The first review of the almost miracle night at the Emirates « Untold Arsenal: Arsenal News, supporting the club, the players and the manager
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By Walter Broeckx
A few weeks ago, after the defeat at AC Milan I wanted to write an article about ref Kassai. For those with some kind of memory they will remember him from that shameful game at Braga last season. Yes the game where he refused to give a blatant penalty for a foul on Vela. He even gave Vela a yellow card. When I saw his name for the game at AC Milan I was afraid he might do us one again.
And he didn’t disappoint me. Because a small incident at that time seemed not important. We were 4-0 down and desperately trying to do something back. Van Persie got the ball, controlled it with his chest and then a Milan defender pulled him back and down to the ground. My match reporter (a non English reporter) couldn’t believe that the ref didn’t point at the penalty spot. It should have been a penalty and it could and should have been 4-1.
But I then decided not to write about it. I thought it was over and you know I don’t want to sound too much of a moaner about the refs. I did mention it in the comments after the game. And a few others pointed at it also. And that my Gooners was the Busacca-moment (Copyright Untold Arsenal) of this year’s Champions League.
So once again a wrong decision from the refs has been the reason we are out of the Champions League. If it wouldn’t be for the money we earn by it I wonder why we bother to get in to it as each year the refs con us out of it. Last year because of the fact that the designated winner was on the point of getting out. This year because well I think they dream of a final Milan-Barcelona. Kassai made it clear: there would be no chance for Arsenal to come back from that defeat.
But look at this tonight. What a match. Or should I say: WHAT A PITCH!! Because this game was played on a football pitch. You know one with real grass on it. One as flat as a billiard cloth. A pitch with no bumps. A pitch where a player can control the ball when it comes to him without having to find his balance. For those who think it doesn’t play a part, from now on you should know better.
The game started and we were in complete control for 45 minutes. Our emergency midfield was excellent. Rosicky was…. well world class. He fought 90 minutes for everything he had in his body. And then to think that he was doubtful before the game. I take a bow Tomas. A deep bow.
We got that all important early goal. Vermaelen and Rosicky changed position and the Milan defenders couldn’t cope with it and Koscielny scored like it was on training. We kept on pressurising Milan and they could hardly get near to Szczesny. A part from a few harmless crosses. At the other end some good pressure lead to Rosicky and Van Persie combining but they couldn’t finish the move. Arsenal was all over Milan. And when Theo made a run his cross was diverted in to the feet of the in my opinion best player on the pitch Rosicky. He buried it with a nice finish in the bottom corner. 2-0 and half an hour played.
I could hear the Emirates rocking till here and my match reporters suddenly saw a big comeback on the cards. When Oxlade-Chamberlain made a great run between two defenders in the penalty area they closed the door and brought him down. A clear cut penalty but it took the ref about 5 seconds to make up his mind. And it looked as if the 5th assistant told him he should give what was a clear penalty. Why this hesitation ref? Not in your script? Anyway he gave it and despite AC Milan and the ref trying to do anything they could to distract Van Persie he converted the penalty in style. 3-0 at half time and lucky Milan missed their only real chance in the extra time.
What followed was a classic game. Milan knew they had to do something and changed their formation and became more dangerous. The best chance for Arsenal came to the one person you wanted it to come to. Robin Van Persie…..and he missed when the ball came back from the keeper. Hat of for the Milan keeper for that save as he looked beaten at first. It was the chance of the match to make it 4. It didn’t happen.
And then the legs became tired. Oxlade-Chamberlain got a knock and had to be taken off. Walcott a bit later also got a knock when he was clearly fouled by two Milan players but somehow the ref only wanted to give fouls to Milan in that second half for a while.
Milan got a big chance to score themselves but when you are used to play on a dump I think the player was surprised about the fact that the ball did what it did on a normal pitch and he missed from close range and gave the ball to Szczesny.
We tried everything we could but the 4th goal didn’t come. My match reporter was hoping for extra time as he said that Arsenal for their performance deserved at least the extra time. The ref would hardly give normal extra time.
But my boy am I proud to be a Gooner right now. Our players played with their heart. Our players showed that on a normal football pitch they wouldn’t have been beaten like that. A 3-0 would have been enough if ref Kassai wouldn’t have had his Bussacca-moment. And this was the last thing I wanted in fact.
The boys did us proud today. They showed what they are really made of. And this with even a few of our most influential midfielders in the team like Arteta and Ramsey. It was almost a miracle what they did. But miracles don’t happen that much in real life. But still, thanks for showing what the real Arsenal is worth today. This was a top class performance against the current league leaders in Italy. A team that hadn’t lost away from home in the CL, not even in Barcelona.
So a great performance from our team. So despite going out of the CL I can only say: Thanks boys, you made us proud.
Oh, and thank you Gooners in the Emirates for your great support until the last minute. You see we can beat everyone when the supporters get behind the team.