A brilliant first half saw Arsenal win this home Champions Leagure game against Basel by 2-0 with both goals from Walcott in the first half. We had a host of chances and some very good ones. We could and probably should have scored a lot more but it was still an imprerssive showing and a good win for Arsenal.
The Gunners were certainly fired up for this match and were off like a rocket from the start. To be fair to our Swiss opponents, so were they and they did their best to match our fast pace, but few teams could have handled the intensity and fluency of Alexis Sanchez, Iwobi, Cazorla, Bellerin and Walcott and they, especially the keeper, did well to only be two behind at the break.
It took less than 10 minutes for us to make the breakthrough and it was a superbly worked one, with Alexis latching onto a Cazorla ball over the top and chipping a cross for the onrushing Walcott to head home. Basel had a period after that but our defence was solid and the attackers continued to cut through them like a hot knife through Swiss cheese.
Their keeper made a string of saves to keep the scoreline respectable and only Walcott managed to add to the opener, Alexis bagging another assist as they played a one-two befoe Walcott fired a low shot into the corner. Despite the lack of goals it was a fantastic and dominant half of football from the lads.
The worry was that it would be a game of two halves and while that was not exactly the case, the second half was a lot less impressive and a bit more uncomfortable after another fast start from us. Having said that the concentration was good and Ospina and the defenders were up to the task.
And after we came through Basel’s best period intact, our technical ability saw us through and the last 15 minutes was like death by a thousand passes on the visitors. How it stayed at just two I have no idea. A few more goals would have been nice but I’m not greedy and Arsenal keep playing like this it could be a very happy season for us Gooners.
Bob.