English & CL Football [6th - 10th Mar 2010] **spoilers**

[drunkenmaster]

In the rest of the month Chelsea have the easiest ride I think with Blackburn away , West ham and Villa at home. Villa because against the top 4 away from home they've mostly been awful and barely bothered leaving their own half.

We've got Birmingham away, West ham at home and Hull City away, Brum could be a very tough game, they've been fantastic this year and shut down CHelsea, Pool and did they get points off Utd aswell? Hull should be easy but have been somewhat of a bogey team for us.

Utd have the Liverpool game, though its at home I believe and could be the kind of game that spurs them on to a great run if they win it, with Pool playing the way they are, thats quite probable right now.

I don't think we have the slightest chance of the CL, we've failed to beat Utd or Chelsea this season and been thoroughly spanked by Chelsea both times. While tonight was a great result, Porto were appauling and we'd have to beat some ridiculously better teams to win the CL. The league is within reach largely because of Chelsea and Utd throwing away so many points, any other year we'd be well out of it by now. I still think we'll end up finishing 10 points adrift of the top but anything can happen.

Ok we won the last 4, but Sunderland, Stoke, Burnley and Liverpool(who sucked) includes the worst away team this year and the team in the worst form (till tonight). THe previous 4 games against better opposition we weren't nearly as good. Swings and roundabouts, the problem is after a swing of easy games we're still behind. Ideally we'd want to be ahead after a run of easier games, so when Chelsea have easier games and we have harder games, it ends up level.

 

[Nix]

5-0!

Nasri's goal was absolutely inspired! Arshavin and Rosicky were fantastic in creating the chances and Nasri certainly stepped up to the plate tonight. Bendtner was gifted his goals, but can't complain; he was in the right place at the right time and that's what you want from your strikers. At least his finishing was better tonight and that aside, he certainly did try. He will improve. Equally, it was nice to see Walcott make an appearence and get a few crosses in, just a shame that he was on his own a few times. Arshavin - although he had fantastic moments - seemed to tire very quickly and completely drop off the radar. I'm not sure if he was playing strict in his position or if he's not quite match-fit yet, but I was shocked when he missed that absolute sitter!

Overall, it's been a very surreal and elated night for the club.

Although Bendtner was favourite to score first at 5/1, I don't think anyone really expected him to, let alone get a hatrick! Eboué looked a little unsure, and just as Arshavin seemed to completely have burned out - boom - that fantastic counter-attack.

I thought it was going to be 2-1 tonight, and thought we might falter slightly. Oh, how good it is to be proven wrong. I did not see 5-0 coming at all!

To the finals!

 

[Owenb]

Well done Arsenal and Bendtner, silence his critics for a while.

Why? A goalkeeper would have scored the 3 goals he got tonight. A good player isn't viewed as been crap after 1 game(like Torres last night), and an average player like Bendtner shouldn't be viewed as anything other than average because he got a hat-trick against a team that didn't show up.

 

[jakeke]

True joy to watch tonight, enjoyed every minute of it. Unbelievably good performance without the spine of the team (Gallas, Fabregas and RvP).

I hope people start to share my excitement about Nasri, such a talented player, when he's played centrally he is awesome, the pass on Saturday and the goal tonight were both the best of the best. What a talent.

Told you to be patient with Bender

 

[jakeke]

Why? A goalkeeper would have scored the 3 goals he got tonight. A good player isn't viewed as been crap after 1 game(like Torres last night), and an average player like Bendtner shouldn't be viewed as anything other than average because he got a hat-trick against a team that didn't show up.

His entire performance was absolutely top notch. His hold up play and distribution were crucial and what Arsenal have been missing for so long, his movement was very intelligent too. If people look a little deeper into his performances you can see he isn't average, he's got a lot of good qualities, gave the defence a nightmare for 90 minutes on a massive European night, bagged a hat trick yet people still complain ?

 

[Rich_L]

Think Arsenal have every chance in the Premiership, of the traditionally 'tough' games, Man Utd still have to play Chelsea, Liverpool, Man City and Spurs. Chelsea have Man Utd, Villa, Spurs and Liverpool.

Arsenal have Spurs and City, plus Man U have picked up a few injuries too.

Not that they can afford to drop any points of course as they are behind for a start, but could quite easily see them up there at the end of the season - which IMO will be a quite remarkable achievement, yet again, by Wenger.

CL though I don't think so, I don't think they have the beating of the top teams in a Cup format.

 

[Nix]

Arsenal are the EPL's dark-horse. Finger's crossed.

 

[jakeke]

No reason why any of the top 3 can't walk away with the title. It's neck and neck right now. Hopefully Gallas and Fabregas will be back on the pitch soon enough which I think is essential for Arsenal

 

[drunkenmaster]

Arsenal have Hull, Blackburn, Wigan, Spurs and Brum to play away, Hull are a half bogey team for us, Wigan can pull out a great performance at home now and then, Spurs play well at home, Brum are very tough to break down and Blackburn actually have superb home form. We've also got Fulham, tough to break down, and City at home, I would most certainly not call out run in easy at all.

Blackburn have lost 10 away, but only 2 at home, though they've only beaten Liverpool and Villa at home, they've seemingly got UTd, Chelsea and Arsenal to play at home, but they aren't an easy ride at home. Theres only Hull, Wigan and Blackburn I would call most likely to get all 3 points, even then they are very unpredictable teams.

I personally don't think anyof those 4 games Chelsea have will be that big a deal except for Utd, and with Utd's creaking defence and Chelsea having a bit of a pants keeper, though he could improve by then, not sure if Cech is due back by early April or not.

Honestly again with Utd, Chelsea and City are the two difficult games, Liverpool and Spurs at home, frankly spurs away form isn't great and Liverpool......... suck.

All three of us have bogey teams, unpredictable teams and a couple tough games to go. Though I think we have a decent chance, we could quite easily end up quite far behind come the end of the season.

We've also got a couple tough games, spurs and Wigan away, with CL games before and after so will be more tired than they are.

EDIT:- looking more closely Utd seem to have Blackburn between 1st/2nd leg of next round of the CL assuming they go through and our Spurs game is postoned, if we get through the next round we could have a really tough schedual of CL games, City, Spurs, Blackburn and Fulham crammed into a very very tight couple weeks that could make life very very difficult for us.

I think because of timing Chelsea/Utd aren't facing any postponed games due to other teams in the cup, so we're likely to have a very busy final month while the other guys have an easier time. Utd/Chelsea have two of their tough games, including against each other, done by 3rd April, while its late April thats going to be toughest on us. I think its pretty heavily set against us because we'd most likely have to field some weakened teams with rotation against Spurs, Blackburn and City, two of those away and City who likely will have one of the freshest squads with no other cup games to play.

 

[Rich_L]

I don't think anyone is suggesting they have an easy run-in, just that with the games ahead they have every chance of winning the PL.

That said, I'd quite like to see them win the Premiership and the Champs League, just to see what you'd manage to find to complain about

 

[Nix]

I don't think anyone is suggesting they have an easy run-in, just that with the games ahead they have every chance of winning.

That said, I'd quite like to see them win the Premiership and the Champs League, just to see what you'd manage to find to complain about

Let's not get our hopes up yet. We've got it all to win and all to lose. I'd be devestated for us to lose Cesc if we failed to gain anything despite coming so close.

 

[Lei Ying Lo]

Amazing win for Arsenal, hopefully they can perform more like this in the PL, would be nice to see them give both Man Utd and Chelsea a run for their money.

5 yellows and maybe deserved more, sticking two fingers up at the ref, 3 shots on target and a defensive formation, Liverpool seemed like the Bolton from a few years ago going away to kick the crap out of the opposition rather than a top 4 side trying to win against a side with horrible form.
...
Gerrard sucks for England and has been poor compared to usual for Liverpool, rarely fit for long
...
lol, the cover down the left is laughable, Gerrard may aswell not be on the pitch, considering he's been roughly the same in all but a couple of his England games in the past 3 years, and for Liverpool half the season.
...
if someone told Gerrard to stay left, which he's somewhat doing now, but still entirely zero threat down the left because he won't stay far enough out to the left. I can't remember a single attack down the left involving him so far.
...
Liverpool really weren't good though, and most of there pressure came from attacks allowed instead of freekicks, the corner/long ball that ended up in a couple corners and the goal was after a ridiculously obvious barge on an Everton player. Ref was awful second half, and didn't punish Liverpool for time wasting from early on.

wait...?

 

[Tummy]

Thats the second time you've posted that picture.

It's not funny.

 

[Yas786]

True joy to watch tonight, enjoyed every minute of it. Unbelievably good performance without the spine of the team (Gallas, Fabregas and RvP).

I hope people start to share my excitement about Nasri, such a talented player, when he's played centrally he is awesome, the pass on Saturday and the goal tonight were both the best of the best. What a talent.

Told you to be patient with Bender

Patience wears thin when someone like Bender has so much potential but doesnt fulfill them...but saying that i really do hope this inspires some much needed confidence in him...i really want him to be a world class striker and he has the ability to become one...just needs to be consistent thats all.

As for Nasri??..simply awesome game he had tonight...basically took on Fab's role and made things happen....his goal was sublime...it was like he said **** it no one is helping me out here so im just gonna shred the defence and get the goal myself...simply sublime the way he ripped through the defence....Rosicky i thought had a superb game along with Arshavin....he was simply something else with his runs and crosses into the box...Bender could have had a few more rather than 3...even Diaby had a very good game which was surprising to say the least...again like Bender i hope he keeps improving.

Only player that i thought had a pretty tough time was Sol...made a few mistakes but luckily didnt get punished...clichy also messed up a few times but i have to say there were times we were living quite dangerously especially the start of the 2nd half...but 2 quickfire goals made us relax a bit which helped immensely.

I really didnt think we would win tonight, i thought Porto would have scored a few but damn im so glad it turned out the way it did...onto the semi's now.

 

[Yas786]

No reason why any of the top 3 can't walk away with the title. It's neck and neck right now. Hopefully Gallas and Fabregas will be back on the pitch soon enough which I think is essential for Arsenal

Gallas i heard could be out for a month at least...hoping he makes fast recovery though...Fabregas might be back this weekend but looks more likely that he will be back next weekend...which isnt too bad as i dont think Wenger wants to rush him back too soon in case he gets injured and is ruled out for the rest of the season...that would be devastating

 

[Weebull]

Looks like Wenger's recent policy of only buying similar style central midfielders has finally paid off.

Also, I've just noticed Birmingham are 6 points off a Europa League spot, and ahead of Everton. Considering how far into the season it is, that's bloody impressive.

EDIT

Eboue was incredibly effective... no one could stay with him when he broke for the goal and he was some 20 yards deeper than Arshavin when the move started and some 30-35yards deeper than that centre back, great composed finished which is a rarity for him.

I've just seen the highlights and I love how you portrayed this. I was expecting to see Arshavin and defenders going full pelt, not controlling his pace so that he could get some support and not lose control of the ball. Not saying it wasn't a good run by Eboue, but he was hardly the Flash.

 

[FrankJH]

So Arsenal are the best team in the Universe now I take it?

Well done for beating Porto - and you are welcome to your night of celebrations, but come on .......do you really think any of those goals would have gone in in an EPL match? Certainly Bentner wouldnt have scored apart from possibly the penalty. Arsenal played well , but Porto played REALLY badly to make Wenger's men look better than they are also

Of course Arsenal have a chance at the EPL - with three points in it (given Chelsea's game in hand) with 9 games to go, but to see both Man Utd and Chelsea concede at least 3 points more than Arsenal is pretty unlikely (I personally think its Chelsea's to lose, even with Cech out for a few more weeks)

I dont think Arsenal have a hope in **** of doing anything significant in the CL even with a kind draw in the 1/4ers

 

[Feef]

Well, Arsenal totally deserved the win, always seemed to carry more of a threat going forwards and Porto couldn't cope at all. But, to be fair, Porto were bloody awful

 

[JohnnyG]

Stuff...

I think Arsenal should be favourites for both the PL & CL now, that's if the draw favours them of course.
They are in simply awesome form in the PL and have a doddle of a run in in comparison to both Chelsea and Man.U. who are both wobbly at the back and labouring.
I can't see Chelsea getting past Inter so that's one obstacle out of their way and it's only Barca (maybe BM) who should worry them in the CL over 2 legs.
They should win one of them anyway, might have a few bob on them really...

 

[jakeke]

Don't bet on Arsenal winning the CL, I think there's 2 or 3 teams that are too strong for them. The league is a possibility though you wouldn't get worthwhile odds probably.