Montpellier 1 – 2 Arsenal
1 – 0 Belhanda (9 pen)
1 – 1 Podolski (16)
1 – 2 Gervinho (18)
Two quickfire goals early in the game were enough to give Arsenal a deserved but hard-fought victory. A flowing first half performance gave way for a lethargic cousin in the second as Montpellier offered some semblance of reason why they were French champions last season. As it is, three points is all that matters and alphabetical order puts Arsenal top.
The initiation rites for new players come with a karaoke backing; for Steve Bould, his managerial apprenticeship got off to a tough start with booking for Abou Diaby inside thirty seconds, apparently equally the fastest caution in Champions League history. Does Gilberto still hold the record the fastest goal? That would some sort of double to claim.
It got worse eight minutes later with a needlessly conceded penalty. Thomas Vermaelen offering proof the adage ‘don’t do as I do, do as I say’. Quite why the Belgian felt the necessity to make a challenge on the edge of the area is unknown; the consequences as anticipated. Belhanda adopted the Pirlo style copied from Panenka in Czechoslovakia’s 1976 European Championship final. At some point, a goalkeeper is going to make a Gary Lineker of the taker; to think that wingnut might have been England’s top international goalscorer but for a moment of ego against Brazil at Wembley.
As it is Mannone looked suitably peeved with the knowledge that a slower descent to earth would have given him a chance of saving the spot-kick. For Arsenal it was virgin territory this season; recovering a goal deficit. And to be fair to the players, they set about doing so with some aplomb. Passes were pinged between colleagues but this was not tippy-tappy, there is a previously unseen directness about Arsenal this season and Montpellier’s lead was short-lived. Giroud returning to his previous club, prodded Cazorla’s pass into the path of Podolski and the German’s finish was unerring.
Two minutes later and Saturday’s dynamic duo were back in tandem. Gervinho picked the ball up on the right, wriggled and shimmied and continued his run to meet Jenkinson’s cross in the middle of the six yard area. The deficit overturned and at this point, not so much a question of the Arsenal win but by how many.
In truth Arsenal were quite happy to control the remainder of the first half without offering specific threats until near the interval. They didn’t need to; Cabella brought a save from Mannone but Montpellier played as if all confidence had been shorn from their being. As the referee was thinking of pursing his lips around the Acme Thunderer, Gervinho and Giroud spurned the chance to increase the lead.
Those misses were almost instantly regretted as the second half began with the livewire Cabella robbed a dithering Diaby in the Arsenal area but blazing high and wide when composure was needed. That was shown as his impudent chip found the crossbar later on before the same rush of blood fired the rebound – you’re way ahead of me – high and wide. Montpellier could not take their chances and were almost made to pay as Diaby foraged forward to allow Cazorla to let fly. Saturday’s comedy of errors almost continued as the home defence managed to ricochet the ball following Jourden’s save.
The French side’s propensity to fall theatrically to the floor under any challenge cost them dearly as the match drew to a close. There was a clear push from Diaby in the area but the referee had long tired of these antics, disparaging the hosts claims for another spot kick.
Overall, the result is all that matters. We have seen over the years enough Arsenal defeats where the performances merited victory by some measure; winning ugly is something rather new to get used to (again). The manner of victory seems to have wrankled with criticism in some quarter – winning with style is now the new bugbear. Sigh.
I understand why some players would perhaps have benefitted from an earlier departure to the bench but by the same token, we do not play another game until Sunday so there is an extra day’s rest than might normally be expected. The ends justifies the means with no reported injuries at the moment, who is to say that this was wrong.
Now we look forward to City match.
’til Tomorrow
See what happens when the boss sleeps in????
The rest follow suit and go AWOL.
It as queit as a church mouse here today.
Where is Duke?
Either that or go the whole hog and grow a Charlie Chaplin mustache.Paul.
and after a win!
I would like to see that with his hairstyle.
Hey Paul,
Just living. Good to see you all still here. You and Pedantic and the rest still fighting the good fight?
I think Gerv got that celebration from the little Dutch bloke.
So dear old Tone “isnt convinced” by the defence yet. Of course he is entitled to his opinion, but I wonder how many games he has actually seen this season? Going just by last night’s efforts, I dont think I’d be totally convinced either.
Hopefully the team will do their best to improve to such a levelk that does convince the old crazy war horse
Games in Europe are playing differently to usual League games, there usually much higher tempo as there is a lot more at stake which is why i think we were a bit jittery and for the first time showed signs of fatigue. I personally thought we were quite solid considering we’ve only conceded twice in 5 games now (one clanger and one pen), however we could have defended a lot better in the second with some fresh legs earlier one but i suppose the balance could have been affected. It’s a learning curve, take it into the next game against the Greeks! I’d love to give him a good hiding at home, some confidence before going to Germany which imagine will be a difficult one!
Yeh Axis! still fighting!
The issue last night was not controlling the mid. If Aresnal just sat back we would have defended better, our “problem” is we still tried to play football the same way even when we were dog tired.
The Arse in the Gamb, so you believe that players should shoot down the middle when taking pens, more often than not and do you think Goalies will start to take note?
No-one seems to have been impressed (like me) with the (foul) tackle made by Diaby. After all the injury woe he has suffered in the past, to commit as he did surely means he is confidently back to normal.
Do I sense a bit of mischief ?
Confidently back to normal ! – on another night Diaby might not just have earned the dubious distinction of being awarded the earliest yellow card in CL history but could have got the big red one
It was a clumsy and wholly unnecessary challenge,in the first 30 seconds ffs, and his two other little episodes of bizarre behaviour, at the start of the second half and the penalty he gave away but was not awarded, were not great either.
Diaby needs a dozen games of good quality football to find his form
I think Tony should forget about doing the studio role on Sky Sports, he hasn’t got a clue.
I heard one of the commentators describe us as lethargic in the second half last night, a description which is fair and which has been used to describe Arsenal’s away performances in Europe many times before (AC Milan away last season was a classic example of our ability to be lethargic in Europe). Given our strong performance and slick passing in the first half, our second half display was all the more surprising. Our passing in the second half was wayward to say the least with even Santi missing his targets. That, together with Montpellier stepping up their own game, really handed the half to them and only a bit of luck and some determined defending ensured we kept our lead.
Giroud had been looking pretty sharp in the first half and I thought he had a good chance to get in on the goals, but in the second half his supply line completely dried up and he was isolated. He still worked hard and managed to get his head to a lot of the balls fired up to him, but without the midfield support he had in the first half it wasn’t going to be his night.
The important thing was the 3 points and now we can focus on the league again. I’m really looking forward to the next two games in the Prem as we have the passing game to beat both City and Chelsea, but our midfield are going to have to work their hardest.
I was at the game last night, as has been said, good first half, mediocre second againsts a spirited Montpellier. The atmosphere in the montpellier stadium is electric, yhey really get behind their team. I was very impressed. I couldn,t here the Arsenal supporters at the other end of the ground, they seemed very subdued. Perhaps it was because I was next to the tribunes and they didn’t stopped making noise all game plus firecrackers. All in all a very good result, Giroud will eventually start scoring.
The game yesterday made me wistfully wish Song was around. This game really needed Song’s ability to break up play in midfield and disrupt Lyon’s flow. Song is brilliant and an expert at fouling without intent, which often breaks up play. This didnt happen in the second much and forced us to go on the backfoot. We also sat too deep and allowed them to overload the flanks. But all in all everyone pretty much ran themselves to the ground for the team. And for that alone we deserved the rub of the green!
Diaby has always had a touch of the erratic and unpredictable.
His ‘form’ is beyond question though – this is the form of his life. Some just amazing moments from him again yesterday.
A run of a dozen games would be good for the simple reason it would be great to see him play that many.
“Song is brilliant and an expert at fouling without intent,”
I just always put that down to him being a bit stupid.
Just back from a couple of weeks in glorious Devon, so plenty to watch on the Arsenal Player.
I see the Guardian this morning devoted three pages to the Madrid match and a quarter page to Montpellier. Though, to do them justice, the sub-editors did veto the headline “Double disappointment as City lose and Arsenal win”.
The guys played very well. Two quickie goals great. The “D” looked good. A great road win. Now we need to kick Man City’s butt. check out my blog bobbygeedefutebol.wordpress.com Great win.
Nice one YW. Brilliant to see us shut them out in the second half, and Don Vito had everything covered when they did break through.
George – why you in a hurry to see Duke back? Moaning doomer that he is.
@anicoll5,
You are missing my point. When a player has been absent for so long, with a physical hurt, it must be difficult, early on his return, to commit 100% into a tackle (Wilshere has this to come). Of course it was a foul but the commitment was still impressive given all the circumstances.
It`s still early days for this team & last night certainly showed the areas for improvement. Still lots of positives though , not least Gervinho getting on the scoresheet again. I also thought Mert & Arteta were excellent.
Giroud`s form is beginning to be a concern however. The one bit of decent service he got in the second half was wasted with a timid flick when a confident player would have turned & had an effort on goal.
Media criticism of him is likely to build until he starts finding the net. I noticed Sky Sports devious efforts to this end when, during the highlights program they spliced a clip of Ivan G shaking his head following Giroud`s first half volley going wide. That actually occurred straight after the penalty award, around thirty minutes earlier.
vito’s message to woj
pedantic george aka Blackburngeorge
September 19, 2012 at 2:01 pm
Jonny,I think Podolski will always start on the left.
It would be madness to lose what the gives in that position.
Spot on. CF is up for grabs between giroud and gervinho. and maybe theo or arsene might spring up another surprise (ramsey or vermaelen) vermaelen option would solve the problem of how mertesacker, vermaelen and kos can all be on the pitch at the same time.
There’s a lot of that, Paulie. Judicious editing of reality.
Gerge Orwell would be pleased, and disappointed.
COME ON EBOUE!
Song on for Piqué – who’d have thought?
Was he injured or something? strange to see a sub so early.
Galatasaray looking good so far.
CG he’s an auxillary Busquets/CB for them? I’m guessing that he’s going to get more and more games at CB with Puyol and Pique in and out the treatment room.
Galatasaray, should have had two pens.
Barcelona losing to blow wow!
Yes, PK piqued, Song subbed in on 12 mins.
Messi machine doing his usual thing, 3-2.
Spartak have a player called Suchy – tasty!
Galatasaray, should have had three pens. United, maybe one more.
From watching the Chelsea match and can see two things..
1. They’ll be useless against a team that can string more than 3 passes together. They’re positioning over the pitch is terrible, they are all running to the same man.
2. Anyone with some muscle and keep Hazard quiet.
3. Torres is still gash.
4. Terry is still gash
5. The defence in general, is gash
Why is Torres lauded by the media now for his work rate!? Running full speed into corners or defenders is rewarded with praise now is it? If this was Arsenal throwing away a two goal lead would they be talking about Giroud’s work rate? Jeez
Nice to come back to NYC and find an unbeaten Arsenal waiting for me. Even nicer to see Ronaldo scoring a late winner against City after Na$ri hobbled off. Let’s just hope it is even worse than at first feared with the little so-and-so. Alan Hansen won’t know what to make of things if we take all 3 points against the Blue Mancs this weekend.
COYG!!!
Ah, Irish is back.
Interesting that we received daiuly updates from Turkey but none from Ireland.
No internet thingy in the ‘Old Country’?
I imagine the eejits have been ripping all the copper wire out of everything – especially in these times of hardship. It’s a wonder anything works at all in that country.
Celtic Tiger is not what it was y’know.
http://www.aclfarsenal.co.uk/?p=9524
Today’s post.