Wednesday 9 March 2011

Falling foul of the "key" decision

Some people are quick to gloat in the faces of Arsenal fans, taking a lot of satisfaction from the fact that they were dumped out of the Champions League last night - personally I see it as warning shot of just how cruel European football can be.

It's a sight you see only too often - an English side bemoaning bad refereeing as they crash out of Europe. Everyone remember Drogba screaming down the television cameras in 2009?

Regardless what anyone says about Barcelona deserving the victory, there is no denying that the referee had a huge impact on the game by sending off Robin Van Persie in what can only be described as a ridiculous decision.

Arsenal may have been played off the park by one of the best attacking teams on the planet, they may have been swarmed when in possession and Barcelona may have pitched their tent in the visitors' half of the Nou Camp, but who is really to say that, with 11 players still on the pitch, Arsenal couldn't have protected their slender advantage?

At the very least, it might have been Van Persie bearing down on the Barcelona goal in the 90th minute instead of Nicklas Bendtner, and it could have turned the game on its head.

Spurs are on a great run so far in Europe, but we've done it largely without interruption from referees. It takes a very forgetful Spurs fan to think that our 1-0 lead is by any means solid.

A long day of people telling us that Spurs are in pole position, in control, and favourites to go through is already underway. Of course, as Spurs fans we know that our side are capable of beating Milan - if Milan play into our hands then we're capable of blowing them away - but we're all only too familiar with just how delicate the mindset of our side can be.

In 2007, we blew our quarter-final against Sevilla by conceding two goals in 8 minutes at home in the second leg of a tie that we just needed to win 1-0. Today's squad is better in both attitude and quality but we're all familiar with the alarming tendency we've developed this season of imploding at the beginning of games.

Rafa Van Der Vaart's broad and experienced shoulders will be key to settling the side's early nerves in the "white hot" atmosphere. However, if we're faced with the wrong referee, decisions are bound to go against us.

Spurs can't spend the game in fear of stepping out of line but it's how we react to these moments that is so important, so as not to tip the balance in favour of our opponents and so as not to become another English club complaining to officials come the final whistle.

See you on the other side!

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