Once More Unto The Breach: Arsenal v Barcelona (CL QF 2nd Leg)
This time its for all the marbles
Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more,
Or close the wall up with our English dead!
In peace there ‘s nothing so becomes a man
As modest stillness and humility;
But when the blast of war blows in our ears,
Then imitate the action of the tiger:
Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood,
Disguise fair nature with hard-favoured rage;
Then lend the eye a terrible aspect. – Henry V Act 3 Sc 1 William Shakespeare
One of Shakespeare’s most iconic lines. It is so fitting for this match against two of the giants of European football.
Last week I spent 60 minutes in a pub in abject frustration. I watched a team, a classy team, my team get thoroughly outclassed. I watched a team become as poetic in motion, as ruthless as a killer and as potent as any single malt shred a team I thought had all those qualities. Thanks to the lucky feet hands and face of our keeper it was thankfully oly 2-0 when it could easily have been 6-0 GAME, SET and MATCH.
There would have been no need for today had Manuel Almunia not played the best 25 minutes of his career (Shortly followed by the worst 10 minutes). Had not the pace of Theo Walcott completely out maneouvered Maxwell and had not Carlos Puyol been stupid this game would’ve been a formality and we would’ve been likely crowning Barcelona as the European Champions. (hey we still might).
The task for the Gunners is huge. They have more injuries than a hospital can take care. Fabregas, Gallas, Arshavin, Song, oh the list goes on are all out of this match. That means many players who would not normally be called on to be the heros will be. Samir Nasri will lead the attack. Personally, I am eager to see this because Nasri has shown that when he plays the central role he is almost as good as Fabregas. Yes, it was against Porto but he shredded them completely spearheading the 5-0 thrashing of the Portoguese side in the last round of the CL. He plays better here and frankly I think he has more ofg a physical side than Fabregas has. Fabregas though has the all around complete game and sees the play devleop better than anyone I’ve seen. So there isn’t much loss there.
The biggest loss will be Alexander Song. I am amazed at how far this kid has come this season. I was ready to have him shipped out this season. Frankly when he was starting in the early parts of the season I was wondering how this would work out. To say that he has been one of our consistent performers each night out. is an understatement. He has. He controls the midfeld very well and creates havoc for opposing attacks.
So the Gunners do not have their full allotment of weapons and all the pundits and some fans have written them off. And if I am a realist I could very well write them off. Hell, they are playing the best team on the planet right now. Even the nouveau galacticos in Madrid pale in comparison. So you wouldn’t nor couldn’t blame a Gooner if he thought their boys were going down. But as has been the case all season long this team sets out to prove doubters wrong.
It remains to be seen if this current crop of Gunners is merely achieving beyond its ability or if this is the beginning of a glorious time in Gunner lore. That script won’t be written till next season when they are either competing for a title or sadly for the fourth Champions League spot. What is known is that at ever chance they have been written off that have stormed back to steal away. How long that lasts is unknown. But they did it to this Barcelona squad last week and there is no reason to doubt they can’t do it again this week.
Why you ask? For one thing Bracelona are not invincible. They lost 2-1 at home against Rubin Kazan and by the same score to Sevilla in the Spanish cup. Also while Arsenal are lacking, so too are the Blaugrana. Ibrahimovic, Puyol and Pique are all out. That’s two first team central defenders and one star attacker. Iniesta if he makes the squad will not start. He is a game time fitness decision. While they remain a formidable side (any side with Messi and Xavi in it are) they are weakened and can be had.
Regardless of the team’s situations this again could provide much entertainment for all. Hell, if it has half of what was evident in last week’s match this will go down as a legendary tie. It will be one we always remember whatever the outcome. Whether its the swashbuckling style of Barcelona or the determined spirit of our Gunners, this will be a tie for the ages. I am glad it is happening. I am glad I will get to see a proper football match.
Our beloved Gunners head once more into the breach and into a possible dance with destiny (hey I can wax poetic if I want to). I am of the mind that if they get past Barcelona then they will win the Champion’s League. Like they say, if you want to be the best you have to beat the best and the Gunners can do that.
I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips,
Straining upon the start. The game’s afoot:
Follow your spirit; and, upon this charge
Cry ‘God for Harry! England and Saint George!’ – Henry V Act 3 Sc 1 – William Shakespeare
How the Match Should Play Out:
Barcelona will look to be as ruthless as they were last week. I think the ferocity of their attack last week not only showed how good they are but how afriad they were of Arsenal’s ability. They were absolutely intent on knocking Arsenal out of the match early and if not for Almunia they would’ve done so. While I expect the same level of play, I don’t expect Arsenal to be mere viewers. They took what Barcelona had to give and they survived. There is no more awe. Any way, I don’t have a score for this. I think it comes out a draw and we go down to PKs. Just because it would make this more classic than it already is.
Probable Starting XI:
Arsenal: Almunia, Vermalen, Campbell, Sagna, Clichy, Denilson, Diaby, Nasri, Eboue, Rosicky, Bendtner
Barcelona: Valdes, Alves, Milito, Marquez, Maxwell, Toure, Xavi, Keita, Messi, Bojan, Pedro.
Injuries/Suspended:
Arsenal: Fabregas (leg) Arshavin (leg) Song (groin) Gallas (leg)Van Persie (ankle), Gibbs (foot), Djourou (knee) Ramsey (leg)
Barcelona: Puyol, Pique, Abidal, Iniesta
Recent League Form:
Arsenal: WDWWW
Barcelona: WDWWW
TV Broadcast:
US: Fox Soccer Channel/Foxsoccer.tv 1445 EST
UK: ITV1
Online Streams:
www.atdhe.net
www.justin.tv
www.iraqgoals.net
www.myp2p.eu
GAMEDAY CHAT Will Be On: www.youaremyarsenal.com/gamedaychat
YAMA Prediction:
Who knows?????
133 comments
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Arsene’s response is so typical –
“We have to add something, for sure, but we have some time to think about that,” admitted Wenger.
[Let us raise the hopes of fans by promising them some signings]
“We are at a stage where we’re developing players.”
[But we will not kill any of our young darlings]
“[Theo] Walcott is 22; [Nicklas] Bendtner is 22; [Samir] Nasri, [Abou] Diaby and Denilson are 22 or 23. They’ve shown some great qualities and they’ll get stronger every year.”
[You improve because your age increases. Just look at Sendy or Clichy who are 25 now.]
“We were very young and what we did was very positive. We had six or seven players under 23 in the team and we had plenty of opportunities. We showed we lacked maturity in the weight of the final ball.”
[Reaching the CL quarters is an over-achievement, be thankful for it]
Well parsed, nip.
Everything he said was true. Arsene-truth, but true!
We are in a great position, with a young team, and going forward, you can definitely look forward to more of the same.
Good Football, a chance at a trophy maybe, and lowering the stadium debt more, and a profitable Summer.
Not sure what more you can want or expect from the Arsenal FC, we aren’t one of the big rich fish in the sea, and we still scare the big teams on occasion.
Well done Arsene.
“We are at a stage where we’re developing players,” Wenger said. “[Theo] Walcott is 22; [Nicklas] Bendtner is 22; [Samir] Nasri, [Abou] Diaby and Denílson are 22 or 23. They’ve shown some great qualities and they’ll get stronger every year. We have to add something, for sure, but we have some time to think about that.”
He’s had four years to think about that, yet he sounds like he’s just noticed something new.
“We were very young tonight and what we did was very positive. We had six or seven players under 23 in the team and we had plenty of opportunities. We showed we lacked maturity in the weight of the final ball.”
That’s, umm, reality.
Lets not be selective – all our players lost the ball. I wouldn’t say any of our
players were deserving phrase.
In any competition, hope stems from belief. With the strength of the team unavailable, we played Barca with a patched up line up.
After the first tie & losing Cesc, Song, Arshavin, and Gallas, did any of you foolishly believe we were going through to the semi’s.
Accept the loss, it happens to every team.
Trying to find a scapegoat for the loss is f**king ridiculous.
I think I believed..Yes. I don’t think I as a fan can do anything more to back the team. Song was the loss though which sort of sealed it..
After NB’s goal I thought we had a chance coz we’d played quite well till then. Messi… what a player.. its impossible to not just bow down in respect to the guy… Seriously.
I hope we keep fighting in the league though. The reaction is important now. And they will give one..I hope.
Me too!
Yes, Spurs in a week will be a real test of this teams character.
The only perspective is to look long and hard at our starting eleven and bench – honestly it was pathetic for such a glamour event. The players who ran out did the best they could. The question is why does it happen every year? Why are we left with the scraps and a s*#t bench?
Before I knew Arshavin and Song were out and Rosicky was 50/50(!) I thought we had a fighting chance – once the state of the squad became apparent it was all over bar the shouting – and my optimism drained away. You can’t perform with no fuel in the tank and we were left sniffing fumes. Bendtner, Rosicky, Walcott and Eduardo – that was the best we could roll out against the best team in a decade. We got what we deserved.
What’s even worse is that we probably have little else available for the five remaining EPL games…. oh wait a minute here’s Robin coming on his flying pig.
I doubt the result would have been better with a full first eleven. And coming from an official AKB as branded on this ‘realistic’ message board.. it is something.
Overall I agree.. its a problem..the state of all our players .. These 2 games?.. Nope.
LDE, I hear what your saying.
For me, if we fronted up with a side including Arshavin, Song and a fit Rosicky and got beaten I’d say, “ok, fair chop, we gave it our best”.
It just does my head in to come to the clutch again and have the same injury saga again. And to roll out what frankly was a pi$$ poor side. We should be able to run out a decent team and have a bench with some genuine attacking options – we didn’t. It’s not about the final result per se, it’s about giving our team a fighting chance.
…. the other issue is the likelihood that this ailment will continue into the next 5 key EPL games. What a jolly shame if our challenge peter’s out.
There’s a chance that might happen. But the next game is Spurs.. luckily or unluckily. Maybe there’s still fight left..maybe. AW will point to Chelsea and show them how they came back after going out of the CL. That might help.. psychologically. Maybe ManU will go out too..today….
There’s a little perspective needed. Arsenal as we saw it yesterday are a work in progress..IF ..IF you compare it to Barca’s style of play.
Inter Milan might well stifle Barca. That’s not the point. Arsenal do not and will never play like Inter Milan as long as AW is in charge. So I hope AW looks at this and does what he needs to improve off the ball movement of all his players and tell them.. “Hey we’re good, but we’re not good enough to compete with Barcelona. That is what I want you guys to reach someday. Are you up for it?” That is the reaction that I’d like to see from all of them.
LDE?
Ummm… yeah, ask the players… “are you up for it”?
As if there was anything they could have done differently last night?
No. I think Arsene Wenger needs to accept that we will never be as good as Barcelona, with the way we are doing things… and just accept that as currently constituted, and doing things the RIGHT way… means we aren’t able to compete against the biggest teams in the World.
We have higher ideals, we have debt to lower, we have other imperatives besides just winning.
It has little to do with the players on the pitch last night. They did what was expected of them, and then some.
if chamakh is going to join us, which till now seems likely, he is definitely a class above anything we have now.
he was a beauty last week, and today he will be playing at home.
he was somewhat like torres, a complete striker.
Yesterday was a very disappointing night. A reality check for Arsenal.
We wanted to measure ourselves against the best. And boy, did we come up short!
We may be the kings of technical superiority in England (even that may be debated by some), but in Europe, we still have a long way to go.
Some may say – this is Barca and nobody has a chance against them. I doubt it. Inter will give them a right royal run for their money. I doubt they will get thrashed 4-1.
Yes, a lot of our players were injured, but when is that ever not true. As Kiwi pointed out, we carry a whole bunch of injury question marks, so it is kind of foolish to expect our best team to be available for most of the games.
If that is the plan, then I guess, we have over-achieved. I mean, coming 3rd in the league (could still finish higher) and reaching quarters to be knocked out by the defending champs is a big achievement for a young team with so many players missing so many games.
I wish we could do more, but I guess I should just stop hoping.
Well, at least the future is bright and I guess next year will be our year. Or the year after that …
Not sure why your expectations are so high.
Realize that we aren’t the big spenders, and we have to try and do things a bit differently.
We COULD spend, but why… the long-term is more important, we need to make PROFITS every year, and lower the stadium debt.
We will play nice football, and we will give a few big teams a right scare.
Enjoy it.
We are the Arsenal Football Club, PLC, Limited.
it is very deflating.
because if just for even once, the tie was ours to lose.
we were favs to go 2-0 up, and yet we couldn’t.
no shame.
there can be only one winner
barca were better.
we were as classless against them as manU generally are against us.
their conduct over the two legs both on and off the field has been very uncharacteristically respectable.
they are what we would love to be.
yet, we are dreamers.
and shattered dreams are painful nonetheless.
i dont know how much time it will take to recover.
but pretty low inside at the moment.
classless? You mean in a footballing sense..rt?
ya..
the way we had to conceed free kicks and make fouls on xavi was in a way reminiscent of the way manYoo try to neutralize our attacking threat.
also, their passing superiority and accuracy was immense.
the quick touch and interplay was enviable.
yet, i doubt their chances against the tactical might of mourinho.
Yes, we played some ANTI-FOOTBALL!
LOL
Because when you can’t get the ball off the other team, (like happens so much in the EPL with us)… you are forced to FOUL.
OK people.
Really… we played one of the best teams in the world,
if not the best. We had numerous injuries to KEY players all over
the pitch.
I am sorry our manager didn’t employ some of the CRAZY tactics and
line-ups you wanted to see… with players out of their regular positions… but in case you forgot, we only needed a WIN to advance.
1-0, which we led for about 2 minutes was all it would take.
So to expect Arsene Wenger, to do something completely out of
character, against what he always does, is NOT VERY BRIGHT!
I agreed with Fred … that Diaby not playing the ball to Theo, when it was 1-0 Arsenal, and he had a clear lane to the net, was a crucial error. Barcelona tied the game within a minute of that play… and Diaby was INCREDIBLY average, and poor at times today.
With the injuries, we simply couldn’t hang with Barcelona today.
Nothing to be ashamed of with your REGULAR team… so it was no surprise
that we lost 4-1 with a wounded team. They are THAT GOOD. They had all the possession over the two legs, and really, gave us a footballing
lesson for a good portion of both games.
We had our moments… the last 20 minutes of match 1 were fun to watch.
We didn’t take it, we hit back.
Today, taking the lead was a WOW moment… and we had the chance
to go 2-0, that would have been something… but we succumbed to the
pressure and talent of a BETTER TEAM. Not a shame. Just reality.
There wasn’t anyone to blame specifically for today… we are what
we are… and the players we had available, gave a good effort.
You can NOT expect us to win on the road against Barcelona (or any good team for that matter)… without Cesc, Gallas, Arshavin & Song.
If you DID think we had a good chance, re-think… seriously.
These are IMPACT players, not just squad players.
It was a GOOD run in the CL… and while I wish we advanced, we weren’t winning the tournament anyway. Better to go out against the best.
It was a positive money run for the club, making it to the CL Qtrs…
It was joked about above, but why not… we can concentrate solely
on the LEAGUE now… 5 games left, and we have a chance to win the league if we get help along the way. We don’t have any more CL mid-week matches, sapping our already depleted resources. Good for the run-in.
As for the wholesale changes some are bleating on about… please…
take a nap, come back in a day or two… we got some good experience
for the younger players in the CL, and Wenger has guided us to this point, with a chance for glory in the CL, and a chance to win the league, despite all the injuries we’ve suffered. He’s done a really
good job of managing us to above expected results.
Again, we have made money, when other teams are deep in debt.
We have competed well in all competitions, despite the injuries, and despite not spending much to improve the team.
We’ve sold out every home match in a worldwide recession, and thus cut into the debt yet again.
Some players have made big strides and have had solid seasons.
Some have definitely improved, and a few beyond what we expected.
Vermaelen, was a big find, and a big piece to the puzzle at the back…
With Djourou coming back, Gallas might re-sign, and we refound Sol!
Song has been very good at times, and he looks like a key piece
going forward…
Theo has had some moments, and at 21… even Barca like what he offers…
Nasri has stepped up his game, and is starting to gel nicely, with our
without Cesc.
Cesc has scored and set-up plenty of goals… and led on the pitch, despite being nicked up regularly.
Even Eboue has had his moments…!
So, enjoy the run-in… 5 games to go, 5 games to glory?
Well, regardless, 5 games remain in a very good season for
Arsenal FC, PLC…
We can stress about the Summer… and what we will and should do…
when its over. Cesc will be a target for Real & Spain, like never before… 50 Million? 40 Million and a Yaya? or Keep Him at Arsenal
for another season?
As I stated before… no matter how it plays itself out, it is
ALL GOOD. It will be positive in some sense, either big profits, and reduced debts… and the team is bigger than any player… or
we retain the services of our Lone Star!
Great Run Arsene and Arsenal… enjoyed this years CL immensely.
Let’s give it up for the guys!
clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap
I was watching this last night and it was art..really. If it wasn’t Arsenal at the end of that I’d feel much better. Its a masterclass of a template on how to play attacking football and not worry about defense in the last third.. you just dont let the ball get there in the first place. The off the ball movement of Barca was just beautiful and this team…can (may/will) learn from it if they take it +vely.
The predictable comments from the predictable folks here regarding the same players is quite strange today. We could have had the invincibles playing yesterday and they’d have found it tough. That second half performance… not the first half was a thing of absolute brilliance. Not one second wasted, no fouls .. just keep ball. Learn from that guys. Someday you might.. might reach that level.
Clichy tried, Sagna tried, Diaby was good, Denilson decent, Bendtner scored in a big game.. the rest..sorry boys. Where were our CB’s for the 3rd goal? Shakes head sadly…
Overall …Barcelona.. take a bow. Respect.
How were Diaby or Denilson decent?? Diaby was woeful and Denilson was a nonentity as usual.
I agree on these 2 today. Diaby was not good, and Denilson was not a factor at all.
But you did NOT really expect great performances from either of them, did you? really?
against Barcelona on the road?
no chance.
I thought they were okay when you compare them to Nasri,Theo, Rosicky or even Bendtner who just kept losing the ball. Diaby drove forward quite a bit and looked up for it. Yes he too lost the ball but in relation to our other attacking forwards on whom our entire game is based he did well. Denilson? Simply coz he didn’t get overrun or overawed and tried to keep ball atleast. We couldn’t keep the damn ball for more than 10 seconds.. he tried to do that atleast before someone else gave it away. Of course you guys wont agree, so we can drop it right there.
I agree LDE that we couldn’t hold the ball …
but I thought Diaby was woeful at times, and him NOT passing to Theo for a wide open chance at goal, was HUGE.
Denilson, like many others, had no impact on the match.
Games like this, you just have to hold your hands up and admit – the better team won.
Well done Barca.
Very much agree. And this is why I was happy to draw Barcelona – whilst being beaten is never nice, at least we lost to the best not to a side that reverts to negativity.
Arsene was correct in saying we were well beaten by the best team in the world and by the best player. We experienced that ‘other scenario’ of taking a bit of a pounding both on the scoreboard and on-field.
A shame though that we don’t give ourselves a better chance. Why is it that when we work ourselves in to a key position our squad is threadbare? If this was the first time this happened we could cry bad luck and blame the footballing gods. But this happens almost every season and reflects the fragile make-up of our squad.
Mazza refers to Rosicky, and he’s right, but it’s also the collective impact that includes van Persie and Eduardo. In a mega-game like this Arsenal needs serious firepower in order to play its game. What did we have?
Bendtner – is doing ok, but at this stage he is no Marco van Basten.
Rosicky – a lovely but fragile player where every knock becomes an injury. Eternally rehabilitating.
Walcott – the one trick pony, his pace can be a surprise yet the rest of his game isn’t, it’s awful and he’s very containable when played from the start.
Eduardo – all I can say is what we all see. You’d have to say his game has got worse over the course of this season. I expect nothing from Dudu and that’s exactly what we get.
So that was it; Bendtner, Rosicky, Walcott and Eduardo.
Of course RvP was no where to be seen. Arshavin is spared criticism, he has slogged through the season, played with injuries, played CF for goodness sake. Nasri was played in midfield to cover Cesc. But we have seen quite starkly the impact of carrying too many injury-prone/rehab cases in attack.
There are a number of ways to address the problem. But that can wait for season’s end. The real question is whether we can find enough firepower to keep getting 3 points in the EPL.
We were doomed to lose by virtue of our lineup and I do question Arsene’s team selection. Having 3 left footed defenders in Clichy, Vermaelen and geriatric Silvestre, defending against a left footed Messi is just plain ignorant.
Although we were short handed, we would have stood a better chance with Sagna at CB and Eboue at RB, especially since Ibra was out and all their forwards are small.
62% – 38% possession in favor of Barca tells the story. Almunia resorted to his flea brained method of distribution which resulted in giving away possession time and time again.
Clichy although making some excellent plays showed once again he and Almunia are at the same IQ level by chasing balls all over the field and being constantly out of position.
Silvestre? Well Silvbestre was Silvestre. Did his best which ultimately belongs in a over 40 recreation league. Denilson did his disappearing act once again and if you watch the video of all the goals you could see him trailing the play and at no time providing a defensive presence in front of the back 4.
My “STUPIDITY” meter is at full boil and if Arsene insists on having such worthless pieces of crap on our team next season, Arsenal will not get one more dime from me and the Pubs will suffer from my lack of attendance.
Playing the best Club team in the world with Almunia in goal, Silvestre at CB and Denilson at DM is unforgiveable.
I really doubt just how much some of these players can improve. Diaby is just same old can’t-pass-to-save-my-life clown he always was.
Rosicky needs to be sold. Totally finished.
Sagna at CB?
Yes, that’s a plan.
Traore up front.
Brilliant.
Why not have Fabianski in net as well.
You go with what got you there, and you use a reasonable line-up, not line-ups and players in positions that have NOT occured before.
Geeeeeezus.
REALLY?
His comment implies that in THIS match, with these players available, Sagna is a better CB than Silvestre. I think everybody agrees on that.
That moment when Diaby failed to put Walcott through for the second time might have been the turning point in this game. If we had gone two up the entire game would have been so different, instead we conceded less than a minute afterwards.
I dont understand why Denilson was left on while Rosicky taken off.
When we were losing by two on 70th minute why not go for TWO up front in a standard 4-4-2. Instead we played 4-3-3 till the VERY end and never really stretched their mediocre CBs. In that respect Wenger got the tactics wrong.
—————————
This is the exact sort of game Fabregas would have REALLY, REALLY made a difference. He would have split that defense open a few times. Oh well, too bad.
The only consolation is that we dont deserve to be in a semi-final anyway. Not THESE players (without Fabregas) and definitely not Wenger.
At least now we can concentrate on the league :-D
I agree about the Diaby missed opportunity.
If he gets the ball to Theo… it quite reasonably could have been 2-0, and a whole different game.
They had the game tied within a minute of that play.
Positive learning experience for many on the roster that normally would not have played
in this series.
We’ll have to be patient, wait until the summer, and see what our manager has learned from
this match and season.
For me, WITHOUT MESSI, I don’t see much in Barca. In today’s match, no one else gave any threat of scoring!
Arsenal players and fans will have to patiently wait another day.
yeah, not much in Barca… I think they had 70% of the possession against us in the two matches combined… and we are a team that ALWAYS wins the possession battle.
They DOMINATED us at our own game.
But not much in Barca!
What does possession have to do with anything?
That’s very unfair on the rest of that Barca team mac. It’s like saying our invincibles would’ve been a mid-table side without Henry. They press, they harass, they play the ball from the back, they always open up, never stop working and have a short-passing game I have never seen the quality of before.
It’s spectacular and credit to them for that. Our injuries and performance didn’t do us any favours but credit where it’s due. It would have been a very welcome injustice if we had found ourselves in the semis.
No sleep tonite for OZI, but very true…
I would’ve like to see our Barca grad (Merida) at the close (did we have an unused sub?) rather than just have our MF running in tired tiny circles…
I need a nap myself…
Don’t think I’m going to get any sleep myself HT… I’m hearing rumours that Wenger was gracious in defeat? Wow… We really must have been outplayed ;)
Don’t worry, I was only joking. I was amazed at Barca’s collective workrate. When they press, they are like a Sam Allerdyce team. Constantly harrying our midfield, even our backs.
The complete team in many ways.
Without Messi, we would have gone through!
Barca fans must be embarrassed to be so dependent on one man. Ho, fucking, ho. At least, there was no sense of injustice to his defeat. We got dazzled by magic pure and simple.
Now we’re free to concentrate on… third place.
Indeed…Messi is pretty solid…
Next match is a big one…Any new signings (RVP, Djourou, etc.)? Somebody needs to do the math about the various possible scenarios and when we might celebrate St. Totteringham’s day…Not me, not today. Sorry….
“Messi is pretty solid”
That’s funny on two levels! The understated irony, and the running theme. Well done. ;-)
yes, I am sure Barca’s fans are just “embarrassed” because one man scored 4 goals for them.
I’ve read they aren’t that good, not invincible, have numerous injuries like us, in key positions… and then they SMASH us 4-1… and have massive amounts of possession, and its a one-man team?
please.
get real.
True supporters of all stripes drinking too hard (kool-aid, spiked with ??? or just the straight stuff?)….
I’ll throw out a pre-emptive strike….
If we can get Messi + money for Cesc…it’ll prove that we ARE a selling team and I will declare that Stag was right all along… ;-)
Also, it IS a conspiracy…but I don’t have the heart to explain myself at the moment….
I will say this: “Key players” injured and playing a young squad, over two legs, the better team won….(rather convincingly)….
A colonoscopy would have been more fun. They give that good stuff where you don’t remember being so rudely violated.
(I’ll just stick w/you here, Steve.)
No Mazza rant at HT. We are screwed!
Maz actually called this before the first leg…he warned the Nou Camp could get Messi. If he bet like he posts, he’s probably on his way to a very quiet island as we miserably type here.
Very good Vibe and another lol (to keep from crying)…
It’s too early where I am to start drinking….
It’s funny you say that actually Vibe. I bet (not that big to be fair) on Barca HT/FT and over 3.5.
I just couldn’t pass it up. It was almost like printing money.
it’s funny, they always say you should never bet on/against your own team, but i’ve never understood that. If you can keep a cool objective head, it’s a massive advantage.
Obviously, I was praying that my bets would fall flat on their face and to be fair, we did slightly better than i thought we would, and thought Barca overall were pretty ordinary by their standards. But alas, when a team shows weakness, we haven’t got the killer instinct to take advantage. So whatever way you chopped it up, we were fu*ked.
We’re flying through LDN on Monday. Just let me know at which Heathrow drinking hole you’ll be leaving us a credit for two free drinks. ;-)
It will probably be gone by then ;)
As crazy as it sounds, 3-1 is actually not the worst position. Two goals in the second half (like last week) and we are through. The hard part will be finding a way to contain Messi.
No, down 1-3 at Nou Camp is not’the worst position’. The worst position is bottom bunk at Shawshank.
Needing another miracle, two weeks in a row, on the road, at Barca…positively catbird seat here.
Now go take your meds.
For the most part Barca dropped back in and was content to contain Arsenal. We had a couple break throughs, and if we’d nicked one there would’ve been hope.
I was a bit disappointed we didn’t pressed harder and higher up the pitch. Barca defenders gave the ball up the few times that we did. Again, we might have nicked something.
Yes, we might have ‘nicked’ something. Then Barca would have returned foot to throttle and Messi might have scored five.
But, yes. It could have been worse. Lions could have been released onto the pitch at the start of the second half.
So… By your point of view we should’ve done what?
Given them a walkover? Brought in Sam Allardyce for a one match cameo? Maybe bring a set of lion tamers just incase…
What? My point was we were, indeed, in a, get this, really, really bad position…and that suggesting this week’s bad position was remotely analogous to last week’s was silly.
Which part of that are you disagreeing with?
The part where you disagreed with the suggestion to press them higher and harder.
There’s going to be a lot of talk about how our attackers were not good enough which is true to some extent but they weren’t helped by zero service stemming from the fact that we never had the ball. Pressing them and actively trying to win the ball could have seen us lose 5-1 sure but who knows, maybe we nick the ball the way we did for our goal and the game changes?
There was no tactical argument there. Wenger decided those.
Barca was content to contain because they had the game well in hand. Had that situation changed, you don’t suppose they would have changed their tactics in response? That was my point there.
USG said “I was a bit disappointed we didn’t pressed harder and higher up the pitch. Barca defenders gave the ball up the few times that we did. Again, we might have nicked something.” You completely shot him down.
Sure they may have a counter-tactic but that’s no reason to keep up with the current game plan that was getting us fuck all. Maybe we’d nick something before they readjusted?
I hope that the players mindset wasn’t: “What’s the point of trying to change the game, because if we do we won’t be able to handle the retaliation from Barca anyway”
I’d like to see my team go for the victory even if it means the defeat might have been heavier.
I didn’t say we were better than Barcelona, but I don’t ever concede defeat either. You play the game at hand and you play to win. Barca is weakest at the back. We should’ve pressured and harassed their defenders all night. They did give up the ball when we did, and we showed over two legs that we are capable of scoring against them. Or perhaps you think we should’ve just quit at the half?
Yes, that’s what I think. I can’t believe I didn’t make that clearer. Wenger should have written a polite note, everyone should have gotten dressed and gone home at the half.
Yep, that’s what the discussion was all right.
Check, please.
We needed a win or 3-3 draw to go through. If the game goes to 3-2 we were right back in the hunt. Your comments suggest that you believe that it was pointless to even try as Barca would’ve just magically flipped the switch. 1) That’s not how it works, and 2) what a great show of support.
“That’s not how it works”
Ha! But an undermanned, out-classed team, gets a miracle, on the road, against quite possibly the best team in the world, two weeks in a row? THAT’S how it works??!
Almost as funny as the idea that understanding reality, as expressed by typing on a message board, has sweet fa to do with support.
I’ll go look for Wenger’s post game presser now. I’m sure I’ll see the phrase “Despite US Gunners most fervent typed fantasies, we were ultimately un-done by Vibe’s responses.”
Whoo boy.
Yes, very good. You’ve fully exposed my naiveté. Of course we were not expected to win today, and unfortunately, we did end up getting outclassed. I am glad your “realistic” approach helped you to figure that out and repeat it on here in various forms over and over again. That’s not the point. As a supporter of a team that is down 3-1 at half I’m looking for the players and manager to find a way to get themselves back in it. Furthermore, I do believe there were things we could’ve done that would’ve made us more effective and given us a sporting chance to go through. Not miracles, just some tactical adjustments and maybe a moment or two of luck and/or brilliance. Unfortunately, Messi was responsible for all of the brilliance tonight.
LOL, Vibe….and way to keep the earlier motif (jizzing, colonoscopy, etc. going) Could’ve used you in the GDC…
And yes, I will be censoring this match from my wife, who prefers to see only the good moments….
Wow, that was a ride!
Silvestre and Denilson on your team list is always gonna end in tears, no two ways about it.
Whatever happens at least we “tried” … and without a few of our impact players either.
The only way I can see us salvaging this game is for us to score a second early in this second half. Either way its looking like a massive miracle is needed!
Barca players’ close control and passing is just amazing.
Light years ahead of Deni, Diaby, Bendy, Theo, Clichy and Sagna.
And we are supposedly the technically superior team in England!
3-1 Messi tearing us apart. It’s a thrashing, folks.
Oh no disaster! We scored first and in the first half.
This is going to end horribly!
Barca haven’t won any of their last five meetings at the Camp Nou with English sides, drawing four and losing one. They also haven’t won a Champions League game refereed by Wolfgang Stark, with three draws and a defeat, while Arsenal have won all three of their Stark-officiated games in Europe.
Clinging onto anything! :)
Barca strikers – Messi (22), Bojan (19) and Pedro (22)
Arsenal strikers – Bendtner (22), Rosicky (29) and Walcott (21)
German ref should help.
help us or them?
if he calls the match closely, we’ll likely be fouling more than they do.
Help the game. No stupid decisions.
they have stupid people in Germany too!
I don’t think his being German helps!
Watch the Bundesliga.
Their refereeing is light years ahead of the English game.
Congrats Stag – I think that’s the best comment I’ve read in some time. Funny stuff.
Ref sucks big time!!!
I guess there are stupid people everywhere.
Barcelona team: Valdes, Dani Alves, Abidal, Marquez, Milito, Busquets, Keita, Xavi, Pedro, Messi, Bojan.
Arsenal team: Almunial, Sagna, Clichy, Silvestre, Vermaelen, Diaby, Denilson, Nasri, Rosicky, Walcott, Bendtner.
I hope Syl plays on the right and Verma on the left.
As expected… no crazy new line-ups, with players in new positions.
This is what the line-up has to be, as the options are limited.
I could have seen Eboue start, or even Eduardo start… but both will likely come on at some point.
Theo and Syl start !!!
Inter is cruising in Moscow, up 2 goals on aggregate… with
an away goal… and CSKA down to 10 men.
Jose’ and his team are on their way to the semi’s …
versus Barcelona… or us!
I am watching Inter vs CSKA. Inter lead 1-0 in the game, 2-0 on aggregate and are a man up. So it is pretty much a done deal.
Mourinho, who is considered one of the most defensive coaches, is playing Eto’o, Milito, Pandev and Sneijder. Now that is an offensive lineup.
I have a (bad) feeling that Inter may go on to win this time.
Turns out that Jose could be the first coach to lead three different clubs to the CL semis.
van Gaal could be the second one tomorrow.
win what?
I doubt they’ll beat Barcelona in the semi’s…
and if we make it that far, I think we could beat them as well.
Mr.Miraculous… the best striker in the world according to some
on this site… Eto’oh oh…
has all of 12 goals in 30 matches in the league and CL.
He’s not quite the same scorer without all the amazing talent
that surrounded him at Barcelona.
Win the CL.
The best team doesn’t always win.
Inter can certainly beat us. Mourinho has Arsene’s number – undefeated as yet.
Eto’o is minute for minute the best striker of the last 5, 6 years … not only with consistency but with regards to the number of goals scored in big-games and against big teams.
Literally he is un-matched.
yeah.
he played another shit game today, and he has 10 goals in the league.
AVERAGE… without the help of Barcelona’s stars.
The Traore idea is a fabulous one, considering Barca are unlikely to expect it. Traore is better suited at LM than LB anyway. However, gotta agree with stag that it’s highly unlikely with Eboue and Eduardo fit.
I think Song not playing CB is good for Vermaelen. As good a technical player as he is, TV5 is simply not ready to be the main guy in the back. That’s what he would be if Song played. Song doesn’t really strike me as a talker on the pitch. Vermaelen needs a mentor beside him to keep him straight, tactically. Can Sylvestre be that guy? He wouldn’t have succeeded at Inter if he weren’t a good defender. He’s certainly experienced, just old. We’ll see.
Diaby needs to be at his best today. My concern is still his vision. If his awareness hasn’t improved, he will have another bad game because Barca are not going to give him time on the ball. You simply can’t play CM against Barcelona if your vision is bad.
With all our injuries, it’s the perfect excuse to play ugly tonight.
Mazza’s right about Barca’s susceptibility to what I call the boa constrictor method – slowly but surely squeeze the life out of the opposition, then pick them off with a second half goal (or pull the Goldie and let rip to use Mazza’s metaphor). Chelsea are masters of this. Or used to be before they started scoring lots of goals. Ditto George Graham.
That said, Wenger’s teams are not exactly custom built to shut up shop. So I don’t still know what could work tonight. Partly because we don’t know which Barca team will show up tonight with all their injuries too. Here’s my bold prediction: Either we nick it or we get thrashed! Can’t see us taking this one all the way to penalties.
OK…too much going on in my house these days (guests + fresh snow) and I’ve got a doctor’s appointment this morning before the match….In fact, I’ve been telling my guests, “I’ve got a doctor’s appointment in the morning and then a colonoscopy at noon, (match time)….
There isn’t much to hang our hats upon, except our never-say-die spirit, well exemplified this past weekend in the Wolves match. Our best hope, as many have alluded, is that the tie is tricky from Barca’s perspective, with their players out, the fact that they can begin the match defending a nil-nil scoreline and that they’d like to be clinical from both an offensive and defensive perspective given that they play Real Madrid on the weekend and Inter (presumably) in the next round of the C.L. We (merely) need to score and defend or score and score and score. If we wake the beast (by scoring) we will need a second and likely a third.
Both teams will play with make-shift defenses so it could get ugly (messy?). While the wider press have noted how we’re copying Barca’s 4-3-3, a more subtle innovation AW has pilfered is the desire to develop mobile, skilled central defenders who can also play DM. Obviously Song and Vermaelen are in that mold, while Gilberto, maybe was the prototype. YaYa Toure did the deed for Barca last season. and it will be interesting who gets played in these spots today and how they perform. I think Chris Smalling was a similar target and losing him to United (who, probably unlike us, were willing to loan him back to Fulham) may have been the real story of our last transfer window (and the next several years in our rivalry with United).
As for the colonoscopy, er, match…3-0 would be my prediction, if I we’re being a realist; 3-3 I like as a stinky hippie, our goals coming from Diaby, O.G. and TV5 with a late header.
And, to follow up on Mazza’s analogy from the previous thread: We need Almunia to be a diaphram, an IUD and the world’s best birth-control pills, while our defense keeps putting condoms on the Barca attack, no matter how many times they try to pull them off. No harm in excessive jizzing if nobody gets knocked up….(I only hope this match doesn’t kill my love of porn….)
GO ON!!!
Colonoscopys, diaphrams, IUDS, condoms…umm…don’t read this one to your wife.
I favor the idea of Traore starting up front.
The kid has terrific pace, is cool under pressure (holding the ball) and can supply
accurate crosses consistently. Theo and Traore – fresh legs, boundless energy, and capable of exploding down each flank, creating severe problems for Barca’s back line and forcing their midfield into a defensive posture.
As a manager, you must have faith your players can step up to the occasion.
my speculative line up: 4 – 2 – 1 -2 -1
———-Almunia————
Sagna – Silvestre – Vermaelen – Clichy
—-Denilson —-Nasri———-
———-Diaby————–
Theo——————-Traore
——–Bendtner————-
I have deliberately placed Nasri farther back in the formation, as we need his ball winning
skills and ball holding skills – something Diaby could not produce in the 1st tie.
Diaby more forward will give Barca even more troubles with his dribbling and shooting from distance.
For me, knowing you need a win is much easier in developing match tactics and team preparation vs.
holding the slight lead or needing a draw.
Traore up front.
Why not Sagna too, he has speed.
;)
Why would we completely change what we do in terms of line-ups at this point.
Wenger does not do crazy shit in big games, he sticks to normal and familiar.
If he started some crazy line-up, with players out of positions they normally play… and we got beat down, he’d get KILLED in the media and by fans.
He doesn’t care about that, but he isn’t doing the “new line-ups” on a day like today.
Our 1st choices are not available. In some cases neither are our 2nd choices.
Their is nothing wrong with having an open mind to strategy. Exam the opponents weaknesses, which we certainly saw them seed late in the 2nd match and then your own players strengths.
How can you set up match- ups that disrupt their style of play?
Traore has physical and technical speed. For Pompey, he did play in advance.
I’m not saying Arsene will not use Eduardo up front OR Rosicky; for me, Eboue would not be an option up front – at anytime.
If we repeat our sloppy play in midfield, the night is lost and no formation of players can produce a win.
There’s a chance Traore starts though , specially if Rosicky cant play more than 30. With him on there’s a chance Theo can still stay on the bench and come on. Again though – it might be too much for the kid who has hardly played that much this year to perform straight off in a QF at the Nou Camp.
Time will tell.
The thing with Barca is that you have to create doubt in their minds by being defensively sturdy and disciplined. That’s what Chelsea and United did at the Nou Camp, as did Liverpool. They covered every run, made constant blocks, and pressed intelligently. Eventually Barca began to lose confidence, started thinking twice, and began rushing chances. So they are beatable. However, you have to create that doubt first, and that only comes with putting in an intelligent, vigilent, defensive performance.
We did that against them in the champions league final – one of the finest Arsenal performances I’ve ever seen. However, the technical level of our midfield is lacking in comparison to that team, and it is vital to relieve pressure by playing around their pressure and also creating a defensive doubt in THEIR mind. When they see that you can play forward passes despite their pressing, that’s when they start giving away free kicks and backing off. Hleb was the master at this! (sorry had to get it out there)
So basically we need a perfect performance.
You do realize that Hleb starting over Reyes AND Pires coming off – after the Lehmann red card – instead of Hleb … are two major reasons we lost that match right?
LOL!
That seems harsh. We did lead the match, with 10 men, for what? 70/80 minutes?
Vibe 100% correct.
We led the match late, which means the correct decisions were made by Wenger.
It had FECK ALL to do with Hleb or Pires.
We had a lot of good fortune throughout that entire run. That final was amazing, but only the truest of true believers would argue that the better team didn’t actually win.
Geez, your bullshit knows no bounds at times.
The same Hleb that produced a defence splitting pass for Henry screw up at around the 75th minute mark.
i would like arsene to try this –
mooney
sagna silvestre varmaleen clichy
denilson diaby+traore(interchanging)
nasri
eboue bendtner
and bring rosicky(doubtful) for traore
and theo for eboue if required..
such a formation will give us a lot of counterattacking speed and defensive steel..
also, traore is capable of crossing well, and that can be good for bendtner with the weakened barca defense..
the only concern is whether nasri would be comfortable to have to pass the ball to two wingers on either side..
if he is we can play eboue in place of traore
and theo start where i have put eboue..
You are asking Arsene Wenger to go with players like Traore in midfield, which last happened?? when?
in the biggest match of the year…
and Eboue up front because he is such a good shot, and played there when?
Seriously. Why type this, if you know there is ZERO chance.
We don’t want to try and re-invent the wheel the night before we roll out the new car.
Eboue could dive 3 or 4 times, and he might get us a penalty.
You’d think our best chance is for the game to be kept scoreless and then for us to score late. The longer the game goes scoreless the more the Barcelona supporters will feel uneasy. Barcelona supporters aren’t exactly the patient tolerant types so they may start to transfer that pressure to their team who would already be feeling it. Barcelona have to feel a little uneasy, that they’ve missed a chance to bury us.
I remember the ECWC final between Arsenal and Parma. They were star-laden (Asprilla/Brolin/Zola in attack) whilst we had a midfield with the likes of Selley and Morrow – yet one goal sealed it. Then there was that title decider between Arsenal and Liverpool – Liverpool with probably one of the best ever teams to grace the top flight in England against a young hard working young GG team – the pressure rose and we scored late.
Of course, there are other scenario’s like them scoring early and then wiping the floor with us – 3 or 4 nil. :-(
If we score early it’s really tricky to tell how the whole thing would work out. Heart attack territory I’m guessing.
We have a chance.
I remember that Parma game all too well. I was there. (Shockingly attractive female police guards at the Parken Stadium.)
Without Ian Wright, we went for the classic smash and grab. We had one chance and took it, then held on for dear life. They came at us in waves, hitting the post etc. It was one of the least satisfying cup wins I’ve ever experienced. Only the 2005 FA Cup was more morally empty shall we say. I think the only shot we had on target the whole 120mins in 2005 was a Van Persie free kick. Definitely a case of winning ugly. Almost makes you prefer to lose beautifully – almost.
I’ll take a downright minging 1-0 victory right now.
I know what you mean, the Parma win was certainly ugly as was the 2005 FA Cup.
That said, this is ‘only’ the quarters, and we’re struggling to put out a fit team so sometimes desperate times call for desperate performances. If we had a reasonably fit side and were close to a first team selection with a few decent bench options we would have a higher level of expectation. We don’t have any of those so we have to ‘box clever’ cause we’re in no shape to play Barca off the park in a footballing beauty contest.
when u think of that Parma final lineup, it’s unbelievable we won. Morrow, Selley. Probably not even good enough to play for our reserve team today. Even by those days’ standard, they were simply not Arsenal class players.
But dear George was a great tactician.
I still have that DVD of that final with me. But never be able to watch the full match without fast forward to the goal and the trophy celebration.
A match really bores the life out of me.
No, I don’t think it being 0-0 does anything for us at all… so I don’t think that’s a good chance.
We don’t have our best playmaker, our best scorer, and our player who can make goals from nothing. (Cesc, RVP and Arshavin)
Barcelona don’t have to do anything if its 0-0.
Now Rosicky is rated 50:50 thanks Karl Henry’s tackle.
After saying that you won’t play unless you are 100% fit, Arsene now says that he will trust Sol to make the decision on whether he is ready to play or not.
Nip, not sure what choice he has at this point. If you add Sol and Rosicky to players that aren’t playing… we could just get thrashed…
with too many players that are not at the level of the opponent.
Just want a chance in the 2nd half.
Unfit Sol vs Syl.
It is a tough choice.
its not a good choice either way, and the “wrong” choice could cost us a goal.
It will be another tantalizing and interesting contest,
for supporters and neutrals alike.
With our injuries, we are in a lot of trouble.
They are to key players in key positions.
If Sol Campbell can’t play, that means we have Silvestre
starting at CB, Almunia in net, and No Cesc or Song in the middle,
and no Arshavin to provide a moment of magic.
Yes, Barcelona are missing some of their players as well, and good
ones, but I’d say … at home… with a few stars in the middle, they
are less likely to choke up on the occasion.
Here is the problem.
They don’t have to WIN.
We HAVE to win, or get 2 away goals at least.
So, we simply can’t just sit back and wait all game, and try to
counter-attack, and defend defend defend.
If we are going forward, and they find the holes they did in the first
70 minutes of last game, then… we are going to be in trouble.
If they score first, or we are chasing the game… we are in big trouble…
A first goal by Arsenal would / could change the game a lot, and
really give us a chance to do something special on this night.
I’d like to be able to enjoy a good, competitive game… and there
be a chance for Arsenal to actually win the match in the 2nd half.
That’d be all I am looking for… a chance in the 2nd half.
If I am being honest, I don’t see it happening with who is out for us… and from what I saw in the first match with all those players IN the game at the start.
But… in reality, this is just the cherry on top of the ice cream
this year… we’ve gotten to a point where we have a chance against
Barcelona in the CL quarterfinals. We’ve gotten to the point where we have a legit chance to win the League, with a bit of help from others.
I didn’t see that possibility early on in the season, and I have to give props to Arsene Wenger, and the team… for a season of success on many different levels, on and off the pitch.
Assured of 3rd place, with a chance to win the EPL.
Quarters of the CL with a chance to knockout Barcelona and move on
to the Semi’s…
Didn’t spend much on players, sold players for very nice profits, sold out the stadium EVERY match… reduced the debt … made profits for the AFC and board… while other clubs lost money & got deeper into debt in some cases.
Enjoy the match, and if we win… CELEBRATE like crazy.
If we lose, accept that its a reality of being financially frugal and possibly hand-cuffed… and realize that when might have over-acheived again… then pray we don’t sell Cesc for 50 Million GBP in the off-season, though it would be a GREAT profit, and help the club tremendously in the long-run.
All good.
Win Win.
Arsene managed to do it again this season.
LOL! Stag how long you gonna keep that up? :-)
forever.
there is no negative.
only positive.
Don’t mean to nitpick but you forgot Ibrahimovic in your list of injured/suspended players. Is Abidal normally a starter for Barca? If so that means 5 of the normal Starting XI for BOTH teams are out for this game:
Puyol, Pique, Abidal, Iniesta, Ibrahimovic
Gallas, Song, Fabregas, Arshavin, van Persie
CRAZY. And yet despite the fact that 10 of what would be the starting 22 are missing, everyone- Gooners, Catalans, and neutrals alike- is still expecting another epic game.
I’m inclined to agree with Mazza and DannyT re Walcott.
When he starts he almost always disappoints – I feel we need him on the bench and ready to come on once Barcelona have punched themselves out a bit. When he starts he almost always fails to influence the match – he goes AWOL. When he comes on he runs at tired legs, puts the scares up the opposition, wins free kicks and ocassionally scores. Ironically playing him from the start may negate him totally as an offensive force.
I’m still gobsmacked at how delusional the English press are about him…. all the talky uppy is amazing.
That said, I’m happy for Theo to prove me wrong, and should he start, to score one of those once every three year hat-tricks. ;-)
I’d start Theo and make Barca worry about his pace from the start……it might minimize the number of attacks down the left flank by Barca early on and allow our midfield more space and time.
There is no reason Theo can’t impact from the get go.
Look where we are in this season, needing big performances from Almunia and Denilson.
“There is no reason Theo can’t impact from the get go.”
No reason…. other than all the evidence of his career thus far.
Kiwi that is a little harsh. Although Theo is overhyped and been quite inconsistent. He has shown has shown in his short injury riddled career that he has great potential.
We can mock and say his hat trick was a flash in the pan, but the reality is that three well executed goals in an International game against quality opposition is no flash in the pan.
Also if you remember the champions league game against Liverpool, the run he made and set up Ade showed he has technical ability to go along with that pace.
More recently the game against Wolves showed us what he can do for 60 mins or so. True he needs to be more consistent but with an injury free season he can develop that.
If you look at Clichy he was quite poor after his return from injury hehas since become consistent and regaining the trust of all fans barring the most avid haters.
Theo needs to play some role in tomorrows game maybe he would be more effective from the bench as Eboue can shake them up a bit anyway until Theo comes on to take advantage of tired legs.
Kiwi –
I agree Theo has not met fan and club expectations; agree his technical skills fall short of Arsenal standards……but he’s only 20.
but more importantly,
As I recall over the past couple of seasons, many Arsenal fans were throwing out similar assessments about Song, Diaby, Eboue, Bendtner, etc.
Our roster is decimated. Time for Arsenal fans to suck up preconceived labels and throw total support for tonight.
@ “No reason…. other than all the evidence of his career thus far.”
Oh, you and your evidence and facts and eyes. It’s that kind of thinking that almost got Tinkerbell killed! ;-)
Theo is 21, BTW.
I like this write up – and your positive take for the tie.
There is nothing in our favor. With so many injuries, I doubt any Arsenal fans ‘believe’ down deep we have
any chance.
Yet, this is what sports is about. You have to prove yourself to your competition.
Nice post, DAG. I can do with all the inspirational quotes I can get my hands on.
Some horrible stats. Arsenal have not kept a clean sheet in their last 11 away games in the CL. Barcelona have scored in their last five home CL games.
The Daily Mail is saying Wenger should play Theo from the start and exploit Barca’s nerves about his pace. Given the crumbling options in midfield and defence, I’m starting to agree.
PS Anyone know how to watch this game live in LA? It’s on delayed on FSC. Like any neutral would rather see the Inter game live! What are they on?
Last week, I signed on to FoxSoccer Tv – on line. It was only way to see our Wolves match…..ATDHE is so unpredictable.
Our Barca game is streaming live tomorrow 2:45 pm eastern – 11:45 am pacific.
$14.95 / month
they have all the Fox channel’s broadcasts, including PLUS – all in a high quality stream – no break up in the broadcast. Similar to ESPN360 (ESPN3).
The real bonus to this service is if you cant’ catch the match live, you can log on & view any match after the fact, later, to fit your free time.
Last week they had most of the key EPL matches. There are other leagues also in their programing.
Mac- Fox Sports Net broadcasts a CL game each week (always a tuesday one) and it is the Arsenal game this time. (Or it could be on Comcast Sports Net if LA is like Chicago. Here, CSN put FSN out of business a few years back, and since then all national programming that would normally air on FSN is now on CSN.)
So for those out there that are like me and get cable, but none of the pay-extra channels, the game is on FSN tomorrow (or CSN in some places)!
@ mac:
Note, the Inter and Arsenal games are actually played at different times. The Inter game is in Russia so is starting 2 hours earlier.