Champions League: Porto 2 - 1 Arsenal: Well, That Answers That Question

Lukasz Fabianski stares deep into the net, as he's only just started ruining the game at this point. Pic via Guardian.

Porto 2: Varela 11, Falcao 51
Arsenal 1: Campbell 18

I'm kinda glad I get to use the "disasters" tag I created yesterday. Oh wait, no, I'm pissed... Also, I got to create this "total idiocy" tag.

Hey, remember that time yesterday when we said, "Almunia's absence will prove that either his time is past or that he's the best we've got." And then I also said "Fabianski ... hasn't exactly covered himself in glory in big games past." Yeah...

Lukasz Fabianski left Gooners all over the world screaming at their televisions after two horrendous blunders led to two F.C. Porto goals in a 2-1 Arsenal loss in Portugal tonight. Let's analyze them, shall we!

First goal: Yes, Varela gets around Clichy, which isn't surprising, but then hits a weak low cross that Fabianski hits the ground to handle. But, instead of catching it, it bounces off his hands and careens to his left. Into the net. Varela was given credit, but that's generous. That was an own goal all the way.

Arsenal was very shaky at the start; perhaps not surprising given the number of injury-forced changes in Arsene Wenger's side. It was a lot like the start at Standard Liege in September, except it was 1-0 in 11 minutes and not 2-0 in 5 minutes. Minor victory?

Arsenal pulled one back seven minutes later, scoring off a corner kick, when big Sol Campbell got above the rest of the pack to head one home. There's that height Arsenal has been lacking on set pieces all God-damned season long!

From that point on, both teams decided they had no desire to play defense. Arsenal blatantly missed the services of Alex Song as a holding midfielder, as Denilson and Abou Diaby did not get the job done in stifling the Porto attack. The rest of the first half was wide open, swinging back and forth like a pendulum, but no goals were scored, and things sat 1-1 at halftime.

That would not have been a bad result for the Gunners, with five new injuries, on the road. Things would be even going back home for the second leg, with an away goal to boot.

Oh, but Fabianski wasn't done. In the 51st minute, Sol Campbell tapped the ball back to Fabianski, who inexplicably picked the ball up with his hands. Brutal mistake to begin with, to set up an indirect free kick for Porto in the box. I've mentioned before that with time to set up a wall, those kicks never work. Instead, Arsenal decided just to let Porto score, essentially...

Fabianski handed the ball to the referee, turned, and argued about the call to the assistant referee on the near touchline. Arsenal's defenders walked slowly back into the box. The referee put the ball down as the Gunners continued arguing and walking. Tap, shot, 2-1 Porto.

Casey and I had a short discussion about this immediately afterward. Was it unsportsmanlike for Porto to take a quick kick? I said no. It's on Arsenal to pay attention and get back in position. It's on Fabianski or Campbell to stay near the ball and not let Porto shoot before they're ready. It's on Fabianski not to let this situation happen in the first place! Just a brutal mistake and a heartbreaking result.

Arsenal found themselves off the pace for a while after the goal, had a few chances, but never took a shot on goal, as far as I remember in the second half. Tons of headers over the bar. Tons of corner kicks that sailed over everybody. No major threats from the Gunners.

So, now, the second leg at the Emirates on March 9. Arsenal has an away goal in their pocket and a goal to make up on aggregate. Not a disastrous result, in terms of fixing this in the second leg. But oh, what a painful match it was.

FYI, I'd prefer to see Mannone start against Sunderland on Saturday.