Starting Eleven: Live Blogging: Champions League--Arsenal-AC Milan

Random thoughts while watching Arsenal-AC Milan.

Starting at the second half:

Reality called me away for much of the second half, but getting back in the 85th minute, doesn't look like I missed much...
Bendtner has a chance to win it for the Gunners but skies a shot. Fascinates me how difficult it is to get a shot on goal. Most players prefer power to calm and accuracy while sacrificing power on their shot. Don't understand it.
Corner - last chance for Arsenal? Walcott ultimately gets a shot on goal; something Bendtner, who had a better chance to score, couldn't do.
Adebayor! header off the crossbar, wow, a fraction of an inch and a fraction of a second separate Arsenal from being favorites in getting through to the quarterfinals, to being in bad shape headed for Milan in two weeks.
This is going to be a great result for Milan. Wonder if tanking the FA Cup match against United was worth it now for Wenger?

Random thoughts while watching Arsenal-AC Milan.

Starting at the 30-minute mark:

Celtic and Barca have traded goals; same goes for Fenerbache and Sevilla--ESPN won't show scores on its crawl.
Fabregas is a stud; Eduardo is a black hole. Another great cross to Eduardo that he cannot handle, nor finish.
Kaladze and Nesta are busy with Adebayor, but is anyone getting the sense Milan gets a counterattack goal some time soon? Arsenal hasn't had glaring chances, but it has had the run of play and cannot finish.
Milan has given up 1 goal in six games; it is unbeaten in those six games.
Hleb makes a brilliant turn in the box at 44; deserved a better finish.
Overall, this one's been a dud. Arsenal started well, but the game's had more dead spots than the basketball floor at the old Boston Garden. Give Milan a halftime grade of D (its defense keeps it from getting an F); let's give Arsenal a C+

Starting at the 8-minute mark:

Duh observation of the day; Adebayor is just a handful, a physically intimidating guy who is just about always in the right spot for challenge the goal.
Arsenal is turning this into a 55-meter match. Milan has had one venture into the Arsenal end (got a corner out of it) but otherwise, doesn't look interested in pressing the issue
Maldini is being attacked, but withstanding. Eboue had no chance of beating the legend on one play at the goal line; he did win the corner.
Eduardo should have done better with a nice cross through the box
Kaka gets a touch, mark that at 14 minutes
My father has a name for the style Milan is playing: anti-jogo
Hmmm, Nesta shoves Adebayor off the ball and gets away with it; borderline. Yet, is the bigger picture here one of frustration/desperation on the Milan back line? It's only 18 minutes in.
What a pity this is a round-of-16 matchup and one of these clubs is going to be gone. This is a final quality pairing, despite Milan's struggles in Serie A.
Eduardo, Eboue and Gallas, um, I'll toss these cards in any hand of poker.
With one sub gone for Arsenal (Toure), how much does this change Wenger's strategy in the second half?

Random thoughts and observations about today's Arsenal - A.C. Milan match.

Why do they play the Champions League anthem prior to the match? How pretentious of UEFA!
Is it arrogant of a coach like Wenger to essentially tank a massive FA Cup match like Arsenal did last weekend losing 4-0 to Man. U., clearly to concentrate on today's match and the Premiership. Why would supporters excuse such flaunting of their emotions and support? Or do you prefer it as a fan?
Clearly, this is a superior Arsenal Starting Eleven on the pitch than the one Wenger put out there against United.
Interesting that Arsenal is attacking Maldini's side of the field. Have the mighty fallen so far?
Toure takes a shot off the thigh and is carried off? Didn't see him twist anything prior.
What a throw by Lehman to Adebayor, even better recovery by Oddo.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008