Arsenal 2-0 Standard Liege: Arsenal win their group, time to focus on Sunday

Performance & Analysis

Hello, I'm back and so are the chaotic inexpainable injuries apparently. First of all we won, and to add to that we controlled the game, and to add to that we have qualified magnificently into the knock outs, and to add to that, we are the first of our group. The squad last night had been a bit tied together out of nothing but everybody did their role. The first half was the crucial one, not to score what have given our Belgium fiends some confidence, and you don't want that, do you now? We pressed well but looked weak at the back, let's never forgot that they hit the post ( twice) and we could have been in a spot of bother. After Sunderland, would we have recovered? Who cares! Arshavin looked especially efficient up there before he got his head crack opened by Gallas. Ouch Gallas's enormous head colliding with Arshavin's tiny skull. It was like a boulder hitting a pebble. And to say 10 minutes earlier Vermaelen fired a shot also in the poor little Russian head. I can smell conspiracy in the air. Anyway, they were defending well and nobody exactly had the creativity to carve them up. So instead they gifted us a goal. Thank you very much was what Samir chuckled as he sent his impressive volley into the net after a pathetic slip by Mulummo or what ever his name was. Only 1-0 up wasn't really enough, and the goal did not alter the dynamics of the game, so the red and white continued coming forward. With about 10 seconds to go to the break Den received the ball, and just went for the wild, insanely serving shot that 9/10 times ends outside of the stadium. The little Brazilian pulled it of and the game looked over. In the second half, Arsenal calmed down, and seemed very bored. They passed the ball brilliantly but in the final third they looked like they couldn't be bothered. The defence hadn't really improved, and although Silvestre had a good individual game, he never really fitted in. Plus Eboue rampaging randomly up front didn't help. But our opponents were unable to threaten us, they just chased the ball around. After 65 minutes, all thoughts were on Sunday. But then Gibbs, after a good shoot, realised he had broken his metatarsal. Wenger described it to us simple mortals who cannot understand such words :

I dunno what you think, but that doesn't mean good news. A good job done, the CL is no longer a problem now, we can focus on other minor stuff like Chelsea. If you don't mind me saying, this a pretty Standard game ( haha).

Goals
Arsenal 1-0 Standard Liege: 34min29sec: Tommy Vermaelen punts a ball up forward, Nasri goes after it, the two defenders seem to have it covered until one of them slips, Nasri instinctively volleys it beautifully past the stranded goal keeper. Admire it here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gS1W-T8z8-U

Arsenal 2-0 Standard Liege: 45min+: Denilson initially fouled, receives the ball again 30 metres out and had a wild shoot. The ball swerves left, then right, and then left again, leaving the goalkeeper beaten and confused. Incredible stuff from the little man from Sao Paolo. Gasp at it here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP58hGLxX6Q

Nominations

Ready or not, here are my nominations and ratings:

THE GOONER:  Only one possible winner here. Song was amazing throughout, the battle between him and Essien on Sunday will be bloody. Song bossed the park last night, and bossed me into giving him The Gonner award.

THE LOOSER: Difficult one, nobody was awful, if I was forced to say someone, which I am in fact, I would go for Theo Walcott, he looked like he was trying to play for himself when he came on. I know he is starving for football but he needs to be more mature. Theo you are the looser today.

GOAL OF THE MATCH:  I think that Denislon majestic strike is the easy winner...

SUB OF THE MATCH: Much said about Walcott and Rosiscky, but both lacked sharpness for me. The one though who did look good coming on was Silvestre. Here you go Michael Silvestre, your first prize of the year, you are Sub of The Match. Congrats

THEIR USELESS MAN OF THE MATCH:  I think it would be the guy that hit the crossbar, his shot was quiet amazing. His name was … let me look it up... Mbokani. Good for you my friend.

Here are now the ratings outa 10:

REFERING TEAM: In the first half the ref was quiet passive, and turned down a blatant penalty that Gallas had did very clumsy ( he had only just came back and could only see out of a eye, I hope that explains it.) 6/10

HOME SUPPORT:  The home support was decent, and were quiet subdued in the second half when nothing was happening. It goes without saying that our 12^th man will have a much better performance on Sunday. 5/10

AWAY SUPPORT:  Impressive amount turned up, made a lot noise, but gave up a bit to easily 2-0 down. 7/10

WENGER'S TACTICTS:  The rotation was very well planned, players who needed runs got them and those who needed to be rested were. 8/10

Stats
Here are our stats of the game:

Possession: Arsenal 50%-50% Standard Liege

Fouls ( offsides): Arsenal 13(0)-19(3)

Shots ( on target): Arsenal 24(12)-7(2) Standard Liege

Corners: Arsenal 10-2 Standard Liege

What Happened Elsewhere

No need to introduce you to the fact Liverpool are out of da Champions league. Serve them right, their season is falling to pieces. Barcelona beat Inter with two ugly goals, mean while the Scots were unable to get past the group stages ( big surprise). Some are teams that Arsenal could end up playing are the likes of Fiorentina and Wolfburg. I say bring it on you medieval UEFA.

Next game
No introduction to this game is possible. Simply the must important one so far. Be need a bounce back, we need to cut their lead, we need to show that without our key players we are still capable. We need a victory against the boys in blue. And as Chelsea will find out on Sunday:

Arsenal FC is The Best Team The World Shall Ever See.