Sparta Prague 0-2 Arsenal

One of the most common criticisms aimed at Arsene Wenger’s side is their purported inability to compete with more physical opposition. Last night’s European Champion’s League qualification game polarised Arsenal’s response to the robust challenges they are certain to face in the Premiership this season.

Uncompromising ex-Fiorentina and West Ham defender Tomas Repka offered an insight into the nature of Sparta Prague’s approach to the game with his pre-match comments. The first half promptly began with the hosts asserting themselves- the captain going in strongly on Robin Van Persie, which looked to set the tone of the contest. Cesc Fabregas lashed the resulting thirty-yard shot well wide. Sparta seemed intent on using the height of the colossal Libor Dosek, but their play was sporadic and slipshod: balls from Klabrubsky and Dusek sailing aimlessly out of play. Another seemingly innocuous high ball across the box was then misjudged by Gael Clichy- Jan Rezek slid in and knocked the ball past Jens Lehmann and off the far post, Toure eventually clearing. The bookings and uncompromising tackles were stuttering Arsenal’s play, Sparta’s aggressive and robust approach restricting any periods of possession for the visitors. After a yellow card for Husek, Gallas’ long ball forward was laid off via his chest by Robin Van Persie; Cesc Fabregas ran onto the bouncing ball and saw his half volley pushed wide by Postulka from twenty yards out. It was a rare save from the Czech veteran goalkeeper- Van Persie’s free kick after fourteen minutes was only the second of the first half. Kulic encapsulated the home side’s approach shortly after when flying into a two-footed challenge on Bakary Sagna who was looking to start a move from the full-back position. It was a fierce, pre-meditated tackle on a player in an area of very little direct threat- with the intention of upsetting any tempo Arsenal were striving to find. The ploy was effective throughout the first half- so much so that Arsenal responded in kind. Instead of competing with their football, they were beginning to display petulance in the face of Sparta’s intimidatory tactics. Repka now the personification of Sparta’s antagonistic style, clashed with Alex Hleb after a challenge on the onrushing Postulka. The two squared up, and after play resumed Fabregas slid in late on the Sparta captain, who from then on seemed to be suffering from a knee injury. The challenge reeked strongly of retribution.

After half an hour Rezek was played in, again moving in behind Gael Clichy. A combination of the French fullback and Jens Lehmann cleared the Arsenal lines. Further evidence that Arsenal were being drawn in to a physical battle arrived in the shape of a booking for Mathieu Flamini. Arsenal were being distracted. However, their tormentor-in-chief Repka had since limped off, clearly incensed at Fabregas for the young Spaniard’s challenge. The hurter would do no more hurting, ironically falling victim to the outcome he had threatened his opponents with. Despite a spate of corners toward the end, Arsenal had threatened very little in the first half, and Sparta’s direct approach had yielded the better chances. Distracted by hard tackling and a smattering of petulance, the away side had forgotten to play any football. Although not intimidated- as some believe they are too easily, Sparta’s plan was working, as Arsenal had simply not played.

The second half was a different story. Ten minutes in Arsenal began to finally forge some opportunities- Clichy showed impressive balance to play in Rosicky in space on the left touchline. The returning and thus far anonymous midfielder played a ball into the box behind the fullback, Van Persie cleverly flicked the ball away from his marker and swivelled to hit a right-footed shot toward the far corner, which was pushed away by Postulka. Arsenal were becoming increasingly focused, and were starting to establish a firm grasp of possession. Swift interplay between Hleb and Rosicky led to the latter chipping the ball over the Sparta back line for Van Persie, who couldn’t quite get there. Eboue’s persistence won Arsenal the ball just after the hour- after working the ball across the pitch to the left via Hleb, Fabregas and Rosicky; Van Persie’s low cross was deflected behind and fortunately for Sparta, away from the onrushing Fabregas.

Then in the 71st minute, an interception by Gael Clichy enabled Arsenal to capitalise. Having anticipated the pass whilst on the halfway line, the Frenchman had already built up some momentum before touching the ball- two deft touches took him past two defenders at speed, before another found Fabregas five yards outside the Sparta penalty area. Afforded time to take one touch and compose himself, the subject of much crowd abuse finished clinically past a hapless Postulka. The difference in retribution for Fabregas in this half as opposed to the first was profound. Arsenal had demonstrated that they would not be intimidated in the best way possible- by playing the game they intended to from the kick off.

Sparta responded by applying some footballing pressure of their own, Kulic hitting a speculative near post half volley that was rather hesitantly ushered behind by Lehmann. The German then made a close range stop from the enormous Dosek’s flick-header, again conceding a corner. Sparta were beginning to bombard the Arsenal back four, which so far was looking resilient. The London side began to suggest a counter-attacking threat: Hleb finding the ever-overlapping Clichy, whose through ball enabled Fabregas’ cross to almost find Van Persie in the box.

The threat was confirmed when Lehmann’s swift throw enabled Bakary Sagna to exploit the space on Sparta’s right side. Moving into the left channel, his powerful run found Hleb surging forcefully into the area. As he did against Fulham at the weekend, the Belorussian had the composure to evade two defenders and the goalkeeper’s attempted save to confirm victory.

The difference between the two halves was poignant. There will be many more challenges of this nature for Arsene Wenger’s side this season, particularly in domestic matches. Which response we see will almost certainly determine Arsenal’s success- if they respond in their own way and not in kind, then who knows what they can achieve.