GUNNERS’ COMEBECK
Danny spares Arsenal blushes after massive scare in Russia
ARSENE WENGER survived a torturous night in Moscow as Arsenal were given an almighty scare in the Europa League.
Wenger’s men grabbed a draw in the Russian capital but at one time it looked as if they were about to become the latest victims in a week of incredible European comebacks.
Yet just when it appeared Arsenal, leading 4-1 from the first leg, were stumbling out, Danny Welbeck became their saviour again with a precious 75th-minute goal to ease the nerves and help them into the semi-finals.
It was a far-from-convincing performance, anything but, and yet they got the job done...even if the warning signs are there for all to see.
Arsenal looked shattered, drained of energy by their crowded fixture list and short of confidence – not a good mixture when you are trying to win a European trophy.
Wenger is hanging on to the Europa League as his salvation but on this evidence Arsenal may struggle to deliver the trophy and earn a Champions League passport.
For all Wenger’s insistence that his players would heed the “warning” of Barcelona blowing a 4-1 first-leg lead to Roma, Arsenal did not make a convincing start in Moscow.
The visitors looked sloppy and clumsy, giving the ball away in midfield. They were nervous in defence and anything but clinical in attack.
CSKA are far from great but grew in confidence throughout the game.
Wenger’s men did not threaten CSKA’s goal enough.
Alexandre Lacazette had an effort blocked and Aaron Ramsey narrowly failed get on the end of a cross after Mesut Ozil and Welbeck had led a counter-attack.
CSKA grew in confidence and the noise and sense of expectation in the stadium grew. The flags, atmosphere and fans set a nice precedent for this summer’s World Cup.
Then it got really loud after 39 minutes when CSKA went ahead – and the home fans began to believe another miracle was on the cards.
Konstantin Kuchaev put in a left-wing cross and though Kirill Nababkin’s header was well saved by Petr Cech, the Arsenal keeper could only parry the ball and Fedor Chalov bundled home the rebound (below). Suddenly it was game on. Kristijan Bistrovic fired just over, Ramsey had to be patched up, and Arsenal looked in disarray.
Arsenal needed strong characters and a response in the second half – but they got neither. In fact it quickly got even worse for Wenger’s men.
When Ramsey lost the ball in midfield, Aleksandr Golovin hit a 25-yard shot which Cech spilled and then Nababkin smashed home the rebound from close range.
You could see Arsenal’s belief drain away while CSKA grew in stature.
The Gunners, miles adrift in the Premier League, looked an absolute shambles and yet Wenger stayed rooted to his seat in the dugout, beset with nerves as his team looked in danger of throwing it away.
Arsenal looked absolutely dead on their feet.
Ramsey and Jack Wilshere in particular had nothing left in the tank and it was no surprise when an exhausted Wilshere was substituted. He barely had the energy to walk off the pitch.
The fixtures have caught up with Arsenal. They were hanging on until Welbeck gave them some relief.
The two-goal hero both on Sunday and in the last round against AC Milan, led an attack on the Arsenal left
Welbeck played in Mohamed Elneny on the edge of the box and latched onto the superb return pass to smash home a shot into the roof of the net. A precious goal that soothed nerves.
In stoppage time Ramsey broke clear and found the CSKA net, on the stroke of midnight in Moscow, to make it 2-2 on the night and 6-3 on aggregate.