Champions League: Arsenal vs. Partizan Beograd - Arsenal stumble past impressive Partizan (Part 2)
Arsenal were the team that were looking the more threatening from the very first minute of kick-off. This was mainly because of the fact that everything was on stake for the Gunners, while Partizan were already knocked out of the tournament as it is.
However one of the most notable things was the fact that Arsenal were lining up a 4-4-2 formation as opposed to their traditional 4-3-3.
Nonetheless despite Arsenal’s ruthless possession retention, the team was finding it close to impossible to land any shots on target, or launch any shots at the Partizan goal as it was.
Amidst all the Arsenal confusion, Gibbs, who was filling in for Gael Clichy, managed to slip on the turf and pull a muscle and sprain his ankle simultaneously. The player was given about ten minutes, to try and cope with the injury, but after showing indications,
that the injury could be far more serious, he was subbed and Emmanuel Eboue was brought on to play as left-back.
The half seemed to continue much the same way, with Arsenal dominating possession, but failing to really find that breakthrough in front of the goal.
All of that changed on the twenty ninth minute. Van Persie received the ball in the Partizan area and just when he looked like he was about to shoot, he was brought down in the box by a Partizan defender and Arsenal were awarded a spot kick.
Samir Nasri and Robin Van Persie took a minute to discuss it amongst themselves, as to who would take the resulting kick and after a long discussion it was Van Persie who stepped up to take the shot. Van Persie rocketed the ball into the top right corner
of the goal with confidence and despite the keeper having judged the right direction; the shot was a little too perfect for him to keep out.
It was generally believed that Arsenal would manage to cruise to victory after scoring the opening goal, to break the tension; however that was not the case. To Arsenal’s surprise Partizan were actually putting more of a challenge then anyone would have
thought, they were looking to attack Arsenal on the break.
Arsenal on the other hand, seemed to have all the possession in the world in the first half, but just didn’t know what to do with it. One of the stand-out players on the Arsenal side, who seemed to be getting unusually confused every time he was on the ball,
was Andrei Arshavin. As the half came to a close, Wenger was seen taking notes and seemed to have a lot to tell his players during the break.
Continued in Part 3...
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