If there’s any justice Arsenal will make the semi finals
“Tale as old as time, song as old as rhyme. Beauty and the Beast.” Inspiring lyrics from a great film. I can see the teapots dancing now; I can see that adorable little cup with a chip in it. Smashing stuff. Today, however, I have realised I am not as accepting of ugly things as these dancing sets of crockery. I’ve realised I’m someone entirely shallow, someone who is transfixed by beauty, someone like Dorian Gray, who would sell his soul to attain such superficial magnificence.
I reached these conclusions (conclusions I have suspected for a while), after watching last nights Arsenal v Liverpool Champions League tie. I found myself irrationally despising Liverpool, willing Arsenal to go forward, willing them to hammer four, five, six goals past Pepe Reina. I found myself getting wound up every time Liverpool launched, with launched being the operative word, a counter-attack. It was not because I support Arsenal. I don’t. It was not because I have a long-standing hatred of Liverpool. I don’t. It was because, in microcosm, this game highlighted both the best and worst aspects of football. I’m not going to argue that Arsenal were a formidable attacking force, who destroyed a shell-shocked Liverpool, only to be undone by their own profligacy in front of goal. This is patently untrue. Certainly, Arsenal were unlucky and had it not been for the referee and Nicholas Bendtner, then the result would have been more favourable for the North Londoners.
What I did take umbrage at though, was the harping of Andy Gray and the other commentators on what a “professional” job Liverpool had done. Absolute rubbish. As the two incidents mentioned above, Arsenal should and could have easily ran out 3-1 winners, the fact that they did not had nothing to do with professionalism on the part of Liverpool. The fact that in the second half Liverpool could not string more than 3 passes together, and still get praised, is something that would only happen in this country. A professional away job in Europe would be to keep the ball, silence the opposition crowd, stifle your opponents by keeping the ball away from them and look to break occasionally on the counter-attack. Liverpool did not do this at all, and it proved to highlight the perfect contrast in styles. Arsenal had their pretty patterns, Liverpool had their kick and run tactic. This contrast saw me firmly side with Arsenal.
As a Villa fan I will happily watch our long ball game week in, week out. However, as a neutral I’m not as accepting. I want to see beautiful football, I don’t even care if it doesn’t even result in goals, I just want to see simple pass and move football. Something, Arsenal, Manchester United, Barcelona etc are the best exponents of. Something Chelsea, Liverpool and Villa aren’t. Most neutrals are praying for a Barcelona v Man Utd Champions league semi-final. Most neutrals are dreading another Liverpool v Chelsea semi final. Thus, it is with this mindset that I will continue to watch football. Irked when a team as limited as Liverpool can come away from the Emirates with a point, despite an inept display totally bereft of footballing ability. Irked that, despite not having the best of games, Fabregas can totally overshadow Gerrard by controlling the entire pattern of play. Irked that the latter receives all the plaudits for a 10 second burst of outstanding play which, in truth, was the only time he found a Liverpool player in 90mins. Irked that the Beast can find parity with the Beauty on the football field. Bloody teacups.
