Standard Liege 2-2 Arsenal – Arsenal finishes first in their group after a battling draw in Belgium.
The first half was quite entertaining I thought and Arsenal played well. If I had to have one really big complaint it would be that Arsenal did not take the many chances they were presented with.
There were some calamitous moments for sure, it just would not be Arsenal if the clowns don’t come out to play in the Arsenal defence and that includes the keeper, Martinez.
Bukayo Saka was fairly lively and it always felt that it would be just a matter of time before he scored, but nope, nothing came in the first 45 minutes.
Arsenal was unlucky not to be ahead at half time.
The second half started and within three minutes Standard took the lead. It was slightly lucky after taking a huge deflection beating Martinez, who was left helpless stranded to the spot.
Well, it got worse from then on. In the 70th minute, Standard took a 2-0 lead, following a terrible clearance from Joe Willock and another deflection into the back of the net.
It has to be said that Arsenal really were poor after the break and it was starting to get a bit nervy.
But they came roaring back with two quick goals. The first came in the 78th minute through Alexandre Lacazette following a great cross from young Bukayo Saka.
The second came just two minutes later courtesy of Saka who deserved to get his name onto the scoresheet with a beautifully taken goal.
We learned little from this game, it was an inexperienced side with a makeshift defence. Arsenal was half decent in the first half, a lot poorer in the second half before improving, kind of what we have come to expect.
It is good news that we finished top following the surprise defeat for Eintracht Frankfurt at home to Vitoria.
Overall it was an acceptable result all things considered.