Tonight’s match was on Setanta Sports, and I hoped for a better result than the last Arsenal match I watched on this channel (Salzburg 1 vs. 0 Arsenal).

First Half

The first half was mainly Arsenal getting kicked by Prague and it most cases it was Tomas Repka (the ex-West Ham misfit) doing the kicking.

We were lucky not to be behind early on after Lehman was beaten but the post was there to saves us.

The first half is very much stop-start with all the fouls and subsequent free kicks. It’s obviously a tactic to stop Arsenal from playing, and it’s working. There are a couple of chances at each end but nothing sticks out. So far a messy game, not very entertaining or pleasing on the eye.

We are defending quite well though and Sagna looks as if he’s been playing for Arsenal for years not just a handful of games. Clichy looks sharp too.

After lots of bad tackles by Repka, retribution comes his way. Fabregas takes him out, and gets a booking for a hard tackle. The injury doesn’t look to bad and the match starts again but a few mins later Repka is substituted to a standing ovation by the home crowd. At lease someone likes him then.

Half Time

During half time I flicked over to Sky Sports 2 where Wigan vs. Boro is showing. The match is even worse than ours!

The most excitement so far comes just before the second half kicked off. There was heavy rain outside and the TV signal started to disappear. Nice, just what I need. Thankfully the weather calms and the reception is restored just as the match kicks off again.

Arsenal are looking better in the second half and are starting to take control of the match, well possession at least, still with very few chances.

I’m not convinced with Rosicky. He hasn’t done much for us since arriving from Dortmund. Two goals against Liverpool at Anfield in the FA Cup last season, a game I was at, and I think he scored against the Yids last year too (I may be wrong about this), but can’t think of much else he has done. Doesn’t create chances for us and is not strong defensively. In fact very similar to Helb!

With about 20 mins or so remaining we take a deserved lead. Clichy has the ball and makes a good run towards the box when he gets to the edge he passes to Fabregas who slots its home. Nice one. Clichy did most of the work but it was still a good finish by Cesc.

Annoyingly, we decide to sit on the lead and for the next 15 mins we get pelted by balls in the box. A combination of good defending and riding our luck prevents us letting in an equaliser. Why do we do this? I thought the best for of defence is attack and that’s never been truer than we applied to Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal.

We hold out and then after a quick break we are able to wrap up the match (and hopefully the tie). After a good run from Sagna he releases the ball to Hleb and he taps in from about 8 yards out – his second 90^th min goal in 4 days.

Overall I think it was an OK performance considering it was away from home in the Champions League, although this match was all about the result and we got a good one and at least I know now that an Arsenal match on Setanta is not a bad omen!