Kevin Whitcher
So an interesting set of games await in March. Spurs away, Barca/Real/Atletico/PSG or Bayern away, Chelsea away, Manchester City home. As regular emailer Sami quipped, ‘Mind the collapse’. That is of course defeatist talk, although understandable given recent seasons. However, the period between now and the end of March will tell us whether we are seeing a new Arsenal or another false dawn.
The game against Napoli last night was a strange one. At 1-0 down and with Dortmund unable to take the lead against a ten man Marseille, Arsenal were topping the table and their hosts going through. Everyone at the San Paolo could live with the way things were playing out. But two goals changed everything – Dortmund’s put Napoli out, and Napoli’s late goal – although not enough to change that – did condemn the Gunners to second place and a mouth watering tie against a crack side when European competition reconvenes in late February.
On one level, a disappointment. On another, what has made this Champions League group an interesting one this season, as opposed to the normal boring semi-procession, is the quality of the opposition. Astonishing to think that Marseille, who are no mugs, should fail to win a single point. All the games have had tension and good football. The match in the San Paolo was no exception.
Before the start, Arsene Wenger said that Arsenal would go for the win, and they certainly played with a lot more vigour than they did for the first hour in Dortmund, where he had expressed the same sentiment. The visitors attracted plenty of welcome whistling from the home fans, but Napoli still created more danger. 0-0 at half time seemed just fine though, especially given the mad Szczesny moment that almost gifted Higuain a goal. Arsenal played a very experienced midfield, resting Wilshere and Ramsey, and it was paying off.
As the second half wore on, it looked as if the game might slowly peter out, as Arsenal seemed to be containing the Napoli threat. However, Higuain’s very well taken goal kept the game alive, although what was happening in France determined whether it would be enough. Ironic it was scored by a summer target of Arsene Wenger’s but that is often the way with football. It was strange to see the nature of the game change from the wind down with neither side really pressing after so much of that earlier in the evening, and then the home team suddenly in need of two goals in a short space of time. But such is the nature of the final set of group matches when things are still in the balance.
So yes, a difficult ask, and every possibility that Arsenal could go out at the last 16 stage for the fourth season in succession. Still, immediately after the group draw, most fans would have settled for simply qualifying. Four of the ties have obvious stories. Another meeting with Barcelona, this time with Cesc Fabregas in opposition (at least if he gets picked), another crack at the reigning champions Bayern, with the opportunity to demonstrate Arsenal’s improvement since the tie nine months ago. Real Madrid would bring back memories of the draw at the same stage in 2006, when of course the Gunners went on to reach the final, whilst PSG would raise the question of whether Wenger might be trying to defeat a club he could be managing next season. The only ‘non story’ draw would be Atletico, but even that would still be a tie to savour. Whoever comes out of the UEFA goldfish bowl, the home leg would be first, that is all we know at this stage.
Of more immediate concern is the visit to Eastlands on Saturday lunchtime. Although the match in Naples might not have taken too much out of Arsenal physically, as the pace was rarely intense, I do wonder if it may have mentally drained the players. They will need to be at the top of their game to resist a City side who have proved rampant at home in the league so far this season. It is the kind of game in which anything could happen, and the view is that Theo Walcott might start to give City something to think about that was not asked of Napoli. Avoiding defeat would be a huge psychological boost after a difficult week so far, but it might be a big ask. Saturday will definitely give us some clues as to whether this Arsenal are strong or brittle. If it’s the latter, that run of games in March might just not be so important as they look now. We watch and wait…
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