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Wasteful Arsenal held by CSKA
02/11/2006 09:04 - (SA)
London - Arsenal paid the price for a
catalogue of missed chances, including one spectacular howler,
when they were held to a goalless home draw by CSKA Moscow in
Champions League Group G on Wednesday.
The draw leaves last season's runners-up with plenty to do
if they are to reach the knockout phase but is a boost for the
Russians, who beat the Londoners 1-0 two weeks ago.
With two games to go CSKA, yet to concede a goal in the
competition, lead the group on eight points while Arsenal and
Porto have seven after the Portuguese side won 3-1 at SV
Hamburg.
Arsenal will wonder how they failed to pierce the visiting
defence, particularly in the first half which was a tale of
almost constant home pressure capped by a series of
extraordinary misses.
The misfortune began in the sixth minute when Aleksander
Hleb set up Robin van Persie only for the Dutchman to screw his
shot over the bar.
Thierry Henry was off target, Hleb had a sharp shot well
saved by Igor Akinfeyev before the Belarussian midfielder
inexplicably chose to square for Henry when clean through.
It was relentless Arsenal attacking and it seemed certain to
pay dividends in the 27th minute when Cesc Fabregas played a
neat one-two with Tomas Rosicky, rounded the goalkeeper but could only find the side netting with the goal gaping.
CSKA mounted a rare raid in the 40th minute but it merely
opened the way for Arsenal to break from their own box, Henry
starting the move and finishing it with another deft touch
centimetres wide.
Worst miss
The worst miss came in injury time when Henry reached the
byline and cut back for Rosicky.
Akinfeyev was stranded and the Czech had only to sidefoot
the ball into an empty goal from three metres but instead it
caught his heel and squirted into the arms of the disbelieving
goalkeeper.
Arsenal were credited with 15 first-half goal attempts
against a team which had kept clean sheets in their last five
European matches.
Home goalkeeper Jens Lehmann had been a virtual spectator but was called into action 10 minutes after the restart when he got enough on the ball to prevent Brazilian striker Vagner Love scoring.
The scare put the brakes on Arsenal for a while but the
introduction of teenage winger Theo Walcott for the last 20
minutes injected renewed urgency.
The unmarked Van Persie was guilty of another bad finish
when he headed wide from six metres.
Gilberto was more accurate in the 83rd minute but Akinfeyev
made a full stretch save.
CSKA launched their own late surge and from a series of
corners were almost gifted a late winner when Henry deflected
one against the outside of the post.
It would have been harsh on Arsene Wenger's side, who next
face Hamburg at home before finishing off at Porto.
CSKA host Porto next time out.
- Reuters
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