Ugly, But Who Cares?
Oh my goodness, the Villa/Arsenal Champions semi today took 10 years off my life. It was one ugly game for the Gunners and the polar opposite of the way Arsenal usually play, but who cares? They got the job done and Arsenal is off to Paris.
Easy to pick a star for Arsenal – Jens Lehmann, who made key saves throughout the game, none bigger than the 89th minute stonewalling of Riquelem from the penalty spot. Gael Clichy (returning from injury and subbing for an injured Flamini early in the first) owes Lehmann his first born child after his tackle on José Mari in the Arsenal area set up the penalty shot.
Despite the aggregate win, however, there is no doubt that today’s match will not strike much fear in the hearts of either Barca or Milan. Arsenal may have planned from the get go to play a tight defensive game (a risk considering Senderos was out and Sol Campbell was in. And, yes, I realize that 6 months ago a sentence like that would have had me committed), but the Gunners got so lucky. Villareal had numerous chances and if it were not for sloppy finishing, it could have easily been the Yellow Submarines on their way up the road to Paris instead of the Gunners.
It’s ironic that, in the end, the game that gets the Gunners to Paris and the Champions final is so opposite of the type of football Arsenal is known for. But however they got there, they are there and that is the point. And I am one happy fan.
Interesting points about Arsenal. I wrote a similar post on my EPL Talk Blog (http://eplleague.blogspot.com) about how Arsenal were negative but effective.
Yes, they rode lady luck all night. Their only shot on goal came in the 90th minute where Henry was one-on-one with the goalkeeper from a difficult angle.
The question I posed on my blog was whether Arsenal should consider similar tactics for the final (if they play Barca)? I hope not, but the tactic could work. Then again, Chelsea tried to do the same thing against Barca in the home Champion’s League match, and the plan bombed.