Kevin Whitcher
There is a view that if Arsenal had played a full strength team in Turkey, they might have gained the six goal advantage required to top their group in the event of a draw in Dortmund, something that actually materialized. However, football isn’t like that. A six goal win away from home in Europe is practically unheard of, and even with a frontline of Sanchez, Welbeck and Giroud, I doubt Arsene Wenger’s team would have won by the required amount and Alexis Sanchez, for one, needs a rest.
In truth, Arsenal blew any chance of topping the group when they conceded a three goal advantage at home to Anderlecht. After that, a second place finish was practically inevitable. And so fans will hope for a bit of luck for once in the draw, and a last 16 tie against Porto or Monaco. Some think PSG are also beatable should they top their group ahead of Barcelona. However, if they can get a draw in the Nou Camp later today, I would fancy their chances against Arsenal.
Anyway, onto matters in Istanbul. The ‘Arsene: Thanks for the memories, but it’s time to say goodbye’ banner made its way to Turkey, but not past the Arsenal stewards who confiscated it outside the away turnstiles. The club’s justification for this would be along the lines that they believe the display of said banner would lead to trouble inside the stadium. This has been the justification for threatening the expulsion of fans holding up A4 print outs stating ‘Wenger Out’ if they continue doing so. The reality is sadly that the club are right, there is fighting between fans home and away over the Wenger issue. Freedom of expression – even non abusive messages requesting change – are simply not tolerated by Wenger’s loyalists, who will debate the matter with fists, giving the club an excuse to censor the messages they do not agree with. I wonder if the ‘In Arsene We Trust ‘ banner will be allowed further exposure in the light of recent events? Will fans be ejected for chanting ‘There’s only one Arsene Wenger’? The violence that results from the well-publicized factions between the supporters disgraces the club, and it is an indictment on the directors that the situation has been allowed to escalate to the current, ugly, level.
As for the game itself, if Arsenal played like this more often, there would be no calls for a change in the dugout. It was a polished performance with some sumptuous goals. Granted, Galatasaray are a poor side these days, but you can only beat what’s put in front of you, and this Arsenal did, with Yaya Sanogo at centre forward no less. Of the players with a point to prove, Lukas Podolski made the most of the opportunity. Joel Campbell was fairly peripheral (with the mitigation of a lack of playing time) and Sanogo non-existent. Aaron Ramsey scored two excellent goals, the second one unlikely to be beaten for Arsenal’s goal of the season, so sweetly was it struck.
It was interesting to note the fight and physicality demonstrated by Flamini and Podolski. Where was this spirit at the Britannia Stadium last weekend?
Due, we were informed, to the risk of aggravating injury and a yellow card respectively, Ramsey and Flamini were replaced at the interval. The game was won, and the idea of gaining top place was something of a pipe dream anyway. There was an argument for rested forwards to have made the trip and relaxed on the bench. I find flying an exhausting process, but I doubt very much Arsenal players go through the same pain to board and exit a plane as an economy class passenger. The club use a plane that has fully reclining seats and are doubtless waved through immigration and security. There sure isn’t any hanging around by baggage carousels or queues for boarding.
In defence, it was a pleasure to see Hector Bellerin demonstrate he is a two-footed player. After his nightmare against Stoke, it was good to see him put in a better performance. Mathieu Debuchy returned at right back, and has been sorely missed.
In the second half the home side rallied, and created a number of excellent opportunities, before Sneijder found the back of the net with a wonder free-kick. It was too little too late, and Podolski put things beyond doubt a short while later to make sure.
It was a result that will have done no harm to the psychological wellbeing of the team after the defeat at Stoke, but I fear this is another example of the club’s inconsistency. Excellent occasionally, functional at other times, and too often plain shambolic. No doubt that the visit to Istanbul was one of the better nights in recent times, even if, ultimately, it made no difference to anything.
I am now on Twitter@KevinWhitcher01.
The new issue of The Gooner with free 2015 Art of Arsenal calendar can be bought online here. It will also be on sale outside the stadium for the coming home matches v Newcastle and QPR.
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Further Reading
A sequel to Arsènal – The Making of a Modern Superclub and entitled Arsène and Arsenal The Quest to Rediscover Past Glories has been written by myself and co-author Alex Fynn. It takes up the story of the club from the last update of the previous book, and can be bought online here. Use the promo code ‘Gooner’ to get 10% off the publisher’s price of £8.99.
