English League & European Football [27th Mar - 1st Apr 2010] **spoilers**
- Thread starter red11
- Start date
If you are saying it in jest I apologise but I work with 4 yes 4! Arsenal fans (thats about half of the men in my place that watch football) and the crap I have to hear.
"Arshavin this"
"Theo is dire why does he play him"
Following week "Theo was awesome great stuff"
Maybe im being a little harsh as im sure all fans are like this about their team but getting it from 4 at once, it hurts. I end up walking like Cesc...
"Arshavin this"
"Theo is dire why does he play him"
Following week "Theo was awesome great stuff"
Maybe im being a little harsh as im sure all fans are like this about their team but getting it from 4 at once, it hurts. I end up walking like Cesc...
Man of Honour
- Joined
- 15 Mar 2004
- Posts
- 28,140
- Location
- Liverpool
Aye, almost as technically gifted as Cesc, I've said that for a long time. It's a real pity he was injured for so long.
Last edited:
PMSL oh man what an awesome comeback by Arsenal...just simply awesome...at least we go to Barca even and hopefully we can get a goal there.
But Walcott finally turns up for a game and Captain fantastic Fab scores from the penalty spot but tbh he did make a meal of it lol...doesnt matter...what matters the most is that we didnt end up losing 2-0 or 2-1...am quite chuffed about that and the Arsenal haters can take that shove it where the sun dont shine
I said this from day one...shut Messi down and Barca arent as much a threat as they are...Ibra scored 2 goals that were put on a plate to him by Arsenal defenders in all honesty but usually he cant score for ***
Still kinda surprised that Wenger pulled Nasri off...thought he was immense in the first half but its going to be very difficult to overcome Barca at the nou camp especially with Fab out
All in all a very good nite for Arsenal
.
But Walcott finally turns up for a game and Captain fantastic Fab scores from the penalty spot but tbh he did make a meal of it lol...doesnt matter...what matters the most is that we didnt end up losing 2-0 or 2-1...am quite chuffed about that and the Arsenal haters can take that shove it where the sun dont shine
I said this from day one...shut Messi down and Barca arent as much a threat as they are...Ibra scored 2 goals that were put on a plate to him by Arsenal defenders in all honesty but usually he cant score for ***
Still kinda surprised that Wenger pulled Nasri off...thought he was immense in the first half but its going to be very difficult to overcome Barca at the nou camp especially with Fab out
All in all a very good nite for Arsenal
.
Sometime shows that he is miles better though just because of his experience. Walcott might start on the right as well, maybe go a 442 with him has a CF with Bender heading on.
Above... Nasri wasn't taken off. Sagna was, Eboue moved back.
Soldato
- Joined
- 24 Aug 2006
- Posts
- 10,113
- Location
- Gibraltar
maybe but barca had similar issue's last year in the final, got all the manc's dreaming and boom lost 2-0.
Caporegime
- Joined
- 18 Oct 2002
- Posts
- 33,188
Yup, if we hand't risked Gallas at all we could have subbed Diaby for someone who could either pass, run, close down or really do anything, heck even not falling over would be better. Diaby was truly absymal and its his fault Fabregas was forced to make that tackle, even though it was never a yellow card.
Bendtner maybe should have scored that header, it was under pressure and well saved, on target, his first shot though it was offside was well saved also and the follow up a scuffed left foot hit the post. But he made a fantastic pass for Theo's goal, and a brilliant header to Fabregas for the penalty, it was a header had he tried to score with had no pace or power on it, very hard to score with, made the perfect choice.
Puyol is actually unlucky to be sent off, he denied a goal scoring chance but it was completely unintentional, penalty and no card was more than fair. But will help us second leg.
Sagna was almost as useless as Diaby, we looked hugely better with THeo and Eboue on the wing, with a right back who offered genuine threat and interplay with the right winger. Though Theo was pretty hopeless in final ball and running it, as i've ALWAYS said, Theo, one touch and shoot has the potential to be a good striker as he gets in the right places. More than one touch and he can't make up his mind what to do, the majority of his runs ended up in a simple pass backwards or a very poor cross.
I almost had my head explode in anger when it appeared Wenger was bringing on Theo for Nasri, and shocked to see a good decision to take off Sagna.
The thing about Barca is, they aren't used to defending, they aren't good at defending a lot and they are awful when put under pressure, EVERY time they've played badly, been beaten and most of the draws its teams with the balls to attack them hard, it throws them off their best badly.
UNfortunately I get the feeling Fabregas could be out for ages now which could ruin our run in for the league.
As I said, we have every chance of beating Barca, had we played a better starting team, IE no Diaby or Sagna, for Eboue and whoever, we might have done better from much earlier on.
In saying that without Almunia we would have been dead and burried 15 mins into the game.
The away leg will be even harder, and if Wenger tries to go even more defensive we'll be torn to bits, again, they hate being put under pressure and attacked, MAxwell and Alves are both pretty awful defensively, both their CB's out, all out attack and we have a chance still.
But it wasnt
so whats your point??..the game should have been over when it was 2-0 but Arsenal got a bit of luck along with some very slack defending by Barca and a dubious penalty...not entirely convinced it should have been a penalty but with the amount of penalties that havent gone our way...its about time we had something go our way.Fact is we werent down 2-3 at the half shows how resilient Arsenal are...we went 2 down after the break but still managed to pull it back...we go to Barca with a sniff...i still fully expect Barca to go through tho but would love absolutely love it if we beat them in the 2nd leg.
I'm not saying that Barca can't win. Barcelona are better than Arsenal, no one will dispute that statement.
Im pretty sure Nasri was taken off??
...oh well doesnt matter a 2-2 draw is a much better result than what i expected especially after Barca scored 2 quick goals in the 2nd half.
Man of Honour
- Joined
- 15 Mar 2004
- Posts
- 28,140
- Location
- Liverpool
Experienced, and the guy is very technically gifted. Not looking forward to having to face Barca again with Diaby having to play once more but ah well.
Yeah I know, took what the commentators said they thought Nasri was off, then they said Sagna was off.
Firstly, great game thoroughly enjoyed it. Barca were incredible in the first half - how they didn't score I do not know... well played Almunia actually (except for Ibrahimovic's first!).
Secondly, why the **** did Wenger play half a team of unfit players? It was clear from the off that Fabregas, Arshavin and Gallas weren't right and now they've all worsened their injuries - brilliant for the title run in and the return leg
Aside from that I thought the ref was quite harsh to Arsenal, which I think lead to him giving the pen and red against Barca towards the end. I think he gave 6 bookings to Arsenal? A lot of dodgy free kicks also.
Ibrahimovic should have had a double hat-trick. Just imagine if Messi turned up tonight, it would have been 5 or 6.
I just think overall Arsenal played straight into Barcelona's hands in the first half. They let them come and sat off which is totally the wrong way to go, as a team of their quality will just create chance after chance. Second half, in particular when Walcott came on, it was a different game all together. Arsenal were giving their defence and something to think about going the other way and pushing Maxwell and Alves back.
I just wish Wenger would have gone for his most match fit players and a more attacking formation from the off - would have been a different story imo.
I realise you can't attack when you can't get the ball, but closing down was also shocking overall for Arsenal.
Decent result in the end, I think they can score 1 or 2 at the Camp Nou - especially with Pique and Puyol out.
Secondly, why the **** did Wenger play half a team of unfit players? It was clear from the off that Fabregas, Arshavin and Gallas weren't right and now they've all worsened their injuries - brilliant for the title run in and the return leg
Aside from that I thought the ref was quite harsh to Arsenal, which I think lead to him giving the pen and red against Barca towards the end. I think he gave 6 bookings to Arsenal? A lot of dodgy free kicks also.
Ibrahimovic should have had a double hat-trick. Just imagine if Messi turned up tonight, it would have been 5 or 6.
I just think overall Arsenal played straight into Barcelona's hands in the first half. They let them come and sat off which is totally the wrong way to go, as a team of their quality will just create chance after chance. Second half, in particular when Walcott came on, it was a different game all together. Arsenal were giving their defence and something to think about going the other way and pushing Maxwell and Alves back.
I just wish Wenger would have gone for his most match fit players and a more attacking formation from the off - would have been a different story imo.
I realise you can't attack when you can't get the ball, but closing down was also shocking overall for Arsenal.
Decent result in the end, I think they can score 1 or 2 at the Camp Nou - especially with Pique and Puyol out.
Caporegime
- Joined
- 18 Oct 2002
- Posts
- 33,188
Oh, before anyone says it, credit where credit is due, Denilson was pretty damn good when he came on, he closed down very very well, won a lot of the ball, distribution was often poor , which is a shame as when he was a back up "cesc" type player, his passing was his only fantastic attribute.
Compared to Diaby, Denilson was utterly world class, Diaby stopped 3 yards short of everyone he "closed down" leaving the angles to pass beyond him wide wide open. Denilson had his game of the season and frankly depending on who we have fit, I'd start him ahead of Diaby in the return leg.
We really need to play a 4-4-2 with Bendter the support striker to someone ahead of him, did anyone notice how Bendtner won almost every single long ball up the field and knocked every header on, but there was rarely anyone beyond him, he utterly dominated in winning goal kick type long balls, but no one ahead of him. We have to utterly attack them as we're likely going to need a minimum of 2 goals to go through due to away goals and the likelyhood of them scoring at home.
Compared to Diaby, Denilson was utterly world class, Diaby stopped 3 yards short of everyone he "closed down" leaving the angles to pass beyond him wide wide open. Denilson had his game of the season and frankly depending on who we have fit, I'd start him ahead of Diaby in the return leg.
We really need to play a 4-4-2 with Bendter the support striker to someone ahead of him, did anyone notice how Bendtner won almost every single long ball up the field and knocked every header on, but there was rarely anyone beyond him, he utterly dominated in winning goal kick type long balls, but no one ahead of him. We have to utterly attack them as we're likely going to need a minimum of 2 goals to go through due to away goals and the likelyhood of them scoring at home.
What DM praising Denillson?
I agree though, 4-4-2 is what is needed but I am unsure of who would play up front with Bender, since Eddy still kinda sucks, or who plays on the right with Walcott up front. Can't be Eboue since he should be playing instead of Sagna.
Clichy looked like a new man in the second half. Very much like his pre-injury form last season.
Messi wasn't quiet.
but if you have standards like him, maybe in peoples eyes he was quiet......
he linked up so many attacks, ran at defenders, i remember one biti of play he took 3 players out of the game totally and passed it to max well.
i thought he was very good, not excellent, but good. started so many attacks
but if you have standards like him, maybe in peoples eyes he was quiet......
he linked up so many attacks, ran at defenders, i remember one biti of play he took 3 players out of the game totally and passed it to max well.
i thought he was very good, not excellent, but good. started so many attacks
Never say die. IT was a lot like watching Arsenal destroy teams only to not win. Thierry I still love you.
Edgar Davids, you fool!
Arsenal will struggle at the Camp Nou because it's a big pitch..
Ashburton Grove Field dimensions 113 × 76 metres
Camp Nou Field dimensions 105 m × 72 m
Edgar Davids, you fool!
Arsenal will struggle at the Camp Nou because it's a big pitch..
Ashburton Grove Field dimensions 113 × 76 metres
Camp Nou Field dimensions 105 m × 72 m
That was a harsh red card, stonewall penalty though. Hats off to Fabregas for stepping up and scoring it under that amount of pressure and I hope his injury isn't serious. Arsenal have a small chance, they'll need to win at the Nou Camp or a 3-3 or higher draw as unlikely as that is. I fear that they'll miss Fabregas far more than Barcelona will miss their central defence.