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Liverpool's advantage - but only just

European Football
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Arsene Wenger's eyesight is notoriously selective - but he had no trouble seeing the moment that could ultimately cost Arsenal a place in the Champions League semi-final.

The phrase "stonewall penalty" might have been invented for Dirk Kuyt's blatant tug on Alexander Hleb as he raced into the area after 66 minutes.

Dutch referee Pieter Vink, however, astonishingly spared Liverpool to leave Rafael Benitez's side in pole position to reach the last four.

Wenger was understandably frustrated, but when the dust settles on a tie Arsenal should have won, he will have seen enough to suggest that while it is advantage Liverpool, no-one should bring the curtain down on the Gunners' hopes.

It was not quite the game everyone predicted.

Liverpool were compact, resolute and limited in their attacking ambition. Arsenal passed, sometimes into submission, and held most of the aces up front, but there was an unpredictability to the game that was not expected.

There was an air of fragility about both rearguards at times, particularly Liverpool's, but their in-built European resilience saw them survive a second period when possession was all Arsenal's for lengthy spells.

Liverpool fans rightly left The Emirates happier with a hard-fought draw and Kuyt's crucial away goal in their locker. They will hope the traditional adrenalin-fuelled Anfield atmosphere will again be the key component for another famous victory next Tuesday.

Benitez is the master architect of important European results, and all logic suggests he has the foundations in place for progress after another display of tactical discipline, aided by a massive slice of good fortune with the "penalty" incident.

Liverpool have this quarter-final to lose now. They will not care about Arsenal's hard luck stories or what might have been, but they will also be wary of one of the most potent counter-attacking sides in Europe.

Steven Gerrard will drive even more from his very advanced midfield role at home, while Fernando Torres will be more potent at Anfield, where his goalscoring record is in stark contrast to that on his travels.

But if there is a team built to get an away goal, even in the European fortress of Anfield, it is Arsenal.

This is why this last eight encounter is still so delicately poised.

Liverpool should not be tempted to sit back on this result because Wenger, once he had got his disappointment off his chest, was right to suggest his team can go to Anfield and win.

The home side will need to be positive and Benitez will have noted Arsenal have the ability to cut through even the most rigidly-drilled rearguard, especially away from home.

Emmanuel Adebayor's height and power troubled Liverpool, while the guile of Cesc Fabregas might have more space to exploit at Anfield as opposed to the footballing trench warfare that unfolded at The Emirates.

Liverpool will also have more attacking intent at Anfield and Arsenal will be find themselves under severe pressure, both from their opponents and the crowd.

Can they cope under such strain? This could hold the key.

The advantage undoubtedly lies with Liverpool - but no-one, least of all anyone at Anfield, will be under any illusions that the destiny of the quarter-final has already been decided.

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comment by Medieval-Evil (U9650532)

posted Apr 4, 2008

"Liverpool deservedly got their away goal in the fist so it was time to shut up shop."

This away goal from a fortunate break in play that sent the ball to Torres, who laid it to Gerrard (who in fairness did very well), whose cross was deflected into Kuyt's path, whose shot was deflected in off Clichy. How was that deserved? Not to mention that Liverpool were decidedly second best right up until that point.

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comment by alpez1 (U11189662)

posted Apr 4, 2008

There seems to be quite a few frustrated Arsenal fans here. I would say remember San Siro away and have some faith in your team. You have a great manager who seems to get the best out of his team when they have to prove people wrong. Everyone saying Liverpool hold the advantage will inspire Arsenal and i still expect them to outplay Liverpool and progress.

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comment by indecident (U10150954)

posted Apr 4, 2008

Of course it was a penalty. Even Carragher thought it was a penalty for gods sake!

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comment by shaft120 (U1791917)

posted Apr 4, 2008

Can't believe your discussing what could have happened.

If this, this, this then it would have been 3-1.

every Liverpool touch was fortunate etc. Just like Istanbul I presume?

Some things in a game are open to interpretation and can go either way, if you want to make sure you win, then you have to outplay the other team by a decent margin. The ref was excellent IMO and played a very open game - which was consistent throughout. If this had been reffed in England, then yes it might have involved penalty's and more yellows.

The point is, Liverpool excel in CL, because of the differences. If Arsenal want to moan, go back to the premier league!

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comment by 4-u-2-p (U10641112)

posted Apr 4, 2008

OH BOO HOO! All you Gunners stop whining. Your like a bunch of little girls. There's still 90 minutes to go in this game and you can't afford to keep moaning about something that happened the week before.

Look at chelsea after the glorious 05 semi final. They still moan about "Revenge" anytime they play Liverpool in a big cup game. This is immature and shows a lack of character. You don't see Liverpool screaming revenge for the Rob Style's incident or our reserve team getting hammered 6-3 by the Gunners. No we just get on with it. Unfortunately all this moaning and crying in the media will most likely have an affect on tuesday's match official. Two wrongs don't make a right.

SO GROW UP GUNNERS AND GET ON WITH IT.

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comment by shaft120 (U1791917)

posted Apr 4, 2008

To be fair, Gunners fans are a lot better than SkumU or Chelski ones.

Usually there is a grudging respect between the teams.

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comment by toffeegod (U2762684)

posted Apr 4, 2008

OH BOO HOO! All you Gunners stop whining. Your like a bunch of little girls. There's still 90 minutes to go in this game and you can't afford to keep moaning about something that happened the week before.

4-u-2-p, I'm going to assume you're being ironic there? Liverpool fans, led by their king moaner manager, spend loads of time whinging about any slight, perceived or otherwise. For god's sake you've only just finished moaning about the Mascherano red card(Well deserved at that) and now you're going to say to other fans stop moaning?

When Rob Styles gave Chelsea that penalty you didn't stop moaning until he was dragged out and forced to apologise.

Your main problem is that you have everything handed to you by referees, more so than the other 'top four' teams, and have done for so long you are incapable of winning without it and when other teams moan about this you don't realise it's just wrong.

Carragher virtually assaulting Lescott at Goodison
Hyppia kneecaping Howard in the FA Cup
Kuyt dragging Hleb over in the Champions League

None of them given as penalites

Liverpool fans would be foaming at the mouth in anger if any of those were the other way round.

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comment by deojoe (U11445448)

posted Apr 4, 2008

Gunners will beat Liverpool next Tuesday

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comment by Medieval-Evil (U9650532)

posted Apr 4, 2008

It's not the game I'm complaining about - I've already said, things like this happen in football. I'm just mindboggled at the ability of some of the fans on here to turn a blind eye to some of the incidents.

Get together a group of ten football fans and nine of them will tell you that Kuyt's tug was a foul - the other one, it would seem, would be a Liverpool fan.

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comment by mlaone77 (U8051179)

posted Apr 6, 2008

Arsenal will and should win because they have more talent and desire as well as possibly the best manager ever to grace this planet

------------------------

well we all know who you support then

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