Villareal v. Arsenal 1-1 7/Apr/09

Finally the date has arrived as Arsenal visited El Madrigal to earn a draw against Villareal in the quarterfinals of the UCL. As if it were enough the unbeaten run of seventeen matches without defeat extended with an particularly overwhelming display in the second half by the London team. With one game played of the possible eight in April this introduction seems passed but it is constancy that makes teams winnners and apparently the Gunners may be heading to that direction, only if injuries refuse to prowl the team.
It was time for the Gunner legend Robert Pires to face some of his old team mates and next week to retun to the city that raise him as an iconic player that earned an EURO trophy back in 2002. One statistic that is alarming is that in the last five quarterfinals arsenal has just win one game; against Juventus. The match was suppossed to be tough, with Villareal featuring EURO star Nihat, Rossi and EURO winners Cazorla (now injured) Capdevila and Senna. And one final thing: Riquelme did not miss, Lehmann saved.

And it is time for some revenge, as my dream could come true; anihilate the Catalonians once and for all, including that pair of Rats and hurting the pride of the c*nts. Sorry Joppie!







In the same fashion that earned the Gunners a final three years ago, Wenger lined up a one striker behind a five-men midfield. In the ninth minute, just as te game began to settle, Marcos Senna volleyed past Almunia. Then the London defense broke apart, especially with Clichy failing to mark anybody near him. While Arsenal efforts increasing, such as Nasri's shot at 18', still the Yellow Submarine defense held solid. Gunners' problem arose when Almunia had to be substituted for Fabiasnki. Denilson work in the midfield was outstanding covering many spaces that Song left. Even though Arsenal grew by the minute again the shroud of the injuries fell upon Wenger's men, this time Gallas. Still with Arsenal's arrivals the first half ended quite difficult for the visiting team.







The following ten minutes, beginning with 47th, were a total siege on Villareal's goal. Arsenal's time to score was close with different approaches to Diego Lopez's box. The defensive machinery displayed by the visitors was perfect with Denilson recovering every ball; the siege appeared to stop with Adebayor's tremendous goal at 66'. It was a terrific definition while some argue that he did not intend it and some that he did the point remains doubtless; it was a tremendous goal that put the Gunners back in the game. Obviously the Spanish response for this was another leap of attacks but the Londoners repelled it, without too much conviction another goal that would lapidate the series. Pires entrance as one of the most worrying things but nothing came from old Robbie. The lethal attacks nearing the completion of the match were efficiently repelled by Arsenal's lucky and solid defence.