|
|
Arsenal Comment: Bring back Almunia?! Lukasz Fabianski's scandalous 'schoolboy' errors hand Porto advantage
Keeper problems continue as youngster personifies Gunners' main weaknesses.
17 Feb 2010 22:25:00
By Matthew Weiner in Porto
Knowing the rules of the game have to be an essential part of playing Champions League football. But no one appears to have told that to Arsenal goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.
The Polish clown prince of the evening picked up the ball from a tapped Sol Campbell backpass, conceding a free kick and subsequently a second silly goal. That was 2-1 to Porto.
So rattled by his error, Fabianski didnt even have the nous to waste a bit of time before giving the ball back to the referee. That way his team-mates would have had time to get back to defend - not that they seemed particularly bothered, either. No one took charge of the situation.
This was after Arsenal had done well to begin nullifying Porto to an extent, pulling level via a Sol Campbell header (who achieved a remarkable feat of scoring in consecutive Champions League fixtures for Arsenal, three-and-a-half years apart).
But even that wasn't before another gift to give Porto the early lead in the first place. Fabianski palmed in Silvestre Varela’s cross despite being under no apparent pressure.
The tongue-in-cheek irony of it all is that Varela's cross, while decently hit, was one that might often sarcastically be described as a 'back-pass' by pundits, and yet Fabianski let it through his fingers. Yet when an actual back-pass came his way, and every fibre of his being should have been telling him not to touch it with his hands, he was safe as houses as he took it from the turf and held it to his chest.
The players in front of him weren’t exactly having a night to remember, but Fabianski made it all the more difficult for Arsenal to progress to the next round.
After Manuel Almunia’s shaky performances in recent weeks, many Arsenal fans were delighted to see someone else given the chance to play in between the sticks. But after Porto, there may well be calls for the Spaniard’s return, or maybe even resorting to third-choice Vito Mannone, who did once upon a time play a blinder against Fulham. The options are more than verging on desperate.
At all the key moments in the game, Arsenal as a team and Fabianski in particular looked as though they just weren't ready. They weren't ready for Porto's fast start (only a last-ditch Campbell tackle saved them from going one down in the first minute), weren't ready when the back-pass was made, and weren't ready to put up a fight for the entire 90 minutes.
The back-end of the first half showed how Arsenal both managed to contain and threaten Porto, but it was a balance that was all too fleeting. Much better will be expected in the return leg, and of course, Arsenal will likely remain slight favourites to make it through to the quarter-finals despite tonight's defeat.
Rightly or wrongly, it will all be put on Fabianski, who lived up to the infamous Arsenal's innocent kids stereotype.
Even his captain, Cesc Fabregas, went as far as to describe the manner in which the Gunners conceded both goals as "schoolboy", and he was perhaps more accurate than even he knew. From one spill to another illegal handle, Fabianski was like many a teenage boy: he had no idea what to do with his hands, or his balls.
Knowing the rules of the game have to be an essential part of playing Champions League football. But no one appears to have told that to Arsenal goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.
|
Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
|
Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
Sign up with Paddy Power - Bet £10, Get £20! |
The Polish clown prince of the evening picked up the ball from a tapped Sol Campbell backpass, conceding a free kick and subsequently a second silly goal. That was 2-1 to Porto.
So rattled by his error, Fabianski didnt even have the nous to waste a bit of time before giving the ball back to the referee. That way his team-mates would have had time to get back to defend - not that they seemed particularly bothered, either. No one took charge of the situation.
This was after Arsenal had done well to begin nullifying Porto to an extent, pulling level via a Sol Campbell header (who achieved a remarkable feat of scoring in consecutive Champions League fixtures for Arsenal, three-and-a-half years apart).
But even that wasn't before another gift to give Porto the early lead in the first place. Fabianski palmed in Silvestre Varela’s cross despite being under no apparent pressure.
The tongue-in-cheek irony of it all is that Varela's cross, while decently hit, was one that might often sarcastically be described as a 'back-pass' by pundits, and yet Fabianski let it through his fingers. Yet when an actual back-pass came his way, and every fibre of his being should have been telling him not to touch it with his hands, he was safe as houses as he took it from the turf and held it to his chest.
The players in front of him weren’t exactly having a night to remember, but Fabianski made it all the more difficult for Arsenal to progress to the next round.
After Manuel Almunia’s shaky performances in recent weeks, many Arsenal fans were delighted to see someone else given the chance to play in between the sticks. But after Porto, there may well be calls for the Spaniard’s return, or maybe even resorting to third-choice Vito Mannone, who did once upon a time play a blinder against Fulham. The options are more than verging on desperate.
At all the key moments in the game, Arsenal as a team and Fabianski in particular looked as though they just weren't ready. They weren't ready for Porto's fast start (only a last-ditch Campbell tackle saved them from going one down in the first minute), weren't ready when the back-pass was made, and weren't ready to put up a fight for the entire 90 minutes.
The back-end of the first half showed how Arsenal both managed to contain and threaten Porto, but it was a balance that was all too fleeting. Much better will be expected in the return leg, and of course, Arsenal will likely remain slight favourites to make it through to the quarter-finals despite tonight's defeat.
Rightly or wrongly, it will all be put on Fabianski, who lived up to the infamous Arsenal's innocent kids stereotype.
Even his captain, Cesc Fabregas, went as far as to describe the manner in which the Gunners conceded both goals as "schoolboy", and he was perhaps more accurate than even he knew. From one spill to another illegal handle, Fabianski was like many a teenage boy: he had no idea what to do with his hands, or his balls.
| Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
|
| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
| Sign up with Paddy Power - Bet £10, Get £20! |
|
Inside Goal.Com
-
Welbeck convinces Hodgson he is the man to lead the line
England beat Norway 1-0 at Wembley, with the Manchester United man hitting an impressive winner to stake his claim for a starting spot at Euro 2012
-
How England player's chances were affected by Belgium victory
Ashley Young all but secured his place in the starting line-up against France while captain Steven Gerrard put a good shift in. Joe Hart, however, needs to remain focused
-
Poll: Who should have replaced Cahill in the England squad?
Martin Kelly has replaced Cahill in the Three Lions squad going to Poland and Ukraine, but would Rio Ferdinand or Micah Richards have been more deserving?
-
Cartoon: Terry & Cahill add to England's injury concerns
Goal.com cartoonist Omar Momani gives us his unique take on the football news of the day...
-
In Pictures: The best and worst kits at Euro 2012
The European Championship is just around the corner and Goal.com distinguishes between the trendy and the passe at the prestigious tournament
