Three clean sheets in a row and out.

Henry
By Boris Mellor
March 14 2005

You wait ages for a clean sheet and then three come along all at once. Unfortunately the last one did not go where the Arsenal Fans wanted it to.

Most of us had worried that Arsenal could not keep a clean sheet against a team as good as Bayern. Well Arsenal managed it, but it cost in terms of attacking mobility. If we could have defended better in Munich then 1-0 might have been a good result.

But Bayern were too powerful for Arsenal and dominated the first half – having five good chances to Arsenals two. On the plus side Senderos was brilliant and didn’t panic when Ralph and Kolo went flaky.

Henry had a great shot just before half time but Kahn made an equally great save. Arsenal were getting into the game at last, and continued in the same vein in the second half.

 In the 66^th minute Henry scored a beautiful goal that gave Kahn no chance, it finally seemed as if it was game on. But Reyes was ineffective and the midfield did not make many chances for the forwards. The bringing on of Fabregas and Pires saw Arsenal step up a gear and make a flurry of shots. But the Bayern defence was resolute and did not concede again. Bayern were always dangerous on the break and switched the ball from wing to wing with consummate ease. Ten minutes before full time Ballack's  had a dangerous shot on the Arsenal goal, which Jens did well to save. So Arsenal won the game, and most of the team gave a credible performance, indeed against a team of Bayern’s capabilities 1-0 is a good result. However the damage was done in Munich and it was never going to be easy. Arsenal fans were philosophical about it all, singing Henry's name at the end, and applauding the team back down the tunnel.

Arsenal should concentrate on the plusses; Senderos is beginning to look like the real thing. He and Campbell together will be excellent. We have to improve at right back, and start to get the Quincy’s and Van Persie's up and running.