I said last night as I was watching the game that we had three objectives for the first half. Get through the first 45 without conceding had to be the most important. We had a hill to climb, nothing could be worse than that becoming a mountain. Then we needed to match them all over the pitch. Hassle and harry and close down space when they had the ball, forcing them to punt it up-field rather than build, a bit like teams do against us. Then and only once those criteria were met should we hope for the third. Plant the seed of doubt in their minds by capping off a free flowing attack with an unstoppable shot and half the deficit.
I know it would’ve been super to have gone it at half time three goals to the good but this is an exceptionally good Bayern side and that would be a big ask even for a squad as talented as ours. While we’re at it, lets have a word for that squad. Isn’t it rather satisfying to have somebody as utterly peerless as Tomáš Rosický to step in when one of our promising youth team graduates gets injured just before a match? Doesn’t it make you feel just a little smug to have another Polish international keeper waiting in the wings in case the other one has to miss a game? No Lukas Podolski on the left wing? No problem, we have Santi Cazorla. Best right back in the premiership for a very long time out injured? Step up corporal Jenks. How the manager has assembled this incredible group on such a (relatively) limited budget defies belief. He truly is an extraordinary man.
The conditions were atrocious last night with a playing surface like a polished ice rink but that didn’t prevent Corporal Jenks keeping pace with Robben whilst running backwards then perfectly timing his tackle before skipping around Muller and away up the pitch in what for me, as an ex defender, was the highlight of the half. I know Fab showed some great decision making and safe hands and the goal obviously was quite important but that was as good an example of the defenders art as you’ll see.
Ten minutes into the second half and I thought Giroud was going to get that crazy screamer he’s been promising me when he volleyed from midway inside their half but it went over and Arsene reacted just as he did against Sunderlan
d. One day Olivier, one day. I thought we continued to close them well and forced mistakes and fouls. Theo was clearly onside and clear through but was flagged off side for reasons known only to the linesman and his bookmaker. Sure Bayern had a few chances but this isn’t a Bayern blog so who gives a damn? Santi took a free kick just outside of their area and was outraged when denied by an apparent hand ball in the wall and the game resumed the pattern of the first half, both sides probing and inept officials making surreal uneven decisions.
The game burst into life on 67 minutes when Fabianski pulled off a fine point blank save from Bayern’s balding Dutchman and a flurry of shots brought out the best in our defence. With time running out we pressed further and further up field and began to look a little stretched. Arsene rolled the 70 minute dice and the seemingly tireless Ramsay and Walcott were replaced by the Ox and Gervinho. Robben was showing his traditional greed near the goal which was all the better for us but whenever we tried to attack we seemed to be held back by accidental hand balls or passes an inch off their target and on one occasion the linesman lost his contact lens and denied us a corner.
Gervihno seemed to have done enough with a delicate pirouette and toe poke but the ball rolled agonisingly past the post. Then Robben managed to get Per booked by running into him as our giant German turned away but by this time the drunken refereeing had ceased to surprise anybody. Another brilliant stop from the excellent Fabianski and we entered the final ten minutes with the second crucial goal still eluding us.
Five minutes to go. A corner from the right. Santi takes it. Kosser stays low. Gets there first. Two nil. Game on.
But there was to be no famous third goal and you don’t need me to tell you what happened next. Just three minutes of injury time after all those subs and stoppages and with the connivance of the officials aiding Bayern in their time wasting, we went out on a technicality.
I am nothing but proud of the amazing effort and performance. Clean sheet, away to one of the best teams in Europe and clear two nil victors on the night. Sad to be out of the tournament but not in any way disheartened. We are all a little sick to have suffered yet again at the hands of an inept referee on such an important occasion but we can be proud of the fans who travelled and the players who pulled on the shirt and gave it their all.
Positively Arsenal 
Brilliant write up for a brilliant performance, Steww.
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Thanks Frank. Sorry it’s just a straightforward match report but it was late by the the time the game finished and I had to get to bed.
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thanks Steww. Very proud of our performance on the night, don’t think we could’ve much more. Bayern were collectively touching cloth when Koz scored our second!
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Proud to be a RASER!
Great to see our boys put in performance that validates AW’s decision to pick them for the red & white.
Great to see Per & Kos @ their best together again.
Though our captain has had to hold things down for most of the season while Kos was sorting his head/body out, this is the preferred CB combo.
Corporal Jenks more than anyone really showed why one shouldn’t be quick to doubt AW. What a game! He was my MOTM.
Is this not the first game Mozart has gotten to play with Santi for 90 mins? Oh how I got an old wish validated by their performance, as scrappy as it was.
Rambo’s nickname is growing on him. The boy’s spirit is unbelievable.
Gerv & Ox came in and didn’t look too shabby @ all.
OG was all effort as usual. Can’t wait for him to be a tad calmer. He could become clinical.
Our weakest link , if there was one at all, was master Theo. Still seen seeking the perfect pass instead of making the best of any situation.
“You must learn to get more stuck in it, pretty boy. Take a leaf from handsome man”
Fabianski was immense. Positionally astute, made NO wrong decision.
His maturity showed he’s still got a lot to offer ahead of Szcz & Vito.
Well done.
Gibbs gave us a balance we’ve been missing. Looked bigger too.
Finally to El capitan for the night, Mikel Arteta. Played an almost perfect game. Really de-emphasized Kroos. Showed what Arsenal could be like with a quality DM.
A true pro…a real pro.
Glad the 10-day break was put to good use.
Practice makes perfect, this summer’s training camp (season before a world cup) should be something…
Oh well, on to the Liberty stadium for another showdown.
@ least its clear now that all 4 places will play in the 2013/14 CL…
10 games left…COME ON YOU GUNNERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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I think you covered just about everything Steww – it has been a long time since anyone from anywhere has turned over Bayern at home
The performance and indeed the result was all the more pleasant having listened to the repetitive drivel belittling our players and manager of Redknapp Smith Neville and Souness pre match
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The lovely sounds of eggs off face scraping today. Look forward to the apologies to Wenger, the players and us fans. Over to you Daily Mail, Gary Linekar, Alan Shearer, Haters and all other Moaners.
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Morning everyone
Nice match report Steww. Proud and sad for AW AND CREW..
WELL DONE….
ARSENAL……
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Congratulations my fellow PAs. We are the Away-Support of blogs. We expected a positive performance and we got it. None of us doubted the quality of the manager and the squad. None of us doubted the quality and heart of our players. No other blog and group of posters stand up for the oft-maligned Fabianski, to be renamed Safe-Handski, Koscielny whose determination to defend has shone against some of the greatest modern forwards (stuffing Messi in his pocket for 90 mins for example) as much as it may have led to one or two own-goals. Where else will you see the name of Abou Vassiriki Diaby “sang” with such gusto ah la Frank?
Last night I saw the ingredients of a championship team especially the tactical discipline and defensive efficiency. If we can terrify the likes of Bayern in their own stadium, just imagine what a summer of stability and one or two key additions can do for this squad.
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Great post Steww. Well said!
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Nice one Steww. Yes yes and thrice yes.
The lads did us, and themselves, proud last night. Make no mistake, that was a helluva result in a place like that and against a team of that experience and quality.
I didn’t listen to the inane bleating of Redknapp Jr and the sweaty sock pre or post match. I never do these days. Not good for my blood pressure. F*ck ’em all (with the exception of Mr Neville, fair, balanced and insightful commentary as always. Who’d have ever thunk it). I did enjoy the way Jenks handled the “now eight years without a trophy” spin by slimy Shreeves. He wasn’t having that nonsense after such a performance and result. Love it.
Onward.
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Top post, steww
Such a big result – a win, when all is said and done, and a performance to turbo charge the run-in.
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Jupp Heynckes:
“Arsenal scored two goals, but they didn’t have more clear chances than that. Arsenal were better and dominated. We couldn’t manage to dominate like we are used to doing,” the Bayern coach said at the press conference.
“….we have to admit that Arsenal showed they are a top team.”
I guess that is Jupp’s way of saying that the ‘referee did not know what he was doing!’
Thanks again to the Positive Arsenalistas for providing a forum where people are allowed to support their team. The meltdown yesterday of those who choose to believe the garbage published in the Daily Heil says it all.
I think this Barney Ronay fellow has been reading this blog:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1566734-so-who-is-qualified-to-be-the-arsenal-manager-now?
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Excellent number 10, and I said yesterday that the Fabianski decision was a strange one,ha! Proved wrong again!- by the way young Karl was seen boarding the plane back to Luton with a bald fella in tights in one pocket and the loathsome Geoff Shreeves in the other.
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Where’s George? I worry when he’s not here…
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Nice one, Stew. Really enjoyable summary of a really enjoyable game. I shouldn’t be this proud of a team who were knocked out but I am. Every player gave all they had. Some were better than others but it was truly a team effort.
Come on the Gunners!
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Busy fighting on twitter Stew.
The way of the warrior is a hard one
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If a small percentage of our fans on Twitter and those who go to the stadium week in week out can be half as positive as you are, I genuinely think it’ll rub off on the team. this blog is just refreshing
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Particularly enjoyed the second paragraph steww.
Proud and sad.
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The ref was a joke there tactics in the second half was to slow the game down with fowling and diving and how come only 3 minutes of extra time roben was on the floor for at 5 mins just real proud of the manager and team but when they mention 8 years no trophies its like a knife to the heart never mind the success before they always have to mention no trophies seems like Arsenal are always there to be snipped at because they are jealous of our ways and values the real fans can see the future is bright. In life you have to suffer the bad times to appreciate the good ones more “come on you gunners”
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Sad and worrying news http://www.islingtongazette.co.uk/news/health_2_4371/arsenal_and_england_legend_kenny_sansom_taken_to_hospital_after_collapsing_in_holloway_road_1_1978291
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Very sad get well soon Kenny
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54 ? No age at all – come on Kenny
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bravo steww top top article/post ! you said it all ..and everyone else in the comments ! ..fuck the haters …they are way to busy wipping egg yolk of eachothers faces..
180 backflips like seals in a circus = english media and minority of arsenal “fans”
can we have 60,000 away arsenal fans at the emirates please?
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Hope Kenny is OK. Well done, Piebury Corner. I presume Kenny was taken ill before he got to the pies. I really like their Tony Adams.
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CAN WE HAVE 60000 AWAY FANS AT THE EMIRATES FROM NOW ON. PLEASE.
Top line HUNTER 13 and what I have screamed for over the years.
Long live the away fan spirit……
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Excellent idea, hunter.That would be a sight for sore ears.
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Steww, thanks for the summary. Nice work as usual.
Well that was an excellent win yesterday. I hope in helps the team believe how good they can be. Hopefully we will tear up the PL the rest of this season and take that confidence into the next. I believe this team as is will win things, once season without unrest is more important (to me) that any players coming.
What was up with the amount of fouls that were called against us! 25 and only 13 against Bayern?! We had 6 yellows to their 3.
I was surprised by Bayerns intentional fouling every time it looked as if we had a little break going. It wasn’t like missed tackles but sly grabs to stop the play. Something needs to be done about that as they were intentionally slowing down the game and wasting time.
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Ryo is having surgery! i feel for the kid.
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One thing is for sure Paul. The look of pure fear on the face of BM players.. They were hanging on for dear life. Five or maybe ten more
minutes and history would have been made. No doubt.
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Yes. That was a Basterdly tackle by miralles and cheap kick afterwards by Bains. Poor RYO. and he was playing well.
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I agree Kam, they looked and were well troubled. Yes, had we had a little more time we would have won the tie. That ref needs to be sorted out, he was clueless, or biased.
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Ankle ligaments. : (
Hopefully not torn.
What George said about the foul (not a tackle, nope. Sorry.) and the consequences of such rubbish: Dumb & dumber.
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That kid is class…I only hope these injuries don’t keep him from his potential. I really want to see him become an Arsenal great.
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I agree. The officials had a much better game in the first leg.
The crew pleased me with their heart and the desire to win. We just
ran out of time. Historical game it would have been.
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Gibbs gave us a balance we’ve been missing. Looked bigger too.
oh yeah the work in gym is obvious …robben looked like a kid next to him … has come a long way since that unfortunate slip vs manure when everyone slated the poor kid.
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heh frank and kam…screaming like lunatics for arsenal !! thats what our team needs .. …
cause ever since a kid
ive only known one thing
forever for the arsenal i siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing
nah nah nah nah nah ….
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Hope Ryo’s ankle injury doesn’t have any long term ramifications.
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Looks like Ryo will need another year on loan
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Not happy at all that Ryo is facing more time on the sidelines. I was convinced he would make it with us and he clearly has the potential. All the best to him and a speedy recovery!
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What these guys need is time ; patience ; games to develop and good solid support. Team” sky is the limit”. . They can do the double next year.
And maybe a triple the year after. I can see and feel it.
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Read around a bit and got tired of reading crap from idiots who think they can manage the team better than Wenger. It’s quite amusing to see some idiots pontificate about the future of our squad when they are so incredibly misinformed.
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What is there not to love HUNTER.
a great club with tradition and history
a great board and organization with long term goals and targets
Great bunch of players with lots of potential
Great academy
Great ladies team
With a little bit of luck we are entering an era of pure bliss and domination domestically and continentally.
I couldn’t be happier….
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Gains, they are so silly. The shameful thing is you have supporters of other teams telling these clowns that Arsene is a great manager.
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Kam, I am with you on the double and triple talk.
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And lets not forget AW. the best visionary manager to come along in ages. We have the best setup to go FORWARD.
and we would have already been in the promised land if it wasn’t for some cancerous teams spending their way to our spot. But make no
Mistake.our time is coming and it will be pure bliss..
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Adebayor is just such a dreadful player. Watching the Sp*rs game because I enjoy them losing and currently it looks like they will drop a 3 goal aggregate lead against Inter.None of the heart and soul on display I’ve seen from our boys, all probably because they don’t have monkey boy available. They are and will never be better than us.
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Oh and now Gallas scores to get Inter level. That’s probably one of the Gallas goals I have enjoyed the most!
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blow wow! Inter turned it around.
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Bale is quiet tonight – Gallas with the decisive touch
Nearly
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Paul N: “Gains, they are so silly. The shameful thing is you have supporters of other teams telling these clowns that Arsene is a great manager.”
And they speak with such certainty, as if they’re people who should be listened to. The cheek some of these dorks have is quite incredible.
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