I've just been looking over some of the results across Europe this weekend and it really has provided me with a sense of perspective on Arsenal's recent indifferent form. We lost to 'boro, who are an average side but by no means a shite club. It is the kind of game we should have won but spare a thought for our friends on the continent...
Espanyol 1-0 Real Madrid
Real looked good in the first half before falling apart in the second. They lack direction without Zidane, and ended the game with 9 men after new signings Ramos and Baptista were both sent off. Beckham was their best player by some way, tracking back and making tackles until the death. They spent a looooooot of money in the summer, and so far they have lost their last 3 games.
Athletico Madrid 2-1 Barcelona
After taking the lead through Eto, Barca blew it against an Athletico side who equalised through Torres, went ahead via Kezman and had a man sent off in the second half. Again, muchos dinero spent with little reward.
Sampdoria 2-1 A.C. Milan
Gilardino socred his first Milan goal, but Sampdoria overturned the deficit to record an unlikely win infront of their home fans. A.C. have a much deeper squad than Arsenal, yet still blew it to a lesser team.
All of these results show how a big team can still lose to the smaller ones without having to sell all their players, buy a whole new squad and/or endlessly rue losing their older players who have now moved on. The 'crisis' at Arsenal will pass, but results this weekend prove that the big boys have to keep their feet on the ground to beat the smaller clubs. It's not an Arsenal thing. Sometimes you just have to grit your teeth and accept that you lost to a team you probably should have beaten. Ask Real, AC and Barca (but unfortunately not Chel$ki and Juve
)
