AZ Alkmaar 1-1 Arsenal
First off… I think that was a fair result. The whole grubby match you had to expect that eventually the irrepressible AZ would find a way through. It took them 93 minutes, but they did it.
Is it just me, or were our guys slipping and sliding all over that pitch? It looked cold, but I don’t know what the weather was like there last night. Our guys were running very hesitantly and looked as though their boots were replaced with regular trainers and that the pitch had been watered down with petroleum jelly. Oddly, the AZ boys seemed not to have the same difficulties.
All credit to AZ, they never gave up and seemed to possess the ball quite well. Despite our inability to remain upright and retain possession, we did manage several dangerous stabs into their box throughout. But, none found purchase until at 35′ Andrey Arshavin slid to RobinVan Persie who dumped off an absolute sitter to Cesc Fabregas. 1-0 to the Arsenal. It was as if suddenly the side we’d gotten used to this season had finally arrived on the pitch. But it wasn’t to last. The tussle in the middle of the park resumed. The away Gooners were the loudest fans in the house. But, we went to sleep in the box with mere seconds remaining and gave up two points.
So, now we still need another three to seal our ticket out of the group stage. I’m not worried, but it would have been nice to tie things up sooner rather than later. Oh well… Hammers up next.
