Arsenal 1 Roma 0:WHEN ARSENAL flicker like this, Arsène Wenger's faith does not look so overstated. Having declared the rather outlandish belief that he had the best team in the country – and one with a glittering future ahead of them – his players put on a show in the first-half and closed out the classic first-leg result to serve a statement of Champions League intent.
The performance was far from flawless, and it featured nerviness towards the end. There could also be disappointment that they did not make the tie safe; certainly, they had the chances, with Nicklas Bendtner and Emmanuel Eboue passing up gilt-edged opportunities after the interval.
But there was a reassurance about patches of Arsenal’s play, their slick football and movement, and they will now fancy their chances of progress into the quarter-finals. They have also confirmed their reputation as big-game hunters this season.
Wenger must now hope Robin van Persie’s nerveless penalty proves a defining moment in what has been an often trying season.
Against thoroughbred opposition, Wenger set his team up to press. It was a break with the norm and it reacquainted everyone with the exhilarating sight of Arsenal pouring forward at their eye-catching best. Even William Gallas stepped out of central defence to play at times.
Eboue, so often a target for derision, quickened the pulses and stretched Roma with some bold running while Abou Diaby, back from injury, drove and probed menacingly together with Nasri, who thrived on his responsibility.
Arsenal had chances in the first half, presentable ones, and none better than their first. Bacary Sagna carved Roma apart with a pass into the right-hand channel for Nasri and his astute cut-back asked Bendtner, in space on the penalty spot, to take an assured touch and finish. Unfortunately the ball squirted away from the Dane’s first touch and the chance was lost. Nasri glanced wide from Gael Clichy’s cross, having bought himself a yard, while Kolo Toure and Van Persie flickered inside the area.
Roma did have sightings of Manuel Almunia’s goal in the first-half. Marco Motta forced the Spaniard into a fingertip save with a stunning shot from distance and Simone Loria ought to have done better than lift the ball over the bar after tiptoeing in on to Francesco Totti’s free-kick. But it was Arsenal in the ascendancy.
They had entered the tie on a run of 13 matches unbeaten, yet with dark mutterings from the stands and Wenger complaining about the negative approach of teams arriving at the Emirates. This was a night when they seemed intent on cutting through the background noise and assuming command of their own destiny.
Van Persie’s penalty was just reward for their football in the opening 45 minutes. The Dutchman dropped his shoulder to surge away from Mexes and draw the defender into an ill-advised lunge.
There were no arguments about the referee’s decision and Van Persie’s low and true shot spoke of a player bristling with confidence. There was a further boost for Arsenal before the interval when Daniele de Rossi flew into a challenge on Nasri. He was booked and will be suspended for the second leg.
Sagna and Clichy continued to make darting overlapping runs to worry Roma.
It was essential that their team maintained that tempo after the interval and initially they did although bizarrely Arsenal started the second half with nine men, as Toure and Gallas were slow to emerge from the tunnel. When Toure tried to come on he was booked for doing so without permission. Arsenal, though, went for the jugular and they should have forged further ahead when Eboue and Van Persie played in Bendtner. One-on-one with Doni he blasted high and wide.
There was further alarm for Roma when Diaby drew a smart save out of Doni, and there was disbelief when Loria erred badly and Eboue was clean through only to delay, check and drag a shot just wide. Arsenal took their foot off the pedal in the latter stages and they almost paid the price when John Arne Riise flashed a late drive just past the far post.
ARSENAL: Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Eboue (Ramsey 82), Denilson, Diaby (Song Billong 62), Nasri, Van Persie, Bendtner (Vela 67). Subs not used: Fabianski, Djourou, Gibbs, Merida. Booked: Toure, Nasri.
AS ROMA: Doni, Motta, Mexes, Loria (Diamoutene 71), Riise, Perrotta, De Rossi, Brighi (Pizarro 56), Taddei, Julio Baptista (Vucinic 82), Totti. Subs not used: Artur, Ribeiro, Tonetto, Montella. Booked: Mexes, Brighi, De Rossi.
Referee: Claus Bo Larsen (Denmark).
