Two wins paper over the cracks

Results

Date	Time	C	Opponent	F	A	R	S
28 Mar	7:45 PM	CL	Juventus (H)	2	0	Win

When Liverpool equalised I felt that despite making it into the quarter-finals of the Champions League, it wasn't all going right for Arsenal. We dominated against Liverpool, passed the ball well and were solid in defence.

However, we were wasteful in front of goal again and if it wasn't for a gift from Steven Gerrard (who has a habit of making back passes to Henry), Arsenal wouldn't have ended up with all 3 points.

Arsenal had 12 shots on the Liverpool goal, but only made the Liverpool goalkeeper work TWICE. That is abysmal for a team with such a wide array of attacking talent and with the best striker in the world leading its attack.

Henry again was instrumental in another Arsenal win, but it's worrying that somehow you get that feeling that only he can finish the chances off. The once prolific Píres was also wasteful, hitting the post when faced with an open goal. The majestic Dennis Bergkamp a shadow of his former self, as he skied a shot way over the bar after miscontrolling it with his HAND.

Reyes continues to lack confidence in front of goal. Against Real Madrid, he could have finished the tie off in the first 10 minutes at the Bernabeu, and could have had a hat-trick himself at Highbury. He could have been the match winner and ascend to become the prince of Highbury, showing Henry that he's not the only striker in the team. The post, the bar, the whites of the goalkeeper's eyes all prevented Reyes from doing this. It's baffling.

Ljungberg is no longer the opportunist striker he was. Freddie says it's because he's playing in a more withdrawn role, attacking less and not receiving the balls as much. I think it's a diplomatic way of saying that he no longer has Dennis Bergkamp feeding him those killer balls, that without Dennis, Ljungberg doesn't work.

Missing these scoring opportunities will be Arsenal's undoing. All season long we've known that it's not the defence that has been the problem, it has been the attack. A goals against column of 23 is hardly bad reading, especially after 29 games. That's less than a goal per game!

That is mightily impressive, especially with a makeshift defence, and is a huge case for Jens Lehmann to be awarded the Footballer of the Year award. But a goals for column of 45 is not good reading. Chelsea and Manchester United have both scored 56 and 58 goals respectively, and traditionally Arsenal have always been able to match, if not better, that tally.

I'm not looking forward to the Champions League match with Juventus. They are the only Italian team that we don't do well against. Yes, we beat them 3-1 at Highbury in 2001/02 when Arsène Wenger pulled off a tactical masterpiece by playing Bergkamp as a floating striker on the right. Juventus only scored due to an own goal by Stuart Taylor. But we were undone at the Stadio Del Alppi, undone 1-0 and not being in the game at all.

The other Italian teams left, Inter and AC Milan, I wouldn't have mind facing. Inter because although they beat us 3-0 at Highbury we were in control of that match, and hammered them 5-1 on the return leg. Arsenal enjoy playing at the San Siro, which is why I wouldn't have mind if we had drawn AC Milan either.

Besides playing at the San Siro, Milan would be playing an open game, a very un-Italian like game. With the oldest defence in the world, Henry and Reyes would be able to rip them apart. It could be a cricket score (if we bury the chances, of course).

But we're not playing Milan. We're playing Juventus.

They haven't lost in a long time, are leading Serie A, and have a stronger defence and midfield than ours. We'll have to depend on Henry again to pull something out of his hat.

God help us if he doesn't sign that contract extension.

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