Job done

We're in the Champions League after a 2-1 win over Dinamo Zagreb meant we went through 5-1 on aggregate, and that's all that really matters.

However, I have to look at the game as I have to admit that certain things really worried me quite a bit. I know it was a qualifying game against lesser opposition that we were already leading three nil, but there were issues in last night's game that need addressing.

Firstly, Justin Hoyte and Manu Eboue had absolutely shocking games. Not only were they caught high up the pitch a lot, their passing, even when passing ten yards square of themselves, was appalling. We'd be knocking the ball around, get four or five passes together, push it out wide and one of them would give it straight back to the opposition. They weren't the only culprits, but were the biggest culprits.

Djourou and Kolo made two big mistakes between them, unfortunately making them at the same time, leading to their (offside) goal (plus Aluminium looked brittle as ever letting the ball seem to pass through his body). Other than that they looked solid and Kolo made a few cavalier breaks forward with the ball which was good to see.

Ljungberg and Hleb both looked knackered from the off, and both looked like they thought they were playing centre mid. Far too often they came inside either with the ball or looking for the ball, and this constricted the space available to Fabregas and Flamini, both of whom failed to impose themselves on the game. It also meant that when either Adebayor (who was very poor) or RvP (who was very good) dropped deep, there was no space to play in and nobody to pass out of the centre to.

That said we still created good chances and should have scored more. RvP had a shot cleared off the line which hit the bar and came out. Ljungberg missed the kind of chance he used to put away in his sleep. The less said about Adebayor the better. The goals, which came from Freddie and the Flim Flam Man were well worked, and unusually for us both came from crosses (from Robin and Theo respectively). That's two sub appearances for YTW, two big assisting roles in goals. I'm really surprised he didn't start, and when he didn't start that he didn't come on earlier.

Robin van Persie was by far our best player last night. Some of his touches were Bergkamp-like, and the one drag-turn he did was simply out of this world. I had to keep watching the replay to believe what he'd done. Fantastic. He was still guilty of over elaboration at times, but looked sharp.

Probably the best thing about last night though was that Merse was in the studio and kept calling Theo "Wilcotts". About five times. Hilarious.

In other news Chelski got beaten by Middlesbrough, who from what I saw on Match of the Day thoroughly deserved their win. Stick that in your pipe and smoke it Maureen.

News came through yesterday of a bid for Reyes from Atletico Madrid, although as its rumoured to be £11m there's no way we'll be doing business.

There's quite a nice interview with van Persie in the Sun, where they basically talk about him being fucking great and about how he understands that other people might find him arrogant. Nice job RvP.

Henry fancies us to win the Champions League this season. Thierry's always had a healthy dose of self belief, and it's well appreciated.