Dynamo Kyiv 1-1 Arsenal

Well, I write this having just turned off the match and my first feelings are those of disappointment. We controlled the game for most of the match and created several clear-cut opportunities, but couldn't break through until the 88th minute, and by that time Kyiv had drawn level through a contentious penalty. Here's what happened.

Early on, we took charge and looked lively. Van Persie had a few chances early on but didn't finish any of them, but the best opportunity came when Adebayor was gifted a bad pass from Dynamo Kyiv. The Togolese striker raced inside the penalty area, dodged a challenge, and was one-on-one with the keeper, but fired it over whilst trying to curl it into the top corner. But from how close he was, all he needed to to was hit it hard and low and we would have been one-nil up.

Soon afterwards Dynamo Kyiv had a good spell of possession that was frankly a bit worrying but none of it came to anything. Shortly thereafter Arsenal had another great chance to take the lead. Adebayor got free on the far side of the penalty area and sent in a lovely floated chip to the near side of the box where Van Persie awaited. Instead of executing a difficult volley, the Dutchman cleverly laid it off for an arriving Fabregas, but the midfielder's shot was scoffed and it fell right into the keeper's arms.

You felt at this point that Arsenal would have to get a goal sooner or later but at half-time it remained 0-0. As the second half started, Kyiv had many of the better chances and were eating up possession. Then in the 64th minute, it was Dynamo and not Arsenal who grabbed the lead.

As Dynamo launched another attack, the ball was lofted into the box where Sanga was marking a Kyiv striker. He and the offending player struggled for position, and the striker, Vukojevic fell over. The referee pointed to the spot, but it was really a 50-50 challenge which Sanga was very unlucky not to win. I thought it was fair, but the referee didn't and on the ensuing penalty, Dynamo's Bangoura scored.

After the goal Dynamo timewasted as Arsenal pushed and pushed for an equaliser. Bendtner and Eboue were brought in for Song and Sanga and we went to only three at the back, all in an attempt to get level with Kyiv. Arsene Wenger was visibly frustrated, and I was too as our attacks kept failing and Dynamo kept timewasting unpunished.

Finally though in the 88th minute, Walcott got free on the right, crossed the ball in towards at least seven or eight Arsenal players and this time we got a touch on it. Gallas was the one who ultimately tumbled it over the line, scoring another important goal for us. Hate the guy if you'd like but again and again he saves our butts with goals.

The match ended with more timewasting and Arsene Wenger had a nice long talk with the fourth official afterwards about it. But it is what it is. At least we didn't lose, but we certainly didn't make a huge impression upon Europe tonight. One positive though, (besides not losing) was that Man Utd also drew 0-0, albeit to Villareal. So we're not the only ones not starting strong. We'll still be the ones attacked in the media though, but I'm used to that.

Ratings:
Almunia-7: Looked pretty good tonight bar one mistake which could have led to a goal, but overall solid.
Sanga-6: Didn't do much tonight and was substituted late on. Good defensively though.
Toure-5: Where was he? He passed fairly well and defended okay, but was really absent.
Gallas-7: Scored the winner (again) but also made a few mistakes defensively, one of which led to the possesion for Kyiv that won the penalty.
Clichy-5: Good match fresh back from a minor injury. But he was caught out of position a few times.
Walcott-7.5: Absent for long periods of the game, but when called upon was excellent. Provided the equalising cross.
Fabregas-6: Probably one of his worse games in an Arsenal shirt. Good passing throughout but went unnoticed and not at all influential.
Song-5: Okay passing-wise but was rightly substituted in the second half.
Denilson-6: Quiet but alright. About as influential as Fabregas, which isn't that good.
Adebayor-5.5: Not a good night at all. His one good play was the chip to Van Persie, but his horrible missed chance summed up his night.

Subs:
Bendtner-4: Absent. Enough said. (Must have had three touches on the ball all match.)
Eboue-5: Was alright and not Eboueish (always a good thing) but failed to make an impact.
Vela-4: Same as Bendtner, but even less touches.

Looking forward to Bolton this Saturday, we didn't get any big boost from this match like I hoped we would, so we'll have to go up north with only determination and not much confidence to face an annoying Bolton side at the Reebok. Until then,

Fab 4