AZ Alkmaar v. Arsenal 1-1 20/Oct/09

AZ's players ecstatic by the late equaliser.
[Photo: Peter Dejong/AP through The Guardian]



It seems that when a large and consistent momentum is building in Wenger's team, there appears to be an irrevocable self-constraining feeling in the players: complacency and distractions brought a particularly tough battle to a sudden draw in the last minute. This was due to a gigantic distraction, that, title contending teams usually do not make. Despite this outcome, Arsenal's career in Europe does not deviates - since in the other ground Olympiakos happily draw with Liege.
It is imperious for the Londoners that this type of mistakes are digested easy and fast to recover against the same Dutch team in the following round at the Emirates. This blunder hopefully, will lead the young side to look after performances such as this one. Here in Mexico, Don Fernando Marcos statement is almost mandatory against - or ironically, in favour - of complacency: "El último minuto también tiene sesenta segundos" [Even the last minute has sixty seconds].




The exact moment of the alleged penalty on Carlos Vela.
[Photo: The Sun]



Despite the fact that the Dutch team was on attacking thoroughly, the Gunners enjoyed a quite fare of possession and nearly opened the score through van Persie's effort at 9th. From then on Arsenal's momentum kept rising by the minute and whilst the Gunners did not provided opportunities - as in other matches - their attacking response was solid enough. Even though the visitors showed a solid display, the match was not at a deadlock even with the scoresheet: Alkmaar managed to prove Mannone twice as the the Gunners lost possession reaching the 26th.
Prompted by pressure the visitors were prone to slack defending, yet they managed to make a highlight when a combination by Arshavin, van Persie and Fabregas gave the Londoners the lead. The effort by the Dutch did not fall as the other match saw a partial win by Liege. With five minutes to break the Gunners enjoyed more possession and a couple of goal-related situations.




[Photo: Diarios de Futbol]



Within the first minutes of the following forty-five, Robin van Persie was booked. AZ's keeper Romero denied the same Arsenal player's freekick shot. Aside from that during the following 20 minutes there was not a lot to offer from the Dutch, apart from some deft passes. The threat posed by Alkmaar was just beginning to pull flight. Notwithstanding this effort the frail physical shape by the Dutch side portrayed no real threat against a team that regained possession as quickly as lost it.
Attempts prompted by the local supporters came in by the minute when Diaby nearly netted another fatidic own goal. Van Persie, with the cheer of his fellow countrymen, was substituted by Carlos Vela. With two Mexicans on the pitch - seemingly unimaginable some years ago - the Gunners seeked the other goal that will lead them to get the three points. Instead in the last ten minutes the attempts from the locals increased just to score in the last minute: Pelle headed Da Silva who finished top corner.