Blog

Arsenal 1-2 Porto + Cesc’s post match comments + Video highlights

17 February 2010

Arsenal played Porto in their first leg of the last 16 Champions League tie, losing 2-1.

Fabianski scored an own goal from Varela’s cross in the 11th minute.Five minutes later, Arsenal equalised. Nasri’s corner kick was flicked on by Vermalen, and Rosicky then passed the ball on to Campbell who headed it into the net. Fabianski prevented Micael from scoring in the 29th minute, and at the other end Porto’s goalkeeper, Helten, tipped over Bendtner’s shot.

At the start of the second half, Rosicky had a penalty shout when he was tripped in the box, which was not granted. Soom after Porto scored their second goal of the game, which would eventually ensure their victory. Fabianski picked up Campbell’s back pass inside the penalty area. Porto’s free kick for that mistake was taken quickly, resulting in Falcao scoring. Full match report here.

After the match, Cesc was asked whether the controversial second goal should have been allowed. Cesc said, â€œI donâ€™t know. I have no idea to be honest. Maybe as a player I would have done the same.Schoolboyâ€™s goal, what can you do? Nothing, nothing to complain [about].â€

â€œAfter the second goal we went down, maybe we are still a little bit soft in that aspect as a team when we concede a goal maybe sometimes we are not strong enough to lift ourselves up.Thatâ€™s what happened really, we were not strong enough to stand up and play well but until the second goal I think we were having a very good game.â€

I have uploaded pictures of Cesc at the match in the recent photos section.

I’ve also uploaded match highlights to the brand new videogallery here.

Thoughts on the match?

Plu, Cescfabregasfans.com

Ellie says:

February 18, 2010 at 6:19 pm

I agree that Porto’s second goal should not have been allowed and was carried out way too quick! As Arsene said in the interview after the match, I believe there has to be more time given to prepare to defend, but then again if it was the other way round (Meaning Arsenal are put in Porto’s place) then we wouldn’t be complaining :L Also, if a free kick was given for that then we definitely should have gotten Rosicky’s penalty call! As for Fabianski’s goal keeping.. well it wasn’t good tonight, and both of the goals Porto scored could’ve easily been saved, but he did have good saves and I think he’ll improve, I think everyone’s being to harsh on him (:
plu says:

February 18, 2010 at 4:13 pm

The second goal was very controversial. I thought that was taken way too quick.
I agree Fati. The loss of RVP this season has hit the team big time.
Wenger said Almunia may be ready for this weekend’s match.
alexxx says:

February 18, 2010 at 4:48 am

Very dissapointing performance by Arsenal, Fabianski makes to many mistakes, including that second goal, a goalie never has to give his back to the ball. Cesc’s comment is right, as a player that is something you would do, but the goal shouldn’t be allowed anyways, I mean, isn’t the whole point of the offside rule not to strike your opponent from behind? The ref practically gave away a goal to Porto by not letting the defenders come back, a quick free kick is ok if it is from outside the box but inside with no defenders? That’s almost a penalty, more disapointing than Arsenal’s performance last night was the ref’s. I knew he was going to screw us the same way he screwed up Ireland, and you know what’s amazing? That same ref is nominated to be in the World Cup, my only question about that is “what the hell?”
Fati says:

February 18, 2010 at 1:11 am

Plu, you are right. Our defence must be more experienced specially Sol!!but we need to SCORE,don’t we ? Nick & Theo could do much better. without RVP & Arsha we have a lot of problems with scoring goals.

Fabianski … He was very very bad. when will Almunia return ?

Cesc was not in his best . I think they didn’t let him play with their fouls. at least I’m very happy he is still healthy !!

The second goal was very unfair
Adek Fab says:

February 17, 2010 at 6:52 pm

I don’t think we played that well esp in the second half after they scored that controversial goal (yes, Cesc has no complaints on the goal but I do. It was taken too quickly and was so much nearer the post than a penalty – of course he’d score! How abt letting our defenders get in place first, Mr Referee?). A few passes were not done well, too easily intercepted by the hosts. Denilson was disappointing, I kept screaming for Wenger to substitute him for Ramsey. And Walcott is rusty. Btw Fabianski new nickname shd be Flapianski or maybe Flopianski. He wasted a great opportunity to show that he could be our number 1 goalie.

Cesc was the one who suffered the most foul. Poor Cesc ;’(
plu says:

February 17, 2010 at 6:02 pm

Forgot to add, I was disgusted at how Porto were able to get away with fouling Cesc so much during the match. It was ridiculous.

And our goalies and defenders really need to start communicating more…..our goalies also need to stop scoring own goals…..