Arsenal qualified for the knockout stage of the Champions
League despite a disappointing draw at Slavia
Prague.
Arsene Wenger made eight changes from the side that drew with
Manchester United on Saturday for his 100th match as a manager in
the Champions League.
But Arsenal were second best to Slavia, Mickael Tavares heading
over and the lively Zdenek Senkerik cutting inside and forcing
Manuel Almunia to tip over.
Senkerik was again denied by Almunia late on as Arsenal ensured
progression.
The Gunners went into the game knowing they only needed a draw to
go through and boss Wenger clearly thought the job was already done
by picking a much-changed line-up.
They played like a side with little to worry about, as they
uncharacteristically gave the ball away and looked content to let
Slavia play at their own pace.
Lucikly for Arsenal, the hosts lacked the quality to punish them
and more often than not their lack of a cutting edge let them
down.
Slavia's first chance came when Daniel Pudil swung over a corner
and Tavares was left unmarked six yards out, the Frenchman
wastefully heading over.
Lone striker Senkerik looked a threat with his pace and he
accelerated sharply to cut in from the right and fire a shot
goalwards that Almunia did well to tip over.
The interval brought with it a rainstorm in Prague and the deluge
seemed to whet the players' appetite as the game came to life after
the break.
Senkerik fell in the box with Lassana Diarra in close attendance,
but referee Bertrand Layec waved Slavia's appeals away, before
Nicklas Bendtner had a shot blocked by Erich Brabec.
Suddenly the tackles were flying in and the crowd were lifted from
their torpor as Slavia attacked with a renewed vigour.
Brabec latched onto a free-kick only to head straight at Almunia,
before David Hubacek slammed over from nearly 30 yards.
When a ball over the top caught out the Arsenal defence and sent
Senkerik clean through, it seemed certain that the deadlock would
be broken.
But as the striker coolly lifted the ball goalwards from 15 yards,
he had not banked on Almunia's imposing frame getting in the way as
the Spanish stopper raced from his line to deny Slavia once
more.
Arsenal brought on Emmanuel Adebayor as they went looking for a
late winner they did not deserve, but his header was easily saved
by Michal Vorel and both sides had to settle for a point.
The draw extended Arsenal's unbeaten run to 26 games, but it was
the first time all season the Gunners have failed to find the
net.
Slavia
Prague: Vorel, Tavares, Hubacek, Drizd'al, Brabec,
Smicer (Kalivoda 64), Svec, Pudil (Jablonsky 89), Suchy, Krajcik,
Senkerik (Ivana 77).
Subs Not Used: Vaniak, Gaucho, Sourek, Belaid.
Booked: Tavares, Svec, Krajcik, Pudil.
Arsenal: Almunia,
Diarra, Gallas, Song Billong, Clichy, Walcott, Silva, Denilson,
Diaby, Eduardo (Eboue 81), Bendtner (Adebayor 77).
Subs Not Used: Lehmann, Sagna, Flamini, Traore, Justin Hoyte.
Booked: Diarra, Denilson.
Att: 18,000.
Ref: Bertrand Layec (France).
