Despite Arsenal's bland win against Portsmouth on Saturday, the difficult and important match was the second leg of UEFA's Champions League Semi, in which again the Gunners were battered and beaten to death thanks to the brace od certain Portuguese striker. Utd gave a football lesson and while in the previous match there were some horrid moments, to say the least, this game looked promising, in the first minutes, for the home team. Now that Londoners dream of Champions League glory has ended, all that remains is to wait, as the past three seasons, for what could bring next year. Two semifinals in two weeks as well as last year's title defeat may prove to be too much for some Gunners. I am certain big name swill depart in the following transfer window.
Remember that when the boat's sinking, the rats jump.
I saw some similitudes betwen the match played on Saturday, El Clásico, and today's: When the home side intended to impose or outpass the visitors, immediately the latter gave a class of mastery and buried all hopes.
The Gunner community in the net, particularly on blogs has been presimistic. For example 1979gooner resumed the match as "United showed they are the far superior side at the moment.". On the other hand Arseblog stated that "And we need to look at United as the standard that we have to aspire to (from a footballing point of view, of course). Whatever about the number of utter cunts on their team, they play really nice football.". Again the press were ruthless and hailed CR7 instead of the whole team. For example Soccernet, Goal and Sky Sports.
David Young, with his subtle and lucid prose framed the missery in an excellent way.
The attitude from the team before the two stunners promised very much: the whole 60 000 seater was cheering and booing and this helped the home side to encurr several arrivals and apparently the match took the opposite of the previous clash until Ronaldo finished Gunners aspirations once and for all. At 8' the Portuguese striker crossed to find Park but Gibbs tripped and the Korean eventually found the net. The stadium went mute and it was obvious that three goals were a burden but the hope remained.
If there was any hope that the Gunners could embrace a heroic return it quickly vanished into thin air when another Ronnie Rocket put the lead two-nil to the visitors. Now that the match was over some Gooners in the stadium could not held frustration and the fact that the abuse will be coming from the so-hated rival was a hell of a dreadful prospect. With hoped buried six feeth under, little by little the game vanish into frail and dismal displays of offensive type, all of them repelled by Utd's solid defense while Nasri tried to began plays linking with van Persie it was certain that no-goal will enter van der Saar's mark. The overwhelming football machinery displayed by the visitors kept no place in doubt to make the path to full time more miserable.
Gibbs spared the abuse when Eboue came in. Again the Gunners rampaged towards goal after the halftime talk just to find the resilient wall led by Fletcher. The siege that Arsenal put against Utd's pitch wame apart after Ronaldo broke through in a counter to find Rooney and then, passing towards the number 7 again to score. Gooners could not stand the abuse and, as early as the 62nd minute began to retreat. I am certain that the suffering should be spared but exactly the supporters have to stand by the team when facing the most difficult challenges. After the last Utd goal Bendnter came and while showing quick feet he could do nothing about Arsenal's missery.
Ten minutes later Darren Fletcher thumbled Cesc, awarding a red card. Immediately discordance felt upon Rosetti's decision. The Scot indeed touched the ball but the Sppniard was in clear way to score. Robin van Persie gave a feeble hope to the Gunners but all cards were drewn and the goal was the least proof of decorum that any north Londoners would want. Still Arsenal held the match with the hope but none of it capitalized as the Red Devils booked their ticket to the Eternal City. Again no trophies nor glory in a any front.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment