Songaldinho Lives!!!!!!

It was, in the end exactly as I thought it would be – a hard fought clash with the winner being the one that had a moment of brilliance. And that’s what it took to open this match up, a dazzling array of footwork by Song to set up a cross to – you guessed it – Robin Van Persie, saw Arsenal take charge of a contest that was started off with a nervy first half.

Dortmund were never going to come to the Emirates and be slouches and that much was evident from the outset. They had their first chance within the first 5 minutes of the game when Kagawa shot right into the arms of Arsenal keeper Szczesny. The next real chance was a rifle shot wide by Dortmund hitman Robert Lewandowski. The message was clear, Dortmund knew what was at stake and they were going to make a game of it.

I have to admit to being a Bundesliga front runner and watching Bayern but Dortmund are an impressive team. They are young, versatile, quick and skilled. They are going to be back in this competition next season with the wisdom that comes from being knocked out. They will likely give Bayern a run for the money for the BL championship this year. So anyone who says Arsenal had weak teams to play against in this group don’t know what they speak of.

The competition in the Champion’s League is different than what you can expect in the Premier League. I think many of us always maintain that Arsenal is better suited to this competition because of the style of play that comes with it. City found that out. Arsenal have been fortunate to play teams that want to play ball with them and that works to their advantage. Even with the loss of Fabregas and Nasri, Arsenal are still one of the best teams in Europe of keeping the ball.

What’s different this year than in past years is that keeping the ball has resulted in closing down games and scoring. Dortmund yesterday looked very much like some of the Arsenal squads of the recent past. Flashy, great ball movement and loads of chances but in reality those chances weren’t very clinical. They were wide or directly at the keeper. A lot of credit for that has to go to the Arsenal defence. The only real quality chance came on the last minute of the game when Kagawa scored.

But of course the headlines for today are that Captain Van Tastic does it again by scoring another brace. And that for the 12th year in a row Arsenal have progressed to the final 16 of the Champion’s League. Let’s add another one – by winning this year – we’ve delayed our annual Champion’s League meeting with Barcelona for a while.

I don’t know what you can say about Van Persie’s performance right now. He simply doesn’t miss. We have lamented for the last few years that we have not had an out an out scorer in the box. Now we have one. In case you don’t know the stats – that’s 38 in 41 games this calendar year in all competitions and 17 in his last 18.

Dortmund did great by pressing Arsenal to cut off the passing supply to Van Persie throughout the first match. It took a sublime (is there any other word for it) run by Song to send in a cross that Van Persie clinically headed into the corner. The second goal – after I had been asking when was the last time we scored off a corner – was because Van Persie had been left unchecked as Dortmund doubled up on Vermaelen in the box. His second goal was really just being in the right place at the right time.

Alot is being made of an over dependence on Van Perise by Arsenal. Maybe. But also isn’t it also possible that he is just on fire. That he is getting the ball and making and taking his chances. Look back at the Chelsea game. Two goals weren’t because the club were feeding them the ball they were because he had the ball saw the opportunity and took it. Again something else we haven’t had. We are now seeing what its like when Van Persie is healthy and in form. We saw it at the end of last season and it is continuing. Of course the prayer vigil related to his injuries continues but you know what  I am going to enjoy this and stop over analyzing it.

There are 3 people I’d like to briefly touch on and recognize for their efforts yesterday and who I have felt have been growing week to week.

First, it should come as no surprise but it is Alex Song. Song has been much maligned on this blog and in others. But honestly, as John Cross asked yesterday – could he be Arsene Wenger’s most improved player ever? This season has been an eye opener for him. It is clear the Cameroonian likes to get forward. And sometimes it is hard to reign that in. But as Arsenal have improved defencively one of the reasons is that Song is now playing back as cover to the back four. He is cleaning up balls, fighting hard to win back the ball and passing out of the back to set up the counter. Sure he is still making mistakes. His performance against Norwich was lacklustre even with the assist to Van Persie for the second. But he is continually getting better and he is increasingly becoming regarded  one of the best DMs in the league.

Secondly I think many people who are still slagging Laurent Koscielny are way off the mark. First, no other player in defence save for Thomas Vermaelen has a sense of the occasion. There hasn’t been a big game (save for the CC final) that Koscielny has shown up and shown up big. Against Barcelona last season he effectively contained Messi and this season he walked out of Stamford Bridge with about £50 million in his back pocket. Then put him into another position and he is strong and confident. Simply put Laurent Koscielny started off as a complete unknown and risk now he is continuing to put in solid performances that has gotten him called up to the French national squad.  Saying he is a third tier CB is completely out of order. At this point I would rather have Koscielny in my back four than John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, or our often linked Gary Cahill.

Finally, I have to give some props to our new Samba king, Andre Santos. Okay he isn’t the best defender, but neither was Gael Clichy but Santos has something Clichy can only dream of – ball skills.  Yesterday when Santos was crowded out of the play with the ball at his feet he pretty much was always able to get out of it by dribbling – skillfully – out of danger. But he also is improving defencively. I don’t think he’ll ever be a great defender and I see that either Vermaelen or Song are covering the left when Santos scampers forward. But you know what if he gets and creates chances coming forward and causes opposing defenders issues – I don’t care. He certainly looks calm out there and not razzed which is something I can’t say Clichy ever gave us. There was never a calmness to how Clichy played and Gibbs is still developing. All in all I have to give props to Santos he has truly surprised me.

All in all it was a good performance. Arsenal become the first English team to qualify for this years knock out stages. Going up against Udinese some didn’t think we’d make it. Drawn against this group people questioned whether we would make it out. The other English clubs had easier paths. City with its team, even as debutantes were expected to go forward. And right now it is only the much maligned Arsenal that are guaranteed to play on Tuesdays and Wednesdays when the calendar turns. (Thursday nights on Channel 5 could be interesting should at least two of those English clubs get chucked to the Europa league).

Video Highlights (foreign commentary:

Player Ratings:

Szczesny: 7
Koscileny: 7
Mertesacker: 7
Vermaelen: 7
Santos: 7
Song: 10 MOTM
Arteta: 6
Ramsey: 6
Walcott: 8
Gervinho: 6
Van Persie: 9

Subs:
Benayoun: NA
Djourou: 5
Diaby: NA

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