Being a Champions League game, it also gives me a chance to post a picture I took before our last European game, against Sparta Prague. I didn't actually go to the game, but in the afternoon before it, I was in the stadium for a couple of hours when it was empty - and I managed to sneak into Block 9 to take a photo of the place. It was really strange being there when it was so empty and quiet, and the fact that there was nobody there really brought home how big the place is. An awesome stadium, and this reminded me how we are all still occasionally able to get views of it from new angles - hopefully the novelty and surprise will continue for a few years yet.Talking of Chelsea, it was good to see the club that aspires to be the biggest club in Europe, with a gate of 24,983 for their Champions League game the previous evening against Rosenborg - who are comfortably the worst team in the tournament, but against whom Chelsea could only manage a draw. Less than 25,000 for a Champions League game in a stadium that holds over 40,000 is quite frankly a disgrace - and the fact that our stadium was sold out (even though I know that Sevilla are more attractive opponents than Rosenborg), really shows the gap between the two sides in terms of support. We even got 10,000 more than that for a Youth Team game earlier in the year - the biggest crowd ever for a youth game, in fact. Keep trying Chelsea, maybe you'll be as big as The Arsenal one day.
The game itself was possibly the perfect start to the Champions League campaign. Sevilla, despite having a lot of the ball, and looking quite classy in possession, didn't really threaten all that much. To be fair, they didn't look like this was one of their better performances, but to beat a side like them 3-0 at home was very welcome indeed. The scoreline flattered Arsenal somewhat, but it was a good performance all round, and Arsenal were thoroughly deserving winners. Aside from the away game against Sevilla, this is likely to be the most difficult group game, so a win was an excellent result, and Arsenal must now be clear favourites to qualify (as if we weren't already).Cesc Fabregas once again had a very impressive game, with almost all of the good attacking things being channelled directly through him - almost to the point where you are watching in admiration, but at the same time worrying about what we might do without him. Adebayor again caused nightmares for the Sevilla defenders with his approach to the game - fantastic nuisance value all round! And Matty Flamini again popped up all over the pitch, running his little French socks off. It was pleasing also to see Robin Van Persie scoring a goal again - he needed a goal after a couple of frustrating games recently.
All in all, against possibly one of the half dozen best teams in the tournament (and certainly on their day - which today wasn't - they are highly dangerous), this was a great result. We got slightly lucky to meet a Sevilla team that looked to be off their best, but the performance was excellent, and some of the football (especially the flowing passing move for the third goal) was deserving of victory. The scoreline was flattering, and we must be careful not to get carried away, but as good a start to the Champions League campaign as I had dared to hope for.
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