Top of the morning to yall
After the final
whistle yesterday, I couldn’t but heave a mighty sigh of relief as Montpellier
prodded and prodded for an equaliser and
if not for some determined defending, good goalkeeping and poor finishing, they
would have gotten it and maybe more.
Montpellier were champions league new comers and 7 of their
first 11 were playing in their first champions league game. We started brightly
and knocked the ball around well in the opening stages but in the 8th
minute, the referee gave what looked to be a dubious penalty when replays
showed that Vermaelen took the ball but made contact with the player. Belhanda despatched
the spot kick calmly, dinking the ball through the middle after Mannone had
committed himself too early.
The response from the gunners was swift and purposeful and
in the 16th minute, Diaby and Cazorla exchanged passes before the
ball fell to Giroud who played it on for Poldi and the German was not going to
miss from there, calmly slotting the ball home with ease.
The second goal came just two minutes later, Giroud again opening
up Jenkinson on the right flank whose improvement since the season begun has
been remarkable to say the least, he put the cross into the box and Gervinho was
on hand at the far post to score for the second goal.
The opposition were rocked hard after that and they barely
recovered and apart from Cabella’s low drive that forced a save from Mannone,
they did not trouble much. We looked comfortable on the ball and Giroud sliced
a half chance in the closing stages of the first half.
The second half was a different kettle of fish however as Montpellier
played with renewed belief and strength and whatever their manager said at half
time must have had an effect. Diaby’s mistake in the his own box nearly gifted Montpellier
the equaliser and he must have been mighty relieved to see Cabella’s shot hit
the side netting and with 10minutes remaning, they had their best chance. Belhanda’s
brilliant dummy took out Mertesacker in the box and with just the keeper to
beat, the Moroccan couldn’t pick his angle but fired straight at Mannone instead.
We defended well though, the whole team defended in the
second half. The experience and maturity between the two sides was the
difference on the night and though there were claims for a penalty in the
closing stages from a Diaby foul, the referee waved them away even though I think
they had a right to be aggrieved about the decision.
Credit to their fans, they did a good job of creating a
great atmosphere for football and I couldn’t help but chuckle at their banner “Tonight,
we are the Gunners”. Unfortunately, there will be only one set of gunners in European
football.
Steve Bould said after the game:
It’s fabulous to get an early away win. We’ve had a decent start to the season and we have kept the run going so it is important all round, not just for the Champions League
And on if he enjoyed deputising for Arsene,
I’m not sure I enjoyed it - I’ve got a headache and a half! It is tough.
I wonder
how hard managing a game can be! I do it every day, on my computer, and its so
much fun.
Anyway I hope Steve knows he still has two champions league games to
manage as his boss’ ban is 3 games and I have no doubt in my mind that he can
do the job again just like he did last night.
On the
plane back to London last night, club Chief Exec Ivan Gazidis, who enjoyed a
rare priviledge of watching a live Arsenal game with Arsene Wenger gave a
congratulatory message to the team and they were all merry just as we all were.
The team spirit is great and the new guys have not only blended well with the
squad, they have lifted the squad in their own way. We can only hope they
remain fit and strong for the entirety of the season. The ghost of a certain Gabriel van Pussyling seems to be long forgotten and long may it remain banished.
Manchester
City’s 5 minute capitulation against Madrid mean they head back to England feeling
sour and sorry and I hope they haven’t woken up from that mood when we come
calling on Sunday. More to come on that as the week progresses. For now, we can
all enjoy the 3 points as rewards from a very gritty performance.
Till next
time, God bless the Arsenal, Iree o
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