It’s What We Wanted, Bayern In The Champions League
Feb 18th, 2014 by 'holic
“We have big home strengths recently because we don’t give goals away and that will certainly be vitally important in this tie.”
Arsene makes the case for the defence, who will certainly have a fair bit more to do than in most home games. Bayern know one way to play, and that involves a lot of attacking football.
A year ago we most certainly did give goals away. Kroos and Muller had us two down in just over twenty minutes and it is fair to say Bayern looked as good in that first-half as anybody who came to the Grove last season. Inspired by Jack Wilshere we attempted to rally and Lukas Podolski reduced the arrears against his former club, but we were undone by a late Mandzukic fluke.
Bayern have been beaten just once in all competitions this season, by Manchester City in their final group stage match. In the Bundesliga they have won nineteen and drawn two. The Champions League holders are as stern a test as we could have got in the last sixteen, but we have a squad in better spirits than a year ago, when we were coming off the back of a defeat to Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup.
The squad for this match shows just one change from the one that saw off the challenge of Liverpool in the FA Cup on Sunday. Tomas Rosicky comes back in place of the suspended Mikel Arteta. There will surely be recalls for Wojciech Szczesny, Bacary Sagna, and Kieran Gibbs in the back five. Wilshere is the likeliest to drop in alongside Mathieu Flamini in the base of the midfield.
The questions Arsene has to answer is which combination of players to surround Mesut Ozil with. Rosicky and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain contest the right sided berth and although I would prefer to see the speed of the Ox I suspect Le Boss will plump for greater experience. Similarly on the left there is a case to be made for Podolski, arguably the most consistent finisher at the club, but how can we leave out Santi Cazorla? I don’t believe we will.
Then the question of who starts up top. It’s a no-brainer if Olivier Giroud can put his personal travails to one side. Out of touch in front of goal he may be, but there is no better target man in England right now and his ability to bring others into the game is invaluable. If there is any doubt about his concentration levels then Poldi could be preferred to the raw but enthusiastic Yaya Sanogo in a game of this magnitude.
The ‘holic pound, fresh from another success at the weekend, cannot resist the 4/1 being offered against Arsenal. The bookies may not get it wrong often, and those odds reflect the general belief that the champions will prove too strong for us again, but 4/1, at home? That is irresistible.
To land the punt we will have to defend from front to back, deny them the space in which to play, and get our fluid, fast-passing game going as much as possible. A win would require a tremendous performance, but one we have in our locker. After our victory in the Allianz Arena last season in the second-leg I have to believe that. Having gone out on away goals then it would be perfect revenge to turn the tables.
Enjoy, all who are fortunate enough to be going. We worry so much about qualifying for the Champions League precisely to be involved in matches like this. Let’s enjoy it now it is here.
Come on you riproaring!
423 Responses to “It’s What We Wanted, Bayern In The Champions League”
Boom!
Come on!
No CL qualfier?
It’s like a…
Stern test but one that can be navigated. We will prevail.
Nice one, H.
COYG.
Sorry SSY. In the Ox form right about now.
Nice preview Holic! Really hoping to see Ox in starting lineup. His pace and forward drive will keep the BM defensive line honest.
Excellent post Holic, a bit of rallying done by yourself I would think 🙂
The last paragraph rings so true for me, these are the matches that we strive to make the Champions League for, testing our mettle against the best. I hope the lads can play with equal enjoyment to us fans viewing them 🙂
A fine post, Guv’nor. I hope your punt comes in, my my, I hope your punt comes in. Personally, I’d take a scrappy 3-0 to the good guys.
COYG
Let’s enjoy it now it is here.
Precisely my view too. This is where so many other teams so desperately want to be. I’m looking forward to the game, fully knowing we could get steamrollered but also knowing we can definitely win this tie. It will require two really, really good games and probably a slice of luck but it is doable.
Got to say I want some pace in the team – Ox will hopefully play.
Wenger shouldn’t play the “lacks experience” card, ‘H – who was our best player against Milan at home after that infamous 4 nil pasting away?
I will be well chuffed if we are still in the tie after 90 mins – one nil to the Arsenal sounds kinda nice.
Nice one guv’.
AW will probably go with LJW even though I’d prefer it if he didn’t. Im not going to sit here and slate our young MF, but to be brutaly honest he hasn’t been at his best lately, no lack of effort, just application. The same applies to the HFB I’m afraid, he seems to have lost his goal compass (if there is such a thing) and I don’t think an extended rest would be the worst thing in the world for him at this moment.
The team who played against the Mickeys looked a lot better on the counter then we have in a long time, if we want to trouble ze Germans we are going to need a bit of pace in the side, I hope Arsene cuts his cloth accordingly.
No matter who plays, I’ll be here in the bar, drink in hand, cheering the lads on. We wear the underdog colours well and with the right applcation we may just surprise a few tomorrow.
COYG’s.
How on earth did Leverkusen get to the knockout stage? Their group must have been really poor. Having said that, Le Parisiens seem to be on a mission of world dominance. They might be a in a position to conquer all in a couple of seasons.
Am feeling positive about this one.
Hoping to see Rosicky. And Polidi. And The Ox … rip into hollywood FC!
Dunno. Just have a good feeling.
Cheers Holic! Anything – 0, including 0-0 would be a right result.
Hmm …, yep. What H2H said!
Peyit position.
-y
+t
Great preview – would love to see Santi in the middle with Flamini and then Ozil ahead of them, Ox right and Podolski left…does that leave us too vulnerable? We need a few goals and I think that achieves it….
Does Markus Babbel have a clue? I haven’t heard this much crap since Mourinho last opened his gob.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2562031/Ex-Liverpool-star-Babbel-labels-Arsenal-chokers-ahead-Bayern-clash-lays-lazy-Podolski-soft-Ozil.html
Seems he has something against Arsenal. Borrowing from the great Keegan meltdown;” I would love it” if we did more than just win tomorrow.
That Messi chap is quite good isn’t he??! 😀
Manc Oilers in a pretty pickle. Yay!
Anything that shakes City’s belief is great for us.
As a keen Bundersliga enthusiast Arsenal need to target the left side of the Bayern defence it is a comparative ‘weak’ area. We must press the ball high and play with a fast tempo from the off otherwise they will easily strike up their cohesive style.
Spot on dk!
Die Rotten must not score at the Ashburton.
That’s the only way to fuck ’em out.
Only way.
That Markus Babbel interview may well have given us the reason for Poldi not getting many starts,this season or last.,
[ injuries aside that is ].
Babbel is ” surprised Podolski has made in it England because he was so lazy at Bayern and Hertha.”
I cannot think of any other cogent reason for him being omitted so often.
Clive, that’s just the opinion of an exMickey twatbucket stirring the pot before a big game.
Poldi has never played for Hertha.
Valdez gives a wide open Clichy, with the ball, two yards of space on the near post to shoot at — more space than he gave Van Pussy at the Emirates. And Clichy also has two mates pouring into the box unmarked.
So what does he do? Lobs one directly at Valdez! Good riddance…..
Poldi would be the first to raise his hand and admit that he didn’t exactly apply himself at Bayern. Having said that, he managed to amass a 100+ appearances and almost half that number in goals in between his two spells at Cologne and the brief stint at Bayern. He must have been doing something right.
Anyway, Babbels’ interview has the putrid stink of an agenda being played out. He clearly isn’t a fan of Arsenal and doesn’t seem to like or rate his compatriots either.
LuPo is lazy?!
“Jealousy is the tribute mediocrity pays to genius.”
Cesc was never offside there.
Citeh get away with it.
I will never understand how this overpriced cunts beat us sixty-three.
It wasn’t that bad SSY. 😉
Alvessss!
Really hope that City are absolutely disconsolate after this and that it goes on to derail their season(annual Arsenal like February meltdown according to the meedja).
Leverkusen is piss poor. Arrrgh!
Wonder what Mourinho’s views are now on the ‘Worst Barcelona team in ages’. Tosser.
Robbie Savage:”If Manchester City win the tie in the Nou Camp, I will stop working.”
HAHAHHAHAH! So Utterly crap were city!
If you want the true definition of piss poor then have a butchers at the beeb website.
Robbie Savage’s “expert” opinion is total tripe, how does that guy stay in a job?
Game over, tie over. Next year now for Manchester City as they are not going to get anything at the Nou Camp.
So the team that have alreadt beaten the CL champs at home this season might as well not turn up. Plonker.
BB.
I just seen that too.
I’m seriously thinking of cheering for Citeh in the return leg. 😉
Gala to beat chelski with Drog scoring a few. That would shut jose up!
Let’s win the match against munchens! Yeahhh!
So, 2-0 to Barça. I’ll take that. Citeh will be hugely encouraged by the way they managed to hold out at 1-0 for so long when they were a man down. I don’t buy the argument that their morale would have suffered if they’d been on the end of a good hiding. I’m much happier with the idea that they’ll run their legs off at the Nou Camp in futile pursuit of a place in the next round.
I look forward to the “Great effort by pluck Man City” bollocks from the meeja, as far as I remember they lost last time they played at Ashburton Grove.
I also noticed that I was far less irritated by Busquets’ niggly fouls than I had been last time I saw Barcelona play an English team at this stage in the competition.
Hey ho. Bring on FC Bayern.
COYG
H2H,
City Win we win, Barca Win we win! 😀
[Editorial note] The “they in my third paragraph @44 is, of course, Barcelona.
Here we go again,
COYG
How shit is Demichelis, by the way?
Somehow I overheard Guardiola singing:
“Maybe tomorrow I’ll start over
Maybe tomorrow I will finally change my ways
Said the same thing yesterday
Don’t know why I’m so afraid
To let you in
To let you win
To let you have all of me!”
Lars.
Not as shit as Savage.
Still pretty awful though.
Asked if he agreed that Arsenal were stronger in an interview in Munich newspaper Münchner Merkur, Babbel replied: ‘No. And they’ve got a lot of injuries. If Bayern concentrate, they won’t have any problems. You see it in the Premier League: Arsenal always mess things up in big games.’
—————
So the Babbler said in the Muncher that we’ve got loads of injuries and if the Munchkins use their minds they will brow beat us into submission.
I think we’ve got all the motivation we need to stick it to ’em this time round!
Demichelis reminds me of the ‘Ukranian Porn Star’. The pony-tail being just one of the features and attributes they share.
H2H@49: well, no – but is anyone?
time for
doo wop
on 2
with
suzi q
Nice preview, H.
Let’s do it, let’s ‘ave ’em.
*whistles the Dambusters theme*
I am a bit perplexed at the seeming likelihood of Ox on the bench tomorrow. This boy is making a big impact on our season, he has the pace and power to trouble even good teams and sadly I don’t think Santi turns up often enough in games like this. I am a huge TR7 fan but I think we have to play Ox and Poldi wide of Ozil and behind Giroud. We then have a bench with Rosicky, Cazorla and Sanogo ready to stretch them in the last twenty minutes.
I hope David’s tactical insights are right but we know how to play CL football at the top level and we beat them last time on their own ground. I share LJW’s view that 0-0 will be far from a disaster and if we could sneak one it would be a great evening.
Frankly I think the domestic challenges are enough to be getting on with but as Holics so rightly says why not give the Champions League a serious go when you have a chance like this. We could be playing Dnipro ( who?) on a Thursday night like the Scum.
Heh Lars, No.
Not even old wee Jock poo pong Mcplop the guy who cleans out the public toilets in Aberdeen is as shitty as him. 🙂
Zico
You may well be right,but what other valid reason is there for Poldi to not be getting a sniff these days.??
H2H,you are correct my friend,it should have been Cologne,as in atershave.!!
Having watched the City game,i really do fervently hope that we don’t put in as poor a performance as they did tonight.
Even before Dermatitus got sent off, City seemd to be mesmerised by Barca’s intricate passing.
A pale shadow of the swashbuckling side with over a 100 goals to their name this season.
Just goes to show yet again,the schoolyard bully exposed when trying to compete at a higher level.
if she plays
the prisonaires
i’ll lust after her
more than
i already
devil gate did
BB 40. Worthwhile for us all to build a fund to bribe the referee in favour of ManShitty and get rid of that tosser Lily Savage once and for all. We would be doing the beeb a huge service and perhaps could ask for a refund of our licence fee as a token of gratitude 🙂
Let’s see some pace in the team tomorrow night….the Ox has made his case for inclusion. A brace of Poldi’ s bombs will go down a treat.
Nice one Clive.
With Aguero back, City may actually win at Barca. Did notice that they were really poor when defending, stranger things have happened.
But i won’t count on it 🙂
Stoke to beat city over the weekend.. you heard it here first!
Clive
I may well be right.
Fine. What may well I be right about? 😀
58
a cracker 🙂
i’m back to radio 2
love a bit
of
doo wop
me
ooops
she isn’t
half playin
tripe
Sorry Zee,
In my pensioner addled mind i thought @ 28 was you replying to my @ 27.
But perhaps if you think the same as H2H then my reply to you @ 58 stands.!
Nice one, Holic.
As Esso said – anything nil would be a decent result. Better than 0-0 would be magic.
Ray Houghton and Alvin Martin ….. Yes, I know …… Completely writing off Arsenal’s chances tomorrow while claiming that City were done by a dodgy penalty against them and a good goal that was ruled out. Sounds familiar – the story of our recent history at Eastlands.
Their anti-Arsenal bias is beyond boring – almost laughing at the idea that we might have a chance.
In the meantime, Man City need to get used to the multi-faceted task of playing against Barcelona.
Evening Cba
Was it the Black leather Jacket or the Guitar that was almost as big as she was that stirred your loins.??
Evening Trev
i seem to remember the learned media throng gave us no chance against a Barca side in their pomp a few seasons ago at the Ems,and we sure rocked their world bigtime that night.!!
I venture to suggest even Holic Dad and Sweepr Dad would have been roused from their Eternal sleep that night by the ferocious noise from the fans inside the Ems.
Oh for another night like that.
Evening Clive,
It was some night to be sure – and the atmosphere at The Ems is steadily improving.
I shall be adding my own personal decibels to the swell tomorrow in one last Alistair (Hurrah) before the first of my two operations finally happens on Thursday.
I doubt I will be needing my voice much on Thursday. 😉
Just watched the last few minutes of the City highlights. Barcelona seemed to be fairly much walking around them.
I think Oxlade will play, but not from the start. It’ll be important not to concede early on, which is why I believe Rosicky will start. He’s by far the best player to press high up the field and set the tempo from the outset. I think we’ll defend deep and try to catch them on the counter late in the second half with the introduction of Oxlade and Poldi. Having said that, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Poldi starts because he has a point to prove, not just to Bayern, but also to Jogi Low.
I think Clive is right about Poldi. He can be lazy at times. But he’s also the most clinical finisher we have, which is why, if he gets his act together, he might well hold the key to our season.
trev
shirley
it matters
not a jot
what stirs
your loins
as long
stirrin occurs
but in
the interest
of disclosure
(it was the leather trousers
not unlike chrissie hyndes trous
too
two)
said
trev
meant
clive
.
are any
of the quackery
head lookers innners ?
or
are you all
sawbones and pimple poppers
(proper doctors)
.
i.m gonna dream
of clive’s knees again
.
shite
.
did it a-fuckin-gain
There is clearly some sort of issue with Podolski but whether it is physical, mental or a clash of personalities I have no idea. It is certainly a shame because he is capable of so much. His pace and power down the left wing, or running onto crosses in the box can be terrific.
If the issue really is laziness, it’s odd how he has managed to amass over 100 caps from his international managers.
All proper doctors here in The Quackery, cba.
Honest !
Spin doctors, witch doctors ….. all here waiting for you ….
may everyone’s
knees
to whomever they belong
emerge
triumphant
from my
mental debacle
.
apologies
to all 3 and 1/2
(sorry trev)
Re the Messi pen … according to the commentator I was listening to, if initial contact is made outside the area BUT continues into it, then it is a penalty. Anyone have the definitive on that?
I think AW selected his team for Bayern at the weekend, leaving the Wednesday players on the bench (except for those he never leaves out – Per, Kos and Özilla). I expect to see Sir Ches, Bacs, Gibbo, Jack, Santi and OG replacing Flappy, Jenks, Nacho, Mikel, Poldi and Yaya. That will leave good striking reinforcements on the bench – Poldi, Gnu, Yaya – if required, and IF AW brings them on in time.
Sir Ches
Bacs Per Kos Gibbo
Flam Jack
Ox Ozil Santi
OG
Öskar (whose Bach is worse than his Bitehoven – sorry, the last drinks round was closed before I could offer any musical puns)
Oh, and the Saw Doctors, of course …. 😉
75
Dr t
strangely comforting
78
less of
the national
stereo-typing
i have it on
good authority
they use
but one thumb
Here’s the Saw Doctor’s – for cba, and one for everyone tomorrow night
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0ver0lMNMgw
“Red Cortina” is quite good too. 😉
errant apostophe
?
hee hee
have to give
you sumfin
oooh rrrrrr
Indeed, sorry cba, an errant apostrophe, though not a catastrophe, it is. 😉
of course not
yer grand
🙂
.
(organises intervention)
I’m with Trev. An anything to nil win will suffice.
Otd: That team selection seems about right for what we are likely to see.
cba: is that suzie q as in
Now, in the land of Fu Manchu,
The girls all now do the Suzie-Q,
Clap their hands in the center of the floor,
Saying, “Ching, ching, chop-suey, swing some more!”
They don’t write ’em like that any more, Ned !
Well, actually they do, for Eurovision.
86
wha ?
87
wha ?’
Jeez
hittin the hay
janice long
playin a good tune
t rex
time for a snooze
cba, fill yer boots
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMTZZFT_pHM
Oxlade/Gnabry cocktail?
Shoulder barges with low centers of gravity.
In case you were wondering what an Oxlade/Gnabry cocktail was good for.
NBN. Top quality booty swing. 🙂
@93: Haha, yeah. Pellegrini went full Keith Dover there 😉
A bit late, but I’d like to pay tribute to the late Stan Tracey who died in December. I can’t find a decent Youtube of his wonderful Under Milk Wood suite, but here’s a sample of his playing style … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNVB0VyabPg&list=PLFB0D9467683C87A3
Recorded in 2006. Hard to believe I last saw him live c1962, more than 40 years earlier when he was house pianist at Ronnie Scott’s original club in Gerrard Street.
A jazz genius. And British too!
Öskar
“Let’s enjoy it now it is here.”
Indeed. I’ll be enjoying it at a quarter to 4 in the ungodly hours of the morning the second week in a row.
Apologies for my absence in the drinks the past few months. New job and adjustments have attributed much. Hope everyone is well.
It may be ‘What we wanted’ ‘holic, but I’d have preferred it as the final.
Öskar
california pinging…right offa that virgin’s thigh, iirc.
Gunners to swing with full latitude. Handbrake off and punches unpulled.
oh, and cor@95, i believe pellegrini went keith’s brother ben this afternoon…he and his oil slick team, erm…
I’m predicting a scoreless draw to live to fight another day. Clean sheet is more important than even scoring.
Another timely bribe had its intended effect?
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/26249123
David @24 makes a good point. Left back Rafinha is considered the weak link and with both Ribery / Shaqiri out, the left side could bring us some joy.
Well done, Scruz.
So, I was bullish before the Anfield debacle. Now I’m dour and pessimistic. Bayern are gonna run rampant.
that’s
reverse psychology
wiff cba in
the
Quackery
none
are
safe.
Win the next match.
BMBD
– “are”
+ “is”
BMBD
None are is better, iLonestar. Your sentence has an implied plurality and it’s a myth that ‘none’ can only be singular. 🙂
Öskar
Well as they say, you have to beat the best, to be the best.
COYR
Noisy patient and supportive crowd. Player focus from the kick off. Hard work throughout. Biting tackles. Track back with the runners. No silly dribbles in our own half. A couple of moments of Mesut Magic (c). Clinical finishing.
Talk over.
Go win.
COYG
Alvin Martin, Robbie Savage ? I’ve been away a while but what has happened meanwhile that gives these people, and others like them, the credibility to offer an opinion that anybody could take seriously? Did either of them ever play at European club level? How does one get a job like that and how much does it pay? I’m available.
This Bayern team has a lot of talent at it’s disposal and looks like an all conquering machine ready to steamroll all in it’s path. There is however, a belief that with the right tactics and complete concentration, Arsenal will beat them convincingly.
Arsene has been quite bullish in his assertion that they are beatable and there is a level of confidence he exudes at the moment. Only pray that there is a transference of said confidence onto the lads.
Going for 2-0 to the good guys and the only real headache for me is who pairs Flamini in the centre of the park.
Mornin’ all. Just back-drinking.
Solid Gooner@52:Demichelis reminds me of the ‘Ukranian Porn Star’. The pony-tail being just one of the features and attributes they share.”
Hmm – Saturday Night at SG’s 🙂
Barca’s ability to slow the game right down and then explode into movement is amazing. There is always someone for the man on the ball to pass to and they’re not obsessed with going forward all the time. Just when everyone thought they had settled for 1-0, Alves surges into the box, Hart says, “Between me legs, Dani” and the little man obliges.
Bayern will be similar – possession combined with rapid thrusts – just like a Ukranian pornstar (I imagine).
The Alvin Martin syndrome.
It always makes me smile whenever I watch streams from the likes of ESPN or Fox, where their “expert” in the commentary box is someone with a Scottish accent who once played five games for Dunfermline.
Not that I have anything against Scottish accents or Dunfermline but … well, you know what I mean.
Of the Ox, Rosicky, Santi and Wilshere, who is the most defensively aware player? Which of them has the capacity to switch on mentally for 90 minutes in a role that requires the utmost discipline, we are talking about the double pivot here (they are all proven going forward).
Whoever gets the nod, let’s pray the gaffer gets it right.
COYG.
dk@111: Heh.
dk:That is a moniker(Ukranian Pornstar) for the atrocious footballer also known as Voronin. Remember him? Ran out for Liverpool a few seasons back.
In a nutshell Solid @113
On that decision, the outcome of this game hangs, imho.
Morning all, and welcome back Steve-o 🙂
Morning maestro. Hope you are well. Missed you on Sunday.
Very excited about tonight’s game, I agree the first priority is not to concede a goal and anything else in our favour will give us a chance to go through.
For those of us fortunate to have a ticket, don’t forget the ” the card display” at 19.35. It’s up to me to get the King’s Lynn Gooners out of the pub on time to join in the fun.
Would like to see the Ox from the start but I am sure Arsene will go with TR7 , safety first, with the option of AOC and maybe Gnabry late on in the game.
Every thing crossed for a great night, let’s hope the fans give their all and the Ref is up to the job!
As always COYRs
Thank you bath. Had to skip Sunday last or this Saturday. Opted for last as friend coming on Saturday. Hopefully you’ll be there too?
Agreed Holic, I don’t get to come to as many matches as I’d like for obvious reasons, but I will be in North London on Saturday for the Bergkamp statue unveiling initially then the match a few hours later. Hope to see as many Holics as possible in the Tollie pre-game 🙂
This would be a nice line up:
Sagna Metz Kos GGibs
Flamini Wilshere
Ozil
Rosicky Ox Cazorla
4 2 1 3….with Ox as spare midfielder..
a variation of Barcas false 9.
So AFC and Red Action are working together to produce a card
showhttp://www.redaction.org.uk/
It looks like they are starting with a fairly easy model.
Perhaps one day we will be able to see something like this at the New Home of Football.
I agree completely with those who are putting the emphasis on the importance of a clean sheet,to give us a fighting chance when we visit Munich in March.
my embedding didn’t work so this is the link which should have preceded the last paragraph
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C89AxExRYvk
“Anything – nil” (said someone further up the drinks) – I like that scoreline.
Think it’d be miraculous if they fail to score but a solid 0-0 would definitely have them scratching their heads and possibly even fretting slightly going into the return leg.
Whatever happens, as Holic exhorts us, let’s just enjoy it. Not attached to the idea of anything really special happening tonight but if they score only 1 I’ll consider that a bonus.
COYG.
With the very greatest respect, Porco, I must disagree.
We are The Arsenal, they ar not. We should expect to win, and I certianly do. Anyone playing Arsenal should regard scoring as a bonus and a win as an almost undreamed of result.
Please note, however, that I am used to disappointments.
COYG
Afternoon all.
The match will be shown on terrestrial tv here in the Lowlands, Arsenal’s CL debut this season on that channel. Result!!
Quarter to nine kick off gives enough time for a pre match drinky, a few mates are comming to watch the game, the first has just arrived……..
This could get messy. 🙂
104
lonestar
i should be insulted
but
i have form
so
fair cop
.
now
.
lets batter these lumps
(sweats)
.
UP THE ARSE
It’s gonna get messy isn’t it H2H? :p I doubt your active participation in the drinks tonight 😉
Game blacked out here. Heavens to Mergatroid. What are the TV execs thinking????
OtD 95….Ronnie Scott’s original Soho club was tiny. Used to go there & watch Tubby Hayes in his pomp. Have the Under Milk Wood in my collection.
Cba….hope you have recovered from jinking about to Suzi Q – surprised yr knee is up to it.
Trev…hope all goes well with the op tomorrow – hope the recovery is not the infamous 3 weeks 😉
Lets show those Bavarians what all guns blazing looks like. AW needs to remind the boys the game starts when the ref blows his whistle – not 45 mins later.
C0YRRR
I’ll be in on the drink in the drinks Brother Wind. 🙂
Good to hear Brother H2H 8)
Cheers Uply,
Just decided to let discretion be the better part of valour and sold my ticket for tonight.
Have to be in hospital at sparrow’s tomorrow and it will just make fasting and getting back tonight too late.
Very sad to miss it but needs must.
Come on Reds !!!
Holic @120 – I’ll be there. cue Four Tops.
H2H @127 – Messy is fine – as long as we win.
Uply @ 131 – Your last paragraph in bold:
“Lets show those Bavarians what all guns blazing looks like. AW needs to remind the boys the game starts when the ref blows his whistle – not 45 mins later.”
*Windwaves in a westerly direction*
Trev – wise move mate – you’ll cheeer them on more comfortably through the ether – both tonight and during your op. All the very best for the op mate.
cba,
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery…you’re my kind of loon. Besides, I owed you one for all that “MUMBD” nonsense 😛
Remember the Alamo…ummm, Don’t Tread on Me…erm, Up the Arse.
BMBD
Best wishes, Trev.
BMBD
Thanks bath.
Mr Meulensteen could have done with a Four Tops choon this week –
“Don’t Walk Away Rene”. 😉
Thanks, LG.
*Waves back in a North Eastern Direction towards Bath* (little bit place, little bit person 😉
All the best for the operation Trev. I guess I won’t be seeing you with a half in your hand on Saturday then?
Good luck with that tomorrow Trev.
You’ll be here with the rest of us shut ins during the match I hope!?
Good luck with the Op, Trev and get well soon.
Good luck with the op, Trev
Best of luck Trev
OK, time to get the bunnet on and get down to Stortford Station. Haddock and chips at the Chip Inn Fish Bar before or after pints in The Tollie? Decisions, decisions. Life in retirement is not easy.
Some inside info for those considering a wager tonight. The Arsenal have never been beaten when my new bunnet has been part of my spectating armoury at The Emirates. I don’t think tonight will be a first.
@130 … Dr. F was nice enough to pass on the idea of Fox Soccer 2 Go to me. It is $20 a month but you get a week free trial so you can always sneak in today’s match then cancel if you don’t feel like keeping it. Just a thought …
Thanks all, very kind.
Pangloss,
Your reverence is a credit to you and I love the bullish tone. Much better than moping around expecting us to lose.
But yeh, as a gooner I’m not exactly unfamiliar with disappointment. Let’s hope they’re approaching this with trepidation.
Incidentally, if we do win tonight, can anyone predict the trite phrases the press will use to downplay it?
We live for such nights dont we? the underdogs against the mighty and the pomp. We are The Arsenal and we are proud to be, these are the nights that makes those idiots who say whats the big deal in a ucl qualification eat their words.
The game will be about mistakes, we tend to do it more than them and lets be honest about it. That bayern team is a machine, it hurts you by punishing every mistake of yours. last time they came home we all were worried about rooben, ribery etc and who hurt us-kroos.
This bayern team under pep is even more tougher, imagine lahm playing defensive wide right and being so good even in that.
Shwensteiger is back and he is a mountain.
Well enough about them, its about us, Bayern know we can hurt them, heck they are scared that we will do it. We have players who can dent them big time, players who know how to do it as well.
The one big concern is does jack start? the boy has been average and he tends to hold on to the ball far to long and thats a mistake and as i told earlier, they will punish us. Still believe we would want him of the bench and play rozza and flamini in that all important midfield, have ozil, santi and ox play because ic ant imagine benching ox, he is our mian weapon along with ozil. cant wait for the game, giroud to score on the pitch for once than off it???
You bring a tank, we bring The ARSENAL.
BTM! Long time! Hope you’re keeping well.
Ah, ‘Holic, good to be back.
So someone who just traveled to London to catch a game last week told me I appear on the big screens during the buildup prior to a home game.
“It’s the clip of you going mental during THAT Barca game.”
Well, if I can’t afford to fly myself there for every home game, at least my face is there eh? Haha.
Porco,
“Sour krauts boil over Ref”
“No Pep in Bayern Display”
“Arsenal do their Wurst and beat Germans”
“Bayern pay for Kroos-ing”
Think they give us as little credit as possible.
No 1 will obviously be in The Sun. 😉
break a leg tomorrow trev
😉
Anyway. Off to nap a couple hours before making my way to the Arsenal pub to watch us play splendid football against the german juggernauts.
Cheers.
Hope all goes well tomorrow Trev.
Thanks fellas, much appreciated.
Actually an exploratory tomorrow with the big one in a few days.
Any punts on Giroud scoring tonight? Think I rather fancy that!
COYG!
Good luck to you Trev.
Hopefully, our boys will produce something to make you smile through the procedure.
COYRRRedssss!
Porco@149, I imagine the meeja will be quick to point out that the game’s really only at half-time, and that Bayern a re a very dangerous team who can put 4 goals past anyone.
They will also remind us of results at the Etihad and Anfield this season and seek to persuade their readers that those results are somehow more typical of Arsenal than the 3-0 drubbing we handed out to Bayern on Wednesday night.
COYG
Trev,
Steal some drugs. 😎
Otd@95, Uply@131: even later, but a great shout out to a legendary jazz pianist. You could barely fit a pianist into Ronnie Scott’s old place, let alone a piano.
Trev: good luck under the knife.
Evening all.
Great preview Holic. I agree with everyone that has mentioned the importance of a clean sheet. I also hope that we find our shooting boots and are more clinical than we have been. I see no reason why we can’t put then under pressure and score.
Bayern are a top club. They are very strong, play good football, have a classy manager and great players. But the same can be said with more than some justification about us. Respect them but let’s not forget who we are and what we stand for? We are The Arsenal and this is our patch.
Bring it on.
Trev. Good luck tomorrow. Not sure it’s an excuse of enough magnitude to miss a game like this though????? Still , having seen the way you handle a dodgy crutch I guess for this once you get the benefit of the doubt????
All the best. Hope to see you back fighting fit very soon.
😀
Wanted to come up with a prediction for this evening, but my crystal ball is on the fritz.
Could go in any direction, this fixture, but I’m going to stick my money on an entertaining 2-2 draw.
COYG
Good luck to Trev and Nice one to Steve-O!
Off dahn the battle. Come on YOU ARSENAL!
We win 3-1! 😀
trev, be well. now we can tell the boys to win one for the limper.
hopefully I will be awake for the match, having worked until 3… COYG!
Treviño (which is what my phone autocorrected yr name to when I left it on Spanish mode) – awesome headlines.
Pangloss – nail on the head mate. If we come away with any kind of result tonight it will be dismissed as a flash in the pan, while if that lot win you’ll be cleaning journalistic ‘releases’ off your screen for a fortnight.
Hello from Polska to everyone, vodka is flowing and Arsenal will glide!
Sanogo starts.
RUMOURS
There has been a lot of talk here at Emirates Stadium that Yaya Sanogo could be in line for a shock start. We will bring you more if and when we get it
Lurky you never now 🙂
From the beeb,
We’ve not seen Arsenal’s team yet but I’m hearing rumours that Yaya ‘the wildcard’ Sanogo starts…
Great toy hear from you H2H !!!!
Come on Arsenal!
Meh.
Lahm at RB for Bayern.
I was hoping for Rafinha as a RB with Lahm in midfield, but Guardiolla isn’t that stupid after all.
Howdy Arthur.
I sneaked in inbetween beers. 😉
Arsenal (4-2-3-1) Szczesny; Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs; Flamini, Wilshere; Ozil, Cazorla, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Sanogo
Yaya and Ox then
H2H
too much vodkas here in Poland these people are never sober 🙂
Na zdrowie.
well that’s a surprise. hopefully it’ll make a bayern win a no go. i guess ollie g is deeper in the shit than we expected. does he make the bench, even?
i’d like to see poldi on for santi at 70, and gnabry on for ox at about the same time. or, if jack’s just falling over and running into cul de sacs, gnabry for jack and move ox to the midfield.
sto lat, atg…
I hope AW knows but…
I’ll be watching the game through my beerbottled eyes so it will be fun anyway.
What a plucky choice up front opting for Oxlade and Sanogo. Wenger’s gone for pace to attack. You can’t deny his ambition, the safer more defensive choice would have been Giroud & Thomas. Of course, its a risk, but in light of both of their performances against ‘Pool its not exactly an irrational choice.
Not his greatest fan this season but tonight it would the chance for Wilshere to finally show his talent and prove me wrong.
By doing that I don’t expect him to score goals. Looking after Kroos should be enough.
I think it’s a good call. OG has looked cream crackered latelyand the new lad will have no fear.
Like Ox in the line up, mabe would have had Rosicky in for LJW but we’ll just have to trust Le Boss’ judgement.
Time to gaffle a few more brews.
Any kind sould out there have a link to a decent live stream?
homer
look up lshunter on google please
Epic! it will be an epic game!!! Who would have thunk!! lol!
Dzikeuje H2H and Scruz!
Homer here you go
livetv.sx/en/eventinfo/206594_arsenal_bayern/
and
http://www.wiziwig.tv/broadcast.php?matchid=241929&part=sports
Eandy – again to the rescue!
Eandy should be here soon Homer.
He is the resident streammeister.
also, hi all..surprised by Yaya starting but he is fresh and have shown that he can be a handful in Liverpool game, AWs trust in him must be immense if he fields him in a match of this importance..and since he is the one who sees him every day in training, I am going to go with his judgment.
Yaya for brace tonight, you heard it here first!:D
hahahah H2H, only because I myself am left with no other option and like to share the sources with others..I do not even own the TV so streams are only way how to watch Arsenal play.
Czech TV is having the game on air today so might catch their online broadcast, will watch only with proper commentator tho 😀
Heh, appeared like magic.
i must say, for all of our injuries (some think they’re few, some myriad) that’s a strong bench and an excellent (if inexperienced in some spots) starting lineup. i do love our mix of old and young this year!
and maybe that even leads to a goal, and a win…
or even a pair of pre-assists before the final assist. better than hleb.
BAAAMM
@186 H2H
my thoughts exactly.
It’s definitely different it has to be said Sanogo up front he looked very lively the other day!
on a plate, h2h. on a plate.
H@H what a strike bloody polish keyboard the at sing is in a wrong place 🙂
And well in.
Cheers gents.
He scores when he’s drunk,
He scores when he’s druuuu-uuunk….. 😉
more vodka please Landlord 🙂
A final thank you for all the kind wishes. Much appreciated.
You just can’t second guess Arsene Wenger. And you’d better not upset him.
All season the worry has been that Giroud would get injured and we would only have TGSTEL as backup.
And then, in a Champions League knock-out round against the holders, the boss drops the fully fit Giroud, ignores The Greatest Striker That Ever Lived – yes, EVER – and puts in young permanently injured bloke who’s played once this season.
Not complaining. Just amazed.
Seems Giroud is not the Messiah after all. He’s just a very naughty boy ! 😉
Trev
sounds like you need more vodka too 🙂
COME ON ARSENAL COME ARSENAL!!!
Was thinking the same thing Trev.
AW – stones big as church bells!
Off We Go!!!
Hello fellow drinkers
Watching a match about to start on German TV
If only I could understand what Per and the others were saying but clearly they seem up for it.
The was just a picture of ozil as superman and Sanogo as some guerrilla
Let’s go you gunners
Commeeeeeeee oNNNNNNNnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!
yeah, he does have some stones, doesn’t our arsene? gutsy call.
come on you reds!
COME ON YOU FREAKING REDS!
COME ON YOU REDZZZZZZ
Woj!
Nice stop Woj.
Dante you dirty f….!
oo yaya!
oooh sanogo…damn close.
OOoooooo Sanogo.
penno!
Penalty
penalty!!!
pleease pleaseplease score…
NOOOOoozil
oh for fucks sake Mesut
FFS
FUCK FUCK FUCK
Brilliant start – shocking pen
fuck.
Ozil was too casual
Can’t believe he missed it!! We are looking good though
Come on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hopefully his head doesn’t go down after that
Come on lads, shake it off and get back at ’em
on the evidence of the first 15 i believe we can win this game.
well blocked, mathieu.
bayern stepping up through their paces.
Keep pressing em!!!!!
fuck, fuck. nice play, sonogo should have taken that.
We’ve gotta make more of the chances we are creating.
COYGs
well done, gibbo.
oooooh almost!
Top work by Sanogo!!!
FOCK neeeeeeeeeurrr!
At last ball put over their backs
They’re sloppy at the back… Keep at ’emmmmmm!
Sanogo and Ox both looking good
computer just freaking died. keep up the commentary, folks.
ouch..gibbo down
watching arseblog live blog. Gibbs injured?
Arghhh! gibbs out!
yeah scruz, I guess hammy:(
Monreal for Gibbs.
fuck. well monreal, ya got a job to do…give the other fella HELL.
Our counters are very good.. just need a bit of luck to have someone in the box!
penno:(
Fuck this !
Red card Woj. WTF
Bullshit rule! Thats crap!
and red for Woj -_- wat?
COMPLETE BOLLOX
come on fabs!!!
Fab for Santi
That was an IOscar worthy dive
One question – would Valdes or even Neuer have gone off for that ?
yes!!
MISS!!!!!!!!!
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
thank god
YEahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Lets get them nowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!
Suck on that you cock suckers!!
That’s 1-1 I think
chez misses the return leg then?
Robben’s leg looks ok, funnily enough.
That’s some atmosphere in the stadium.
Come on you gunners.
gnabry or rozza for jack at the half.
We can win this one!!! Come on!!!!!
Can’t see that happening scruz
me neither, but I think we’d be better defensively and with more pace if we get a chance to counter. if not the half, then on 65.
Boateng to get sent off 2nd half!
lively first half, shame about penno and wojs red, we are very much on par with them and how good are Yaya and Ox?…especially Ox is tearing Alaba a new one. Keep them at bay lads!
well, we are halfway home today. COME ON YOU REDS! a cup of tea and some extra powerful oranges at the half, if you please.
I’m actually quite confident we can nick this one if we come out strong, they’re not all that good at the back.
Here’s hoping we get a quick goal!
We wanted the lads to come out all guns, they did.
We wanted some pace, we got it.
We wanted to see effort, we saw it.
All things considered we can be proud of the lads.
Shame the ref has choose to fuck us all over and try to ruin the game.
It’s going to be like swimming against the tide in the second half, but I believe in this group of players.
COME ON YOU REDSSSSSSS
Trev its amazing what surgeons can do with a quick sponge – I’m sure robbin learnt that in London
Shame for Gibbs.
That was a kinda eventful half. Bunker in and get the nil – nil COYG!!!!
what the fuck??
What H2H just said but why, oh why, does something like this happen every f*cking time we reach a game like this.
Maybe I’m too biased to see it but every time a ref has a half chance to clobber us, they do.
Too true Trev
Gibbs off injured, goalkeeper off, Santi sacrificed ….
Another ‘young’ injury prone player goes off.
Woj off for an accidental minor contact – destroys the game for nothing.
Grrrrrrr- Why does this always happen to us in the big games?
Can’t blame the ref he had little choice with the red card.
Also Sanogo should have buried it before the ref had a chance to blow for our penalty.
It would be miraculous if we end up this game unbeaten, but I haven’t lost hope just yet.
Shame about the red card. Just at the time when I thought that Bayern are actually not that invisible. Especially at the back.
If only we had Theo and Ox on either side and 11 players on the pitch.
go on to Guardian MBM and watch Szczesny’s reaction before he goes down the tunnel.Interresting hand movement!
If we can’t win the game…we must not lose it.
Steady now, boys.
BMBD
Feels like the CL final in 2006. Keeper sent off and everything. Let’s hope we beat Bayern tonight and exorcise some demons in the process. It would be a massive boost if we get something from this game!
Seen their penalty again.
Wojs sending off is a travisty.
Robben has lost the ball, so he would of never got to it, ergo, not a clear goal scoring opportunity.
We’ve been rodgered again!!!
Come on!
Can’t risk a tactical sub now – only got one left.
that kill of the ball now by Ox was world fucking class
COME ON YOU GUNNERSS
Why is Ozil still on the pitch?
ooo Kos..shame 🙁
fuck 🙁 Kroos again
Feel really sorry for the lads on the pitch – can do nothing but try and stay in this. As a genuine contest it’s ruined.
Someone will get sent off or injured chasing this.
Fuckity, fuck fuck.
Nice goal though.
Ok, Ozil off, Rosicky on.
Come on FFS how often does he score goals like that?
Trev – almost called it on Yaya heh …
Shit let’s. Get one back quick
Sanogo booked for running
This is turning into another bloody joke.
bayern has to win to continue the narrative. palms were greased.
Ah how we miss Theo.. for the quick break.. 🙁
Super Fab saves from the ubercunt Robben
Card for Sanogo …. No card for Lahm.
I’m close to turning this shit off.
sounds like we aren’t giving up
Hmmm, my coffee tastes strange.
Where’s this ref from? Turkey-stan?
Keep the faith.
BMBD
@321 a bit more bitter than you’d like?
How can that referee justify Sanogo’s card – now Muller doesn’t get one, for worse.
Ozil should be taken off! It’s a shame though, he is a class player but his head goes down when something goes wrong. I see Rosicky warming up!
I fear somebody did something to it scruz!
Better switch to beer now I guess
I feel sorry for the fans sitting in the North Bank. They’re a long way from the action
beer is good, always, datsyuk.
I feel sorry for the fans in the Clock End. They can smell Robben.
TR7 for OX
Swiss commentary praising BM to the sky!
How good would they be if they didn’t had one and a half man advantage you cunt
This is a weak bayern side… lucky they have an extra man or two if you count the ref!
WTF. Ox?!?!!? Where did he gone wrong?
He’s been out for months Lurky. Get in the game. If he got injured again we be hanging Wenger for overplaying a young player yet again.
Good call Lovegood.
True that, but Ozil is really looking damaged. Would prefer him to be subbed off.
Flamini into that back four instantly when there’s a problem
Tough game to watch.
Pep’s more worried than arsene.. if we can just get one back it’ll feel like we’ve won it!
The boys have performed valiently.
Whatever the score, I feel we have won.
Robben should be at Glastonbury – more shits(sic) off target
considering how this last 11 days started, if we head to Munich down only an away goal, I will consider it a success.
What kind of cunt is this ref??
This ref is wank
What a cunt this Italian referee.
Hahh, he does have the yellow still with him?
CUNT!
last minute meeting.
what happened – was the red even close to legit?
oh Fuck no
FUCK
oh well.
I guess it’s not such a success now is it!
Now this is a blow 🙁
Game over. Same again next season
nope. should have kept my trap shut.
And… that’s that. We did the best we could with the players we have who have played so many fixtures.
Nothing to criticize our boys about. Now let’s win the league!
Oh.. and we should buy Kroos!
I’m still proud of the lads!!!
Proud of the players.
Shame we didn’t take advantage of couple of chances we had in the first half.
well…0-2 after playing major part of the match in ten men, not ideal scenario but not the end of the world, I know that the chances of going through are now slim…but not giving up yet.
Even that Mesut missed a penno, we were very much in the game until Wojs red, which was harsh..ultimately, refree killed this game as a contest.
We played evenly with them for 40 minutes, had the better chances then a red card ruined our chances. Not a bad game by any means.
Did we get buggered by the referee? Didn’t see any of match due to my A-hole partners.
10 men against BM for 60 mins. is a big ask. Same freaking shit as last time. How often does arsenal get fooked over by myopic refereeing at the top of the CL? What, about every season?
I mean goddamnit?
What is it all these controversial decisions that go against AFC in the CL?
What, did AW publicly piss in Blatter’s wheaties, or what?
We might as well rest a few players in Munich. We’ve got some important domestic games in March.
All things considered I’m proud of our guys. Btw Homer this is UEFA
boys did very well proud of them however the REF cunt destroyed the game!
if anyone has a problem with this comment please call 111
A huge effort. Did all they could.
Someone seriously has to sort out European referees – they make some of ours look almost ok.
Must be quite hard to lose a game once you’ve won the Champions League.
Well played lads. Another day.
Never was a sending off, not intentional, should have been only a yellow. And yes, the diver dived!
We’ll just have to beat them at their own place again 🙂
We really need more players, Ozil looks really tired and so does santi. Too many @#$@#$@ games, the fixtures are f-ked up!
And gibbs looks like a hamstring, that would be another one out with crucial games against our main rivals coming up next month!
What did the ref do to destroy the game? He had no choice with their penalty. Rules are rules. He gave us a penalty too but we fluffed it
its a shame in the way we could have destroyed those cunts!
Ref made a game last run was pointless but we lost two instead of one
Haven’t seen the game yet (might not do so given the comments). But take heart, we scored two at the Allianz last year…we can do so again. Resting players is not in order and it’s not our way.
Chins up.
BMBD
To be honest, we’ve all seen pens and reds given in likely situations before.
But damn, just heard Neuer say that it’s just a efffd up rule
UC yellow hat is all for me!
Whenever we were counter attacking he wouldn’t even glimpse the cunt
I won’t blame the ref but I’m not exactly buying him a drink either. There were a number of could be fouls that were waved off. Robben is a cunt and he wears his shirt tighter than a chick
Fantastic effort.
Ironically we concede the goal immediately from the move where we were up the pitch having just wasted a free kick – when we parked the bus they didn’t really have too many clues other than trying to tire us out.
I am really proud of the lads tonight – they deserved more than a 2 goal defeat.
My main concern is how knackered some of these players will be come Saturday.
REF DESTROYED THE GAME ANYTHING ELSE???????????????
And he was Italian! Sounds like macaroni cheese is very popular in Munich!
Went toe to toe till the sending off then played like Trojans cannot fault either the quality or effort tonight a sickener indeed but that’s football at this level – Tough one with regards the return leg last year is have gone mental if they had rested players but this year I could half understand it ! Anyways onwards and upwards we have a double to win 😉
Up the Arse !
The lads played their hearts out, gave everything. Alas it was not to be. I can live with them putting in a good shift.
The geezer with the buzzer had to follow the script, Bayern was always going to get help against us.
UTA.
I’m not going to be too fussed if we go out to the holders. Got my eye on the league. Perhaps with Aaron and Theo I’d hope for a run in Europe. We are hanging by a thread fitness wise.
An ambitious, courageous team selection. However having all three of Jack-Ozil-Santi at the same time and no TR7 didn’t allow for too much of variety in midfield tactics even before the game changing moment. Santi first and Ozil later didn’t give Gibbs and Monreal enough protection.
I guess the idea was to bring TR7 and probably Poldi around 60 minutes to press and pounce.
How bad is Gibbo’s injury? Monreal took a while to get into the game and maybe if Gibbs was still there he wouldn’t have lost Robben for the penalty. Very harsh red but those tend to be given in CL especially in favor of the ‘super clubs’.
And can we now remove Ozil from the PK list for this season? That was second awful penalty in CL from him this season.
Jack showed a little lack of maturity with the quickly taken free-kick the counter from which resulted in the second goal. Should have settled for 1-0 and took his time so that full backs and Flamini can get better organized.
Watch Flamini, while yelling at others to cover he forgot his man and they scored.
http://instagram.com/p/knPS3jNr6v/
Poor fella, he was all over the pitch. Didn’t deserved that.
What’s this i’m reading about wojo’s gesture…anyone seen it?
H
Total wnaker
Heh, Dr. Faustus, the video link I’ve posted @380 shows exactly what you are referring in your last paragraph.
mistakes like that come from tired legs and minds Lurky, it is a shame, 0-1 would be still playable, while 0-2 is in realms of theory, but I suspect we give them a game there.
Word for Sanogo – third game as a starter while two games from those were against Lpoo and Bayern, looks like he was playing all season with us, the kid is a real deal, whisper it but I see another Wenger gem in the making.
Whoa!! He actually did that????
here you go Highbury http://www.101greatgoals.com/blog/arsenals-wojciech-szczesny-did-the-wnker-sign-to-the-officials-after-being-sent-off-against-bayern-munich/
No complaints on the performance. A very bad call from the ref killed the game.
On to the next game.
Dr Faustus @379: The free kick sequence was totally flawed. Jack shouldn’t have tried hitting only one player in the Bayern box and Koscielny should have remained behind the half-way line.
Lurky @ 383: Yes, saw that.
And I know Ozil would get slated for today’s PK, including by myself, but I liked that even towards the end he was trying to run at defenders and spring attacks. Both him and Santi are so instinctively non-defensive they probably are not the best in this kind of rearguard situations. I always thought whenever we need to play primarily with a defensive focus we cannot play those two with Jack.
However we didn’t start with a defensive focus or a counter-attacking game but was really competing. The performance before the red card was one of the best we have had entire season, making look Bayern highly beatable.
Agreed Faustus, I think that AW actually got the line up spot-on and it was working, Ox was tearing Alaba a new one and we were far more likely to score than Bayern in the opening stages of the game. Penno aside of course.
Solid Gooner @ 388: Yes, should have been as conservative as possible about that and taken the 1-0 especially given that our goalscorers are on the bench and Sanogo was running on empty. We had made a similar mistake against Dortmund at 1-1 this season.
The pride and confidence the players would feel for the next games a big positive. A very big negative is Gibbo’s injury. Hopefully nothing bad.
Our repeated injury problems to the same set of players are getting really ridiculous.
Phew!! Shouldnt have done that, brave lad sir chesney…going to cost us…hate losing,if only ozil had done it….oh,well….NOW TO DESTROY SUNDERLAND!!!!! COME ON YOU RIP ROARING!!!!
Szczesny really needs to learn to behave. It was a harsh red, the referee was a cunt, but gestures like that could only harm the club and it’s image.
If I am Arsene I will let him rot on the bench for couple of weeks.
Agree on Sanogo. He is gonna be great player for us. He is not just much more mobile and faster than Giroud who is way to static, but he is as strong in the air as Olivier. Maybe even stronger.
Eandy @ 390: Yes. If one were superstitious one would say that there is some kind of voodoo on Arsene’s success in Europe. Not only never a lucky break, but Arsenal always gets into these strange situations just when everything is working well.
The team and supporters can draw strength from that performance, especially up to the red card. The crowd were magnificent again. It’s no disgrace to lose to a team of BM’s quality and confidence. We need to watch and learn. It’s not AW’s way to give up, so I think we will see as full a strength team as he can muster in the away leg, though I’d not complain if he decided to concentrate our tiring resources on the PL and Cup.
Damn, this one got me exhausted by sitting on the couch. Will we ever do anything the easy way?
Lurky @ 393: I like Sanogo — today he had a great moment of control and power in the MF and then springing Ox for a chance with a fantastic lofted ball — but he is still quite raw in terms of control. Needs to start scoring a few goals before I guess we can make a more assertive judgment.
But it seems Bendy’s Arsenal career may be over, he was not on the bench today as was the case against Pool. Maybe we will see him start against Sunderland?
Difficult to gainsay the Woj red card given the rules, but the rules are daft. What is a keeper supposed to do in those circumstances? Get out of the forward’s way?
Great pity about the second goal. Hanging on to a 0-1 would have been huge and just reward for a Herculean rearguard effort. It is just going to have to be one of those wonderful European away nights in Munich…
Goalkick far into the opponents half
Unfortunately, our no.1 penalty taker was suspended for this match.
Let’s hope they sort out a better no.2.
Penalties are simple – you just decide where you’re going to put it and wack it as hard as you can.
Sanogo is a prospect, and a fine one at that, beyond doubt. But I agree with Dr F. He needs to start turning that promise into goals.
See what I mean 🙂
Heh dk 🙂
dk @ 400: Exactly. I find this attempt at being cheeky and weak against really top level goalies really unintelligent. We have a lot of good #2s: Poldi, Giroud if they are on the pitch. Ox, Santi both have better shots on them than Ozil.
Ned,
It’s a bit harsh to suggest that “Sanogo should turn promise into goals”
He has had 2 starts in the first team – and it’s not as if he has been provided massive opportunities and missing gilt edged chances unlike a certain horny Frenchman.
Alright, might as well ask! Does anyone advocate that we throw everything, everything at Bayern in a couple of weeks time in an attempt to salvage our CL season? Or do we hold our horses and concentrate on a domestic double chase? Just asking.
Ill-phrased on my part, perhaps, Zico. I was trying to agree with Dr F’s, “Needs to start scoring a few goals before I guess we can make a more assertive judgment.”
I guess I should go to bed – can’t really get any perspective when feeling such disappointment.
It will all look different tomorrow and I’m off to London for a couple of days. Back here on Sunday after the win against Sunderland.
Solid
All in I say 🙂
The hell, with all our luck when it comes to injuries we might have no other choice
SG@406 – my reply in my 395.
Solid@406
1.Largely control the game
2.Throw everything at them at the opportune moments.
Afterall, a repeat of last year’s score wouldn’t disqualify us this time.
Well then, good night to those in the same timezone and take care to all others 🙂
Solid,
I say we throw EVERYTHING at them in Germany. A goal in the first 20 mins and everything turns back on Bayern.
Can UEFA find a way to retrospectively punish Chezzer? The meedja are certainly clamoring for it with all the replays…I say let the boys have their emotion.
We can still go through. Keep the faith.
BMBD
Datsyuk: Seems kind of risky. Anyway, what more could go wrong? Right? Right?
dk@410 via 395, GL@411, LG@413: Wenger never gives up. Admirable trait in the main but his obduracy could lead to a terminal conclusion. Imagine if everything that can go wrong does in Munich, would it have an adverse effect on the rest of the season?
thought we were all over them the first half and hour or so…hate to see these silly red card rules
Solid
What means trowing everything at them anyway?
I mean, did anybody look at the team sheet 10 days ago and then thought “effff me we will be four down within the first twenty”???
The lads worked hard, tragic the way it turned out approaching half time. Kunty refs never have the bottle just to give a pen. Feel for Ozil, people will forget he made the pen with an unbelievable bit of skill. OG would have stroked it home (apparently he didnt with that bird) but Wenger still has this fixation and fetish for unleashing his bright, young things at every opportunity, even if Sanogo looks v exciting. Hopefully he hasn’t undermined OG’s confidence, dont think so – he could have a stormer saturday. Finally, this Flamini stuff is interesting, he’s over-doing the tough guy stuff at this stage, the balling at Ozil was out of order and all a bit Gallic Gallas-esque. Think AW will “reward” him for the histrionics and his role in the second goal (ok Kos was just getting back) by leaving defensive mid to Mikel for quite some time with a more creative influence alongside.
Just in, got my first news of the match by back-drinking.
Bugger.
3-0, I said – 0-2 is close, isn’t it?
Shame. On to the next match.
It really is still on.
COYG
Datsyuk
Nobody, and I mean nobody saw that blitzkrieg coming. Just playing the devils advocate anyway. Always give everything is my motto. Who knows, we could be pleasantly surprised on multiple fronts come May.
Good measured reaction fellow ‘holics.
Will have to read the report tomorrow. But before I trot off, a word to the doomers, I will offload with both barrels on your arse if you come with your “I told you so” dribble. 😉
Night all.
Solid
I’m a sunny sider! We only need the same result as last year and we will nick it on pens 😉
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