Arsenal held by youthful Ajax
Wednesday, 7 December 2005
by Timothy Collings
from Highbury
Arsenal FC's hopes of becoming only the fifth team to win all six
group games in the UEFA Champions League ran into a Dutch defensive
dam at Highbury, where Thierry Henry missed a penalty and fellow
qualifiers AFC Ajax held them to a goalless draw in their final
Group B tie.
Invitation spurned
The Arsenal talisman spurned his team's clearest opportunity of the
first half - and of the match - when he sent his spot-kick wide of
goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg's left-hand post. However, with
both sides already through to the knockout rounds, there was no
great cause for regret.
Youthful endeavour
Despite the 'dead rubber' nature of the occasion, the two coaches'
selections ensured there would be plenty of youthful exuberance on
display. Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger included only three players
aged 25 or over in his lineup, Ajax coach Danny Blind only four.
Commitment would not be a problem.
Grygera poleaxed
Indeed, Ajax centre-back Zdeněk Grygera took an early blow for his
team when Henry fired a free-kick straight into the Czech
international. Grygera bravely played on for 12 minutes before
being replaced by Hatem Trabelsi, but this upset Ajax's rhythm.
Chances were few and far between. Ajax probed, and Arsenal, without
eight regulars, sought to respond.
Frustration
The hosts' first opportunity came when José Antonio Reyes's corner
from the right fell to Quincy Owusu-Abeyie in front of goal, but
the 19-year-old Dutch forward was unable to swivel and connect.
There were further signs of Arsenal frustration when two players
were booked in four minutes, Mathieu Flamini and Aleksandr Hleb
being cautioned for fouls. Hleb's late challenge on Hedwiges Maduro
resulted in the midfielder limping off to be substituted by Nigel
De Jong.
Arsenal chances
Ten minutes before the interval, though, Arsenal had a decent
opening. Owusu-Abeyie robbed Thomas Vermaelen on the right, but
rushed his pass and failed to find Henry, who was unmarked in the
middle. Little had been seen of the French international, although
shortly after he almost created a goal for Sebastian Larsson with a
quick-thinking cross that the Swede volleyed wide.
Stekelenburg save
This encouragement for the home support was followed by a surging
50-metre run out of defence by Philippe Senderos. He supplied
Henry, who in turn fed Owusu-Abeyie on the right. The teenager cut
inside and fired a left-footed effort which was parried by
Stekelenburg and cleared.
Ajax relief
It was three minutes into first-half stoppage time that Ajax could
really breathe a sigh of relief, though. Reyes earned a penalty by
going down under Tomá Galásek's challenge, only for Henry to fluff
his lines.
Tough tackle
The midfield stalemate continued in the opening phase of the second
period, with both teams working hard without making tangible
progress. Then Reyes, racing clear down the left, was brought down
by a late Johnny Heitinga tackle that prompted the third yellow
card of the night and forced the Spanish international to hobble
off. It was the cue for Robin van Persie, formerly of Ajax's great
rivals Feyenoord, to enter the fray.
Van Persie persistence
The latter made an instant impression and his persistence on the
right of the area, brushing past two markers, produced Arsenal's
best moment of the half as Stekelenburg had to make a fine save. At
the other end a Senderos mistake let in Markus Rosenberg, but the
Swedish international blazed over.
Happy ending
As the weather worsened, the two sides seemed content with the
draw, marking Arsenal's first failure to win at Highbury in all
competitions since February. However, with a last-16 place already
confirmed, neither coach will mourn the loss of two points
tonight.
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