Arsenal 2-0 vs. Shakhtar Donetsk - First Half Report
Arsene Wenger’s young Arsenal team produced a dominating display at home against Shakhtar Donetsk and ended the first half 2-0 in their favour. The Gunners were completely in control for the first 45 minutes and could have made
it 3 or 4 nil had the opposition goalkeeper not been in such good form.
The first few minutes of the half were not much to talk about, as both teams sat back and almost took time to assess one another. Shakhtar passed the ball around nicely in the opening minutes before giving it away carelessly. Arsenal
was also playing keep-ball, and that is how the first 10 minutes or so went by.
There was more possession for Arsenal, and that ended with their first sniff of goal. Cesc Fabregas floated over a cross from the left and it was only a fraction too high for Marouane Chamakh, who had made a good run into the box.
Finally the game did start to gather some pace; there was the typical one touch passing game on display by the Gunners. Shakhtar had started to look as if they were chasing shadows, and finally the first goal came. However, not
in the fashion Arsenal may have wanted but they would definitely take it.
Shakhtar keeper Andriy Pyatov was unchallenged at the back post but dropped Samir Nasri's corner, and allowed Johan Djourou to knock it towards Alex Song and the defender, with a deft flick, was able to bundle it over the line.
Arsenal did deserve the lead, but clearly it was a mistake by the Shakhtar keeper.
Moments later, there was almost a second goal for Arsenal. Marouane Chamakh nodded the ball down for Samir Nasri, who fired in a stinging shot that arrowed straight at Andriy Pyatov - either side and he would have been beaten.
Now keep in mind that before the match, Arsenal boss had been criticised for having a team with a soft belly, and in reply Wenger had said that his team can match it physically with any team when needed. However, Jack Wilshere’s
challenge was certainly not the way to prove his manager right, it was quite a hefty tackle by Wilshere on Tomas Hubschman - he missed the ball and got the man. Referee Svein Oddvar Moen had a lengthy word with the Arsenal teenager, but decided against showing
his first yellow card of the night.
The referee soon had another decision to make when Tomas Rosicky went down in the box after coming together with Razvan Rat. It was never a penalty, and the referee got it right.
Just as the first half was about to end, Arsenal managed to double their advantage, Emmanuel Eboue fed Alex Song down the right, and his deflected cross fell for Samir Nasri. Shakhtar skipper Darijo Srna made a mess of his attempted
challenge and Nasri had space to smash home his sixth goal in his last six games for the Gunners. Arsenal had a deserved 2 goal lead and went into the dressing rooms with some breathing space in the game.
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