Champions League Round of 16 (2nd Leg) Arsenal v Barcelona; Match Preview
When I woke up Monday morning I had an entirely different approach in mind to this piece. But as that day started off, surpise of surprises to hear that Robin Van Persie has indeed travelled with the squad to Barcleona. He did in deed practice with the squad on Sunday in preparation for the match.
So with that, my hopes are up, but it is still a monumental task the Gunners face. It was just about year ago on the same pitch that Nicklas Bendtner gave us all a surprise shock with an away goal only to watch that give way to a Lionel Messi masterclass. It becomes even harder this season as Barcelona have scored 37 goals and conceded 8 at the Nou Camp. So this will be no easy task.
The task for Barcelona will not be made easier though by the fact that their first choice centre backs are missing. Carles Puyol was pronounced unfit to play yesterday and Pique will serve a suspension following the yellow he received at the Emirates. Still when you have an attack as potent as Barcelona do how much do you need your centre backs to be stars? The loss of Puyol is big for them as he is as much the heart of that team as anyone. Sure Messi and company do the magic with their feet but there is something reassuring and strong about Puyol in the back as their leader. His presence or lack thereof as well as Pique cannot be underestimated and Wenger should be looking for a way to exploit it.
But the real talk is less about the absences of those two players and more about the surprise return of Robin Van Persie to the squad. It literally came out of nowhere. Nothing from the press, no word from the player. Hell, the last report I saw was that he had gone back to Holland for treatment. But no, he is with the team and was training with them on Sunday in the final prep before the match. What’s interesting about it is Wenger does not play these kind of games. He never has. So I don’t know what to say is up but knowing that Wenger does not let players who are unfit travel with the squad it is at least an assumption that he will at least be on the bench for a super-sub role.
What is even more curious is the absolute apoplectic reaction from the Spanish press about it. Martin Samuel in the Mail said it was Arsenal’s gaul (in a mocking way) that the mess with the sanctity of the lily white Barcelona preparations. What he really went on to say is that it really sounds that Van Persie adds a bit of fear because of his form. I don’t know whether that is true or not, but hey it sounded good to me.
How much Van Persie will feature if any, remains to be seen. He could very well be along for the ride to keep Guardiola guessing about how Arsenal are planning to set up. He could actually be healthy and the knee scare was just a temporary thing that needed a few days off. I do not think this is a case of Wenger rushing a player back. If anything this season, Wenger does not seem eager to get back players to the in hurry post -injury. He does seem intent on letting the player heal. So if Van Persie is here it is either because he is fit or he is as close to fit as can be.
But without a Van Persie starting what can we expect? Many, including Barca are expecting an open affair but I am going to tell you I see it differently. If Arsenal play this wide open at Nou Camp – we will get sliced up. Arsenal are going to play looking for the counter to develop via Arshavin and Nasri. Nasri made Barca work last time. He can do so again and Arshavin’s strike outside the box shows how deadly he can be if he is given the room to operate. I especially like there ability one on one against Alves and Maxwell. Sure they are quick (but not as quick as Walcott) but they are also very skilled at beating players on an individual level. The other thing is they are both very good at getting the ball in the box and this why I want to see Wenger start Chamakh as the forward.
Chamakh has a Champion’s League pedigree and was part and parcel of Bourdeaux’s run in the competition last season. Bendy is coming on and I have been convinced that the lad is starting to come on but he still does not seem to deliver when we really need him to. With Chamakh’s header strength – every one is a freakin rifle shot – and crosses from Arshavin, Nasri, Clichy and Sagna on the counter, Chamakh could wind up being a very instrumental part in this game if played. Sure I think Bendy could do it to. But his heading ability always strikes me as more luck than skill. What Chamakh needs to do though is start being greedy. He is a good player but he often times passes (even when in the box) when he should shoot. Not like we complain about that alot or anything. Right?
Either way whoever starts up front needs to use their size to their advantage.
As for who replaces the injured Alex Song I am hoping for Abou Diaby. When Diaby and Denilson combine on a pitch it slows us down. Denilson needs two touches for him to get started. The problem is he usually only has time for one touch before his second touch finds its way to an opposing player. Diaby has his height and strength going for him. He is also good at getting the ball into a team’s final third. What he does wrong is what he does with the ball once he gets there. If he cannot dish the ball out better in that area than he could cause us headaches on a counter. However the presence of Cesc in the midfield always seems to improve his performance.
Finally, my eyes will be on three players in particular. First Jack Wilshere. I just finished watching Pep Guardiola’s pre-game comments to the press and when asked about Wilshere he said “he’s a good player for Arsenal and England. We have many like him in our “B” team.” Ouch Josep. Need I remind you that little Jack Wilshere had his way with your “A” team midfield. Jack has shown uncanny poise throughout the season. He is completely unfazed by the level at which he plays. If he is 19 and this way imagine the skill he will show when he is 23 and beyond. Wilshere is growing in stature and will surely one day take his place among Arsenal greats. This tie could expedite that.
The other players I will watch will be Laurent Koscielny and Bacary Sagna. Both are going to have the delight of defending against Messi. Koscielny in my opinion was man of the match in the last leg. The kid makes mistakes of that there is no doubt but in his first real Champion’s League test he was amazing against Messi and he used his height advantage to crowd out the Argentinian maestro. For Sagna, who is to me the best RB in the EPL and one of the top 10 in Europe – he will get first dibs on Messi before Koscielny does. Sagna makes almost no mistakes and we didn’t have him in the first and it is why Koscielny had to come up big against him – Eboue didn’t have the presence to slow him down. Sagna does.
All in all though when it really comes down to it, I think for Arsenal it all comes down to this – do the players believe they have what it takes win. Do they have the desire to win. The players can play this game. They’ve shown that – especially in the first leg. Alot is being made about the change of venues. I find that to be bull crap. Spanish stadiums are not nearly as raucus as English – they are a walk in the park in comparison. So that has to be taken out of the equation. If they believe they can do it – they will.
We talk about Barca’s arrogance. It is to some extent but it is also a belief in their own abilities and talent that propels them forward. You have to have it if you are going to succeed. We’ve all discussed the mental side of Arsenal’s development in the last few years. We’ve talked about collapses after players go off horribly injured or after players are absent for long periods of time. But now it all comes down to this simple fact – if the starting XI believe they can beat Barca then they have fought 3/4 of the battle. The remaining 25% has to be done on the pitch.
By the way there is one other and slightly less known reason why I think Arsenal will win – we won’t be wearing those god-awful third “Spurs” kits from last season. I don’t think we won one game with them last season.
So here it is my lineups for the match.
Probable Starting XI:
No prediction. I just don’t know. I keep going back and forth on this match. I definitely can see ways Arsenal win this. I also see ways that Arsenal can lose this. It really is going to come down to that all important first goal. The longer Arsenal can hold Barca at bay the more it favors the visitors. It’s weird saying that because it is what we say against sides in the EPL playing against Arsenal. If Arsenal can manage to snatch the first goal – say around the 25 minute mark. I like their chances. If the cough up the first goal, it could get dicey.
Either way this is going to be a good match. I am looking forward to it.
See you on the flip side.
[donate]
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Not sure if the picture will be up long but check out the picture of Peter Crouch on soccernet.com’s main page. It is supposed to depict a happy Crouch but the picture oozes evil — Crouch’s eyes are a cross between Cyclops & Storm (X-Men). The picture also is further evidence about the evil forces at play at Spurs, something Arsenal fans have known for long :)
Xavi says: Arsenal didn’t even attempt to play football.
I’d have to agree 100%.
We are supposed to be this creative team, with dynamic young players, who play open, free-flowing football.
Then we get the chance on the biggest stage of all… and we don’t even try to play football.
sad. but true.
if we lose at United… which is very likely… (who’s reffing that match?)… then its just ALL League games… and we’ll have a better chance at the League.
I’d be just fine with that.
some people just have a way with words, from Goonerholic drinks section:
leftcoastgooner
“It’s true our captain had a very bad first half and we didn’t play particularly well as a unit.
But I have a hard time believing that any team even the”great?” Barcelona would have overcome 4 yellows a red and a penalty.
There was some spotty footie our part. But we got pounded up the poop chute with rock salt and a chipotle cream sherry reduction.
Thank you Chef (ref) Busaca.
I think that’s Romanie for up yerz.”
LMAO.
We had a chance to “nick” it at the end, but Barca were far the better team over two legs, but the best team doesn’t always win as we all know from experience.
I’d rather have lost 5-1 playing 11 v. 11 than to have lost 3 – 1 playing 10 v. 12…..
@jroybower, Quite a few neutrals I talked to said they were also upset by the ref’s red card as for them it ruined what could have been a good match. It would have better just to see a decent game of football and like you say, if Arsenal lost 5-1 with the same number of players, then it would have been a bit more tolerable.
The mobile site is a great addition DAG but the nested comments are showing as black writing on dark grey background, almost impossible to read.
First – Steve you are no longer a “newbie” far from it. Your comments are some of the best on the site.
I’ll have a full article on my thoughts post match out sometime today.
As for where the hippies have gone – they are here lurking and reading but they do not comment because of the constant attempts by people to “shout” them down.
Which brings me to this point (site purveyor hat on). I am very proud of what this site has become and is becoming my recent google analytical report shows a 69% increase in traffic. It also shows that we now have visitors from all over with heavy concentrations in the US UK India and locales in the east.
I am never ever going tonstifle debate the bickering between mongers and hippies is part of what makes YAMA tick. I will not impose a one world view lock down as some other blogs – all I am going to ask is this disagree, debate and argue with each other all you want but remember new people are joining th conversation or would like to join the conversation. If their views or views that are different than your own cannot be respected than I will have to start being a hard ass – which I really don’t want to do.
@Kiwi,
“Don’t worry by hippie ” LOL nice one Kiwi :-)
Yep spot on with points 1-4 I have to concede we will have to settle for the double. But of course we cannot be expected to buy for every likely injury Kiwi, we could never get quality in quanitity and be fiscally prudent.
Should we have bought another stiker because the MvP might have got injured? No, no one even considered us buying a CF (as back up that is), neither was anyone really considering a back up for Cesc. Obviously people are always willing for a clearout i.e in the form of Denilson, Eboue, Diaby, Chamakh, Bendtner etc and replacements bought in, but no talk of buying in the likelihood of injury in those positions. What was on the agenda was the CB position/s and funnily enough in regards to injury we don’t have a problem there at present . But that is how it is, a lottery as to who will get injured and who won’t, what we have to have is decent back up, which we have, but maybe too many out on loan.
I would not read too much into Peps statement about pressure, although I think it is true I do not hink that lack of pressure is what leads to our lack of success.
RvP is bar far the best CF we have even when he isn’t playing optimal he can offer more than the likes of Bendtner and Chamakh on avaerge. I d not hink Wenger was wrong to play him however he got no service all the time he was on the pitch. Cesc was almost as bad as Diaby and I agree judging by that performance he shouldn’t have been on the pitch, but would should we have played instead, Denilson? Ramsey? Rosicky? maybe playing Cesc was worth the gamble but he didn’t show the right attitude we can only speculate.
Again I agree nothing significant will change Wengers policy is set, but what may make all the difference is the new wave of talent to be introduced into our MF next season, they may well make the Diaby’s and Denilsons of the side redundant.
See all things are bright in the in the future Wenger Wonderland ;-)
@soccerfreak,
“BTW JACK WILSHERE WAS A MONSTER THE WHOLE NIGHT. RESPECT !!”
He carried our MF all night, he was the only MF that performed and showed tenacity. Jack worked his sock of even when he was visibly tired in the 2nd half the boy motored on, he was fantastic. Cesc was obviously not fully fit, Rosicky still in poor form, Diaby didn’t even try but maybe he is not quite fit either. But even if he wasn’t 100% fit I would have expected him to be up for Barca and shown some sort of effort.
Barca played against an underperforming Arsenal side MF in particular. Kos had a very good game up until the penalty. Djourou came to the fore as the game progressed and made some vital tackles/interceptions. Sagna was DF dependable throughout but not an attacking force. Clicy again was the weakest link and they kept getting in behind him as he tucked inside. However he had no one protecting him at all so he semed to have to cover two areas or players at a time on the counter attack.
Big Al was immense again (reflecting on the best GK in the world performance vs Barca last year) and kept us in it. Manny was our man of the match alongside Wilshere.
Who knows what may have happened if RvP hadn’t been sent off or the “Bendtmeister” had lived up to his billing and put ball where 90% of top strikers would have put that ball, in the back of the net. That was my biggest disappointment in the whole game, we could have still got that all important 2nd goal with RvP off the pitch with 4 mins or so of normal time to expire. Wilshire hands it to him on plate and woe that awful 1st touch of his rears its ugly head, meister my ass ;-)
Seriously, we could have got away with it yesterday but for that major decision going against us. Barca were not awarded a clear penalty against Diaby in the 1st half so they would have good cause to feel aggrevied had we sneaked it. We have nothing to be ashamed of but we could have caused an upset with a little more effort and application.
Another painful European night.
I am pretty impressed by the growing mental aptitude of this team.
Against our nature we focussed and tracked back and defended pretty well.
This Barcelona team is the best that there has ever been. No shame in losing to them.
The loss of van Persie was brutal. Since the game was already 1-1.
I am not sure whether or not the referee can change decisions immediately after making them, i suspect yes he can, and that is why his insensitivity was hard to swallow.
No doubt Barcelona are the better team, but the better team has no divine right to win. It could have been a different game.
Anyways, in the end, after all flip-flops, somewhere I believe justice was done, considering the penalty appeal on Messi that was not given in the first half.
It would have been heart warming if Nicklas would have finished it. But then him doing the expected is just a hypothetical situation.
I also think somewhere the falliability of this team, related to failures in our own lives, makes us Arsenal fans so passionate about them, and support or criticize and continue to criticize them, but not leave them.
BTW JACK WILSHERE WAS A MONSTER THE WHOLE NIGHT. RESPECT !!
Not sure if this is true but a Barca fan told me that quite a few Barca fans had whistles and they blew it every time an Arsenal player touched a ball. If this is true, then that makes Massimo Busacca’s decision even more stupid.
I do have a better appreciation for the tough jobs refs have, especially after seeing the brilliant documentary Kill the Referee (must see for any soccer fan), which interestingly also featured Massimo Busacca. But Massimo’s decision today was not under no pressure — he didn’t have to decide a penalty or a dive. He could have taken his time but no…I am glad Wenger told Busacca off though near the end. I just wish Wenger tells his own players off like that every now and then though.
Once upon a time, in a galaxy far far away, Arsenal used to create enough chances and were mostly in control of a game, so things were not ruined by a few dodgy calls (Oct 2004 aside). However, in the last few years, the team has had many weakness and issues, leading them to depend on luck to ensure things go to plan. Living on such a fine margin of a shaky plan means one or two bad calls will ruin everything. The two CL games against Liverpool a few years come to mind. In one game, Kuyt’s buddy ref didn’t give Arsenal a penalty and in the other game, Babel got a nod for his dive. But Arsenal were not without fault in those games either.
Chelsea also lived on such a fine margin against Barca a few years ago when they played a dull 0-0 tie at Nou Camp and were hoping to sneak through 1-0 when Iniesta struck late. Ofcourse, in that game, no one could have predicted Chelsea to not get 4-5 penalties. That day, Barca had a bad red card as well.
Jose boasted about his tactic of giving Barca possession last year but it was a fine margin by which his team sneaked through. It helps having the right players who can work hard and grind things out, while hoping for some luck. But when a team has multiple problems and players who are capable of working their socks off for 90+min, then hoping for such strict planning will not work.
The Leyton Orient chairman said it straight when he thought Wenger was trying to nick a game but a late goal prevented that. Today was another case when Arsenal were trying to nick the game late on and they almost did if it were not the anti-nick man. Come to think of it, Arsenal’s last trophy also came with a huge slice of luck where Arsenal were dominated by Man Utd but won it on penalties. That victory didn’t feel bad because Man Utd had robbed Arsenal previously, so that win was justification.
@sachin, typo..meant to say..
players who are NOT capable of working their socks off for 90+min,
@sachin, this was one of your best posts……thanks for the objectivity.
@Arsession, Thanks. Just trying to find a way to ease the pain that refuses to go away quickly :)
@Arsession, Thanks. Just trying to find a way to ease the pain that refuses to go away quickly :)
Funny, but I find the most recent hard-core doomer/realist convert, Fred, to be the most entertaining of the postings tonight….
Of course, his boy Bendy, went a bit swervy there, given his phenomenal chance to put Barca OUT. That was no misplaced first touch….it was a back-pass straight to his keeper, just as Cesc’s cheeky back-heel to set up Iniesta was inch perfect (shades of the World Cup) to freeze the D and put Messi clean through.
And I will also salute MF (Manager Fred) and a few others for noticing that the ref might’ve done better in the sending off of RVP. Even the first yellow was bit unjust, Abidal’s handprints round his neck still visible….
Still, the notion that we need to exaggerate (lie, is the correct word) about injuries so that we can trot out half-fit, but established players is beyond stupid. I’m not saying we would have done better without Cesc and RVP, but, even with our woeful “strength-in-depth” (another lie) could we have done worse?
The team (and the game itself) has troubles (big ones) and I fear they’ll be exposed on Saturday and in the league run-in, and I agree that we’re dropping our standards to match the fall of our rivals. (The lies, however, get better and better.) Still, I’m not ready to go completely dark and gloomy and I’ve got my arguments (excuses), at least in the formulation stage, and I don’t think today’s match should be the latest billboard for our deficiencies. In fact, I’m hoping the injustice today spurs the team forward so we get our draw on Saturday. (Being out of the CL, I’m gonna need my fix….tures….)
For me, a nooby, nooby, noobtard, these days of sufferings feel like the brands that I will proudly show when, finally, our day comes….I know others feel that it’ll never (ever) happen….If so, I ask, why stick around?
@highburyterracesteve,
Stevo, good question. As an aside, interesting that it’s the realists mostly that stick around and post and banter while the Happy Hippo’s have long gone – looking for muddier waters perhaps.
The answer, of course, is rhetorical. A quirky mixture of deep loyalty to the club, hope, an obsessive interest and love for the game, etc….. And the simple truth that being a fan is centred on the club and not the manager or a particular player. Managers and players come and go – they get their reward. Fans stay hoping for good times (whatever that means in the context of your club).
But, it’s a good question, when do you deside to spend your time and interest on something else? That’s easy I guess – when you want to.
Indeed, I’m guessing many fans (like the happy hippo’s) simply drift away with no fanfare, refocusing on something else, spending their leisure on another sport or team or interest. At the end of the day, its entertainment, particualarly for folk who don’t live anywhere near the team.
@Kiwi,
Kiwi without the personnel; players and manager there is no club. Players and managers come and go but whoever they are, they make up the most important part of the club and should be respected even if not particularly liked. Without them the club is nothing it doesn’t function, it ceases to exist as a football club. Without a team there are no fans, simple.
Fans who do not support the team are only good as cash cows. They have nothing else to contribute to the success of the team and therefore the club in fact all they can do is bring team morale down.
I never confuse Mongerism with realism thats why I never use that term realist, but I would not put you in that catergory anyway. However the Happy Hippos would tend to prefer muddy water over over dry, smelly Monger pits devoid of anything good and life sustaining, it is just the nature of I Hippo ;-)
@highburyterracesteve,
Steve enough with you being a noob, already. You’re way past it.
;-) Plus if your posts are this long now. I shudder to think how long they’ll be once you think you know something.
@highburyterracesteve, when one supports a team for a few decades, then it becomes a part of one’s life, a habit. I think over time, one gets better at handing losses and defeats but that still does not mean that one will not complain about things. On trips through England, I have met fans who are 2nd, 3rd generation fans of teams such as Bristol, Southampton, Cardiff, Boro and Arsenal (ofcourse). I have heard many stories from them and most of them have given me a hard time when I mentioned Arsenal’s woes. Yet, most of these fans still complained about their team’s weekend loss/draw. I found it amusing they told me Arsenal’s problems were nothing but to them, their team’s problems seemed substantial. The other side is that there are a few other team’s such as Madrid, Milan, Bayern whose problems seem small when compared to Arsenal.
@highburyterracesteve,
Well written Steve, you Happy Hippo, Noobtard ;-)
But the answer to your question is answered by Kiwi ironically, “it’s [Mongerism] entertainment” for some folk ;-)
Usually I disagree with most Soccernet articles about Arsenal, but this one mostly is right.
Although I don’t agree with the following two statements:
Wenger did not have any other options in his squad, though the inclusion of Denilson may have at least afforded some protection of a back four exposed by the defensive failings of midfielders Fabregas, Wilshere and Diaby.
Not likely.
Wenger may also bemoan the absence of injured centre-back Thomas Vermaelen, but he is deluded if he believes that either Laurent Koscielny and Johann Djourou are good enough to join the Belgian as the bedrock of a defence good enough to win top honours.
Yes Koscielny has had his blunders (the carling cup one will take a long time to go away) but both him and Djourou are a good pair. I would have instead used the deluded references to other aspects of the team, but not to these two.
Also, at this stage, I worry what state Vermaelen will be in when he returns to the squad in late 2011 — a huge guess on the date but with Arsenal’s poor track record of injury return predictions, no date is late enough.
@sachin, last year, i watched denilson intercept more xavi passes than i’ve ever seen any team. despite that, denilson has been absolutely horrible this year and didn’t deserve to play tonight.
during the scuffles leading to van persie getting his first yellow card, i could see the team getting stretched and losing focus. after that, barcelona created their best chances of the game in quick succession, to include their first goal. other than that, considering we had two broke-dick players on the pitch, our defenders were very solid.
vermaelen is far from a bedrock. in this fixture last year, he was barcelona’s main target. they treated him like the retarded kid on the playground. he fell for virtually every single trap they set and showed how tactically naive he was. both koscielny and djourou were ten times better than vermaelen was last year. even when he’s fit again, he is not guaranteed a spot.
@joshuad, yeah I was also impressed with how the pair of Koscielny and Djourou did today. But that has been a good partnership this season. Maybe, they should get a shorter combo name — Dj Kos :)
@sachin, LOL :-)
@sachin, last year, denilson intercepted more xavi passes than i’ve ever seen any entire team do. despite his exploits from last year, he’s been horrible this term and didn’t deserve to play tonight.
except for a few minutes before halftime, i think our defense did exceptionally well defending; especially considering they got little help from anyone except for wilshere.
vermaelen is far from a bedrock. last year, barcelona targeted him. he fell for virtually every trap they set for him. it was like watching a retarded kid getting bullied on the playground. both koscielny and djourou were ten times better than vermaelen was last year. he’ll have to earn his place back into this team.
Eduardo scored the final goal in Shaktars rout of woeful Roma.
He is now going to play CL QF football.
We should have been the ones beating up on Roma.
But no ….
@Fred, Arsenal could not overcome the powerhouse of Portuguese football that is Braga. Braga is in 6th place in their league, 31 points off the top, but they know what many teams in England know — beating Arsenal does not require much brains. Or brawn for that matter.
@Fred, Arsenal could not overcome the powerhouse of Portuguese football that is Braga. Braga is in 6th place in their league, 31 points off the top, but they know what many teams in England know — beating Arsenal does not require much brains. Or brawn for that matter.
My crystal ball……
We’ll beat Manchester United (just to frustrate the naysayers) and then get put out the next round by a thoroughly nondescript side that we should have buried 3-0.
We’ll stumble in the EPL, blame injuries, and come third as Manchester United and Chelsea slug it out. And Evra will repeat his men-v-boys taunt. Arsenal will respond with massed twitters – reminding Evra that they get paid more than he does.
Wenger will remind us all of the progress we are making, our style, our values and our sustainable business model. Hillwood and Gazidis will parrot Wenger shortly thereafter.
Press repeat.
@Kiwi, yes repeat with a few variations…Regarding Evra, a few Arsenal players will foul him in the league fixture just to remind him who the men are.
And yes, even if Arsenal got past Man Utd somehow, they might get beat by Birmingham in the semis again, just to rub it in (provided Bham make it).
That being said, at this stage I cannot see Arsenal getting past Man Utd. Fergie will put out a strongish squad and Rooney, Ji-Sung Park & Javier will do the damage. I am fearful of another 4-0 defeat. It could get ugly. At this stage, I am hoping for a major snowfall to postpone the saturday fixture.
oh..forgot to add that Wenger will say that he should be judged in 2014, not at the end of the season. Because if it were not for injuries, then Arsenal could have won a quad this season. So much depth in the squad and soooo much belief and mental strength. Commitment, attitude.
I did mention before that a 2nd place league finish and a cup final defeat for Arsenal is progress. Wenger and Ivan will tout that and no one can argue against that. Arsenal have not finished 2nd since 2005 and didn’t feature in a cup final since 2007. So this season is already a huge success. Huge. Arsenal just need to hold onto 2nd from now until the end of the season, and Wenger and the board will laugh all the way to the bank.
@Kiwi, yes repeat with a few variations…Regarding Evra, a few Arsenal players will foul him in the league fixture just to remind him who the men are.
And yes, even if Arsenal got past Man Utd somehow, they might get beat by Birmingham in the semis again, just to rub it in (provided Bham make it).
That being said, at this stage I cannot see Arsenal getting past Man Utd. Fergie will put out a strongish squad and Rooney, Ji-Sung Park & Javier will do the damage. I am fearful of another 4-0 defeat. It could get ugly. At this stage, I am hoping for a major snowfall to postpone the saturday fixture.
oh..forgot to add that Wenger will say that he should be judged in 2014, not at the end of the season. Because if it were not for injuries, then Arsenal could have won a quad this season. So much depth in the squad and soooo much belief and mental strength. Commitment, attitude.
I did mention before that a 2nd place league finish and a cup final defeat for Arsenal is progress. Wenger and Ivan will tout that and no one can argue against that. Arsenal have not finished 2nd since 2005 and didn’t feature in a cup final since 2007. So this season is already a huge success. Huge. Arsenal just need to hold onto 2nd from now until the end of the season, and Wenger and the board will laugh all the way to the bank.
Was Cesc laughing?
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/premiership/champions-league-van-persie-sees-red-as-barcelona-beat-arsenal-again-15107710.html
@Kiwi,
I think it was smile as if to say “what the fuck sort of decision was that?”.
I’ve seen him do that before and it’s usually when the ref makes such a stupid decision that the only reaction is to laugh.
Always sad to see Cesc play when not fit. Impotent in every respect bar dead ball passing.
— The ref was absolutely ridiculous and was in Barca’s pocket all day.
That why does RvP ALWAYS get involved in unnecessary aggro? He got involved in a few fouls then got the first yellow. Then had his hand on some random dudes face.
But for the ref to give a second yellow at that point in the game and for that was insane. The ref should be fired.
That said though.
Barca’s style was just too unrelenting. We didnt even have the quality to get 3 passes in a row. Zero shots, zero shots on target is comical.
Immediately Chesny came off, I just felt we werent gonna win.
And once I saw Fabregas doing that backheel I knew we were f*4ed. That was a really retarded thing to even think of at that moment RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOUR FREAKING BOX!!!! He should be whipped severely just for that.
In the end, our only hope was actually what almost transpired. Keep it close till injury time then score a fluke on the counter leaving them no time to respond. Every time Almunia made a save from a clear chance, I was thinking surely, we are going to nick a fluke goal and win this! Apparently, Bendy doesnt read those sort of romantic scripts. The cloddy f&%er!
In the end, it all boils down to the fact that we dont really have the quality, depth, bla, bla.
The very sad part is that we will repeat this same scenario next season and the season after. Ah well.
PS: Special shout out to the Great Cliche. For the 1000th time this year he plays a striker onside. Someone needs to smack his head with a good book.
0 shots on target.
I’ll say it again for the lovers of stats.
0 shots on target.
As Fred said, it’s not what you do as such, it’s what you do when it matters.
@Mazza, and 24% time in possession. lol
@Mazza,
Yeah, that stat is just grimy.
Thats why I’m very wary of folks when they try to bring up stats about alleged defensive strengths or say … Denilson’s assists lol.
Ah well, we still have the small matter of Man U away for the team to prove itself.
@Mazza, This stat and the possession stat Kiwi mentions tells the whole story. For once, the stats don’t lie. Just dismal. Absolutely dismal. Now, if these were stats for Stoke, then one could understand. But for Arsenal to put up such numbers (or put down) is a disgrace.
Come to think of it, I think Stoke might have managed atleast one shot on net though. A long throw in and a flicked on header. That is an even more terrible thought that I think that Stoke could have outshot Arsenal at the Nou Camp. Just terrible. Ofcourse, Stoke might have picked up 2-3 red cards but atleast Dani Alves would have gotten a genuine injury that he was crying for.
Before the League Cup final I wrote a brief missive outlining that in a short period (of 2 weeks) we had the possibility of:
1. winning the League Cup = X
2. progressing in the Champions League = X
3. accruing EPL points = part X
4. progressing in the FA Cup = ?
So we’re not doing so flash, and our little period of truth and testing is a repeat of prior recent seasons. In addition, those who warned that injuries were likely to bite are being proven right, unfortunately.
Pep Guardiola is an unashamed fan of Arsene Wenger and yet he let slip a truth that most(?) of us know to be proven, Arsene and this Arsenal don’t play under a big teams expectation to win. Other BIG clubs are expected to win, that’s it, there is no ambiguity on the objective. Not so Arsenal under Arsene and Hillwood and Gazidis. “Coming close” is the Arsenal equivalent objective. Close enough is good enough, and all decisions back that up.
Today, Fabregas and van Persie were liabilities. Wenger’s actions disproved his words. He played both when they were clearly not in a state to contribute. I honestly wouldn’t have known Fabregas was on the pitch unless I saw his name on the team sheet and then saw his most noteworthy contribution to the match when he gifted the goal to Barcelona. As for van Persie, he always comes back slow from injury, and he did again today. Then the double yellow.
As disappointing as the result was, and our play, the biggest downer is the sure knowledge nothing will change. Don’t worry by hippie :-)
F**k Roberto Rossetti. He made an awful call by any standard. Quite dismal. Roberto thinks highly of himself & believes he is the best ref in the world. Ha.
That being said, Arsenal could still have nicked it late on if the self proclaimed great Dane was not himself and didn’t have a Bendtner like moment.
Not sure what the plan was but I cannot imagine it involved Arsenal looking dull and lethargic throughout 90 minutes. Little Jack once again showed more determination that most of this team. And I hope Cesc is delighted with his charming backheel. Almunia was not himself and that was good otherwise it could have been a bit more uglier.
As per my pre-match comment, Arsenal held Barca to just 3 goals but they failed to score the required 2 goals. On paper, the scoreline does not look too shabby but in reality the teams were 300-400 passes apart.
@sachin, what the hell. I can’t even get the ref name right. I was sure it was Rossetti but it was Massimo Busacca. Oops.
@sachin, what the hell. I can’t even get the ref name right. I was sure it was Rossetti but it was Massimo Busacca. Oops.
@sachin,
Could not agree more about Wilshere. For the second big game in a row, he was the only one who looked like he really cared.
Bendnter cannot feck off soon enough.
@vibe4arsenal, Jack can take on any player and does not care which team he is against. Funny, I used to say that about Cesc a few years ago.
@vibe4arsenal, Jack can take on any player and does not care which team he is against. Funny, I used to say that about Cesc a few years ago.
@vibe4arsenal, He has a great engine and a great spirit. In some ways he’s at odds with the laconic style that Wenger has created.
@Kiwi,
As I said after the CC, he displays no evidence of being infected by Wenger-itis. Guess it only manifests itself in one’s 20s.
@vibe4arsenal, He’s also English, so maybe there is something to the ‘caring’, not exhibited in so many of the team who seem to be in 2nd gear in many games until the last 10 min’s. And yet, when you hear them speak of themselves they’re world class wonders. The gap between their actual on-field performances and their opinions on self is surpassed only….. um, by the manager’s own comments and the reality we see. Perhaps there is a correlation.
@Kiwi,
A-fooking-men.
I’d be thrilled with 10 more of Jack and one less Danish ‘world class wonder’.
Of course, that would probably require one less Frenchmen.
Where do I sign?
The injury to Szczesny was a blow – bad luck….compounded by Cesc and vP who really couldn’t even apply pressure but both of whom were instrumental for the outcome.
Almunia played well……kudos to him.
Oh well.
Not a single shot on net for Arsenal tonite.
Own goal the only way we were scoring.
And Barcelona had 75% possession, and the ref in their pocket.
Almunia is back as our No.1
Here we come in the run for the EPL Title.
By Saturday, it will be the only thing left to play for.
My only complaint is that we didn’t even try to mount an attack or go forward at all… no possession … Cesc was absolutely anonymous.
no surprises here.
Oh well.
Not a single shot on net for Arsenal tonite.
Own goal the only way we were scoring.
And Barcelona had 75% possession, and the ref in their pocket.
Almunia is back as our No.1
Here we come in the run for the EPL Title.
By Saturday, it will be the only thing left to play for.
My only complaint is that we didn’t even try to mount an attack or go forward at all… no possession … Cesc was absolutely anonymous.
no surprises here.
@stag133,
Cesc was not absolutely anonymous. He was Mr. Trying-to- show-off-at-home-with-a-cute- back-heel-that-led-to-Barca’s-first -goal-in-stoppage-time.
Hang the ref. Shoot the ref. Guillotine the ref.
He is horrible and should never come near any football pitch again, not even my local park’s 5-year old girls league.
Was it a coincidence he made perhaps the worst decision I’ve seen in a game I watched (not counting calls from games I didn’t watch, ex Hand of God) right after Arsenal went ahead on aggregate? That call was preposterous! Not a given Arsenal would’ve advanced with 11 men, but you can bet we had the upper hand. It was at least 60/40, maybe as high as 75/25.
@ChicagoGooner,
It was an absolutely horrible call, but that’s not why we lost the game.
The Arsenal Starting XI:
Szczesny, Sagna, Clichy, Djourou, Koscielny, Diaby, Wilshere, Fabregas, Rosicky, Nasri, Van Persie
Rosicky in for Arshavin is a defencive move only.
Some confusion as Arsenal.com has Gibbs starting in place of Clichy but on site fans say Clichy is there. So does Sky Sports News
@DaAdminGooner,
Barca Starting XI:
Valdes, Alves, Busquets, Abidal, Adriano, Xavi, Mascherano, Iniesta, Pedro, Messi, Villa
@DaAdminGooner, So RVP is indeed back to magical fitness and his inclusion was not just a ploy. I just hope he volleys and scores with his other leg this time around, just to be on the safe side :)
Come on Cesc, score a nice double and help put out Barca. Ofcourse, any great Cesc play will just make Xavi lust more but I am fine with Xavi having wet dreams for the next few months.
This is a no lose situation.
NOBODY expects us to win the game, or the 2 leg tie.
RVP gives us a chance, because he can manufacture goals from nothing… and we will need just that.
We need the 1st goal… just like last year… but we have to somehow withstand the onslaught from Barca that will occur.
They will be coming at Arsenal in waves… ALL MATCH LONG.
We need a goal… and then to hit them on the counter for another… a stunner… and still… we’ll have to withstand what they throw at us.
Tough to see it happening, especially when we regularly throw away leads against shit teams… and let a 4 goal lead go.
It’s an interesting match up … but I expect Barcelona to be too much for us to handle… just like last season.
They don’t play the games on paper, and weird stuff happens in football… an early red-card to Barcelona? Something like that might be fun!
No matter the result… we beat them earlier…
and going out of the CL would benefit our hopes for winning the league, in my opinion.
I won’t shed a tear regardless of the outcome today.
I just hope we show up, and compete hard…
Great Blog piece on the what if match of the century – Barcelona vs Stoke.
http://ghostgoal.co.uk/2011/03/05/mes-que-un-long-throw/
Pep Guardiola:
“Wilshere is lucky because we have many players like him in the second team with us but it is simple to play with Arsenal because they have no pressure to win titles as quickly as possible”
Wow, Pep must read YAMA cos I said the same thing just a couple weeks ago!
This is Wenger FC’s chance to really shove it to Pep …. knock Barca out by any means possible! No excuses or complaints … just play a solid game and prove that comment wrong.
Welcome to the new posters….Some on this board just go for the jugular w/o regard for the notion that participants are real people putting down their real thoughts and feelings…Oh well, that’s the glory of the interweb…..
I came up with the exact same line-up as DAG, as did Arseblog this morning. The notion that Denilson is a superior defensive midfielder or that AW even thinks in this manner is (in a nod to Fred….) laughable (IMO). Diaby is rusty and his final ball is woeful, but he presents a target for crosses and can protect the ball better than Denilson and do an occasional turn and run. As we’re going to be playing on the break A LOT, he’s the much better option….
I also like Chamakh up front at the start. He slots in a bit better at maintaining our normal shape than Bendy does. I would expect the latter to get on around the hour mark. We also need to assume that the match could go 120 mins (if we get that goal we need). RVP might come on very late (to take a PK?) or if we need goals, in the plural sense. Unlike DAG, I think AW is trying to put a scare into the (makeshift) Barca defense AND is risking the health of his best goal scorer….In other words, regardless of today’s match I see RVP “getting” a niggle (at the very least) and not playing at OT or West Brom, and getting another stomach bug during the Int’l break….
Finally, I believe we can’t even BEGIN to think we have a chance unless we (somehow) manage to score two goals. We must remember that Barca, in their only home match this season against decent competition scored 5 against Real Madrid. If we can somehow get those two goals they might get a little panicky and move away from their training ground approach to the game (possession, pressure and tippy tappy your ass to sleep….)
That being said, it’s not impossible. I think we should be playing for corners and set-pieces given our taller and stronger players and the decent deliveries that Jack and Cesc or Samir can provide. Only Abidal (who played brilliantly in the 1st leg) can really rise up and meet balls at a level that would suffice in England. Additionally, set-pieces work to “shorten” the match and the shorter the better….
I’m trying to keep my expectations very low, but it IS exciting and as a fan of the team I want more matches for the club in this tournament, even if it would be a travesty for Barca to be gone at this stage of the competition. See y’all in the GDC….
Denilson and Diaby are makeshift DMs.
Denilson is better disciplined to chase the ball and restrain moving forward…….and last year at this leg of the tie, he had his best defensive performance in an Arsenal jersey (imo).
This has been another season interrupted by injuries for Diaby…..but he is healthy now, played in a few recent matches and definitely on the higher PECKING ORDER with our manager.
Szczesny
Sagna – Dj – Kos – Eboue
Clichy – Wilshere
Cesc
Bendtner – vP – Nasri
some may find Clichy in the DM spot fool hardy…….but I see Clichy as a left footed Flamini.
@Arsession,
Eboue at LB and Clichy at DM???
And you think we will try that for the first time against Barca away?
Come on now! Even Wenger isnt that mad.
Again with the mythical Denilson “discipline”. He is second to almost every ball, loses all headers, doesnt track his man and gets the run around from most AMs. He was woeful in the corresponding fixture last year, so I really dont understand where this “discipline” you are talking about comes from.
Needless to say I hope to god he doesnt play. Not a big fan of Abou Dhabi but at least he has a 10% of playing a solid game.
@Arsession, Personally, I enjoy a little hyperbole, but it’s as if you’re sending in your proposed line-up from outer space…..Remember AW reads the YAMA and he might take up some of your ideas…..(winky face, right….)
Clichy, (a supposed Barca target, given that nobody there seems convinced by Maxwell….) might have a better audition for his future club by trying to focus on keeping in line with his other defenders as we try to play the offsides trap….
Oh geez, I think I just wet myself just thinking about this strategy….
5 hours to kickoff….
As for Barca no predictions or comments from me pre-match. I have not got a clue what will happen.
My head says we will go out by two clear goals at least as I reminisce on the numerous chances they were presented with at the Ems, those clean through moments.
However my Hippie heart says (as I huddle together singing Kum-by-ya with my Hippie friends ;-) ) the luck of ManU will be with us today, Messi will have a bad day and we will manage a draw and scrape through.
I am sure we will all have lots to say after the game.
From the last thread. Stag is an fan Arsenal just he loves the club but dislikes our present team or maybe their lack of success, frustrated rather than fuelled by hatred.
DAG the players and the manager are the team, don’t you get. If someone chooses to slander (very different from criticise in a decent manner) our players and manager constantly, especially when then they don’t even warrant much criticism, then they are not supporting the team. If such people monopolise the “support” at the Emirates we will have no team as no one will want to play for us. No one has the right to tell anyone else whether they are Arsenal (the club) supporters whoever they are, however long thy have supported the club and where they come from. But it can be pointed out that they are not supporting the team.
If I choose to call out the likes of Fred, Mazza or anyone else about their anti-Arsenal tendencies, why should you or anyone else take offence. Yet when they turn the heat on you you pull them up on the same freaking thing, effing hypocrisy I say.
Out of all the positions Wenger failed to bolster which is now seriously going to hurt us is defensive midfield. The fact that Wilshere has been a revelation is a bonus – surely there should be cover for Song though.
So, Diaby or Denilson? Its like asking, would you prefer waterboarding or the rack, as with either of them on the pitch it will be 90 mins of torture.
However I think we can do some damage and I think the game plan has to be, let Barcelona huff and puff for 70 mins and if by some miracle we can keep them in sight then as they tire we can begin to take command of the game.
I think we can do it.
I think Mascherano (barring suspension) is most likely going to play at DM over Adriano (who I have never seen play there).
Also I suspect they might even bring in Milito and move Busquets back upfront.
As for Arsenal, I cant see Chamakh starting. Wenger has shown he puts Bendy ahead of him. And if RvP is fit, he is certain to start.
I’m sorry but i just don’t see Diaby starting ahead of Denilson.Diaby is too often caught out in forward positions and just cannot come back to defend.Denilson,if nothing else,is a ball winner and can offer more protection to the back four.That will be so crucial when we play at the Camp Nou.
Its going to be the same line up with Denilson in place of Diaby.
Its going to be a big game for the brazilian!He has to deliver,finally!
@Shiri,
“Denilson,if nothing else,is a ball winner and can offer more protection to the back four.”
Hahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahah … oh dear god!
@Fred,
Fred I’d like to remind there are other people who post here on an infrequent basis – please be mindfuly of their opinions.
@Fred, Pretty funny,huh?Maybe you should laugh at Wenger for buying him.Maybe you should laugh at Wenger cuz he doesnt know shit when he plays him in that role today at Camp Nou.Maybe you should laugh when he does well!Maybe you should laugh at me wanting him to do well.Maybe you should laugh at so many other gooners who think like me.Im glad i amused you.
Regards
@Shiri,
Shiri I agree Denilson is more DF minded than Diaby and in all likelhood he would do better against continental opposition than he does in th EPL, but so does Diaby.
i would go for Diaby too because his positivity and recent form albeit one game of so will bode well for us against the likes Barca. Denilsons conservatism and lack of adventure may invite more pressure onto us.
It would be interesting to see who starts, if Diaby does start I want to see him attack as he doesn’t DF particularly well.
As for Fred don’t mind him, it think it is more a laugh at Denilson than you.
@Shiri,
No need to get touchy. If you have been following the site for any length of time you will know its never personal.
That said, Denilson is garbage and has never been a “ball winner” or “protected” the back four. Infact he is frequently the opposition’s 12th man.
Playing him in this game would be criminal.
@Shiri,
I have to agree with Fred on this Shiri. I would rather play Diaby as he doesn’t give the ball away as much. Denilson has two touches – one get the ball two give it away. If Denilson is in our midfield, Jack will have to play back more and Wenger wants him to attack
Atleast the game won’t end 0-0. It is probably the only tie that can’t ever end scoreless. I would not even want to wish for that scoreline anyway as the longer that scoreline holds, then Barca would just need a 1-0 result in that case. The flip side to that is Arsenal would then have no choice but to score an away goal. Ideally, all Arsenal have to do is go out and race to a 2-0 lead and they try to hold Barca to just 3 goals to win the tie. Easier to type that than imagine it :)
DAG you mention the two crucial missing CB players. I was also thinking how can Arsenal exploit the absence of Mr. Hair and Mr. Shakira? If Arsene never prepares his team taking into account the opposition, then I am not sure if that will factor into Arsene’s plans. On the other hand, I am glad that Busquets will be pushed into the CB role as he might have been far more destructive to Arsenal into the midfield. Maxwell must be the happiest out of the back 4 as he won’t have to worry about Theo even though he didn’t give much to Theo in the first leg, unlike last year.
I also cannot understand the media’s obsessive need to ask every single opposing manager about Arsenal’s trophy absence. Guardiola was asked about it and so was Steve Bruce(??). Maybe the media is packed with some closet Arsenal fans who are trying to increase the pressure on Wenger and do the Arsenal board’s job. Yes, Arsenal may be the only top club out of the group of Barca, Madrid, Man Utd, Milan, Inter and Bayern that have gone the longest without a trophy but then again, the Arsenal board made it clear a few years ago they didn’t want trophies so they should just come out and say it. I am sure every soccer fan in England and across Europe now knows how long Arsenal are without a trophy.
It is not exactly mission impossible even though it looks and feels like it but sooner or later, Messi is going to have a bad day, right? :) Maybe Xavi might be too distracted by admiring Cesc and would instead misplace all his passes because mentally he would be fantasying about Cesc running alongside him? And Guardiola might be just too busy looking at Jack to think of anything else. Pedro & Villa would be just pissed off that they are getting ignored. And Arshavin & Nasri might be busy having the game of their lives because they are both dreaming of going to Barca next season.
All will be answered tomorrow. Dream, nightmare or brutal reality? Atleast it won’t be dull and won’t be 0-0.
If vP and Cesc can play (close to a full match), and their play is not impaired by their recent injuries…….our chances of advancing are good.
We play in a much more physical and competitive league. Our league (top to bottom) has prepared us for any pressure that Barca can apply.
I’m comfortable with the back four of Sagna, Dj, Kos, and Clichy……and hope that Szczesny can continue his consistent form.
The other six positions and our formation are up to our manager. vP, Cesc, Nasri, Wilshere, Diaby, Arshavin, Rosicky, Chamakh, Bendtner: this is a significantly stronger nucleus available for the return tie than we had last season. Why shouldn’t we expect a different result.
Favorites on paper, playing at home, and losing the 1st tie, the pressure is on Barca.
Come on you Gunners!
You have the wrong ideas about Pep’s comments on Wilshere. Guardion has twisted it to make it sound as if Pep is dissing Jack.
@Harshawardhan,
Actually it was a point I didn’t put in this post – I don’t think Pep was purposely trying to degrade Jack. Obivously the Guardian is trying to stri things up.
Thanks for reminding me. Good luck to your lot.