I was thinking 1-1 before a ball was kicked. I just didn't see CSKA getting three goals, even at home. The first half hour convinced me that these two teams could play ten hours and not score. Cue the defensive errors. Nacho should not have been beaten so easily for the header that Cech's rebound save of was deposited in his goal. And Mustafi was asleep AGAIN as his mark ghosted past him. Why would he just stand there and not run to goal, or put a body on his man, or something? He was quick enough to raise his arm for offsides (though he kept the scorer well onside). I don't really fault Cech on the first goal, but on the second, he should have done much better. If he's going to punch it, punch it up and away. Or catch the damned thing. It was a hard shot and I'm sure it was moving, but that goal was a gift.
In general, I thought we made it too easy for CSKA. The referee was keeping his cards in his pocket, as both teams got a little physical. There were a lot of stoppages for what looked like real injury worries. We misplaced a lot of passes. Our periods of pressure seldom led to anything threatening. Then assist king-for-a-day Elneny took over, slipping Welbeck in on the keeper, and Danny finished as well as any striker in the world could have, hard and high inside the far post, at 75'. That took the starch out of CSKA, who until then looked as though they believed they were going through. Elneny sent a through-ball to Aaron for the icing on this moderately tasty cake with less than a minute to go in stoppage time.
I'm getting very annoyed with Mustafi. Kos was fine but is not the force he once was. Monreal did not have a good game, though he did manage to win some headers later in important situations. Bellerin did pretty well, I thought. Cech made some good saves, but those two rebounds were GK errors, no way around it. Ramsey and Elneny did well, but the latter seemed to need some time to get into the game properly. I loved the way both of them kept running until the end. Mo got two assists, but what I'll remember is him running frantically in the last few minutes to pressure the ball as two CSKA men passed it back and forth, finally forcing one of them to pass it back into their own half because they couldn't pass him. Delicious. Ramsey may have been our best player. Ozil did not have one of his better games. I don't think I've ever seen a player with less interest in defending, and I watched Theo Walcott for ten years. Welbz was very good again today. Lacazette never really got into the game, but I think it was not his fault. It was smart to sub him off for Iwobi late. Speaking of Iwobi, his miss after being set up was abject. He could have controlled it; he should at least have put it on frame if he was going to strike it.
Wilshere was the first guy to be substituted, and none too soon for me. I thought he was really bad. He needs a rest. A long rest.
I don't like Lazio (I support Roma), so I was delighted to see them crash out in spectacular fashion in Salzburg, even if Red Bull was involved. Marseille made sure that the other Red Bull team will not be in the semis, in another thrilling game. Atletico ground out a "just enough to win the tie" result and round out the foursome. There are no easy games left for anyone. I'd prefer to avoid Atletico in the semis and roll the dice against them in the final, but we'll play whoever we're drawn with. There's no reason not to be optimistic. Here's hoping Mikhi gets well soon--we missed him today.
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