To all those who read my 'Gooners Prayer' yesterday, THANK YOU!!
In a fantastic footballing night at The Emirates, goals from David Villa, and more importantly Robin van Persie and Andrei Arshavin saw Arsenal win a first leg Champions League game which everyone expected us to lose!
The Spanish Champions did not disappoint as they pressed Arsenal from the beginning with their silky passing and skills. Barca went ahead on 26 minutes when Messi fed a ball to David Villa who then nutmegged 'keeper Szczesny as Gooners everywhere began to think the worst. This is after Messi missed a chance in the beginning stages of the match and Robin Van Persie missed a glorious chance to equalise fired just wide.. The Gunners then saw out the rest of the half, but no one could predict what was to come.
Arsenal began strong in the second half pressing Barcelona who again retained a lot of the ball. Arsenal gave as good as they got and had a few chances, but could not put the chances away. Alex Song was replaced on 68 mintues by Andrei Arshavin, just as well because he could have been sent off after picking up a yellow card. On 77 minutes Nicklas Bendtner came on for Theo Walcott, who played well, but could not seem to break Barca's defence, this is when things changed!
On 78 minutes Gael Clichy chipped a shot in to the waiting Robin Van persie on his weaked right foot and what came next had to be seen twice as RVP equalised from a very accute angle and the Arsenal faithful in the Emirates raised the roof , could Arsenal smell an upset???
At this point I was reasdy for the referee to blow the whistle, but Arsenal had not finished. After another Barcelona attack Jack Wilshere came away with the ball, dribbled up filed, found Cesc Fabregas who played a first time ball to Samir Nasri who cut in from the right, held up the ball, fed the oncoming Arshavin who cooly curled the ball past the stranded Victor Valdes.
This is set up the longest 7 minutes +2 for extra time, but we made it through to set up a thrilling secong leg at the Nou Camp in two weeks where i'm pretty sure the Spainards will want some revenge!
Look out for the second 'Gooners Prayers' soon...
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