Dynamo Kiev v. Arsenal 1-1 17/Sep/08

It was as if a foreteller was at the press conference in the Rovers house last Saturday, and not Mr. Wenger, when stated that a draw will not be sufferingas we did today at Kiev. And indeed the forecast was that of a late draw, but a late draw anyway. Either it was the difficult first away trip in any European draw or the current form of his team, but Mr. Wenger seem to see the future in all the ways possible, even when scouting.





When the match promised rather more actioned football, the nervous away Arsenal and the undecisive Ukranian side fought each for possession (yes for possession) in the first quarter-hour of first half. Nevertheless Ade had a clear shot in the 15' and the game went relentlessly dull until 30' without any interesting to comment. Spanish referee Medina Cantalejo was invisible, as any good referee has to do, yet up to this half. Rather than keeping ball, distributing it and basing game on possession the relaxed Arsenal faced a nervous home side. Cesc was being ignored rather than nullified. And so forth the first half went calmly with a glooming visiting side hoping to weave some possesion or touching rather than an overwhelming presence in the area without any response from Kiev side.





As near as the 50' the London side proved its inneficiency to pass the third quarter of the pitch. The reluctance was by far more present in the home side, but it was supposed that the visiting one should do the effort to score rather than make futile attempts towards possession. The media threw an impressive amount of flak against Medina Cantalejo, the spanish referee, who reluctantly conceaded different fouls that in some cases should have or should have not been given. Thus the game turned harder by the minute, with Kiev Captain Nesmachnyi punishing Walcott in his weakest point (and for rapid players) the heel. The late lead came, after a robbery by Median Cantalejo, with the conversion by Bangoura in the penalty spot. If the match turn from favorable to despicable, this moment was the turning point in the performance of the Spaniard. First, the man in the cross was offside and it did not appear a penalty at first sight.
The Londoners appeared quite relaxed, following the early statement of the visiting manager, and carried on through the futile attemtps through Cesc's long balls and corners. The last fifteen minutes became a complete continuous rampage by the London side with the usual counters by the Ukranian team. Finally the late equalizar was on the hands, or in the head, of William Gallas. Yes William Gallas. At 88' a melee in the 6-yard protagonized mainly by Bendtner gave the Arsenal the strange deal of one point and a safe return to London.