Arsenal season summed up, part one.



THAT blatant penalty on Vela.

Some people have been questioning Arsenal this season, and I think that this is not such a big failure as most people think.



First, let's start with UEFA Champions League, Arsenal were awarded a relatively easy group to face, Shakhtar, Partizan Belgrade and Sporting Braga. We won our firsts 3 matches.

 6-0 against Braga at the Emirates, 5-1 against Shakhtar at our home and 3-1 against Partizan Belgrade at Belgrade.

Then at the second round of that stage we lost to Shakhtar, well deserved for them to be fair. Then lost against Sporting Braga that was undeserved, and the ref didn't give a blatant penalty on Vela just before the two Braga goals. Shame on refs. Thanks to those two blows we finished second. We won 3-1 again against Partizan at the Emirates.

To be fair we would have expected to lose against Shakhtar at their home, they are such a good team there. The game against Braga, the ref, again had something to say when denying a clear penalty to Arsenal just before the two Braga goals, but whatever that had already happened. We finished only three points behind Shakhtar and if the ref made the right decision against Braga we would have finished first thanks to goal difference.

In the last 16 round, we were unfavored, we had to face the best team in the world, Barcelona. But you know what they say you have to beat the best to be the best.

In the first game at the Emirates the spirit by the team was great, everyone was so proud of them. We started losing 1-0 and they deserved more to be honest. The second half was a concert like Arsenal, that's the way they have to play, first goal came from Van Persie, awesome pass by Clichy and then he converted from a ridicule angle. The game continued and just a couple of minutes after we scored again, what a nice goal that was. Cesc passing the ball through then Nasri got it, he crossed it and Arshavin converted brilliantly 2-1 for the Arsenal. Yeah we were going to nou camp with a minimal advantage.

Some interesting interviews were told, for example Guardiola saying that they reserve team was full of players like Jack Wilshere. That's funny as he was the one who owned the midfield in the first leg, and outplayed world cup winners, Andrés Iniesta and Xavi Hernández.

Talking about the match at the Nou Camp, they outplayed us in the first half and Cesc was in fault in the first goal of the match. He was injured and wanted to continue.

'I could NOT hear'

The second half started much different than the first half was, arsenal even scored a goal -which was an own goal- but it does count. Then the ref wanted to have something to say, he sent off Van Persie because he couldn't hear the whistle while 80,000+ people were cheering and screaming. Unfair.

As Barcelona had men advantage they took over and won 3-1. 4-3 in the aggregate.

In the post match some pictures appeared, we could see a picture that showed us Van Persie being choked by Abidal, the ref didn't do anything. Poor refereeing cost us our Champions League season, why all these things happen to Arsenal?!

There was no failure in that. The players gave their all in that competition it was referees's fault, as simple as that.


Let's continue with the Carling Cup.

We started brilliantly that competition by winning 4-1 against Tottenham. Lansbury scored first, then Keane scored for Tottenham just before Half time, we went to extra time, and Nasri scored a brace and Arshavin completed the goal-full victory. Yeah we won against our shadow, and brilliantly, and at White Hart Lane.

In the next round we were told to face Newcastle United, at St James Park, difficult match to be honest. But we wen through with a 4-0 win. First goal came via an own goal, then Walcott scored a brace and to finish it Bendtner scored a wonder goal.

Then it was the time to face Wigan Athletic we won 2-0 in that match. It was a frustrating match as Arsenal didn't find their form and passing, but goals came, one from Bendtner and the other one from an own goal via Alcaraz.

We faced Ipswich Town in the semifinals first leg we lost 1-0, a goal by Priskin. Luck as Arsenal dominated the game but didn't convert.

The second leg at the Emirates was frustrating at the beginning but we knew that by scoring a goal other goals would come and that's exactly what happened. Bendtner scored an awesome goal, and then Koscielny from a header just a few minutes after the first goal and, then to finish it, our captain, Fabregas followed with a great goal. Yeah Arsenal were going to Wembley! FT score was 3-0 



The mistake that costed us the Carling Cup

The start of the final was frustrating as well, Birmingham started winning with a goal by Zigic after a corner, Arsenal need to work on set pieces. Everyone was sad, but then our dutchman, Van Persie scored, with an awesome half-volley . He seemed injured after that one and he was. Fabregas missed that match, the game continued and Foster was converting himself into a hero for Birmingham. He made vital saves to deny Nasri and others. Same arsenal luck, all the goalkeepers play their best matches against them. The game was finishing and everyone thought we were going to extra time, but what a disaster followed, Szczesny and Koscielny got confused and gifted Birmingham and Martins the winning goal, everything was over.



That one I must admit was a failure, because Arsenal were the real favorites to win that cup but didn't. That's the only failure, and it was due to an accident, those things happen and you can't blame them as you are a human and you also commit mistakes.

I'll be talking on the Premiership and FA cup on the next post.

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