Arsenal vs. Barcelona Is Like Riding a Rollercoaster

Roller coasters.

Roller coasters are wonderful, really quite exciting contraptions they are. Up and down, down and around, around and about. They are just so fun.

That is until you try and follow one, up and down, down and around, around and about...and I´m about to vomit.

Last night was like trying to follow a roller coaster. What a ride. Arsenal were absolutely dominated for 60 minutes.

After 25 minutes Barcelona had 12 shots to Arsenal´s single shot. After 34 minutes Barcelona had 70 percent possession against Arsenal, in the Emirates stadium!

After 45 minutes Arsenal were lucky to be going into their changing room without having conceded three goals. After 60 minutes Arsenal were two-nil down, and it looked like we were out.

I was being jerked around like no other, in fact I spent most of last night tossing and turning around in my bed as a result of delayed onset motion sickness. Although it also could have been the copious amounts of chicken curry and beer I ate during the match. Apologies to my work colleagues this morning.

The game started and we were completely "out-Arsenaled", they passed us off the pitch, would form triangles in the middle and tap the ball around, then spray it out wide to Maxwell or Alves who would inevitably make something happen on the wing as our fullbacks stood off the ball far too much.

They had numerous chances and, but for the brilliance of Manuel Almunia, who I still hate because despite his glorious shot stopping ability he, like Fabianski, comes off his line far to slowly and far too easily, hence Ibra scored in half number two.

In truth we were lucky to go in even at half-time however we were very unlucky to suffer two injuries. They were perhaps somewhat foreseeable.

Gallas had trained three times this month after being out for weeks and weeks with a calf strain and surprise surprise in the first half he had to be stretched off with...a calf strain.

I reckon that´s the last time we´ll ever see him in an Arsenal shirt.

Then Arshavin went down, who was carrying a knock from this weekend´s match against Burnley. Excellent. All I have to say is...Thank god. I´m really really tired of this guys attitude in recent weeks.

It seems to me that he puts more effort into his website and Q & A´s section than on the pitch. So then Eboue came on and he did a fine job of tracking back and providing extra defensive cover. He´s versatility has been very useful for us this season.

Unfortunately these two substitutions screwed us a bit at the end and hopefully didn´t do more damage because when we took off Sagna for Theo it left us without the option to replace Cesc when he injured himself either winning the penalty or actually tacking the penalty.

He reckons he´s broken his fibula. I reckon he´s just taken another knock and he´s suffered more bruising in his knee. Ie. a recurrence of the problem he suffered against Birmingham.

Zlatan scored two within 15 minutes of the start of the second half after some woeful goalkeeping by Almunia, and some poor centre back defending.

Specially Vermaelen pushing to high up to stay on Messi, who was quiet all night, and Song not getting tight enough to Ibra who was put through with a simple over the top ball.

Too bad, so sad.

Then we started getting a bit more lively and I think the introduction of Theo Walcott into the game was what really changed it. Well than and Barcelona getting a bit more tired and us getting a little bit more willing to chase the ball a bit.

That being said, someone needs to teach Gael Clichy than standing off his man when he´s easily the faster player is just a silly move. How many times did Dani Alves have all day to pick out his cross because Gael Clichy would stand five yards off him. He just can´t afford to do that.

Anyway, I gotta do some real work.

This roller coaster ride turned out to be a good one. But only right at the very end as Puyol saw red, and ours boys in red celebrated the 2 - 2 draw like it was a victory.

Later,

UptheArse