On 21 December we went along to the Emirates Stadium to see our first "Big 4" premiership match. Big 4 matches are huge and tickets to them are almost impossible to get, so we were delighted when we managed to snaffle a couple to this game. With Liverpool top of the table and Arsenal struggling in 5th place, eight points adrift, victory for the Gunners was crucial to close the gap.
The game was brilliant - it was tense, there was end-to-end action, two cracking goals, controversy and an atmosphere like we had never experienced before. Arsenal striker Robin van Persie scored a stunning goal, chesting down a long ball from Samir Nasri, turning away from a defender and rifling a right-foot shot into the net to give the Gunners the lead.
But just before half-time, the Arsenal defence went to sleep and Liverpool striker Robbie Keane was first on to a long ball over the top and his bullet-like shot gave Almunia no chance. That was to be the end of the scoring as the match ended in a draw.
Sadly, Arsenal's best player and captain, Cesc Fabregas went off injured at half-time and not long into the second half, striker Emmanuel Adebayor was sent off for his second yellow card of the match - it was debatable whether either of his fouls warranted a yellow card, so the sending off was seen by many as rather harsh. The Arsenal crowd responded with the loudest and most prolonged onslaught of boos, whistles and chants directed at the referee that we had ever heard. The noise in the stadium was unreal and the atmosphere clearly lifted Arsenal, as their 10 men held on for the draw. Not quite the ideal result, but given the circumstances, pretty solid.
No comments:
Post a Comment