Let's get the positive stuff out of the way first: we have qualified. This nightmarish group is well and truly behind us and we can focus on the league for the next couple of months.
I feel genuine pity for Napoli. They have won this game as comprehensively as we have won the first. The Italians will go out, perhaps setting a record by not qualifying with twelve points. No one will say, they take the fall without a fight, though.
And now the bad stuff. First and foremost, we blew our chance to make things relatively easy by topping the group. In the cold light of day (though the sun hasn't risen here yet), I think we can consider ourselves lucky for not being in the Europa League this morning. We were a whisker away from a complete failure.
And yet I cannot force myself to celebrate. We had everything under control before the game. A draw would have sufficed. It was pretty obvious a managerless Marseille would lose, though the manner, in which they went down, gives you the thought that Borussia had to work hard to get the much needed result. Had they drawn, they would have been out.
This group was always going to be tough, we all knew it. Fine margins (like not scoring that second goal in Dortmund) saw us finish second. And I've already said about Napoli and how unlucky they were.
Arsenal should have been in for a win yesterday. Must have been in for a win. After all the talk from the manager and the players, who would have had it any other way? Napoli`s cause seemed a lost one before the match even started.
Yet it proved much more alive from the first minute to the last. The only decent chance we had came during the first forty-five minutes, when Giroud`s effort was saved, and one of us failed to punch in the rebound.
But apart from that, nothing. Zip. There were two changes to the side, that drew with Everton, with Flamini coming in for Ramsey to help our defenders out and Rosicky subbing Wilshere, presumably to set a frenetic rhythm to both our attack and our defense.
Can we say the changes didn't work? I don't think so. Our game never really clicked from an attacking point of view, though it was a defensive masterclass in the first half. I would like to single out Mertescielny as the most solid defensive pair we've had in, like, ten years. They won duels, intercepted passes, tackled well and were above and beyond.
Napoli had two half-chances, one of them created by Szczesny. Thankfully, we were still level at the break.
In the second half, the Italians stepped it up. Not much came off, until the 73rd minute, that is. We, however, created even less. Nothing at all, to be precise.
Then Napoli scored. Higuain received the ball with his back to the goal, turned on the spot and sent a low shot into the bottom corner.
Monreal and Ramsey made their grand entrance to help a crumbling Arsenal side hold on. They didn't, however, affect our attacking game, which continued to be non-existent.
We looked better organised from that point on, but Arteta was sent off shortly after the double substitution, breathing a new life into the home side. I got to say, the decision to show Arteta a red card (as a result of two yellows) was harsh. The foul that earned him that second yellow wasn't as bad as the Napoli player made it look.
Arsenal looked to be walking on thin ice and in the dying seconds we were caught out again. A cross came in from the left and Callejon chipped Szczesny with his first-time shot. Mercifully, the whistle blew as soon as Arsenal kicked off.
I gotta say, I'm worried. It's not about the result, it's more about the performance. I don't think I've seen a worse performance this season. Villa and Chelsea were not great, but they were not THAT bad. Both teams have caught us on the break, when we were pushing for an equaliser. We dominated possession and territory in these matches and though our attacking threat was nullified, we still had some chances.
I don't want to name names, but Jenkinson doesn't look ready for regular first team action. Is it a coincidence, that all three goals, we've conceded in the last two games came from his flank? Would Sagna have fared better? I think the answer to the first one is «no», while fir the second it is a definite «yes».
Before the game, I said we need to learn to cope without the Frenchman. I even said, the manager must have his reasons for not offering Sagna a new contract. Now I've seen the alternative. Right now, we need Bac. We look fragile without him. If needs must, buy another experienced right-back. Johnson, Richards, Arbeloa, whoever. Personally, I think we should accept whatever conditions the Frenchman wants. He's integral to this team. Hold on to him for a couple of years. Let Jenks develop. Or, at least, buy a ready product.
Also, a couple of words about Giroud. He battled hard, but was provided with little service. Unfortunately, he's not the kind of forward, who can create chances out of thin air, so he wasn't much help. This is, I think, another matter that needs to be addressed during the transfer window. We need a different kind of striker, an alternative in playstyle.
So, what now? Borussia`s win means we finish second and will have to play one of the big boys in February. And all of them look frightening. PSG, Bayern Munich, Atletico, Barca and Real Madrid. We made our own luck, so here you go. Another super-tough encounter. How many times do we need to be punished to finally learn the lesson?