Hi everyone.
Our fine form continued on Tuesday with yet another emphatic win. Though it never felt like Marseille were in the game, I do wonder, idly, how much of this was our work. It was another complete defensive performance from Arsenal, this time coupled with a scintillating attacking display.
Three changes were introduced to the side that have scraped out a result against Southampton: Monreal for Gibbs, Flamini for Arteta and Rosicky for Cazorla. Gibbs was, according to the reports "unwell", so Nacho was named in the starting line-up. It remains to be seen to what extent, if any, the Englishman will be used against Cardiff, but we have a capable and willing replacement in Monreal.
As for the other two, I think Cazorla is still finding his feet, but in a game like this it was important to set the tempo right from the start, so Rosicky seemed an obvious choice. As for Arteta, I think the Spaniard just needed a rest. He's played a lot of minutes recently and, as we have a slew of important games coming up in the next couple of weeks, our skipper was consigned to only a late cameo.
These changes, however, didn't affect the fluidity of our game, and within 30 seconds Arsenal were ahead. Sagna spotted Whilshere making a run down the right flank and played a through ball. Whilshere got himself into the box, sidestepped the defender and curled a beautiful shot into the far corner. Such a fine piece of play from Jack reminded me of Messi. Hard to pull off, yet beautiful and seemingly easy.
After that, Arsenal took full control of the situation. We could have doubled our lead easily by the end of the first half, first when Mandanda saved Ramsey's low shot, and then through a penalty.
Ramsey fooled the defender on the edge of the box, was bundled over and the ref pointed to the spot. Ozil took the kick, but his unimpressive effort was parried away by Mandanda. I didn't like the look of Ozil getting ready to take the penalty right from the start and when he stopped in front of the ball it was crystal clear to me that he wouldn't score. Unfortunately, I was right.
This didn't affect our confidence, as we continued pouring men forward right up to the second goal, which came in the 65th minute. In all that time, Marseille created only one half-chance, but Gignac's poor close-quarters control ensured the chance was wasted.
In the 65th minute we scored. Giroud held the play up on the flank, Ramsey found Ozil in the box and the German fired a low cross across the goal. Whilshere was on the receiving end of it and sent the ball home cooly to mark his first brace for Arsenal.
After that, we fell back, satisfied with an honest day's work, which could have backfired, had Szczesny not been our goalkeeper. Thauvin, who came on as a second-half substitute, found some space in the box, but his shot was partially saved by the Pole, to then be cleared off the line by Monreal. Minutes later, Thauvin nearly avenged this, but Szczesny got a big hand to his goalbound effort to stop it from going in.
We had the final say in this game however, as first Cazorla and then Walcott fired wide when they really should have done better. Their wastefulness didn't affect the points we got, they got some match sharpness (something they came on to do),so end of story.
Incredibly, this win didn't ensure our qualification, as Borussia has beaten Napoli 3:1. The goal difference is such, however, that only a loss by a three-goal margin or greater can see us kiss the knockout stages goodbye, so basically, we are almost through.
What makes the situation even more incredible, is that all other English teams have qualified with a game to spare. Chelsea will play in the last sixteen despite having only nine points and losing to Basel twice, United (with eleven points) will go through from the first place and City, with twelve points, can fight for the first place, while being miles ahead of the third.
Anyway, I don't think we'll go Naples to just avoid a defeat, we'll want to keep our momentum going in-between important league fixtures but, you know, anything can happen. Let's just ensure it won't happen to us.
Until later