Olympiakos v. Arsenal 1-0 9/Dec/09

[Photo: Giorgios Karahalis/Reuters via Guardian]


In another Carling Cup (sorry!) Champions League match, the young Arsenal "reserve" team lost their last game at group stage in Athens. With a place in the last sixteen already secured, the Gunners needed just a draw to end their comfortable group with a perfect record - a thing that it actually did not happen. This math was yet another exercise and a leap of faith from the high ranking officers in London to provide younglings with such an unfathomable test as visitors in Europe. With and average selection of 21 years, Kyle Bartley and Thomas Cruise were among the debutants. ITV commentator Clive Tyldesley asserted in an unmatched way the "unbeaten leaders of the Greek league against Arsenal reserves".



[Photo: Reuters via Daily Mail]


As it seemed that the incredible atmosphere in Athens could break the young guns' hearts, they managed to please the the visitor supporters at least for the first twenty minutes. The fierce Grecian defence led the way from having the London team at their won end, to providing three clear chances in the following ten minutes.
Even though in the first ten minutes the young Gunners posed an outstanding disposition, the impetuous defending and the off-guarded central defenders showed a lack of unity. The visitors travails were acquiesced by the little resistance from the Greek side, such as Ramsey's wide shot in the 34th.
The Welshman, at the heart of every movement, managed to give pace to the Londoners' match. With two yellow cards in the final 6th minutes, they looked to end the half in a high note but instead the home team made a step forward just by winning in possession and confidence.



The best man in the field for the Gunners, just after wasting a valuable chance.
[Photo: Reuters via Daily Mail]


If the first half was outstanding regarding the age of the visiting starting XI, the Gunners let themselves and their travelling supporters down as Leonardo scored just within a minute and a half from start. The London defence was caught off guard and Leonardo just went past through the remaining dummies and finished against Fabianski. In the counterpart Ramsey fed Vela in an incredible opportunity, which was timely saved by Nikopolidis.
With half-hour to go, the Gunners really did not look as if they were able to break the opposition in two, despite the number of opportunities they created. Reaching the 75th minute, luck was running out as Galitsios crashed with Sylvestre, although both players continued; Sunu replaced Jack Wilshere.
As the minutes went, the difference that was established as minimum in the previous half, slowly passed away as the London youngsters proved to be nothing but a "childish" match for the Greek team. One thing is to play every one or two weeks a merely competitive reserve match, and the other is playing week-in week-out for the last three months in such a demanding league as the Greek. Mainly, it was the physical shape of the visitors which kept them aside for contending in the last ten or so minutes. Still, Ramsey managed to deflect a venomous corner into Leonardo's body, who covered the near post.