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After the fine fare we’ve seen so far I found tonight’s match somewhat flat. We played well enough, we attacked often enough, we controlled the game sufficiently and we were rarely in any danger. But. And I’m not quite sure what the but was. There were also quite a few pluses, like Pat getting close to the sort of sharpness we’ve become accustomed to, Cygan looking good at the back and Reyes continuing to excite. Rob also surprised me by coming on strong with a late surge, just as I thought he’d be the one to be subbed.
Tonight Freddie was left out to recover, so Rob moved right side and Reyes played left. Italian referee Messina didn’t flash the cards as he had done for the Wales v Northern Ireland international, possibly because he seemed more concerned about his hair than Henry having his shirt tugged continually. Early on Pat had a shove in the back in their box but the likelyhood of a penalty that early seemed remote, and so it proved. The shove followed a great ball from Kolo who I now take for granted as being able to control pretty well any player in the world.
Henry had a shot blocked, Reyes had one saved for a corner after Kolo and Henry set him up. Henry also hit a vicious shot into the side netting. We bossed the early play and when they countered, which was rarely and none too quickly, Kolo and Pascal were in control. Patience was going to be required and the crowd needed to be supportive. The team were patient and the crowd were supportive, who could ask for more. Reyes nearly got through, Pat nearly got on the end of a Pires’ ball that followed a decent run and our movement looked both positive and aware.
Reyes had a good break but saw his decent cross cleared. Cole picked out Pires who went pretty close from not too far out with our best chance to date. Jose had a fine run. We were passing well, but not quite finding the killer ball. Gilberto won a number of free kicks tonight as did Pat, mainly I think because Van Bommel and Cocu were not prepared to let us break as quickly as we’d wish. Henry hit a free kick from distance that was well saved. While seemingly to prove that they could get more than just the lamp post that was Sibon forward, Cocu had a couple of naff shots to keep Lehmann awake. Another ripping effort from Henry was palmed away by the keeper into the path of Pires who headed home. But the lino raised his flag, I’ve not seen replays but my bet is that Rob was nowhere near being offside when Thierry hit it, this was a seriously crap offside call I suspect.
We looked like we wanted it though and with attacks coming in from both wings it looked like we’d get it. One from the right ended out wide left where Henry did his man up like a kipper while keeping the ball in touch and ran to the dead ball line at pace, he cut it back into the danger zone where Pat was on hand. Alex Rodrigo Dias De Costa beat him to it, far faster than you can say his name, but forced it past his own keeper. Henry had panicked them into an o.g. and it was 1-0 to the Arsenal.
PVC responded in a plastic manner, they had the odd shot from range from the likes of Vogel, Lee hit the deck with ease and Beasley chopped Silva, but they didn’t threaten. In fact they looked as bland as their silver-grey and black shirts. Henry was looking cool and Pat was starting to surge but all too often we only looked for the perfect killer ball instead of working them to death. PSV had a short spell in the driving seat but even then I wondered if we were just inviting them forward in order to hit them on the break. Boredom set in a little and I started to count the number of times Dennis failed to head the ball. Will he never learn that you can’t dummy a header, you have to connect.
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We moved well and spread passes around that were both long and short, but pretty well all accurate. Don’t let the opposition have the ball, it’s a useful ploy in Europe. Henry volleyed a weak clearance but it was well off target. Henry was then allowed the luxury of players backing off. PSV had an ‘almost’ chance when a good diagonal ball in was nearly met by the eight foot tall Sibon. Some fine skill from Silva somehow ended with a Dutch free kick that Van Bommel wasted. Great play by Cygan at the back but as Pat bought it away he was upended by Ooijer who was carded.
A through ball to Dennis had the keeper worried as the Arsenal fans tried to revive a match that had gone a tad flat with a ‘Arsene Wenger’s Red and White Army’ chant.
A wide free kick on our left, taken by Dennis, was flicked on by Gilberto and was not very far away. Reyes was still making something out of nothing and chasing the game but we generally seemed content enough just to control things and play out time. Vennegoor of Hesselink (I kid you not) had come on to replace the Jolly Green Giant who’d worn the number 35 shirt and was gifted the odd acre of space at the far post. Thankfully Jens was still awake enough to close him. Pat with a typical surging juggle was denied an obvious handball free kick either just in or just outside their box.
Edu replaced Reyes at a time when I thought Rob would be the one to come off. Cole had gone to sleep after the break and Park was given a free header. Rob then proved me wrong with a fine break and some great defending late on. Henry hit a power drive from distance but it was well wide. There was a very, very late flag against Henry who glared impressively at the lino. More good play by Pires and a very late tackle by van Bommel on Pat, but no card. Three minutes added time, god knows what for, saw us content to play out time and take the points.
I really did want to give Domenico Messina (the ref) a really good slagging, but he was pretty average. He did drop his whistle and he did allow an offside free kick to be taken from the wrong half. He certainly ponced about a bit, but I’ve seen much worse. Very much like the match really, I’ve seen worse. We were very worthy winners and the points were everything at the end of the day. Not only that but a series of wins will raise our European confidence. Right now I’m content with our three points.