Sep 26
I’ve been swamped at work and can’t give this match report the detail it deserves. If someone wants to step up, please do, but for the time being here are the bullet points:
Thierry Henry and Alex Hleb scored in the 37th and 47th minutes respectively to put the Gunners top of the group at 6 points. CSKA Moscow beat Hamburg to give them 4 points. Porto have 1, and Hamburg bring up the rear with none.
34 Responses to “Arsenal 2 - 0 Porto”
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September 26th, 2006 at 4:59 pm
I was able to watch first 50 minutes so I saw both goals. Arsenal looked powerful throughout, particularly considering that Justin Hoyte was playing left back. Henry’s goal was a nice header that resulted from a phenomenal cross by Eboue who must be reading the comments on this website criticizing his crossing. Hleb’s goal was also a thing of beauty, made all the more notable because Alex chose to shoot rather than pass. All in all, this was a game that, I believe, gives us a hint of the power and the beauty of the new team that Wenger has built before our eyes over the last two years. Just think how incredulous you would have been if someone told you in the summer of 2004 that the 2006 Arsenal team roster would not include Vieira, Campbell, Cole, Pires, Reyes, Bergkamp, and Edu but nonetheless would be as exciting and, potentially, as accomplished a team. Clearly, Wenger has been proven correct in his refusal to expend money on Michael Carrick, Jermaine Jenas, Zambrotta, Davids and all the others whom the Staglites urged him to buy. This is an exciting and compelling team that plays the beautiful game beautifully. Kudos to Wenger on his vision, stubborness and insight.
September 26th, 2006 at 5:16 pm
Almost as perfect performance a performance as you can get in europe, and one which would have been completely beyond the invincible team of two years ago.
This team might not counter-attack as quickly as the 2002-2004 teams but it has far more nous and can retain it’s fluidity no matter the pace of the game.
At last, a good attacking display from Arsenal at the emirates.
Typical that Gallas would have to get injured and be out for three weeks right at the end though.
Van Persie cannot play left wing, as I always thought. Not enough balance, his crosses are crap and ultimately wasted due to lack of numbers in the box, and he can only shoot opening up his body. If he’s gonna play on the wing play him on the right.
Hoyte was actually good tonight. Strange.
September 26th, 2006 at 5:19 pm
how bad did Gallas look coming off? is the “three weeks” quip an actual report or just our typical pessimism?
September 26th, 2006 at 5:41 pm
The team was phenomenal but Van Persie dissapointed me. His inability (or unwillingness) to shoot with his right foot resulted in many missed golden opportunities, and when he did shoot with his right foot, he sailed it high while being what? 7 feet in front of the goal with only the keeper to beat. He reminds me of a guy I play indoor with who is leftie and his only attacking move is to fake right, cut left and shoot. Same as the young Dutchman.
And I didn’t see too much of Gilberto, either. And it was cool to see Walcott come on late in the game but man, oh man, he made some poor/sloppy moves. Oh well; he’s young and inexperienced. I can only assume Wenger knows what he’s doing!
Great game, though, and I do think Arsenal dominated, furthering the notion that they’re once again legitimate contenders for the European title.
September 26th, 2006 at 5:44 pm
This was a superb win. Arsenal’s first goal was a replay of our 3rd goal against Sheffield: Eboue cross into the box for Henry to score. Another goal from a cross into the box! Wenger has definitely brought a welcomed variety to our attack. The second goal came after a Gallas surging run that ended with a nicely weighted pass from Henry to Hleb who made no mistake.
MOM: Eboue. This is unfair because everyone played extremely well except for RVP. RVP had all day to score (what should have been the first goal)after a crisp pass from Henry that put him in alone on goal. A bad miss that took the cockiness out of him. RVP then became hesitant to shoot as the game went on.
Hoyte started in place of an injured Djourou with Gallas slotted into CB. He had a safe game at LB but the only dangerous attack (a Quaresma run) was dealt with by Gallas. In the 2nd half Eboue contained Quaresma except for one shot which force a bobbling save from Lehman.
The biggest concern from this game is Gallas’s hamstring which forced him to be subbed by Song. If it’s only a strained hamstring then it could be a 2 week plus loss. This is a MAJOR development. If Djourou can’t go on Saturday then we will once again be short on the left side of our defense. Three days to sort it out. Henry took a knock but seemed to recover. Did I mention Gallas’s hamstring could be the first adversity we face this season.
Walcott came on in the final few minutes in place of Hleb but he never got into the flow of the game. Ljungberg had a chance for a shot on goal but he who hesitates… I feel his time draws nigh.
September 26th, 2006 at 5:59 pm
See this article: http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=418514&CPID=5&clid=3&lid=2&title=Gallas+hit+by+hamstring+blow
September 26th, 2006 at 6:08 pm
For those who still care- El-Rey had a goal and an assist in Real Madrid’s 5-1 mauling of Dinamo Kiev. Could we please give Baptista a proper run out. So far Wenger keeps touting him as our next coming attraction while Reyes looks like the second coming.
September 26th, 2006 at 6:09 pm
Excellent performance. At last Arsenal is playing European football the way it should be played, tactically, efficiently and sensibly.
I won’t criticise anyone, because Van Persie had a decent first half but his head dropped after missing that sitter.
Second half became boring because ut was so comfortable for the last half an hour and Arsenal didn’t seem all that interested in winning 3-0.
I must say Ljungberg looks to have lost a bit of pace. Wouldn’t surprise me if he got sold at the end of the season whilst Arsenal can still make money out of him, unless he shows real character and form of old.
September 26th, 2006 at 6:16 pm
The boys played well. The major talking points will be Gallas’ injury and the horrible referee. That guy has got to be on someone’s payroll as he was obviously biased against Arsenal.
van Persie was not good tonight. I remember him playing on the left mid at Feyenoord but he was very poor there tonight. Ljunberg failed a fitness test and wasn’t even supposed to play but van Persie was too shell-shocked to finish. Henry looked like he was on the playground running around those Porto defenders. I think he had a lot of fun. Everyone else was very good tonight. I wasn’t aware that Queresma moved to Porto in the off-season as I remember us being linked with him. Eboue beat him up and took his lunch money though so no worries. It was the first time I saw that Anderson kid and he looks to be something fierce. I know teams are chasing him too and he’s only 18.
It’s late and I’ve got to fly tomorrow. Peace.
September 26th, 2006 at 6:17 pm
Efficiently did the business in a routine European group game.
Take a look at that sentence and think how long we have waited to describe a European game like that.
The team that Vieira led was not able to turn out that performance. Wenger knows.
September 26th, 2006 at 6:20 pm
Reyes did spank a pretty one home tonight. Jose was already fit to play in England when he arrived so definitely fit enough to play in Spain. Baptista wasn’t and isn’t. We just have to wait. Baptista’s time will come.
September 26th, 2006 at 7:03 pm
I too agree with Mazza, Fred’s points - the current Arsenal side really raise me a lot of hope. The team now seems to have more dimensions, and look much more composed than we used to.
The Class of 2004, we relied so heavily on our pace, and quick counter attack. In other words - a high tempo game. When we failed to create a flow, we struggled.
This current side can play it quick and slow, and the individual technic are brilliant.
In short, like Fred put it - we are looking more and more like a contential side right now.
Best of all, this side has far from reaching its peak yet.
September 26th, 2006 at 7:05 pm
joshaud, i don’t think the ref is biased, he’s just BLIND! The Rosicky booking is a JOKE.
September 26th, 2006 at 7:14 pm
btw, i hope Gallas did not pull his hamstring. ‘Cos despite only played for us a few games, he has already become one of our most important players.
Now even if Chelsea wanna sell A.Cole back to us along with 5 mil cash for Gallas, I would not want us to do so. With Gallas at the back, i just feel so much confident at our defence.
i don’t know whether Hoyte has watched Gallas played and learned a few things. Tonight Hoyte actually performed ok. The first few games when i saw him play, he tended to commit himself too easily into tackles, and allow opposition wingers drove past him with ease. Tonight he opted to back off and contain the opponent instead, with good efficiency.
September 26th, 2006 at 8:31 pm
Fantastic, another win.
And as other posters have stated a good composed Euro win.
?.like IrishG said just remember it hasn?t always been this way. Indeed, my over-riding memory of past European campaigns was a sense of suppressed dread?.of ?can we hold on and win this one?? Despite our compelling football, we simply weren?t terribly adept at applying our style to the European stage. Or was it that our style simply didn?t cut it in Europe? Whatever, possession and patience are invaluable European qualities.
So it?s interesting to read the discussion brewing over the Arsenal Mk3 style versus our traditional rata-tat-tat style. On the evidence of the games we have seen this season our style is a-changing. Indeed, the change started last season but with Pires, Bergkamp and Cole still there and with Highbury still being our home it wasn?t as stark.
Now no Pires, no Bergkamp, and no comfortable confines of Highbury.
Now we have un-Arsene options like Adebayor and Baptista, a longer wider pitch that cries out for genuine wide play and dare I say it?.crosses. Now we see Gallas, Toure and Djourou in the box, we see Eboue pumping crosses into the box, we see Fabregas comfortable on the ball and distributing possession in a more languid manner than Vieira. And all the time a new style of play is emerging.
The question is how much will Arsene try and dictate and how much will he ?let happen?. I think Arsene being Arsene he will let it happen. If he didn?t want the style to adapt he wouldn?t have bought big mothers like Adebayor and Baptista. No, Arsene?s clever, he knows that if Arsenal is to remain competitive our style must evolve, it can?t become predictable.
September 26th, 2006 at 8:49 pm
Quaresma is with Porto since the summer when Barca signed Deco. He was part of that deal.
September 26th, 2006 at 9:01 pm
It was a good team performance, Henry scored another header, Kolo and Gallas are playing well together, Eboue obviously learnt how to cross… All in all, good game.
Hoyte did OK, but Porto played without right winger. If Quaresma was on the right side, man, I think we would hava seen another clumsey display from him.
Now without Gallas, Senderos and Clichy all out who will be the 4th player at the back. I would go for something like this:
Eboue-Toure-Hoyte-Traore
or
Eboue-Toure-Connolly-Hoyte.
What are your thoughts guys?
September 26th, 2006 at 11:28 pm
Superb win. We are the same confident team in the CL as last year… where teams tend to play a bit differently against us than in the league.
Long may it continue.
I thought Eboue was excellent… Henry scoring one and setting up the other. That bodes well. We can certainly do with Henry getting back to his best.
Obviously, Gallas going off injured is VERY BIG. We need this guy in the line-up as much as possible. He has a confidence and calming affect on the back 4, regardless of where he lines up.
It will be the same story in the league however. Teams will pack the box. We will have tons of possession, and we will have to break them down or score from a distance. We are still going to have trouble with walking it into the net. If we score first… watch out! If we don’t score early, we’ll all be watching the clock, and screaming at the TV…. SHOOOOOOOOOOT!
Good Solid Win. Looking excellent in Europe.
GET WELL SOON Mr. GALLAS… we need you!
September 26th, 2006 at 11:33 pm
For anyone who needs further convincing that Arsenal’s performance against Porto was truly magnificent, the following quotes from Porto coach Manuel Ferreira appeared in an article this evening on the BBC’s website:
Ferreira said: “Arsenal are a team with the ability to change a game very quickly. Their play was really fast and we couldn’t keep up.
“As soon as they scored the second goal I knew it would be much much harder. We tried to keep the ball but they were really on a roll.
“We had to stick to our own system. If we had got into playing Arsenal’s way the result could have been much worse.”
September 27th, 2006 at 12:16 am
traore?? did i miss something?
September 27th, 2006 at 1:28 am
Arsenal are for sure changing. 4-5-1 at home against Porto. Lots of quality crosses. Two headed goals in two games for Henry. Hleb shooting and scoring from outside the box. RvP is still not scoring. Some things are still the same.
I like the new style of play. Call it 4-5-1, 4-3-3 or 4-1-4-1. It suits the players. Cesc has the freedom to attack. Rosicky can play centrally. RvP can face the goal and run with the ball. Hoyte has more protection. My only disappointment was to see many good crosses wasted because no one was on the end of them. Need to work on that.
I was baffled by the substitutions. Where was Baptista? Walcott on for only five minutes? Ljunberg on for 20 minutes despite recovering from an injury!!
Gallas’ injury is a terrible blow. Hope Djourou is fit for Sat. After that, there is a two week break.
September 27th, 2006 at 1:37 am
Stag:
Why must the glass always be half empty rather than half full? Even when a brilliant result is achieved, your posts always seem begrudging — even skeptical — of continued success by Arsenal. “Long may it continue” hardly sounds like you believe it will continue.
Moreover, “Good solid win” hardly does credit to this victory. What game were you watching? It was certainly not the same game Porto’s manager saw because he was compelled to comment after the match that:
(i) Arsenal’s “play was really fast and we couldn’t keep up,”
(ii)Arsenal was “really on a roll,” and
(iii) Porto “had to stick to our own system [because i]f we had got into playing Arsenal’s way the result could have been much worse.”
However what really sticks in the craw is your comment that “it will be the same story in the league however.” When the last two league games consist of a 1-0 victory at Old Trafford followed by a 3-0 dismemberment of a Sheffield United team packing the box, I think the better view is that there is no reason to think Arsenal will not continue and improve on its brilliant form.
Finally, to end with GET WELL SOON Mr. GALLAS is just negative thinking. Yes, Gallas has been superb. Yes, even you must now acknowledge that trading Cole and getting Gallas was a great deal for Arsenal. However, Gallas will get better in a matter of weeks and, in the interim, this team has alot of young and exciting talent even in defense. Let’s hope Djourou is fit for Charlton because his play as of late has been eye opening and let’s see if Hoyte can improve. In fact, when Gallas, Lauren, Senderos and Clichy all return to action next month, Wenger will have an abundance of riches from which to choose at defense.
Stag, all I am really saying is that in light of how quick you were to jump on Wenger when the early season results were ties with Middlesborough and Aston Villa at home (and defeat to Man City on the road), you should really give him massive props after three successive victories of the type we have just witnessed.
I can only end by saying that in Wenger I trust!!!!!!!
September 27th, 2006 at 2:18 am
Yes. And he denied us a clear penalty when Cesc was pushed in the box in the second half.
September 27th, 2006 at 4:42 am
OK, being at the game was amazing.
European nights at the Emirates is what it is all about.
I think we play pure European football.
Some of the passing movement was excellent and you felt like you were getting on the team if each move did not result in a goal. The expectations in the stands now is very high as the quality of football is beyond belief.
After 50 mins the game was over and the team turned the pace of the game right down, they did not want the third goal or to break sweet.
This might have something to do with Henry picking up a knock and then for 15 or 20 mins not running at all. However good the guy is, and he is great, we were playing with 10 men for that time and the other players did not realize it.
AW needs to be stronger, haul Henry off, cover him in cotton wool and let another striker take his place.
Lastly I have been getting on Hleb’s back recently but he put in a good performance capped by a great team goal. He and Rosicky are the hub of the new European adventure. Long may it continue.
September 27th, 2006 at 5:14 am
I think AW will put Flamini at LB happy or not is we are down to bear bones.
Playing a 16 year in a key position is not an option.
I wonder how close Lauren and Senderos are away from 1st team football, because Eboue could be out as well.
You could have:
Hoyte Toure Djourou Flamini or if Djourou is out I would guess Song or Connolly would play there.
Bear bones but that would mean 6 defenders out: Clichy Lauren Senderos Gallas Eboue Djourou, not that is what you call an injury list…
September 27th, 2006 at 5:22 am
Great point after 50 mins we wre cruising and not the sort George Michael does.
We should have rested Henry, and given Baptista or Walcott a good 30 mins.
September 27th, 2006 at 6:41 am
great game, cool result, we?ll most likely top our group and hopefully get a good (ie. easy) draw for the second round.
the result and most specifically the way we played is not surprising really. we are “european” team now, but we must tweak and lower our style of play when we battle with the robust, brainless and rather primitive longball hoffing merchants that are the majority in the Prem.
we are settled in europe, now we must continue our goodwork in the prem. im positive we?ll even see better.
gallas going off isnt good - mainly becos a defense needs continuity. hopefully we can just the result against charlton and then there is the international break.
and for those that wanted to see ADE and BAPTISTA. i personally think they wont really see so much time in europe. they are not “technical” players, they are strong, direct and brawny. in europe, that is not really an advantage, cos what u need the most is slow, patient build up, lots of possession and excellent passing. ade and baptista are more for the husstle and bustle of the premiership.
and even though RvP didnt play that great yesterday, his style of play still suits the CL more than ade.
CL type players: cesc, rosicky, hleb, RvP … and even Song !!!
Prem types: ljunberg, baptista, ade.
this doesnt mean everybody doesnt have a role in all competitions though! there are lots of games for everyone!
September 27th, 2006 at 9:43 am
good point Fred about the types of players.
I presume our defenders are both European and EPL.
September 27th, 2006 at 11:18 am
Village.
I call it as I see it.
There is negative in every positive. Positive in every negative.
If you can find NEGATIVE with … “SUPERB WIN”… then so be it.
Get well soon Mr.Gallas. From where I am from, thats WISHING the f’n guy gets back SOON, because we need him.
FACTS ARE FACTS. The league is a different animal. Thats just reality.
I IMPLORED ARSENAL AND WENGER to “DO SOMETHING” before the window closed.
THEY DID. They got rid of 2 players who didn’t want to be here.
THAT IS WHY WE ARE PLAYING BETTER, in my opinion.
So, yes… Arsene did what I told him to… he finally listened to me, and thats why we are playing better.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Loosen up man… if you don’t like the way I think, then join the club. I love the team, and am ecstatic that we are winning. But its a MARATHON not a sprint. I don’t get too high over 3-0 win against Sheffield Utd.
These are teams we HAVE to beat.
The MANU win was massive.
Big ups to all the players for that one.
September 27th, 2006 at 12:28 pm
Totally agree with you about Henry. If we are up 3-0, 2-0 and he is not 100% he should come off. Wenger complains that Domenech(sp)plays Henry 90 minutes for France, but then he keeps him on the pitch for the entire 90 also. It seems that Henry never goes off early unless it is a meaningless game. He stayed on for the full 90 against S.U. even though we were 3-0 up had this game on Tuesday.
September 28th, 2006 at 6:11 am
For eight years, AW developed a team which excelled in the league but struggled in Europe. Now he is building a team which is excelling in Europe. Last season, that team struggled in the league but managed 4th place. This season should be better. This implies a victory for the continental style over the English. I am thrilled with that.
September 28th, 2006 at 6:42 am
I am hoping that the beast will be unleashed against Charlton. But I don’t want to see him wide in a 4-4-2. I want him central and blasting his way through the opposition (like he did to Rio at OT). Let’s see what happens.
September 28th, 2006 at 6:55 am
Reyes was dying to join Real so he will surely give 150% in every game. Baptista wasn’t even keen to leave and was forced out. AW obviously likes him so he will play sooner or later.
In any case, we should judge after one whole season, not just a few games. Everyone looks good in the first few games. Rememebr Reyes himself?
September 28th, 2006 at 8:14 am
I agree Nipuna….I’m looking forward to seeing more of Baptista too.
I’m interested in seeing him playing ‘behind’ Henry, whether it be 4-4-2 or 4-5-1 or whatever.
Agree, his presence seems a tad wasted out wide.
But in an advanced midfield role with a license to attack he would add a bit of presence and muscle in midfield and I can’t wait to see more of his rampaging runs on goal.
Once he gets his first goal I feel it will be the first of many.