AIK_Solna (1) 2 - 3 (1) ArsenalStockholm, Tuesday November 2nd 1999UEFA Champions League, first group stage, 6th and final matchPreview
AIK_Solna (1) 2 - 3 (1) ArsenalStockholm, Tuesday November 2nd 1999UEFA Champions League, first group stage, 6th and final match
scorers: A Andersson 41 68 Overmars 17 52
Suker 56
Arsenal:
Manninger
Dixon Upson Luzhny (Vivas 78) Winterburn
Ljungberg Petit (Malz 78) Vieira Overmars
Kanu Suker (Hughes 78)
A good performance to salvage a vestige of pride from the Champions
League campaign. Both sides went out to try to win the game which in
itself should be a source of pride (I wonder if the same will be said
of tonight's game at Stamford Bridge!).Arsenal were understrength at the back, with Luzhny and then Vivas partnering Upson. So it's not surprising that we let a couple in. But apart from that it was practically a full-strength side (making a strange comparison with the weak team sent out for Saturday's Premiership match against Newcastle). continued to deputise for Parlour on the right, and Kanu partnered Suker up front. But most significant was the return of Overmars, who had his best game for some time. He was a constant thorn in AIKs side, having many of our best chances including 2 which he put away well. The move for the first started with Ljungberg in possession to the right of the penalty area. He slipped the ball back to Petit who chipped it diagonally towards the far side of the box. Overmars, perhaps lucky not to be called offside (he was moving back to get onside when Petit played the ball but replays suggest he didn't quite make it), hit it first time past the keeper. Shortly after, Marc hit a low shot from further out which the keeper parried, and then followed up with another save as Winterburn came in and drove the rebound goalwards. And after half an hour Marc curled a shot inside the far (right hand) post which the keeper again did well to save, sticking out a hand at about chest height. The ball was played back in and saved somehwat fortunately by the keeper's feet from Overmars again, as the defence stood and waited for a flag (up to 3 of our players looked like they could have been offside). AIK equalised on 41 minutes through Andreas Andersson, who looked a damn sight better than he ever did for Newcastle. A ball over the top from the half-way line caught our defence out. Andersson turned Upson inside out, and dragged the ball sideways as Manninger committed himself. Winterburn couldn't get back in time to prevent him blasting into the empty net. 7 minutes into the second half Kanu released Overmars with a ball through the offside trap. This time there was no question that Marc was onside, and he hit a low shot under the keeper to regain the lead. A couple of minutes later he passed up ther chance of a hattrick, squaring for Ljungberg who fluffed the chance. But it was only another couple of minutes before we did go 2 up, Kanu again supplying this time with a cross for Suker to knock in unmarked at the far post. With 20 minutes to go Andersson struck again with another well taken goal, and Manninger had to pull off a fine save too. But it was a well-deserved win and one which hopefully will have raised the spirits for Sunday's derby match. Particularly nice to see Petit back, and dominating the midfield despite a heavily strapped leg, and Overmars returning to form. With 12 minutes left Arsenal made a treble substitution, with Vivas replacing Luzhny (who picked up a groin injury), Malz replacing Petit (who is said to be ready for 90 minutes against Tottenham), and Stephen Hughes making an appearance in place of Suker (with Overmars moving forward and Hughes filling in in midfield). Hughesy even had a shot, blasting high after Kanu kept possession well on the edge of the box and then picked him out.
Champions League results
Pl W D L F A Pt
Wembley 3 1 0 2 5 6 3
Away 3 1 2 0 4 3 5
Oh well, at least now we're free to concentrate on the UEFA Cup!
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