Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
SEMI-FINAL SECOND LEG
changer. Game-changers were at a premium in a contest that was compelling but hardly high on quality.
For long periods, Chelsea looked the more accomplished with Hazard clearly the most creative force on the pitch. But without a conventional striker to play off – Alvaro Morata had a bad back – he too often found himself isolated.
When he did get in behind Shkodran Mustafi, Hazard went to the floor, seemingly the victim of a phantom trip.
It could easily have been construed as a dive – and a second yellow card after his early crime against Ozil – but ref Michael Oliver gave him the benefit of the doubt. He just fell over, mouthed Oliver. And he was right.
If fortune favoured Chelsea on that occasion, it soon turned on them in familiar fashion.
There was rarely any threat when Alexandre Lacazette was in the penalty area and his pull-back was destined for little until it hit the hapless Rudiger and turned itself into a tap-in for Xhaka. It was a reward for Xhaka’s decent performance but harsh on Chelsea. But in the end, they could have no complaints – they were far from outclassed, just outfought.
They were probably even a touch surprised at the intensity of an Arsenal side that have too often seemed to go through the motions in these late stages of their manager’s reign.
That’s why he will be quietly euphoric.
And that is why that old salute came out – for old time’s sake.