AZ 1 Arsenal 1

By Myles Palmer

Matchday 3 gave the so-called Champions League a shake-up last night.

How welcome that was ! The Group Stage is a yawn if the rich teams stroll through every year,.

Russians Rubin Kazan turned Europe upside down at the Nou Camp by beating Barcelona 2-1.

Right back Ryazentsev smashed in a thunderbolt off the post, Ibra made it 1-1 in 48 with a shot that went in off the other post, and I figured Guardiola's hard-working side would score a goal, maybe a late goal. But Dominguez, following on from his fabulous solo goal against Inter on Matchday 2, set up the winner with a fantastic ball for Karadeniz in 73 minutes.

European & Spanish champions 1 Russian champions 2.

That scoreline gives the fans something to talk about and so does the Group F table after 3 games. Barcelona 4 points, Dynamo Kiev 4, Rubin Kazan 4, Inter 3.

Jose Mourinho would love to be back in England at Liverpool or Man United, just to show Chelsea what they are missing.

Arsenal scored through Fabregas in 36 minutes and were fairly comfortable for 75.But they still can't defend a lead and ended up conceding in the 93rd minute.

AZ Alkmaar went on the field with a huge inferiority complex, intent on damage limitation. They played keep-ball in two thirds of the pitch but rarely threatened. Then a pass by one of the centrebacks, Montero, was far too hard for Moisander to control, allowing Arshavin to show how quick-witted and surgical he is. His disguise ｃ ｒｅａｔｅs uncertainty in defenders and gives teammates time to play. Here his perfect pass gave Van Persie space to produce a perfect pass to Fabregas, who tapped in for 1-0.

Van Persie is proving me wrong by making a success of a new role. He’s been given less to do and become more direct.

But it was the same old Arsenal. They were 30 seconds away from 8 wins in a row. A 70-yard freekick was virtually the last kick of the game, so keeper Romero went up into the box, and then we saw Diaby back off from contesting the header won by Alkmaar sub Pelle, and Mendes da Silva smashed a volley in off the post with a style worthy of Ian Wright. A very good reflex goal, spectacular and important. If Eduardo scored that goal, Gooners would all be raving about it.

Keeping Vito Mannone was the right call by Wenger. Having suggested Mannone had ended Fabianski's Arsenal career, I now reckon he has ended Almunia’s Arsenal career. Mannone looks like a goalkeeper. Almunia never did.

Olympiakos beat Standard Liege 2-1 and that was the only home win among the eight games.But unbeaten Arsenal still top Group H

LIVERPOOL were rubbish against Lyon, who won 2-1 with a  sublime move late on.

Stevie G's groin only lasted 25 minutes, Ngog looked like an amateur, Glenn Johnson's deputy Kelly did well, Benayoun scored in 41. Despite heroics from Reina, who punched away a corner and then made three saves in the same sequence before sub Maxime Gonalons  scored. Delgado slotted the winner at the far post after a slick k break. Lyon looked good but Liverpool made them look better than they are.

The other game in Liverpool's group was Debrecen 3 Fiorentina, a contest notable for four amazing finishes by Mutu, Gilardino, Mutu and Santana.

In the San Siro, Inter had to equalise twice against Dynamo Kiev in a 2-2 draw.

Stuttgart 1 Sevilla 3 showed the Spanish side to be the Fiorentina of La Liga. But more physical. I’ve liked Sevilla since their Uefa Cup win. They play ruggedly but intelligently and keep doing that despite the loss of Dani Alves, their dynamo.

For Gooners, a disappointing night.

Arsenal should have won but the Alkmaar game had its plus points. Mannone, obviously, and RVP. Van Persie's role has changed and he has adapted. Remarkably, Wenger has succeed in making him the centre forward in a 4-3-3 that I never thought he could be. I didn’t think Robin had the brains or discipline to play that role. He may remind AW of Marco van Basten but he's beginning to resemble of the greatest bang!bang! centre forward of modern times, Gabriele Batistuta. His game was simpler than RVP's game is now and he had Rui Costa, one of the classiest playmakers, supplying his ammunition.

Many years ago, maybe when Fiorentina were playing at Wembley, I was talking to Martin Tyler and asked : Is Batistuta the  best centre forward since Marco van Basten?" And Martin said, "His record says he is."

Batistuta's record includes 168 goals in 269 games for Fiorentina,  and 56 in 78 games for Argentina.

Talking of Argentina, Rubin Kazan's striker Dominguez should play alongside Tevez, with Messi on the right. With those three improvising in attack, Argentina would be formidable.

Why is the chaotic, incompetent Maradona still at the helm? Surely no nation, even Argentina, is crazy enough to employ him as a World Cup coach. The idea is mad, on health grounds alone.

Oct 21, 2009