The Pretty Football Liveblog

By: chris | February 24th, 2009

Arsenal 1 – Roma 0

That was “Atalanta Roma”, but they were much more fortunate this time around. A 1-0 loss (and a peno at that), after being that dire in the back, is nothing short of a good result going into the second leg.

GAME

David…..cleared out by Arsenal….Roma throw….one last chance…..game.

92′ Mirko called offside when he’s not…Motta fouled in a dangerous spot on the wing, 20 yards from the goal line.

90′ Arsenal dominating possession right now. Totti with some cheeky moves – best he’s played all day, maybe – Pizarro on it…Francesco agan….slowly around the back. Four minutes +.

87′ 1-0 isn’t the worst result in the world – just think of the last home/away with a London team – but a 1-1 in the dying seconds would be an early Christmas at least.

Pizarro piledrives a ball out for a goal kick. Not needed.,

84′ Philou blocks a shot as it’s coming in from Nasri. Nasri again o n the right, cross headed towards pseudo-safety before they eventually work it around to Samir again and his shot is deflected wide.

Mirko on for Baptista, who was just absolutely awful.

82′ Song clips David from behind, foul called.

Eboue off for Ramsey.

80′ Riise coming forward…Taddei pulls it back to Motta…Diamoutene looking a great deal more solid in the back than Loria, but then again he hasn’t really been tested. Not that Loria needed to be tested to look shaky.

Here comes Mirko…..in his underpants, no less.

78′ Motta hurt, cramp. This is nice.

76′ Brilliant ball from DDR to JAR but he’s no Mirko and can’t control it. Speaking of….a Mirko sighting anytime soon?

75′ David tries is long to Julio but far too strong. Totti send it from wide…..David doing wonders here.

73′ Marco Motta is having a helluva game here. Truly the future of the Azzurri defensive flanks.

72′ Pizarro over the ball…headed out easily….

Van Persie and Francesco in a tugging fight.

71′ Piza fouled by Denilson about 30 yards from goal.

Loria off in what can only be his final Roma appearance. Diamoutene on.

69′ The passing is just diabolical today. You’d think they could pick out the difference between red and black, but apparently not.

67′ Ahhhh…Riise just misses a rocket. So damn close. So unthinkabley close.

Unbelievable. Just unbelievable. Loria misses a header 30 yards from goal with no one around gifting Eboue a 1v1 with Doni and he misses the sitter after Doni pressures.

Simone Loria can never play for Roma ever, ever again.

Carlos Vela is getting ready. I’m getting ready to jump out the window the first time he goes 1v1 with Loria.

Both DDR and Denilson are down. And both back up.

62′ Song on for Diaby, who’s looking knocked again. Song doesn’t quite have the dribbling capabilities of Diaby, so that;s something.

60′ Baptista with a foul on Diaby, and if not for lack of bodies on the bench, Julio would need to come off. Poor game.

58′ Roma mini break slows down….Baptista with another awful, awful touch. Feet of stone.

57′ Simone hasn’tdone a great deal at treq so they’re only gaining attacking potential here. I don’t doubt a Vuci for either Julio or Totti sub is far behind, depending on his fitness.

Here comes Pizarro. Thank god. For Brighi, who isn’t having his most brilliant day and is sitting on a yellow.

55′ Doni saves the day on a Diaby turn. I can’t watch these blackouts. It’s enough to make a grown man cry. Get through it and all is well, but until then….

Everyone in the back not named Motta is having a shocker. Riise donates possession this time.

54′ Bendtner skies a sitter five feet from Doni. Unbelievable. They dodged multiple bullets there.

Roma blackout….

53′ Have to say this Arsenal crowd is a joke. You could hear a feather drop, and the only time they were even remotely loud was after their goal, a penalty. Really poor showing.

51′ Shockingly, Arsenal are slowing the tempo, though trying to reclaim that dynamic burst from the first half.

49′ The boys are already looking a slight bit inventive and though DDR’s impending suspension looms large, 1-1 is a massive result.

48′ Baptista’s touch is just AWFUL….Arsenal with numbers but they’re stopped by makeshift LB Rodrigo. (Riise was still attacking.)

47′ Motta with a smart look to Baptista in the box as Almunia loses his marbles Jens-style for a moment and miscalculates the flight.

46′ Toure and Gallas entered the pitch from the locker room after the whistle had blown. Brilliant.

SECOND HALF

Did this fucking dumbass just call Spalletti one of the most OVERrated coaches in Europe? How does one get away with such insane stupidity and still hold a TV job? (Britain – right.)

The verdict: They’re playing as expected, but the dynamic young attack makes them look a bit helter skelter at times. The only real chances Arsenal have been afforded were the penalty and the blackout moment immediately after. It may not be pretty – and the centerbacks are just dire – but they’re still composed and tactically organized. It’s not as bad as one would think. Not nearly so.

However, DDR out for the second leg? Just….ugh.

Mirko and/or David will have to play some part in this second half. David to slow the tempo, Mirko to have someone, anyone test that Arsenal back line with a bit of pace. They’re able to run numbers back on every attack and that’s not helping with a hobbled Totti, a Perrotta playing further back than hoped and a Julio Baptista who’s an 89:55 player.

And really, can Marco Motta get a call, please? (Plus a new, permanent contract?)

HALFTIME

46′ Think the lads are playing for the whistle. And there it is.

44′ Loria damn near gifts Nasri a 1v1….Totti on it. Motta was hammered for the second time and no call. Playing to the home crowd a bit much here?

Baptista kicked Gallas in the face. Atta boy.

43′ Best Roman ball work of the day comes in their own third…Motta;s cross..Perrotta heads it down…Totti plays it out….DDR…Mexes…puts it out for a goal kick. He’s just not having a day – on one when he’s so desperately needed.

Daniele De Rossi is yellowed. Motherfucker. He’s suspended for Rome. Disastrous half, really.

40′ The lads are slipping all over the pitch. Really can’t say what’s going on here but Arsenal aren’t stopping Roman attacks, little blades of grass are. Wrong footwear?

39′ These Setanta commentators are utter garbage, by the by. Then again they’re British, so I suppose that goes without saying.

37′ Marco Motta saves another goal. I can’t watch. Blackout time.

Van Persie…RVP puts the ball in front of the fucking spot. Cheater. Goal.

35′ Penalty on Mexes. What the fuck? Is Philou going off…..no.

Taddei ball to Francesco waiting 20 yards out…and he skies it.

33′ Taddei, of all people, caught offside. What is this, 2006?

32′ Loria slips and whiffs on a ball in the box. Normally this is where I’d spill my tears, but I’ve actually noticed a few players slipping on the Emirates pitch.

30′ Nasri’s looking very live today. Fortunately the back line is getting enough help that the avenues are closing quickly.

29′ Little work in the Arsenal third amounts to nothing…Totti on it…Baptista’s shot skids about twenty yards wide of the goal. Blah.

28′ Nasri skips by DDR. Don’t hear that often.

27′ Class challenge by Philou. Nice flick on by Riise to Brighi, whose pass under pressure is a bit too blind and costs possession.

DDR is sitting on a yellow for the return leg. Good lord….

Brighi yellow.

24′ Then Alex plays it fast and loose on the floor in the box with not one but two Gunners in with him. Wondrous.

Doni Supermans to grab a cross with Arsenal pressing in the final third.

22′ Noticing Arsenal playing the ball around the back quite a bit when Totti is around. Wonder if that’s a tatical move designed to tire Francesco quickly as he runs around to pressure…

21′ They’re missing Mirko. A lot.

Some nice work between Motta – who’s looking good – and Totti results in Baptista unable to control possession.

20′ You’ll notice the tempo slowing a bit and Roma gaining more possession, albeit slowly, now. 15 minutes is their “first round”.

18′ Seriously, that was an Aquilani special. Totti fouled yet again (that four?).

Cheeky free kick over the top but Simone “I have the technique of a sofa” Loria flicks it over the bar. Nice idea, though.

17′ Doni makes a timely save when Van Persie’s touch from over the top is a bit too strong. Motta on the run….Motta with a fucking howitzer. Where did that come from? Almunia got a touch for the corner…..harmlessly played into Almunia.

15′ Gallas is hurt and limping off with his head in his hands. You’ve got to expect at least 2 injury subs apiece today during The Battle of the Walking Wounded.

14′ Free kick from distance for Arsenal…Loria with the save of the day. (No, that’s correct.)

13′ Mexes yellow. Fuckin’ A.

12′ Arsenal work possession around to the back but Roma are unable to win and sustain possession. 15 mins, that’s their cutoff, typically. That’s when they either shit the bed if they’re playing well or turn on the magic if they’re playing less than wonderfully.

10′ I know it may not look good, but I’m not displeased by the start of this game. Quite the opposite, in fact. Let the kids burn themselves out early and get frustrated by the compact back – praying for a miracle from Loria. I get much more worried when the lads get complacent early on and mentally take themselves out of the match by the 20th minute.

9′ Cross to Nasri is headed wide.

8′ Awful touch by Francesco to give Arsenal possession. Fortunately the defense holds well and eliminates the danger.

Loria with a Materazzi special on Eboue, lucky not to be carded. (Dear god help us….)

6′ Immense chance for Arsenal…Nasri beats the offside trap – who else kept him on? Loria – and he’s in on goal, plays it back to Bendtner who has the touch of a bronzed Baptista, fortunately.

5′ Great tackle by Simone, I believe, when the break kicks out and Motta is fouled. Baptista with a poor pass to donate possession back to his former side (over/under on that mentioned tonight? +/- 103?).

Sagna whips in a cross cleared by the 3rd CB, Daniele De Rossi.

3′ Loria hoofs one out of the box for an Arse throw…quick ball movement from the Gooners to open matters.

1′ Philou opens up with a tackle…Perrotta with an early interception …Totti fouled…Baptista fouled now. Quick start, eh?

KICKOFF

FORZA ROMA

Alright, we didn’t even make it to the opening whistle before mentioning Perrotta was born in Ingerland.

The Gunner children are now having a hug-a-thon in the center cirlce. Wonderful. Also, there’s a guy named “Chee-cheen-yo” playing for Roma tonight. Anyone have any info?

The lads are looking fired up and Arsenal are looking like they’re about to enjoy a high colonic. Good juju.

Out they come from the tunnels, all in black and led by one Francesco Totti. Truly a majestic sight if ever there was one. Magical nights indeed.

The Veetle link is working splendidly for me, so if you can hit that up.

“He’s there to provide intelligence and imagination.” – on Totti. Finally, one British pundit gets it. The rest of the idjeets on Setanta don’t seem to have a clue.

Alright, I’m all set up but will give the warning that updates may be a bit more infrequent.

Official Lineups per UEFA:

Roma:

Doni
Motta, Mexes, Loria, Riise
Taddei, DDR, Brighi
Perrotta
Totti, Baptista

Bad turn: Aquilani did not make the bench.

Bench: Artur, Vucinic, Pizarro, Tonetto, Filipe, Diamoutene, Montella

Arsenal:

Almunia
Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy
Eboue, Diaby, Denilson, Nasri
Bendtner, Van Persie

Bench: Fabianski, Vela, Ramsey, Merida, Gibbs, Song, Djourou

Diaby is just off injury, which could bode well.

Streaming: MyP2P has ‘em, but your first, second and third choices should be Veetle. If not, Atdhe.net should work also.

RomaGiallorossa Projected XI:

ARSENAL(4-4-2): Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy; Eboue, Denilson, Song, Nasri, Van Persie, Bendtner. All. Wenger

ROMA (4-3-1-2): Doni; Motta; Loria, Mexes, Riis; Taddei, De Rossi, Brighi; Perrotta; Totti, J.Baptista.

Eboue and Song in the midfield adds a bit of defensive work but I still think that back four can be had. They’re all solid, at the very least – Sagna is, for my money, the best RB in the Prem – but centrally they can be prone to chinks in the armor. Not to mention Almunia is far from world class.

I love the picture the guardian has chosen to display the big matchup this evening: Nicklas Bendtner v David Pizarro. Really?

Injury Rundown.:

Francesco: I see no way he sits on the bench for this game, even if he’s still on crutches. A 40% Francesco is still the best player on the pitch by miles.

Mirko: At best he’ll be on the bench. Tis time for the Julio Baptista Show.

Juan: Out. (whimper)

Cicinho: Looking incredibly unlikely and I think it’s fair to just say he’s out – at least from the beginning.

Aquilani: Still not 100%, but available.

Projected XI

Doni
Motta, Mexes, Loria, Riise
Taddei, DDR, Brighi
Perrotta
Totti, Baptista

And yes I, like most others, would like to display a personal message to a certain member of la rosa: fuck you, Panucci.

But really, the best news of the day? I’ve remembered to wear The Lucky Shirt. The lads are so far one hundred percent victorious when rocking this bad boy, so while they’re a class bunch of athletes, it’s really just down to me. You’re welcome. (This is the shirt, actually.)