Remember Villareal?
First of all, Champions League Draw:
Tuesday, April 7
Villarreal v Arsenal
Manchester United v FC Porto
Wednesday, April 8
Liverpool v Chelsea
Barcelona v Bayern Munich
Tuesday, April 14
Chelsea v Liverpool
Bayern Munich v Barcelona
Wednesday, April 15
Arsenal v Villarreal
FC Porto v Manchester United
Regarding Arsenal's opponent, you might remember, dear reader, the semifinal in UCL's 2006 season, prior to the World Cup. Then the London team prevailed, although with an extreme degree of luck and reached the final in which eventually they became the runners-up.
In the hypothetical universe of confrontations, next opponent will be no more than Man Utd. Yes Man Utd. As several pundits have stated Arsenal could (an only could) face Utd in the semifinal, and later if (and just if)winning against Chelsea, face the Mancunians four times in a period of fifteen days.
Regarding Robert's declarations I completely agree with him. What could have happened if he would have stayed at Arsenal? Well, first he might have been the current captain and with all his experience neither such a shameful episodes in Gunner's dressing room or with the lack of leadership could have happened. Dear Robert, where art thou?
Regarding the current match the Magpies suffered yet again another miserable home loss when Arsenal travelled to the Toon to find one of the hardest oppositions in months. The match could be qualified as one of the bests of the season; this due to the quality of the game played by both sides, and the amount of speed and tension brought into it. Although the Magpies resisted heroically the pressure piled up and the goals finally arrived.
And it seemed difficult that Gustavo Cima could make another narration of Arsenal this season but the eager Gunner supporter made it. The match also, seemed calmed with a near shot by the Bendtner at 14'. The match became equalled with several responses by the home team, and with the Toon on the prowl for the lead Arsenal seeked through Nasri yet ahother opportunity. Manuel Almunia tripped on a Toon player to award a penalty to the Northern side; he saved it in order to restore the so-called "Divine Justice." With the tough physical battles, Arsenal managed to overcome the opposition several times but the home defense was resilient enough. Arshavin's shot went above the bar, at 35'. In the last minutes Arsenal enjoyed certain dominance which could open the game at least in three occasions, two by van Persie and the former by the Russian.
With the tension growing between the teams, the nullification of forces seemed obvious and when the lead came by the visiting squad the immediate response, within a minute was the equalizer; the first by an extremely difficult to execute header by Bendtner and the second by Obafemi Martins. Certainly this come and going was the result of an extremely different match, one that should be seen each weekend in every league. The Magpies did not stand too long and in a brilliant physical display by Diaby, on a wall with van Persie, he extended his tally. As I said it in earlier posts, when Diaby performs well he tends to score. Again it was the Dutchamn who set up Nasri, who relentlessly shot past the keeper to give the Gunnners a two goal advantage. Even with the inclussion of Michael Owen the Newcastle boss did not offer much opposition in the last minutes, although Harper's perfomance saved them from a shocking scoresheet.
MAN OF THE MATCH (Newcastle): Steven Taylor
MAN OF THE MATCH (Arsenal): Robin van Persie
Next week WC Qualifications take place when Mexico hosts Costa Rica in order to find the so-promised three points, reviews will be given.
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