Champions League Semifinal - Arsenal v/s Manchester United: My observations

Champions League Semifinal - Arsenal v/s Manchester United:
My Observations

I accept, the first leg of the semi final between Manchester United and Arsenal was a big disappointment. Today is the second leg. Both managers offer a good football feast. But, it is better to keep our expectation level in the minimum than earlier. Yes, chances are there to rise up the tempo of the game in Emirates Stadium of Arsenal. If the Arsenal team comes up with fighting spirit against the leading United, we can expect a good game.

In the other semi final, Chelsea managed to contain Barcelona in Nou Camp, the home ground of the Catalonians. But, Chelsea has seen the demolition of Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu on last Saturday and how their free flowing football worked against an experienced and well organized team. Chelsea’s goal less draw is creating enormous pressure on them now. If they had a goal advantage like Manchester United, they would have been in the pole position by now. Tomorrow, it is their duty to defend Barca better than last time and not allowing them to make a draw with a single goal. If they conceive a goal and ends up the match in draw means they will lose out to Barca on away goal advantage.

On the other hand, United is in pole position. It is Arsenal who is under tremendous pressure. They lost to United for 1-0 goal at Old Trafford, United home ground. It is better to say they meekly surrendered their position in the field in the last game. If they managed to score a goal in the last match and make it as a draw, the pressure will be on United. They miserably failed not only to get an away goal but to make a proper goal chance too. It was an utter disappointment of free flowing football. It was a sheer mismatch between a strong imposing team on one side and an inexperienced and completely exhausted team on other side. Except the goal keeper of Arsenal, the remaining 10 players were their shadows and they were chasing the shadows of the United team rather than man marking the Red Devils.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says that the Manchester United will regret because of their failure to score more goals in the first leg, which was at their home ground. It is merely a joke than anything for a person who knows the firing power of Christiano Ronaldo, Carlos Tavez and Wayne Rooney. Manchester needs to score just one goal in Emirates stadium to move up to the finals in Rome. On the other hand, Arsenal needs to score minimum twice without conceding another goal. In other sense, they don’t have the option of a goal less draw, 1-1 draw and also 1-0 victory. With an injury laden defense line up, Arsenal will struggle with the first rated attacking strikers and wingers like Ronaldo, Rooney, Tavez, Berbatov, Giggs, and Scholes etc. In the last game, the star performer of Arsenal –Cesc Fabregas was not more than a fainted shadow of himself. He was completely controlled by United midfielders. The lone striker Adebayor was completely isolated in the upfront by Manchester United players and Arsenal midfield failed to give him a telling pass or cross to make a goal. On the other hand, apart from Song and Sagna, the entire back unit of Arsenal failed to keep the attacking verve of Manchester United away from their goal mouth. It was the goal keeper, Manuel Almunia, completely under graded player, who made the difference and gave a chance to Wenger to talk about the regret of Manchester United.

The return of Rio Ferdinand from injury provides a big boost for United. Sir Alex will be able to bring the same defense line up for this match too. For United, absence of any defender –Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra matters a lot. Though they have formidable attacking line up and strong midfield, the defense of Rio and Vidic provided them maximum number of clean sheets so far. On the other hand, Arsenal will struggle with their make shift defense against the powerful attack of United. Kolo Toure and Sagna are the only reliable and experienced defenders available to them. On left, they will depend on Gibbs, who is still a teenage player and in the centre they have to satisfy with Johan Djourou. In normal circumstances, this defense will struggle to cope up with the counter attack of United. Absence of Gael Clichy and Michel Sylvester and injury of their most experienced defender William Gallas will cost them a lot.

I think, United started thinking about their finals against either Barcelona or Chelsea in Rome. They are capable to do so. I hope, if they win, the final will be between United and Barcelona. It is very difficult to digest the repetition of last year’s final which ended in sudden death. Here I am thinking about some possible encounters in the final.

First: Barcelona against Manchester United. It will be an ideal final; both teams will try to play open game with flowing passes. Manchester won’t go to park their team bus in front of their goal post like Chelsea did in the first leg semifinal. I am sure, United will strengthen the defense line and try to make counter attacks instead of going for all round attack. Instead of going for quick attacks from flanks, United will try to utilize the power and speed of Rooney and Tavez and go for a direct attack. In such approach, Ronaldo will get more space and he can provide more support to the strikers. Sir Alex knew that the weakest link in Barcelona team is their defense and direct approach with support of roaming Ronaldo behind will provide enough width in attack. He will try to get maximum advantage from the absence of experienced Rafael Marquez in the centre defense. But the performance of Dani Alves and Eric Abidal is good enough to check the attack of Manchester United from wings. Meanwhile, Barca will have three superb attacking strikers in Lionel Messi, Therry Henry and Samuel Eto’o and they have attack minded midfielders in Hernandes Xavi and Andres Iniesta and a holding midfielder in Yaya Toure. This contingent is good enough to create trouble for any strong team and once they found their flow, then more players of United has to go to support their defense. It the final happens between Manchester United and Barcelona, it will be a great feast for those who love good football.

Second: Chelsea versus Manchester United. This will be repetition of English Premier League clash. I am sure; Chelsea won’t go for same approach which they took against Barcelona, against United. They knew, Manchester is a different team and they are not just an attack minded team like Barca. Against Chelsea, Manchester is good enough to use counter attack approach. Chelsea’s defense line is quiet good and they have players like Michel Essiean and Obi Mickel in the midfield to create chances and also do the defense for the team. With support of these two holding midfielders, they are capable to keep all threats away from their team. Against Chelsea, Manchester United has to upgrade its level of game. They knew very well about Chelsea’s strength in defence and according to that, they will devise a different method against Chelsea. But, I rate the other option –the final between Manchester United and Barcelona will be a better one. There are more chances to go for a defensive approach in this game if Chelsea and Manchester meet in Rome.

Third: Arsenal versus Chelsea. This will be the worst for Arsenal, if they reach in the final. Both are completely different in approach. Chelsea has more options against a team like Arsenal and Arsenal will definitely struggle against the defensive approach of Chelsea. Chelsea has enough strength in every segment of the team. They possess one of the best strikers in the modern football, Didier Drogba, who is good in air and ground as well as powerful enough to play on the shoulder of the last defender. With support of Anelka or Solomon Kalou, Drogba can create chance and finish in better way than others. Chelsea’s strength is more in their midfield where they have highly experienced players like Michel Ballack, Essian, Florent Malouda, Frank Lampard, and Obi Mikel. In defense, they are not as great as United but they have experienced players like Ashly Cole, John Terry, Alex, Bosingwa and innovative players like Ivanovic and Juliano Balleti. In Peter Cech, they have one of the most reliable goal keeper. So, their defense will determine the game and Drogba’s one goal is enough to win any trophy. After the arrival of Roman Ibrahamovic, Champions League is the only trophy is missing in the cabinet of Chelsea. If they get a chance to meet Arsenal in the final, I think, they will win it. I rate the game as a boring one but the powerful team will succeed in this tie.

Fourth: Barcelona versus Arsenal. This is the least chance so far. If it happens, it will be the repetition of the 2006 finals. But, this will the best final one can expect from the four teams playing in the semifinals. Both teams are attack minded and they believe in flowing football. When we compare both teams, Barca will have advantage in all segments in the football field. They have better attack, vibrant midfield and comparatively better defense. Arsenal, with a young inexperienced squad, has to bring new ideas and approaches to cope up with Barca in the final. Two of the best Arsenal players are now playing for Barca –Alexander Hleb and Therry Henry. For reaching the final, Arsenal has to prove themselves in the semifinal against Manchester United. If they defeat them, their morale will boost and confidence will grew and those are the few factors which can provide energy and belief to the team to face Barcelona.

Whatever happens, if there is a possibility for the fourth choice, I will go for that and will definitely support Arsenal –the under dogs.