Arsenal Vs. Marseille, 2011 UEFA Champions League: Scoreless Draw At The Emirates

Arsenal were better than Marseille at the Emirates Stadium but failed to do much with it, leaving both teams in good position in UEFA Champions League Group F with two days left. Watching the two sides play, you got the impression that Marseille would be happy to settle for a draw, and that some divine power was on their side, because Arsenal simply couldn't turn their first half dominance into goals. For a little while, it seemed as though whenever a red-shirted player had the ball, they were finding new and hitherto unexplored ways on failing to score, including Park Chu-Young's amazing 'stand around until someone takes the ball from me' routine, which will be long-remembered by absolutely nobody.

The second half started in similar fashion, although Marseille managed to get back into the game towards the end and finished fairly strongly. Arsene Wenger knew that a win here would virtually secure top spot in the group and avoid a repeat of last season, where his team faced Barcelona in the first knockout round, and so committed his trump card to the fray: Robin van Persie, hat trick hero against Chelsea over the weekend, came on in the 62nd minute and very nearly won the game shortly thereafter, lifting a delicate chip over Steve Mandanda's head, but not over his arms - the veteran goalkeeper caught the shot.

That was Arsenal's last and best chance. We're still waiting for Marseilles'.