And Then There Were Two – Arsenal Chase Double

UEFA Champions League, Round of 16, 2nd Leg
Barcelona 3 – 1 Arsenal
(Barcelona win 4-3 on aggregate)

1 – 0 Messi (45)
1 – 1 Busquets (53 og)
2 – 1 Xavi (68)
3 – 1 Messi (71)

van Persie sent off (57)

U2 proclaimed that it takes a second to goodbye; Massimo Busacca proved that it takes that long to decide that a player should be booked for timewasting, one second the time that elapsed from the Swiss official’s whistle blowing to the ball snatched wide by Robin van Persie. By the time, the Dutchman had turned around, he was heading for an early bath.

At that point in time, Arsenal were heading into the quarter-finals of the Champions League, the wind taken from Catalan sails as a powerful header into his own net by Busquets had levelled the scores on the night and put Arsenal into the lead on aggregate.

Arsenal had been treading a disciplinary tightrope for most of the game. Koscielny and Sagna were booked early in the match; Barcelona were whining, writhing and crying like babies from the kick-off. Injuries were suffered to parts of their bodies which had not been touched. It was deceit; it as cheating.

Quite simply, they were a side that lacked any scruples. With the quality of player that they have it unnecessary but indicative that they were knew that the referee was weak and easily swayed.

Bias is often used as an excuse to disguise indistinguished performance, to explain away a defeat which was deserved. Generally, refereeing bias is a fabrication to suit our circumstances. There are genuine cases of it and last night emphasised that it does exist.

Busacca has much not to answer for not least if Uefa take disciplinary action against Abidal and Alves for throttling van Persie and Nasri respectively. Both cases were in direct line of sight of the officials yet neither Barcelona player was dismissed. Both were straight red cards. On such fine lines do fates hang.

Whilst the referee was a (the?) major reason for defeat, events were moving against Arsenal from early in the match. Beforehand Ars ène expected Barcelona to have 60% of the possession; they began early on to rack up those numbers. The defence was braced for an onslaught and was pierced on a number of occasions. The defence held out, magnificient tackling technique on display for the most part.

Pedro was halted in his tracks by Koscielny, Messi seized on slack play by Djourou only for the Frenchman to snuff out the danger. Alves’ free kick caused the most consternation, Szczesny dislocating a finger in the save, Manuel Almunia entering the fray. The Spaniard was not a popular substitute, his performance was better than expected and might have brought himself a move this summer.

Messi was prompting at this point; with thirty minutes gone he had his first clear sight of goal, leaving Djourou, Koscielny and Clichy tackling air as he danced the ball toward the net. Johan Djourou dug deep into his resources and cleared as it seemed the deadlock would be broken. If the defence was creaking, it was held together by the glue of belief, a belief that was as rattled as the woodwork when Adriano struck from the dead ball line.

Yet that glue had held until the interval.

Much of the media focus had been on Cesc Fàbregas before the match; during it he was relatively non-existent, unable to influence proceedings as he usually does. Was it down to injury? Certainly he seemed to be less mobile than normal. Certainly he was more careless than normal.

Midway through the half he had ceded possession cheaply, the chance quelled by Djourou. With the whistle almost at Busacca’s lips for half time, Cesc backheeled the ball carelessly, needlessly, Iniesta seized on the ball and sent Messi clear. The Argentine international flicked the ball around Almunia before burying the chance. Heartbreak for the captain and club.

The second half found Barcelona chomping at the bit to increase their advantage. And undone by their arrogance. Nasri was surrounded and forced a corner. van Persie swung over a decent delivery, Diaby was in the vicinity and Busquets was on target. The tie was out of Barcelona’s hands; two more goals required to win through and heads were going down.

Until Busacca intervened.

Thereafter a tough job became almost Mission Impossible. Barcelona pegged Arsenal back. Ten minutes after van Persie’s dismissal and Alves, Messi and Villa had all gone close to restoring the Catalan’s lead on the night. Within three minutes, they would be in the quarter finals.

Iniesta slid a perfect pass into the path of Xavi, his shot beat Almunia and the aggregate scores were level; Arsenal had to score or run the gauntlet of penalties to get through. The latter option swiftly disappeared. Having been denied a clear penalty in the first half, Messi made no mistake from the spot following Koscielny’s trip on Pedro.

After that Afellay and Messi were denied by profligacy and Almunia. Alves should have replicated the scoreline from last season but missed. Bendtner had a sniff of a chance, created by the outstanding Jack Wilshere, smothered by the under-employed Valdes.

Arsenal were out.

With hindsight it is easy to criticise the team selection but in two instances Arsène might reflect that things could have been different.

Rosicky was a surprise inclusion, his defensive workrate presumably swung the decision in his favour. However, it left van Persie isolated and Arshavin could have been more supportive in attack, an outlet with space to scamper. Or at the very least, make the full backs think twice before pushing forward.

The second was the inclusion of Diaby. The Frenchman offers more than Denilson in terms of supporting the attack, perhaps deemed more combative in midfield than the Brazilian. Yet it was the sort of fixture where possession is all; Denilson is one of the best at the club in not wasting passes. They may be short, they are accurate and they offer respite.

Whatever, the result stands and Arsenal kick on from here in the two remaining competitions to be won. Injustice can be a useful weapon psychologically; Arsène needs to use it to motivate the team forwards.

’til Tomorrow.