It’s been almost a week since Fenerbahce crashed out of the Champion’s League but the pain has subsided enough to write about the experience. I think on the balance of play Fenerbahce deserved a goal but Chelsea edged it just as they edged the tie. In truth, I’m not sure if Chelsea were really that troubled. They were able to sit back after the early goal and when Chelsea defend with ten or eleven men, that wall is near impossible to break. But Fenerbahce proved their worth and now anything less than the knockout stages in Europe’s premier competition should be counted as failure.
Meanwhile, they have to concentrate on matters back home. The race for the Turkish title is steaming hot and includes an Anatolian team at this late stage for the first time that I can remember. It is one of several intriguing races going down to the wire. The Greek title won’t be decided until the last match day, Roma keep applying pressure on Inter and Lyon can’t seem to shake off Bordeaux. The Spanish, German and Portuguese races were finished a long time ago and we can now pencil in Manchester United as English champions since Chelsea drew at home against Wigan today.
The Red Devils put in a less-than-impressive performance against Arsenal in an important home tie but still earned the full three points. Meanwhile, Arsenal’s loss meant the only trophy in north London this year belongs to bitter rivals Tottenham. What happened to a season that began so brightly for the Gunners? I think the media have got it right for once. Sure, injuries and bad fortune played their part but the primary factor was the thin squad depth. When you compare their roster with Manchester United and Chelsea, you can begin to see the problem. Trying to win on four fronts and contending with the brutal English calendar will tire your players out. Arsene Wenger prefers to eschew major rotational policies (save for the Carling Cup) but the consequences are evident as his team is unable to deal the killer blow late in matches.
Arsenal have often been criticized for pretty passing with no result. While it delights neutrals such as myself, it’s hard to win results when you try to beat teams on style alone. I think one thing that the current Arsenal squad misses is toughness. When you look back at the ‘Invincibles’ in 2004 or even further back to the defense Wenger inherited from George Graham’s squad, there was a spine that seems to be lacking in the current side. It’s hard to be tough when your captain cries after a game (even if we cut him some slack because of Eduardo’s injury earlier, it’s a pretty juvenile response). Anyway, this is getting too long so I’ll end with one of my favorite Arsenal moments: Martin Keown taunting Ruud van Nistelrooy after a missed injury-time penalty in that unforgettable 1994 season. The pictures are hilarious.
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