Your drink may be the most joy-inducing one I’ve had in the bar, for this season (and perhaps the last one too). 🙂
AMN is apparently slightly injured which explains his absence from the bench last night. Thus he cannot deputise for Hector.
What about giving Mavropanos a game against the Saints with Holding alongside? Frankly with seventh likely to yield a Europa place , Sunday matters very little. Thursday’s game is much more important and with Mkhi out for several weeks probably we can’t take chances with many of the team.
Enjoyable report on a very entertaining game, Holic.
Arsenal looked really good going forward, but in the manner of Tiger Woods, may require a pretty big back operation before before being competitive in the majors again.
No reason whatsoever not to be in the hat for the semi-finals of this competition however.
Enjoyable night at the Ems, though a bit chilly in the last 20 minutes (I was probably fooled by the warm day).
It’s been a rough old week. My old Dad passed away peacefully on Tuesday at about 2.30am. I am so grateful that I was by his bedside as I was on the night shift for the family. He passed away listening to the cricket fron New Zealand – I think and hope he would have enjoyed that.
So last night was a grateful diversion. The Guvna and also Arseblog summed up my view of the game. Ozil sublime and becoming a real leader in this team since he committed. Laca looking good and I am salivating at the thought of seeing Laca, Auba, Miki and Ozil as a front four next season. Ramsey also brilliant, back to his best. New contract please!
League cup team on Sunday please vs Southampton. I’ll be there.
One last thought. Why the fuck do season ticket holders who can’t, or don’t want to go, not pass their tickets on via ticket exchange? I’m sure for a European quarter final there were many folk who wanted to go who couldn’t. The sooner we get a home credit system the better.
Thanks guv’na for an effervescent report – one of our better days. Some great attacking football but our defence……best cure for constipation I know.
Suspect there will be a good balance of players who need to be rested and those who need to play for the Saints game on sunday.
Shameful scenes oop norf with the City bus. They need a new one – give Jose a ring, he has a good supply of parked ones ?.
Condolences on your loss Countryman, he had the consolation of a peaceful ending.
Countryman
I’m so sorry for your loss. I hope Dad lived to a ripe old age and the manner of his passing sounded very peaceful although Root and co. might have obliged with a win.
I’ve found Arsenal a great help in times of sorrow. My mother took seriously ill just before the Invincibles clinched the League but she and my Dad were able to enjoy the euphoria of the unbeaten season before she passed. She read Bob Wilson’s book on his daughter’s death while in the hospital. It was the last book she ever read and it moved her enormously. It is the reason I have fundraised for Willow subsequently. I know that would have made her very happy.
Thanks TTG. He was 85 and deep in Alzheimer’s so he’s gone to a better place. My being an Arsenal fan was actually a cause of sorrow because he was born and bred in Fulham and he was a passionate Fulham fan. Why I didn’t go the same route despite spending my first 2 years in SW6 is a long story best shared over a pint. But sport was a huge bond and we spent many hours over many decades at Lords together. In the last decade my son has joined us and pride of place on my wall in my living room is a picture of three generations at the Test together. Happy, happy days. I am touched by your thoughts and kindness.
Condolences from all at Castle Ned, C100. The passing of a father is a true life milestone and it is good that you and your son have fond memories, which will sustain you at all sorts of moments in the years ahead.
Sorry for your loss, Countryman.
Condolences Countryman,on the passing of obviously a very dearly loved Dad.
At least the fickle hand of fate allowed you to be with him when he passed away.
My dear old dad was diagnosed with Asbestosis at the start of the 98 season,and was gone by Christmas.
I was on the last plane out of Hong Kong, after being summoned urgently by my Sister,who was caring for Dad in his last days.
Her husband Dave was a Black cab driver,and a Hammers man to boot would you believe,and he was meeting me at Heathrow early doors on the morning of the 24th.
I only had to look at his face when i came through Customs to know Dad was gone.
I had missed him by a couple of hours,and it is something i have and always will, regret.
Judging by your post,your Dad instilled in you a deep love of sport,which in turn you have passed on to your son,the next generation,and so it goes on.
Hope he has a good send off.
regards
Clive
Mkhitaryan apparently has medial knee ligament damage. Perhaps Dr Trev could tell us the possible prognoses.
Clive
Thank you for such a heartfelt post. It means a lot. Thank you also to Mick and Ned.
Condolences, Countryman. Sounds like you have some golden memories and they will sustain you through the rough times ahead.
One for TTG,
The under 23’s scored a last gasp equalizer to snatch a 1 – 1 draw away at Liverpool this evening.
The point puts us joint top with Leicester who are ahead on goal diff.
They have conceded 15 goals in 20 games,we have conceded 31. !!
Seems we don’t do defence at any level at the Arse.
We both have 2 games left to decide the title.
We have Swansea at home and the Hammers away.
So fingers crossed.
Clive,
Thankyou for this update. That point could be key and shows a fair degree of resilience . The boy who got the equaliser is only 16. Some very promising lads I’m told Baka is very good indeed.
Your note to Countryman was very poignant. My Mum died while I was flying back from Switzerland. I got the first flight I could but it was too late. It’s something you never stop regretting
My condolences, C100, listening to England failing to beat average cricket opposition is no way to go. I trust he had a good innings himself, played a straight bat all his life and left his team all the stronger for his life-long influence.
You’re right Matt, we should rest Laca. I confused myself with O’Bomber being ineligible for Europey (a rule, incidentally, which will no longer apply next season, bugga). With zero chance of top 4 perhaps we should rest everyone for Europey, although not if it means risking being caught by Burnley. That would make us a laughing stock!
Countryman, I would like to add my condolences knowing that a similar day may soon be coming for me. Just got back from a week-long visit with my own ninety-something father in whom I recognized diminished powers compared to a few months prior. It was a bittersweet visit but an important one.
c100 that’s rough
yer a good soul
so i’m guessing ye didn’t get it off the back fence
sincere condolences fella
8ball
my sincere best wishes , fella
not easy ,not easy at all
life is hard
gettin harder
have a tune
and a creepy chuckle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFqZhadwvG0
?
chuckles are good
as are half tons
GET IN
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
(this was deflective humour not ignorance before ye piggin start ya fuckin swooping vulture shower)
?
moooooooooooooooooooooo
shower
pffttt
swooping
One difference between sixth and seventh is £2m in prize money and another £1.2 million in position-determined TV money. Perhaps not a huge sum in the context of overall revenue but still enough to cover the annual salaries of the two executive directors, Gazidis and Friar, or pay 40% of AW’s annual salary.
Neil Warnock is ranting but
in all fairness I wouldn’t want
to shake his hand either.
Looking like a trip to Wolves
for the away support next season.
Chris – true enough, to come
7th in a 6 team race is really
lowering the bar even if it
doesn’t amount to much.
“even if it doesn’t amount to
much”
see Ned at #58 – course I
could certainly use 3.2m quid
myself.
Funny to hear Warnock slagging someone off for a lack of class. IRONY ALERT
3.2 million quid sure ain’t what it used to be, as the beasts of the southern wild like to say.
Enjoying the look on Pep’s face, niiice
Guardiola shown up twice in the space of three days. Some of the smug look has come off?.
Stoke closer to relegation. Good week, especially if we win tomorrow.
Enjoy all you want, ksn. Just so long as you don’t enjoy the look on the face pf Mourinho.
KS, should’ve said. Not sure I could enjoy much of anything related to a
Manurish victory.
Manshity got stuffed 3 goals in last 2 games, and probably it hurt more as they thought it should be a walk in the park, funny old game hehe
BT8- Man Utd have always rubbed me the wrong way and there is no question of liking that lout Mourinho. Pep was acting a bit smug, superior and sort of condescending the whole season and to see him brought down a few notches is satisfying.
butch collected cunt teams
like fuckin glue
man u chelseeee rangers
but that story about him
mobile phone etc …
.
what a class act
.
dangerously dead
RIP
69
*chuckles*
We live in a knee-jerk world and by that token someone who had only seen the last two games Citeh played would not rate them as a great side. That little prat Sterling is an awful finisher and their defence is very average. If you are good enough to get at the back four they are vulnerable . Certainly Real, Barca and Bayern would slice and dice them in the CL. Liverpool might do that on Wednesday. If they lost to the Marsh- Dwellers after that the gloss would be taken off their season….good. They have only spent £255.7 million last summer and wanted to spend another £60 million on Sanchez .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNLXxDMxe18
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBOVMWDTfDU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=La4Dcd1aUcE
.
.
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*ARMPITS*
.
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.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Countryman, I am so sorry to read your news.
bt8, thinking of you too.
When some think they are in dark places we sometimes overlook, without malice, those who are going through worse.
My regards to you both.