Half-time report

Earlier on, I was watching Real Madrid and noticed how they drive forward in numbers and lack in the backline. We’re very, very similar and we’re turning into one of those Brazilian national teams of the late 70s who used to win matches 4-3, 5-4 and so on.

The guys responded well to last Saturday’s defeat, maybe too well, and they go into the dressing room leading 2-0 with goals coming from both Adebayor and Van Persie. I, like many, criticized these two after Saturday’s performance and today’s goals confirm how inconsistent they can be. If they always play the way the did in this half, we would be ok up there, but they just can’t put it together match in, match out.

The half started with Arsenal pushing forward, as they always do after all. In the 7th minute, a nice move started with Clichy, saw Walcott’s shot from acute angle being deflected into a corner. Minutes later, Van Persie did well to get away from his marker and curl one in, with Porto’s keeper alert enough to deflect it into a corner.

Porto’s first goal opportunity came in the 12th minute from a 5 vs 3 counter attack which saw a cross from the right met by Rodriguez who heads against the bar. In the 16th minute, Cesc’s delightful pass meets Van Persie’s excellent run but the Dutchman fails to hit the target. 10 minutes later, Porto are dangerous again with Lisandro who forces Almunya into a spectacular dive and into a corner. From the resulting corner, believe it or not, Porto should have taken the lead. Lisandro is left totally unmarked but his effort is cleared off the line from Clichy. The corner problem almost haunted us again there.

In the 30th minute we take the lead and total control of the match. Fabregas picks Adebayor, who beats the offside traps, makes his way to the edge of the penalty area and finds Van Persie who slide-tackles it in for 1-0 lead. 9 minutes later it’s 2-0. It’s finally our turn to celebrate from a corner; Van Persie delivers one to Adebayor who smashes it against the ground, with the ball bouncing under the bar on its way in.

All in all, it’s been a typical Arsenal performance. Nasri, making his comeback after injury, has been superb but it’s Fabregas who stole the show with his inch-perfect passes. It’s a shame we keep on struggling at the back, but luckily for now, we’re ahead.

(At half time, no changes were made by Arsenal).


Line-ups
Ready for Wenger’s changes for the match? Were 6 changes really necessary? Oh wait, it’s only one, Eboue out, Nasri in.


Arsenal

Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Walcott, Fabregas, Denilson, Nasri, Van Persie, Adebayor.

Subs: Fabianski, Vela, Ramsey, Silvestre, Djourou, Bendtner, Eboue.


FC Porto

Helton, Sapunaru, Bruno Alves, Rolando, Benitez, Guarin, Costa, Fernando, Raul Meireles, Rodriguez, Lopez.

Subs: Nuno, Pedro Emanuel, Stepanov, Lucho Gonzalez, Hulk, Lino, Candeias.