UEFA Champions League/Europa League 8/9/10 March * Spoilers *

FeFiDoh · 9 Mar 2011 at 14:56

Did anyone catch the Shaktar game or see highlights?

De rossi with a horrible foul on Srna hopefully some punishment is taken for it, was basically dirty boxing. Srna goes to run into the box and De Rossi just short elbow right to the jaw line.

Greenlizard0 · 9 Mar 2011 at 15:00

Spawn said:
No surprise there...anytime a manager criticises a ref or officials he gets charged...dont really think Wenger is that fussed tbh much like Fergie at Utd.

The ref was a jackarse but i dont think thats really any excuse to blame the defeat on him...sure he shouldnt have sent off RVP for that kick as its the first ive heard of someone being sent off for that...but from what i have read and heard about the game....we just werent and arent good enough....it was in the Sun this morning i think where i read that the difference between Barca and Arsenal is that we sign average french players and Barca go out and sign world class players....this summer nothing will change mark my words...we wont sign any world class GK or defensive players, which is what we desperately need...Squillaci and Kos arent good enough, fair enough Kos is still young and could develop into a decent defender...problem with Wenger is that hes far too pig headed now and stuck in his ways....who knows there might be a surprise with regards to making a decent signing but i doubt it will happen.

That's why it's so frustrating, think about how many points we've lost due to Vermaelen being injured.

We still, at this time don't really have a proper fixed return date. I'll be surprised if he's even back to form this season, say 5/6 games before the end. :/

elmuzzy66. · 9 Mar 2011 at 15:20

When do the seeds go out the window, semi's only?

mmj_uk · 9 Mar 2011 at 15:20

BaZ87 said:
Obviously Van Persie going off made things harder but this idea that Barca would have began to tire and Arsenal may have been able to take advantage towards the end of the game is simply wrong imo.

With or without Van Persie, Arsenal had no outlet. Everytime the ball got cleared, Barca won it back within seconds and started another attack. The pattern of the game didn't change with the sending off, the only thing that changed is like you said, Barca could push an extra man forward. Arsenal players were chasing shadows all game and it was always going to be the Arsenal players that tired first.

The Sky Sports pundits reported afterwards that Barcalona had run 4000metres more than Arsenal if I recall correctly, I don't know if the RVP sending off has skewed that though.

Even with 10 men Bendtner had a chance at the end to win the tie, I remember shouting at the TV "what a donkey".

drunkenmaster · 9 Mar 2011 at 15:30

* Depending on the method of calculation, Arsenal had somewhere between 24% (Opta) and 32% (UEFA) of possession in the Nou Camp.

* UEFA conclude that Barcelona had the ball for 49' 3" while Arsenal had control for 22' 41'' of the game.

* According to Sky Sports, Barcelona completed 724 passes versus Arsenal's 199.

* According to Opta's figures, Arsenal completed 71% of their passes while Barcelona's completion figure was 90%.

* Barcelona's midfield trio was Javier Mascherano (95 passes, 86% success), Xavi (133 passes, 90% success) and Andres Iniesta (105 passes, 92% success).

* Arsenal's midfield trio was Abou Diaby (24 passes, 88% success), Jack Wilshere (33 passes, 79% success) and Cesc Fabregas (30 passes, 70% success).

* No Arsenal player had a single shot - on, off target or blocked. Seven Barca players had attempts on goal - including both full-backs.

* Barcelona recorded 21 shots - 12 were on target, five off target and the remainder were blocked.

* In his 56 minutes on the pitch Robin van Persie had attempted eight passes.

* The Dutchman had not touched the ball in the opposition penalty area and Opta track his average position as well inside Arsenal's own half of the pitch.

Yup, on average our only striker was in our half, or, he was barely in the opposition half, was barely involved and, it can be suggested that maybe he wasn't a goal threat.

Our furthest forward player spent more time in our half than theirs, joke to be honest. 199 passes vs almost 800. 24% percent posession according to Opta, I keep meaning to see if I can find a thing that details how they calculate posession vs Uefa stats.

Yas786 · 9 Mar 2011 at 15:33

Greenlizard0 said:
That's why it's so frustrating, think about how many points we've lost due to Vermaelen being injured.

We still, at this time don't really have a proper fixed return date. I'll be surprised if he's even back to form this season, say 5/6 games before the end. :/

Indeed...we are missing Vermaelen big time....im not saying having him would make us a defensive force to be reckoned with but him being out hasnt helped as its put a **** load of pressure on Kos and other inexperienced defenders to play well when clearly they havent got the consistency just yet. Saying that Kos has been ok-ish...he had a stormer of a game in the first leg against Barca but hasnt done anything of note since then...

Ive given up on all hope of Vermaelen coming back this season...next season he should be back fingers crossed but like Rosicky who was out for a long time through injury...whose to say that he wont be as good as he was for us when he was fit :/

But seriously Wenger needs to make some world class signings this summer...im actually begging him to do so unless we havent got the money to spend but the reports from Emirates are, that we do have...its just Wenger who wont spend money. Either he sorts it out or he needs to move up and let someone else come in and see if we can win trophies....but then the question remains...who is going to be good enough to take over from Wenger??. Also this summer Wenger needs to get rid of the deadwood currently in our squad ie Denilson and Diaby amongst others....they offer us nothing and are slowly becoming massive liabilities in all honesty.

I know im sounding like DM :eek:

but this is how i see it, i dont expect anyone else to agree with my views but to me this is the problem....our defence just sucks balls, they will have one good game then a few bad games where we let in soft goals....that kind of form isnt going to win us any trophies

G|mp · 9 Mar 2011 at 15:48

Tunney said:
Spurs would get destroyed by Barcelona. Our defence has looked very suspect against one-two through balls in Europe this season. Having said that, if there's any weaknesses in the Barcelona team it's the defensive capabilities of their full-backs. Bale and Lennon might get a few chances.

Your defense looked weak against Wolves let alone Barca

sanofi · 9 Mar 2011 at 15:55

Tunney said:
Spurs would get destroyed by Barcelona. Our defence has looked very suspect against one-two through balls in Europe this season. Having said that, if there's any weaknesses in the Barcelona team it's the defensive capabilities of their full-backs. Bale and Lennon might get a few chances.

I don't disagree but something else regarding the defence that hasn't been mentioned that much from what I have read ( which is not a lot ) regarding last nights match is that barca were playing a central defensive paring of a left back and a DM. Were arsenal able to muster some coherent attacks or even just time in possession, it was a good opportunity to score at the camp nou.

Tom84 · 9 Mar 2011 at 16:13

Moving away from the game itself I was actually quite impressed with Benitez the pundit, tbh I never really had a problem with him to begin with until he lost his mind but maybe then pressure then just got to him? Not many can hang with Fergie :cool:

BaZ87 · 9 Mar 2011 at 16:16

mmj_uk said:
The Sky Sports pundits reported afterwards that Barcalona had run 4000metres more than Arsenal if I recall correctly, I don't know if the RVP sending off has skewed that though.

Going off memory, a player usually runs in the region of 9km per game so being without Van Persie for ~40mins would account for that 4km or so, which would indicate that on average both sides covered the same distance.

For 1 reason or another, Arsenal looked like the team that tired first and the sending off can't be used as the reason for that as the pattern of the game didn't change.

matt0r · 9 Mar 2011 at 16:32

Tunney said:
Spurs would get destroyed by Barcelona. Our defence has looked very suspect against one-two through balls in Europe this season. Having said that, if there's any weaknesses in the Barcelona team it's the defensive capabilities of their full-backs. Bale and Lennon might get a few chances.

There's an interesting interview with Clarence Seedorf on the BBC website. Quite an honest assessment of Milan really. I bet their fans are gutted that Pirlo won't be playing.

Yeh i just read that, interesting read and i can actually stand him being a pundit when he does too

There is an ocuk'er who is a milan fan, iirc he said that pirlo hadnt been fantastic pre-injury, but i might be wrong. No espn here

DiCe! · 9 Mar 2011 at 16:37

Its on ITV.....im getting excited/nervous. if anyone can win it 5-0....its spurs.....if anyone can loose it from the jaws of victory....its spurs! WHY DO I SUPPORT THEM?!

FeFiDoh · 9 Mar 2011 at 16:43

how do I get youtube to embed?

*edit*

Done

DiCe! · 9 Mar 2011 at 16:48

how harsh is that?!

"your booking me? yeah? sure sure why not i just ran into his elbow"

drunkenmaster · 9 Mar 2011 at 16:49

DiCe! said:
Its on ITV.....im getting excited/nervous. if anyone can win it 5-0....its spurs.....if anyone can loose it from the jaws of victory....its spurs! WHY DO I SUPPORT THEM?!

and if anyone can miss all the important goals, its ITV, match made in heaven with Spurs maybe

Spurs should comftably win tonight to be honest, as for Spurs Barca, they wouldn't sit back on the edge of their own box waiting for the throughball, just look at how Barca reacted when Arsenal got at them, panic, the attack didn't know what to do, most of the midfield didn't know where to cover, Barca haven't played a defensive game in the past 8 years, if a team goes balls out attack at them, they concede, quite easily.

Spurs have a not as good squad but they have pace and attacking and they won't just sit around like scared children in a big game, they'll still attack.

I don't think they would win, and Spurs being more stretched and spread out will leave them vunerable but it least they'd make it a game and I really doubt Harry would play a guy who wouldn't, or couldn't run in central midfield so it would probably at least be 11 v 11 on the pitch, a step in the right direction.

Caseh · 9 Mar 2011 at 17:12

drunkenmaster said:
More pointless rambling about Arsenal.

I really think you need to find a new hobby, or atleast "support" a different team. I have NEVER seen you say anything good about the club you are supposed to support. Your team got narrowly beat by the club that is seen as the best club in the world. That is definitely not something to be ashamed of.

jakeke · 9 Mar 2011 at 17:44

I thought the Arsenal ref was bad, but getting booked for being elbowed is a whole new level of awfulness

Stewy · 9 Mar 2011 at 18:02

That does seem somewhat harsh, almost like being punished for being raped... oh awkward...

BaZ87 · 9 Mar 2011 at 18:14

All I'm going to say is that the odds on Rossi joining Utd have been slashed

G|mp · 9 Mar 2011 at 18:19

Crap joke but I would love De Rossi, the mans a beast.

UEFA Champions League/Europa League 8/9/10 March *** Spoilers ***

UEFA Champions League/Europa League 8/9/10 March * Spoilers *