Good Performance, Good Win

Hello everybody,

Good game last night eh.  From the offset we went at them with swift movement and quick passing.  They set up to defend and packed their area but we broke them down again and again and by the 25th minute we could have been 4 nil up with Arshavin, Rosicky and Fabregas forcing saves and Fabregas hammering a left foot volley against the bar.  Not to mention 3 corners or so. 

We started off with our Mannone in goal of course and Eboue coming in for Sagna, otherwise our regular back 4.  Diaby filled into midfield again with Fabregas and Song and Rosicky, not Eduardo, came in for Bendtner up front, with Arshavin going wide right and van Persie running down the middle. 

I thought that everyone was on their game last night, except for Arshavin who seemed rather sluggish at times, although there were times were he made some important interceptions and good runs forward.  It was good to see Cesc working the way he we're used to and Song was really playing well, especially considering he had to do mostly attacking.  He really isn't a bad dribbler you know. 

The first half kept going and kept going and we still couldn't manage to score.  We were getting good width at times to relieve the boys in the middle but we were really attacking down the middle very well.  Diaby was doing well off the ball, his runs from one wing to another and straight down the middle really made the difference at times as their defense was just never able to pick up all of our attackers, leaving 1 or 2 always open and available.  And with the ball almost constantly in within 35 yards of the Olympiacos area, Gallas was able to come forward and join in the attack.  The fullbacks were always pushed up as well with Eboue doing some very useful attacking.  His runs forward and his good dribbling really made a difference, I don't think we would have been as effective with Sagna in the side.  And Rosicky's craft and quality was outstanding as well, again, had Bendtner been on we wouldn't have been able to complete the penetrating moves that took us inside their box and brought us all those chances. 

But for all of our domination and excellent play, and it really  was excellent play, we couldn't manage to score.  Then, around 33 minutes or so they had an attacker free on the far post and he was found by a searching cross.  His header was thankfully straight at Mannone.  I wouldn't have been at all surprised had they gone in at half time 1 nil up, as is the case often when we completely hammer a team. 

It turned out that it was nil-nil at half time after van Persie had added a couple to our shots on target tally, once after turning Raul Bravo inside out 2/3 times before shooting instead of crossing. 

The second half saw more of the same with their keeper racking up the saves, saving shots, tipping away corners and punching free kicks, the old man was really on fire.  They were defending well and they owed a lot to their keeper but still we looked like scoring.  It was around 60 minutes when I decided to have some of the old faith in the team, the kind of faith that Henry and Bergkamp and Ray Parlour gave you.  The kind of faith that you had in knowing we would score eventually, rather than the creeping shadow of doubt we've accrued in recent years, due to unjust results and bad luck. 

5 minutes later Eduardo came on for Rosicky, who the manager still doesn't want to stretch out too far.  And it was  Eduardo who eventually set up the break through.  I thought we had scored about a minute before we actually did when Abou Diaby headed from Eduardo's cross.  It looked like it was going into the far corner but their old man keeper made an outstanding save to keep it out.  And I should mention that some time before that Olympiacos made a rare break and forced a corner, from which Melberg headed to the corner, but Mannone made a fantastic save before the ball would have hit Clichy on the line.  Had he not made the save the ball wouldn't have gone in but it was an outstanding save all the same, he really is coming good this kid. 

Then, a minute after Diaby's header and subsequent substitution for Carlos Vela, we made the break through.  A patented reverse pass from Cesc on the edge of the box saw Eduardo burst past his man to square low for van Persie who tapped into an open goal.  It was a very nicely worked goal and it took 78 minutes of battering to come.  I celebrated like a mad man because it was hugely relieving and certainly less than what we deserved. 

I was happy to see Carlos Vela who looked very eager, standing up when he could have easily gone down having been fouled on several occasions.  He attacked with speed and hunger and nearly set up a goal when it looked like he had held the ball too long.  he got stuck into challenges and played fairly well for the 12 minutes he had. 

Oh, and I forgot to mention their hand ball, which came about midway through the half.  After a corner, the ball was bouncing around the box and Diaby had flicked the ball at around waist height and it was going over his shoulder where I'd say his plan was to volley home.  As it was on the rise after his flick Dudu came flying in and shoved the ball down to the ground with his hand.  The replays show clear intent and had the ref spotted it, it would have been a penalty and he surely would have been off, that dirty little scum bag. 

It was inconsequential in the end as Arshavin made it safe on the 86th minute after Cesc played the ball across to him and he put the ball in with a sneaky little Cryuff turn flick and although he was offsides, it was a goal we definitely deserved. 

The game ended 2 nil when it could have been 6.  Had one of our chances in the first 20 minutes gone in we the game would have opened up very nicely and we could have put something of a thrashing on them, but as it happened we can't really take anything away from the performance.  We completely dominated and on another night it would have been 6.  We displayed skill, drive, craft and a whole shit load of speed.  We kept possession very well and attacked very thoughtfully and with drive and determination.  We're now on 6 points and after a draw in the other match we're in great position in the group.  Another win and a draw in the other match and we'll have qualified and as I've said, that can relieve the pressure and give us the freedom we'd like to continue our good league run. 

Highbury86