Champions League Odds and Sods 2 April 2008
Liverpool and Arsenal had an Oscar and Felix feel. Both clubs are each other’s bogey teams. Arsenal’s Frenchified fancy dans cannot break down disciplined defenses and remain prone to adept counterattack. Lump and pray Liverpool struggle when forced to play chess on the ground rather than checkers in the air. The clash can create soccer nirvana or reaming vulgarity. This 1-1 draw had a bit of both.
If a side should feel aggrieved, it is Arsenal. They dictated the second half, only to shoot blanks. The Carragher rules apply to Dirk Kuyt, who pulled Hleb down in the penalty area without reprimand. Kuyt also picked this one match to maraud around the pitch like a crazed baboon, rather than remain oblivious. The match could hinge on the Pool’s away goal.
Apparently, Avram Grant rowing down the straits on his sinister raft of skulls failed to shock the obstinate Turks, as Fenerbahce beat Chelsea 2-1. The Dark Lord has vowed “not to rest” until the rematch next Tuesday, because he looked like he was sleeping well before. The match is more tabloid fodder than demonstrative, however. Expect Chelsea to close them out 1-0 next week at Stamford Bridge.
Roma tumbled without their talisman Francesco Totti, beaten 2-0 by Manchester United. The two teams play a similar style, but United is the seven diamond version. Isn’t Rooney overdue for his bi-monthly metatarsal injury
I’m going to be a bit contrarian here and say that I thought that the draw was probably the right result, though you are of course right in asserting that Kuyt should have been penalised. The problem was that, for all Arsenal’s domination of possession and the fact that they dictated the rhythm of the 2nd half, they lapsed into old bad habits; with Hleb off form, they lacked penetration out wide, and they had quite a few chances they didn’t convert (Bendtner’s inadvertent goal-line clearance being the most calamitous.)
From a personal perspective, I am please with the result (who knew Kuyt had it in him?), but still fear that Arsenal are capable of scoring at Anfield.
Well I did say “if” so I don’t completely agree that it was the wrong result.
That said, Arsenal had 65% of the possession and out-shot Liverpool 15-4. You would expect a team to win under those circumstances.
I agree about the width. They don’t have any natural wide players in the midfield.