Arsenal saw their two-goal lead vanish in front of their eyes as they went from 2-0 up to draw 2-2 against German opposition, Schalke. The draw leaves Arsene Wenger’s men second in Group B, one point behind Schalke and one point ahead of Olympiacos.
The game in Germany saw Arsenal boss, Arsene Wenger, return to the touchline for the first time in a Champions League game since early March. The Frenchman has just finished serving a three-match touchline ban for comments he made on officials after the AC Milan game last year.
The last time these two teams met, Schalke saw off a struggling Arsenal side with goals from Huntelaar and Afellay at the Emirates Stadium, so Arsenal were wanting to put things right this evening.
In the early stages of the match, it was all Schalke, however, they couldn’t make their early dominance show as they failed to convert their chances. After missing chances, Arsenal made the German side pay when Theo Walcott tapped home his eight goal of the season. After strong running from Olivier Giroud, the loose ball fell to Theo Walcott, who calmy chipped the ball over the out-rushing goalkeeper and then the Englishman was left to tap the ball home.
Arsenal then went two up after a great diving header from Giroud. In the 26th minute, Lukas Podolski picked up the loose ball down the wing and showed great strength to hold off the Schalke defender. The German international was the able to produce a fine cross which was met with a diving Giroud who powered the ball past the Schalke goalkeeper, Unnerstall.
Things were looking great for Arsenal as they had their two goal lead and it looked like they were going to go in at half-time with that lead, however, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar didn’t allow that too happen. After a slip in midfield from Sant Cazorla, the ball was sprayed out to the left where Huntelaar was left un-marked and he was able to smash the ball home on the half volley past Vito Mannone. This meant the score at half-time was 2-1 to Arsenal. This is a scoreline Arsenal would have been happy with before the game, but conceding right on half-time was a real blow for the English side.
Just as expected, the goal right on half-time really changed the rest of the game. The second half was controlled and dominated by Schalke and they were finally rewarded with an equaliser in the 67th minute thanks to Jefferson Farfan. A deep cross found Farfan at the far post who fired the ball past Vito Mannone despite the efforts of Arsenal captain, Thomas Vermaelan, who was playing at left back instead of the dropped Andre Santos.
After the equaliser, it was Schalke who were looking more threatening and they will probably be wondering how they couldn’t go on to steal all three points. The main reason to why they couldn’t was because of Arsenal goalkeeper, Vito Mannone. The number two goalkeeper made save after save to deny Schalke, which left the home fans frustrated. The best chance to win it for Schalke was when Huntelaar was put through one-on-one, but the Dutchman was denied by a great save from the Italian keeper.
Apart from the clear one-on-one, Schalke were left resorting to long-range shots as they couldn’t pick their way through the Arsenal back four. However, their long range shots were still deadly and still forced Mannone into three of four world class saves.
With the game nearing it’s end, it was actually Arsenal who nearly got the decisive goal, but it was the Schalke goalkeeper this time coming to the rescue as he denied Theo Walcott who was through one-on-one.
Arsenal goalscorer, Theo Walcott, still considered it a good point despite being 2-0 up at one point:
“It was a good point in the end. It would have been a fantastic victory but Schalke are a tough side. We are just trying to win our last couple of games and that is all you can do. As long as you do that then you have a very good chance of going through.”
The Englishman also spoke about getting a start and also his current contract situation:
“I just want to play hopefully now I can get a run in the team because I feel I fully deserve it.As for the contract situation, you’ll have to ask the manager that question, I can’t answer that.”
Arsenal boss, Arsene Wenger, was left pretty happy with the performance of his side, but was still left upset at losing the two-goal lead:
“I believe it was a difficult game, a good one as well from both sides, both played very well. I generally feel after all the stick we got after Saturday it was important we showed a great response, which we did. We played a great team. Unfortunately we conceded a goal just before half-time, and there was the in the last minute the Walcott chance for 3-2. But overall the result was fair.
“At 2-0 the game is not won in the Champions League, especially with the physical quality of German teams now. What is important is to win our next game against Montpellier and see what happens here [between Schalke and Olympiakos]. It can go to last game or cannot go to last game.”
So before the game, I’m sure Arsenal would have been happy with a point away at Schalke, but after being 2-0 up, I’m sure they would have wanted to see the game off and gain all three points. The goal just on half-time was surely the turning point in the game.
This result and also Olympiacos’ win against Montpellier has left Schalke at the top of the table with 8 points, followed by Arsenal with 7, Olympiacos with 6 and Montpellier with 1.
Arsenal’s next Champions League game is against Montpellier at home and Schalke entertain Olympiacos.
sillyseason’s Man of the Match: Vito Mannone
Alex William Batt
