凱歌高進歐冠

A. Song For Europe
by GilbertoSilver
註：A. Song 指球員 Alex Song ，但這裡用作雙關 A song :)
Gunnerblog http://gunnerblog.com/2011/11/24/a-song-for-europe/

When the Champions League draw was made, a lot of hullabaloo was made about the perceived difficulty of Manchester City’s group. So much so that our treacherous passage passed almost without mention, which was even surprising considering that, lest we forget, we were a club ‘in crisis’.
當歐冠賽事結束倒數第二回合後，許多人都在叫囂 ManCity 會輸掉歐冠的晉級機會。以至於我們的晉級如此地不受矚目，甚至難以想像不久前我們還是個處在危機狀態的球隊呢。

As United and Chelsea geared up for predictable processions, a shaken Arsenal side were set to face the Champions of both Germany and Greece. City’s ‘group of death’, it should be noticed, does not contain a single domestic Champion.
起初大家看好 ManUtd 和 Chelsea 能輕鬆拿下小組第一，而搖晃欲墜的 Arsenal 卻要面對德甲和希甲冠軍。而 ManCity 分在死亡之組內，但值得一提的是，組內沒有一個是地區冠軍球隊。

And yet this morning, Arsenal are the only English side qualified for the knockout phase. Not only that, but we can play our final group game away to Olympiacos safe in the knowledge that whatever happens, we will win the group, thus avoiding the likes of Bayern, Inter, Madrid and Barca in the last 16.
然而今早確定一件事，Arsenal 是唯一確定晉級的英超球隊。不僅如此，最後一場小組賽作客希甲球隊 Olympiacos 不影響我們拿下小組第一的事實，也避開了在八強賽遇上 Bayern、Inter Milan、RealMadrid、以及 Barca。

I’m sure I’m not alone in feeling tremendously proud, which is something that was difficult to envisage in the dark days of August. So much credit is due to Arsene Wenger and the team for the way in which they’ve turned things around. Hopefully reaching this milestone will provide a significant confidence boost as we chase our goals for the rest of the season: principally, making sure we’re back in the competition next season.
我肯定不是唯一感到驕傲的一位，尤其在八月那段黑暗期間，更是難以料到會有如此的成果。這都得歸功於 教授 和 整個球隊 努力地去改變劣勢。希望在追逐本季目標時，達到能帶給全隊信心的激勵之里程碑：確保下賽季回到具有奪冠競爭力的地位。

Dortmund started brightly, but their plans were disrupted by two injuries in quick succession. First, Sven Bender launched a tackle at Thomas Vermaelen. Against a mere human, Bender would doubtless have walked away unscathed. After tangling with The Verminator, however, he found himself with a jaw that was broken in two places. Ouch.
Dortmund 一開始表現不錯，但卻因接下來兩起傷病而中斷。首先是 Sven Bender 對 Thomas Vermaelen 的鏟球。若是對一般球員鏟球，Bender 理所當然能毫髮無傷地完成鏟球。結果和 終結者 相撞，下顎撞傷而難以為繼。嗚喔！

Moments later, Mario Götze came off worse in a clash with the imposing Alex Song, and limped off. The playmaker had started brightly, and was naturally a big loss to a Dortmund side whose work ethic and incisive passing had made them a real threat early on.
接著 Mario Gotze 撞上 Alex Song 而受傷且跛著下場。身為組織球員的他，在開場時努力地貢獻和手術刀般的傳球帶來不少威脅，一旦少了他對 Dortmund 會是不小的打擊。

Arsenal didn’t manage to carve out any clear-cut chances in the first-half, but within four minutes of the second they were ahead. Alex Song seemed possessed by the spirit of Thierry Henry, who was looking on from the upper tier, as he picked up the ball on the left-hand side and waltzed past four defenders before looping a wonderful cross to the back post. Predictably, the man there to meet it was Robin van Persie, who planted a firm header beyond the goalkeeper.
而 Arsenal 在上半場沒有帶來實質的進攻威脅，但下半場才開始 4分鐘就進球了。Alex Song 似乎被 Thierry Henry 給附身，一直等待向前進攻的機會，結果在左側撿到球後以華爾茲般美妙舞步閃過四名球員，最後優雅地吊球到球門前。可以想像，在球門前等待的男人就是 Robin van Persie，以一記頂球破網得分。

It was a fantastic piece of individual play by Song, and a telling contribution towards his man of the match performance. It’s somewhat ironic, however, that his most memorable moment was a piece of attacking play, because it was on the defensive side that he really excelled. He played deeper than usual, and did some superb work covering the forward forays of Andre Santos. It’s no coincidence that on a night where Song patrolled in front of the back-line so effectively, Santos had his best game in an Arsenal shirt.
那真是 Song 精彩又美妙的個人秀，更是訴說著他在整場比賽的表現。說來有點矛盾，令人印象深刻的總是他的進攻那一刻，因為他總是在中場負責防禦的任務。他比平常更加參與進攻，又能在左後衛 Andre Santos 向前進攻時補上防線的空缺。今晚不但看到 Song 如此有效率地在防線前攔截，同時也是 Santos 在 Arsenal 表現最棒的一次，這一切絕非巧合。

The same should have been sealed shortly after. Aaron Ramsey, inventive and industrious in midfield, played in Gervinho. However, the Ivorian is clearly yet to find the shooting boots he mislaid so spectacularly at Carrow Road, and he rounded the keeper only to hesitate and allow the chance to go by. His finishing simply has to improve: at some point, misses like this will cost us.
之後本可再拿下第二球。Aaron Ramsey 在中場令人為之一亮的表現和勤奮跑動，和 Gervinho 做出漂亮的配合。可惜象牙海岸人把射門靴忘在 Carrow Road 了（Norwich 球隊的主場，上一場英超賽事），單刀下晃過門將後卻遲疑了一下，機會就飛了。關鍵一腳的能力有待加強：就某種意義上來說，一再地放槍會讓我們付出代價的。

Not last night, however – thanks again to that man, Robin van Persie. I had pleaded in my preview for someone else to step up to the goalscoring mantle, but it wasn’t to be. The Dutchman just cannot stop scoring. The goal that clinched the game typified the groove he is in – stepping away from his marker early to reach a Thomas Vermaelen near-post flick on and tap in to an unguarded net. He now has more than four times as many goals as our next highest scorer. And, at last, we’ve managed to score from a corner.
不只昨晚那一次，我們要一再地感謝真男人：Robin van Persie。比賽前我預測一定會有其他人站出來分擔進球的責任，結果沒有，而是荷蘭人沒辦法不進球。致勝進球來自他慣例進球風格：比盯防他的球員早一步站到後側，接應 Thomas Vermaelen 在球門前的爭頂傳球，無人盯防下踢進球門。進球紀錄甚至是隊員第二進球數的四倍之多呢！另外，我們終於能在角球得分了。:)

There was a late consolation for Dortmund, with Kagawa side-footing home after some slack defending from substitute Johan Djourou. Hearteningly, Thomas Vermaelen was furious and berated his team-mates. We’re beginning to take pride in the game’s less glamorous elements. Their fans deserved to see a goal. They were superb throughout the ninety minutes, even managing a chorus of “You only sing when you’re winning” in perfect English.
Dortmund 終場前進了一球得以告慰，由於替補球員 Johan Djourou 鬆懈的防守表現，讓香川(Kagawa)踢進一球。令人振奮的是，Thomas Vermaelen 對此感到生氣且苛責隊友鬆懈的表現。我們開始為這不太迷人的部分而自豪。(在酸自己球隊如此鬆懈)。客隊球迷配得看到所支持的球隊進球。敵隊在九十分鐘裡的表現相當傑出，甚至以標準的英語來唱著“你們只有在勝利時才高歌”。
(槍手曾有過領先後便鬆懈的表現，而且都沒有人站出來斥責)

In recognition, Arsenal fans concurred “we only sing when we’re winning”. But last night, we had plenty to sing about. And, after all, we only needed One Song.
槍迷們都同意“只有在勝利時才高歌”。在昨晚，我們有太多可以頌唱的歌曲。但是呢，我們其實只要唱一首歌就夠了。
（One Song 意味著我們只要一個 Alex Song 而不需要好幾個 Alex Song XDDDD