Arsenal plays a beautiful, even mesmerizing brand of soccer, but it became obvious after last night’s 0-0 draw at home to CSKA Moscow in the Champions League, that one thing this team really lacks is a natural goalscorer. Thierry Henry once again reminded us that for all his ability, a natural goal scorer he is not. Henry has to work for his goals; tap-ins just don’t come naturally for him. Robin van Persie, who also only seems to score incredible goals, missed another golden opportunity, as did Cesc Fabregas after rounding the keeper, but Czech wizard Tomas Rosicky was the worst culprit of the evening, passing the ball safely into the safe hands of the CSKA goalkeeper with the unattended net gaping before him. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admitted he had no explanation for his side’s inability to finish, but strangely, he seemed unworried, calling last night’s performance Arsenal’s best in Europe. “For me, it was the best Champions League game we have played since I have been here,” Wenger said, adding: “It is frustrating. The normal score in a game like this is 7-0, maybe 7-1 because they missed a good chance as well…There was a division’s difference between the two teams.” This is isn’t the first time this season Arsenal has thoroughly dominated a match only to end up without a goal, a fact that might worry most managers. It’s times like these when a Ruud van Nistelrooy would really come in handy (although he didn’t have much luck for Real Madrid yesterday, either). Wenger and Arsenal will shrug this one off, but they better hope this is the last time something like this happens, or the Gunners won’t be winning any silverware this year.
