Written by Mean Lean on Thursday, 18 August 2011 12:38
1-0 to the Arsenal was a familiar score line to Arsenal supporters of days gone by. Today it is a score line that edges Arsenal ever so slightly in the driving seat to win this massively important tie.
I didn't enjoy the game one bit. Not because of the quality but because of the importance on the tie. So much is at stake. our impact in the transfer market, the contracts of our top stars and the pressure that would be heaped on our manager. I could feel the pressure all the way back in my living room so I dread to think how the players and management staff would feel.
Luckily we flew out the traps quickly and Aaron Ramsey's burst into the box was good to see. His cross to Walcott was deliberate as he lifted his head twice to see where his team mate was and not just tossed into an area. Walcott's finish was sharp and clinical with his weaker foot.
As I am sure every Arsenal fan must have felt for a split second. Perhaps we could grab a few goals and kill the tie in the first leg or at least build up a healthy advantage. That was evidently not going to be the case as the away side grew into the game and started to show their quality.
Not since Inter Milan's devastating 3-0 victory at Highbury have I seen such an adventurous and offensive Italian side against Arsenal at our ground. They played a very high tempo, passed quickly and efficiently and had fantastic pace.
I wished I had watched them when they had Sanchez, Zapata and Inler in their side. Luckily for us they no longer have those three to contend with but even so, they still look very strong.
Our back four on the whole played well, the issue seemed to be the spaces between our back line and our midfield which Udinese exploited as soon as Arsenal lost the ball in the Italians half.
Thomas Vermaelen, Laurent Koscielny and Alex Song had to make some last ditch challenges and so did Johan Djourou when he briefly came on in the second half. Our system relies on recovery challenges, hence the need to be quick and mobile to play well in our defence.
While our defenders have started the season very well, our attacking play is not even close to what it should be and more importantly, hopefully what it will be once we have finished with our work in the transfer market, as well as having our injured players back for selection.
Udinese deserved a goal for their second half display but we could have killed off the game in the dying moments. Gervinho's mazy run and through pass was excellently done but Walcott's side footed curler was too close to the keeper even if it was still a fantastic save.
A Thierry Henry side footed placer would have found the side netting inside the goal. I hope we do not rue that opportunity next week.
We must have a stronger side than the one that ended the game on Tuesday when we travel to Italy. They will have the comfort of their home support and are likely to give us a sterner test than they did at the Emirates.
Hopefully we will have Robin Van Persie back while Gervinho and Alex Song should be suitably rested after picking up domestic bans. We will have to score in Italy, hopefully the first goal of the game. I am hoping that we have bolstered our squad up by then.
Udinese away is now much more important than either Liverpool or Manchester United, but we need good results in both league games to gain confidence before that important tie comes back around.
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