Holy Crap!

So, that's what it feels like to be West Ham.

I wrote that at about the 63rd minute of complete domination of Arsenal by Barcelona (one Theo Walcott lightning strike aside). For the first time, I'd realized how it must feel to be a West Ham or Hull City fan coming up against a side that plays keep-away against you for 90 minutes. Even up until Cesc Fabregas' equalizer penalty kick, Barca had 65% posession.

Has any side ever so thoroughly dominated another in the late stages of the Champions League and only come away with a 2-2 draw? What a weird and somewhat wonderful game (take away the injuries to our two most dangerous players)

Random thoughts on the game:

• Manuel Almunia's defects as a goalkeeper were shown in bold display. As a shotstopper, he's not too shabby. He kept the Gunners in the game in a starting 15 minutes in which Barca had so many shots it felt like a Final Four Match,  not a Champions League Quarterfinal. It's all the other things you expect out of a keeper - positioning, covering crosses & corners, not rolling the ball into pressure, positioning, not palming the ball into your own goal in the last second of a game, and...positioning. That first goal was embarrassing. I'm sure even his mom wanted to turn off the TV right then.
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• Nick Bendtner didn't have a very distinguished game and yet he figured heavily in both Arsenal goals. The pass to Walcott, brilliant. The knock down to Fabregas, likewise.
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• Abou Diaby reverted to his Diaby Diaby Doo persona. He gave the ball away so many times I was beginning to believe he must've thought it was booby-trapped. Must do better.
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• Gallass down. It looked bad. That's a blow for the run in, and my guess is he's done for the year. I hope Sol is ready to go the distance and please, please, please, let's not see any more Mikael Silvestre.
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• The Fabregas injury looked serious. He says it's a broken leg. Regardless, it looks like he's done for the season. Damn bad news. But the sight of him telling the the coaches he can go on, must go on and then hobbling around Emirates for the last 7 minutes was an incredible testament to the lad's spirit.
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• Samir Nasri had a near-brilliant game. During the first 20 minute siege he was constantly a step or three behind, trying to catch the speedy Danny Alves, but after that he was the most consistent midfielder on the field. Tackled better than he has all season and provided the most danger to Barca with the crosses in. We will need something amazing from him at the Nou Camp.
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• As for that, any sane person will write Arsenal off, 3 starters down, 2 away goals hanging around their neck, Manuel Almunia in goal, and I have to agree. Logically, they have no chance whatsoever...but, football is a strange, strange game. The very fact that they achieved the improbable, scoring 2 goals to grab a draw from a game that by all rights should've been oh, about 8-0, should be enough to at least keep the flame of hope burning for Gunners. Time for Arsene to deliver a "win one for Cesc" speech.