Guardiola “This Is Not An Easy Game”
Mar 10th, 2014 by 'holic
Right then, with a Wembley semi-final secured in one competition it is now time for the small matter of overturning a two goal deficit against the reigning European champions in their own stadium. In a strange way the pressure is off us a little bit because few consider us likely to match last season’s 2-0 triumph in the same stadium. If we go out we can point at the sending off for Wojciech Szczesny in the first leg as the moment this tie swung massively in favour of Bayern Munich.
Bayern coach Pep Guardiola is well aware of last season’s performance and whilst setting out a good case for us to retain some hope for the tie, also made it pretty clear his side will not be as unprepared as a year ago.
“They can create two or three really great chances in two or three minutes. If you play in a really good team like Arsenal and are 2-0 down, anything is possible. This is not an easy game. We have to attack, give our best, be aggressive without the ball.”
I’m reminded a little of Anfield 1989. As long as we don’t concede we are in with a shout of creating those two or three great chances of which Guardiola spoke. 0-0 at half-time would be fine. Arsene Wenger obviously has to say the right things in advance, but must hope that his side will set about their task in the right frame of mind.
“History is important in our belief. We know we can do it, because we have already done it. It is a possible task, that is the most important thing. My team has quality and ambition.”
What his team does not have is Kieran Gibbs or Yaya Sanogo, injured against Everton at the weekend. That will mean a recall for fit again Laurent Koscielny with Thomas Vermaelen likely to switch to left back. It should also ensure a start for Olivier Giroud, back to his best in his weekend cameo. Coincidentally it was Giroud and Koscielny who scored the goals in the Allianz Arena last March. With Szczesny suspended Lukasz Fabianski will retain his place in goal.
Like ourselves Bayern boast an abundance of riches in midfield, and their form this season has been astonishing. At home they are averaging over three goals a game in the Bundesliga, a competition they have turned into a procession. They are twenty points clear with ten matches to play. It pays not to research too deeply. They are an awesome side at present.
And yet the eternal optimist that occupies a tiny corner of my grey matter is inevitably drawn to the away win when thoughts turn to the placement of the ‘holic pound. The 9/1 on offer for us to win on the night is just too good to ignore in a two horse race. It would also be a small consolation should we win by one and still go out of the competition.
For us to repeat last season’s heroics will require us to at very least match the effort Bayern will surely put in to closing opponents down all over the pitch. We have to match their desire, and then take at least two of those opportunities that will come our way. However unlikely it is that we actually pull it off it will still make for gripping viewing for as long as we are level, or even (whisper it) ahead.
And whatever happens, here’s hoping the thousands of Gooners who have made their way out to Munich for the game are given a performance to appreciate, and a night afterwards of high spirits and great fun.
Have a good one, ‘holics.
250 Responses to “Guardiola “This Is Not An Easy Game””
COYG
Well in N7
Three at last.
Nice one ‘holic.
Spitits have been raised after Saturdays performance, futher still by a result at Middle Eastlands the day after. It’s a good thing that we go into this game on a high.
Is it impossible for us to proceed in this competition? Ofcourse not, there’s always a chance, no matter how slim. I expected us to get nothing this time last year, but we came away with our pride intact and a famous victoy. Contrary to popular belief lightning can strike twice in the same place and we can win!!
Although, as N7 has seen a defeat in his crystal ball, i wouldn’t put too much money on it. 😉
As always…
COME ON YOU GUNNERS.
Yh rite he’s having us on he knows they mite beat us cos there prob best team in world rite now! He is just trying to annoy his players into playing great! They think we are crap in all honesty imo I don’t listen to the man let’s see tomora when we get 3 away goals then they can see how it feels with stupid goal rule!!!! Coyg!!! We believe you can beat them let’s do it!!!
let’s do it! nice post, holic. while no one expects it, on their day bayern can falter. we only have to look at the success of our semifinal opponents two years running against the world’s most expensively-assembled team. can we do it two in a row as well? i sure hope so. an early arsenal goal, stout arsenal defense, then a late arsenal goal…put them in a position they’re not used to. then take them out in extra time. though i guess that’s edge of the seat stuff, eh? ok, three goals in the first twenty minutes, then hold on for a 5-3 victory 🙂
I will be getting on the plane tomorrow certainly with more hope than the same fixture last year.Is this a good thing?
Looked up^ your post from last year http://goonerholic.com/2013/03/were-on-a-mission-from-god/
and you more or less mixed humour with outrageous optimism and got a result .This year maybe it should be “We’re -on-a-mission-with-Fish-God”as I am sure either way Mezut will not be hiding after getting booed off for the national team last week .
I will correct your last sentance as it was impossible to find a bar open last year after the match once back in the city centre.But the drinking and merrymaking takes place before the match in the cavernous beerhalls where Arsenal and Munich sit (or stand up when you hate Tottenham)together in an atmosphere of conviviality and celebration of a great match to be witnessed afterwards.
Tonight cannot pass quickly enough
Arsenal youth win 3-1 at the Emirates with another goal from Jack Jebb from a free kick
No matter how sensible, rational, or reasonable the argument against our triumph tomorrow…
I still believe.
Win the next match.
BMBD
Barcelona and Bayern Munich exposed for tax fraud the same day. Chelsea and Citeh to follow surely.
🙂
Hippies everywhere.
Win the next match, Lonestar 😉
We’re in a bit of a false situation because of the sending off in the first leg owing to a rule which even the Bayern goalie called ridiculous and no-one likes except the decrepit idiots who run FIFA. So we find ourselves 2-0 down when I don’t believe that would have been the situation had we kept 11 men on the pitch.
By all of which I mean that, with 11 on the pitch tomorrow evening, we could indeed spring a surprise again. I see a very tight game where we’ll have to fight to retain the ball and move it very fast and accurately. We have the players to achieve a result, even without a specialist left back (Vermaelen or Sagna?). A similar line-up and attitude to that on Saturday will at least ensure no disgrace. And maybe another launch pad for a sustained final run-in in the PL again. This squad should never be underestimated – look at how we were written off after losing to Spuds in February last year. Admittedly we were helped by that bunch of chokers up at WHL but our lads put the pressure on them that made them choke.
Just hope there are no crazy refereeing decisions (well, not against us at any rate – wouldn’t mind one against them to even the score up a bit) or serious injuries – we need every man we can get the next 4 weeks.
I’m a believer too.
COYG
So much wisdom up above it is startling. Agreed with dk about the usefulness of a timely Bayern red card. Personally I would guve one to any Bayern player who blows his nose on the pitch without using a handkerchief.
Guve of course means give in the Bavarian dialect. 😉
Cheers, Guv’.
I hope you all are recovering well from Saturday’s “activities.” I think the ‘pound may just come good tomorrow.
BMBD
If wigan can beat Man City at the Etihad, repeating last year’s shock win at Wembley, we can beat Bayern two seasons running. We can. But we won’t.
This will be a great opportunity for Özilla to expunge kraut doubt about him after he was booed off in their last international. Apropos which it seems AW has been reading me again. In his latest Manager’s email he has this to say about our jerry cherry…
“I have to say that Mesut had a fantastic game against Everton. It’s important for him that he took his early chance and I hope that will encourage him to go for goal more.”
… ‘go for goal more’, exactly what I’ve been crying out for him to do for months. We’ve never had a problem creating chances and need someone with his skills to spend less time creating and more time converting them into goals.
A win would be amazing in Munich, but a creditable performance is all we can logically expect. And heads held high after the game even if we don’t progress. Whatever happens mustn’t be allowed to affect Sunday’s NLD.
Öskar
Good one H
A mixture of forlorn hope and a dash of,[They couldn’t could they ?,]
is my thoughts on the game.
Juventus,Real Madrid,Inter Milan,Munich,the unexpected and downright outrageous do happen occasionally.
But whether the magic wand of serendipity,or the discovery of a family of Pixies at the bottom of my Garden who granted me one Football related wish to keep their secret,which was,
[ Win the League or beat Bayern Munich,]can give us the very large sprinkling of Stardust we need to win in Germany,is anyone’s guess.
Being in my 6th decade of supporting the Arsenal,like a few other Golden oldies on here,i have seen my share of disappointments,which has made the ‘ Winning years ‘ all the sweeter,particularly as we never ‘ Sold Our Soul ‘ to achive it.
After a confidence boosting win against Everton in the FA Cup those restless,impatient Trophy demanding followers,
[ I won’t call them Supporters] may well have their demands sated at Wembley in May.
But as Sweeper Dad always said, the true test is the League.
So back to the bottom of my Garden,and i noticed the Elder grizzled old Pixie was wearing a battered and torn Arseanl shirt,with a badge on it which read, ‘ Champions 1931 ‘.
When he gave me the 2 options he looked me in the eye for a long moment and then nodded,as he knew with absolute certainty which option i would choose.
So unfortunately the boys will have to rely on their own enormous courage,self belief,an ‘ All for one and one for all spirit ‘ and sheer bloody mindedeness to get a result in Munich.
I do hope they succeed.
Cheers
The Sweeper
Pixies at the bottom of your garden, Clive? Say no more…
Öskar (in his 7th decade of support)
Clive, if you’ve been a gooner since ’54 then, like me (a gooner since ’50), you are now in your 7th decade of support … ’50s, ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, ’90s, ’00s, ’10s.
Pixies at the bottom of the garden are good, but you can’t beat magic mushrooms. 😉
Öskar
Good stuff H. I must say that I don’t think this is anywhere near dead just yet. They will all remember last year. A good positive start and they along with the crowd will be far from comfortable. The first goal is massively important. In my opinion that will effectively decide the tie.
I’m glad Giroud will start. I still think it was crazy not to start him in the first leg. I will also be surprised if Gibbs makes it.
One other thing. Arsene, if you see Toni Kroos wandering around have a little chat with him about next season. If he really wants away from Bayern and really fancies a spell in the Prem then I know a fantastic club in North London where you would go down an absolute storm.
Nice one, Clive.
Agreed about the league being ‘the’ one.
Here’s hoping the Red Army have a great time in Bavaria and return victorius to London.
Whatever has happened tomorrow, the one they are going to need there on Sunday is Soldier Ron.
And we must.
Bloody hell Oscar,you are correct.
I think i did that once before and North Bank Ned corrected me.
Senility cannot be far away.!!
Thnks Trev,
Love the puns.
Hopefully the knee will be a bit better when you next venture to the Ems late in March.
Hi Steve
Trust you and the next Gen are all well.
Cheers
How ironic. A nappy appears and it’s full of shit. That may account for the bad smell.
Sorry H. Bin this one by all means. I just couldn’t resist.
Top stuff Clive. I hope that you and yours are in good elf….
🙂
Steve T, 26, 27 – 🙂
Another Tottenham fan reading Arsenal blogs – not even surprising. 😉
New respect for Oskar, topping Goonersince54, although if I were as far off as multi name boy I might call myself Goonersince49 and presumably albeit untruthfully top everybody.
Clive@24: a gentle reminder, perhaps. Never a correction.
‘Holic: You can get 125-1 on us winning 3-1, which is all we need. Money in the bank.
Well, past performance may not be indicative of future performance and success, but what else is there? Here’s hoping we can do the seemingly impossible and come back with a win. Stranger things have happened, so why not?
Actually the overall score was 3-3 and we lost on the away goals rule. So ‘second best’ only thanks to a rather silly rule most clubs would like to see changed.
Öskar
Greetings from Munchen. The sun has been shining and I can confirm the beer is excellent. Here’s hoping for a performance tonight.
Cheers Holic!
I see the the bar look fresh again. 😉
A spring clean always leaves a far more pleasant aroma.
Morning H.
Nappy its way past your nap time, go on a deep slumber and dont ever get up and come here einstein.
Win, draw or lose the game represents a chance for us to go and enjoy ourselves, play without any hand brakes, play for fun, play to win but dont worry if you dont, for in reality we are up against the best team in the world at their own den. Can we beat them? of course or else why do you think they are running scared, in 20 minutes at the emirates we brought them down to their knees and but for a late goal, a 1-0 scoreline would have been sending shivers up the bavarians back today. Bayern are the best team in the world but even the best can be beaten.
Hold our nerves, get an early goal then we may have them in a blind.
Play well dear Gunners, you play well and we know you will give a fight to any team in the world, come back with no injuries but pride,sunday beckons us and then give those idiots a hiding.
Nappy knows.
Wenger must be kicking himself as he looks jealously at Wigan way down there in the Championship!
Actually, not once in its 82-year history has Wigan FC finished above Arsenal in the league. Clearly we have much to be jealous about!
Although they did beat us in the semi-final of the League Cup in 2006, so revenge is also in order.
Öskar
Another great one Maestro.
Everything to play for no matter how unlikely progression to the next round may be.
UP THE ARSENAL!
Hi All
Well put barman, I couldnt agree more with you sir. The pressure is off we are expected to get beaten and beaten well by a team that is on top of its game and that is an under statement. It was hard to see how they could play any better and along comes Pep and POW ! they are even better than last year.
I have always liked Pep as a manager *Mourinho* take note, this is a man who has won everything and still conducts himself with dignity. He has always spoke highly of Arsenal every time we have played his team and spoke of his admiration for AW. When AW decides enough is enough Pep is the man I would like to see replace AW.
Tonight is a huge mountain to climb but I do believe the lads have thier ropes and ice piks at the ready. Will we triumph ? I dont know but all we can do is give it a go. As I have previously written I believe cup sucess lie`s else where this season, but what the hell as long as we dont lay down and die out there I will be very proud.
COYG !!!!!!!!
Cheers
“The meaning of life.”
Go win, Arsenal.
I saw a tiny man at the end of my garden once, he had his head in between his knees, I enquired;
“Are you a Goblin?”
He replied;
“No, I’ve just got a headache.”
——-
Afternoon all.
Just have to believe we can do this lads. Can you imagine how brown Bayern’s boxers will be if we score first, and in the first half?
They’ll be more worried than last time with the slimmest of slim leads.
I can’t help but be excited, I know it’s irrational but if you’re not looking forward to this, what’s wrong with you?
My daughter’s birthday today.
Damned inconvenient if you ask me.
How to get through a family celebration tonight without looking at phone/tablet/the heavens?
But the big one is on Sunday…… 😉
Congratulations papa z’.
Daylight savings time change in the States means I will only be able to watch the first half before taking my daughter to gymnastics before returning trot watch the recorded second half some time late tonight.
zico
If your daughter and her friends are anything like mine, then not checking your phone or tablet every few seconds would make you look out of place.
Ya gotta go with the flow my friend. 😉
Sunday matters the most but we are The Arsenal and as the great man said- remember who you are and who you represent, i hope the players are up for it and give it their best( careful with the injuries please), an early goal may just silence the crowd and make it a dejavu for bayern but we also need to know that they will try to score early as well to finish the game off.
I dont like Pep, he sounds way too nice for my liking, as if he is laughing at us by praising us and the boss, dont need your sugar coating, thank you.
Ox may be the difference maker but watch out Ribery is back and there is a certain shaqiri who can run circles around our left back whoever it maybe,hoping for a classic but i think this is a task a bit too big to qualify.
What’s the exchange rate for euros? buy erectalis online c decisions. appearing than stated age, interpret respiratory rate.
H2H,
If zico’s daughter and her friends are anything like yours, that means you’re hanging around with a load of teenage girls ??? 😉
Jealous Trev? :rasp:
Argh, smiley face fail.
😛
Afternoon all,
Thanks for the preview ‘H and for the match report last set of drinks.
Dr Z – Great report of the day in the last set of drinks. Great to see you and the gang even though it did feel I had stumbled in on the Caledonian branch of the Arsenal Supporters Club. 😉
Cracking day on Saturday. Liquid breakfast, liquid early lunch, thumping Arsenal win in the sunshine, liquid tea followed by a liquid supper all in great company. Great stuff.
Thought we were well worth our win even though the final score gave the impression that the game was more one-sided than it actually was.
First half we were much the better side and should have gone in more goals to the good than the early Mezut opener. That we went in all square due to a soft equaliser was a double blow. I think attempts to blame Fabianski for the Everton goal are a little wide of the mark. I’m not sure he could have done much to prevent it, and the biggest compliment I can pay him is that I barely noticed that it wasn’t Pole No.1 who was playing. It will be interesting to see if Fabianski is retained as the Cup goalie. My own feeling is that he will probably play in the semi but that Sczcz will be recalled for the Final as long as we get there. In that regard, the precedent has already been set by AW when Richard Wright played in all the cup games in 2002 up to and including the semi final before losing his place for the Final to the established No.1. Fabianski has much to play for this evening.
The equaliser set the nerves off but as communicated to Dr Z at ht, I remained confident that as long as we kept on playing with a tempo and crispness to our passing that was a million miles removed from our static performance at Stoke, the goals would come. And so it thankfully proved.
Mezut Ozil gave a masterclass. For me he was, by some distance, man of the match. Sad to see that even in the aftermath of such a performance, the praise from some quarters is at best grudging. Not sure what else the man can do to win over his detractors.
Ox wasn’t far behind, and in the absence of Theo, I hope he starts in all our remaining games. He offers a muscular pace and direct threat that we otherwise lack.
Happy also to be proved wrong about the Flamini/Arteta axis on Saturday. I will admit to having some concerns when I saw that they were both starting. Such fears were groundless. It was noticeable that Arteta played in a far more advanced position than in other games in which they have both started, and though I still have doubts that he has either the legs or the pace to start in that role in any more than a handful of carefully selected games, (there were still times when that lack of pace was costly on Saturday), it would be curmudgeonly not to say that he had a good game. Hats off to him also for keeping his cool when Clattenburg needlessly and solipsistically made him take the penalty again. How many penalties are taken without an encroaching player? Very few I would suggest. Given that Arteta sent the keeper the wrong way and that any encroaching player did not in any way influence what happened, I thought it was a crazy decision.
Never had any real concerns that Everton would peg us back a second time, though I was pretty pleased when Giroud was able to put the game beyond doubt, his second a thing of beauty.
So back to the Tollie then, and lots of happy faces. A very good day.
Conversation turned to whether it would be better to play City in the semi or the Final. No-one really ventured the possibility of a Wigan win. Mild irritation on the Sunday that we had failed to avoid them in the draw turned to hilarity when I learnt a couple of hours later that Wigan had managed to do what Watford had just failed to do in an earlier round and had held on to an early lead.
Clear favourites then to finally end the trophy drought. That will bring it’s own pressures but it’s hard not to be supremely opimistic about our chances. I’m confident that this group of players can handle it, and that we will have too much for both Wigan and in all probability Hull.
Onto tonight then. Pretty hard, in all the circumstances, to be too optimistic about our chances, but who knows. Keep it tight to ht, nick a goal and see what happens. I’d play Jenks and Sagna on the flanks, but suspect that TV might be retained. Fancy also that Rosicky might start, though whether it is at the expense of either Arteta or Santi depends I guess on how bullish Arsene is feeling. The fat lady might be warming up, but sometimes she struggles to get up off her seat. Just ask the Wigan fans.
Come on Arsenal!
Nice one, tabs.
We’ll win this one! Am looking forward to the match already!
All the boys are up for it and have got nothing to lose as everyone else has written us off!
COme On!!! 😀
Tabs
Lovely account of a lovely day or two days to be precise. Stuffing the Welsh while Wigan stuffed Citeh’s was excellent. I agree with you about Fabianski. Seaman had medals coming out of his ears yet was brought back for 2002 so I think Flappy will be on the bench so that Woj can exorcise his demons!
Also agreed with you about Ozil. His attitude was spot on and it may be because the Ox put in such a good shift. I’m still perplexed about how Wenger thinks that Bendtner and Sanogo are adequate back- up for Giroud. There’s being careful with the pennies but that’s being reckless with our chances. Sanogo is nowhere near ready for the sort of games we are involved in now
Cheers H2H, and a fair few hehs above 🙂
Thanks Ttg. I actually thought Sanogo did ok on Saturday. Thought his movement was good, and though his touch remains raw, I thought he kept Everton’s central defensive pairing pretty busy. I thought he was outstanding against Bayern whilst we had 11 on the pitch, and he convinced me that night that he has what it takes in a way that the Prince of Denmark has never really done. Hope so anyway.
I didn’t really get involved in the January debates about who we might buy. I will agree with you that it was massively disappointing we didn’t land a real stellar forward last Summer. I never really thought that that was a posssibility in January. Looking at the very few forwards who moved Clubs, I was never an advocate of spending approximately 15 million quid on someone who may or may not be slightly better than Bendtner. Like you though, I hope that we shop from the top drawer in the Summer.
Good stuff, Tabs
Agreed about Fabianski. I didn’t think he would ever be able to pull himself out of the mental mire into which, at one point, he had sunk. But he has. Quite how he has achieved it whilst hardly ever playing a top level match, I don’t know. But credit to him. I think he deserves to be rid of the ‘Flappy’ tag now too ( i know you didn’t use it).
And Ozil was terrific. Full of running, looking pacier, and the touch to Giroud for the fourth goal left the striker with nothing to do but slide the ball into the unguarded half of the net.
Sublime.
A win tonight would be fantastic, but the FA Cup prospects have removed a lot of the pressure.
Have they also removed the handbrake …………. ?
Nice report Tabs.
Couldn’t agree with you more in relation to Arteta. He’s been a wonderful for signing us, but the game can go by him very quickly. I’ll be stunned if he starts tonight so soon after Saturday. I think Rosicky will start after being rested against Everton.
And while I accept having Jack out is a blow in terms of flexibility, seeing Caz and Ozil play that little more centrally has been better from a creative perspective. I just feel Jack tries that little too hard at times and ends up taking more out of the ball than is necessary by contrast to Rambo for example, who this season has kept everything nice and simple and its paid dividends for his game.
I’d be inclined to opt for pace up front and run at them. Keep it tight at the back and counter attack. If we show them respect, we’ll be cannon fodder. When we ran at them in London we had them on the rack for a while. We need to ask those questions.
Trev. Visual evidence of the handbrake having been definitively broken.
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/attachments/w140-s-class/372295d1303938290-help-broken-handbrake-handle-img00450-20110427-1216.jpg
I liked the look of Sanogo in his first few appearances. I just thought during the Everton game (and I posted it at the time) that I believed his movement off the ball was wrong. Ofcourse I only had the benifit of what I could see on the tv and not a stadium view, so I won’t hammer on about it…. too much 😉
However, there was a marked improvement when the HFB came on, you could literaly see, again on the tv screen, that the whole front line moved better as a unit and we created better chances. This is by no means a dig at Sanogo, but his inexperience was telling.
If we do bring another striker, then the HFB will be a hell of an asset coming off the bench. I believe he’s done very well as a sub this term, maybe the monks at Castle Ned, has some statistics to back this up!?
Great post Holic and comments alike from the regulars!
1:3 to The Arsenal and I have even put my money on it!
I don’t like when he’s being called that I have to say Trev because I have seen in goal back in Poland and he was immense he had few howlers yes he did but he came good in the end for his own sake I suppose. 🙂
I watched a program about him the other day on Polish TV and they did mention on there what some Arsenal fans called him. Not nice.
behind the 8 ball but gunning for glory
Thats not a proper hand brake come on 🙂
Cheers Trev. Good to see you on Saturday mate, albeit briefly, and hope that you don’t have to wait too much longer for that op. Wembley Way is a fair old hike on crutches!
As for Fabianski, I agree that the Flappy tag is well past it’s sell by date, and has been for two years. He will make mistakes of course, as all Goalkeepers do, but his performances taken as a whole since his run in the team in the first half of the 10-11 Season have generally been very good. I’ve said it before, but I think he will be a very good signing for someone in the Summer. I hope he manages to attract a decent Club.
As for the handbrake, I think tonight is one of those games where I won’t be too worried if it’s in evidence. Keep a clean sheet and at least give ourselves the possibility of a final half hour where we can really go for it.
ATG. I tried. 🙂
Cheers Joe.
Agree with you on Arteta. Much as I like the man – his attitude, work rate and inflexible hair cannot be faulted – I do think that the role of DM is one that must be looked at in the Summer if we want to compete with the very best. I think that occasionally we lack a dynamic midfield presence that can drive us forward from the base of the midfield especially when things aren’t going to plan. Whether such a player is a possibility, or even if he exists (players like Viera don’t grow on trees and won’t come cheap), I don’t know, but I hope it’s a position that is looked at in the Summer. Like Clive I think Flamini has been superb this Season, and in my view offers this team more in that role than Arteta does, but he is at an age where I think the likelihood is that he will play more of a “squad” role going forward.
H2H – Fair comment re Sanogo. There is no doubting that he is still very green. Perhaps he softened up the Everton defenders for the HFB to take advantage of? 😉
Arsenal.com says Giroud has not come on as a substitute in the league this season, but I don’t know about other competitions or years. Thinking about how many minutes he has played, I looked up each player’s minutes played in the league. Not surprisingly, Giroud is very high in the ranking.
Szczesny 2,520
Mertesacker 2,340
Giroud 2,244
Sagna 2,160
Koscielny 2,156
Cazorla 1,809
Wilshere 1,692
Gibbs 1,680
Arteta 1,534
Ramsey 1,495
Rosicky 974
Walcott 858
Monreal 815
Jenkinson 663
Podolski 449
Vermaelen 341
Oxlade-Chamberlain 285
Flamini, Fabianski, Bendtner and Sanogo (maybe others) are not listed, for whatever reason.
Good stuff above, gents.
Let’s start with the venom with which we started at home which really had them on the rack until the pen was missed.
We need to keep it tight at the back, keep 11 men on the park and keep a clean sheet.
If we can do that and take our chances. We can do this.
COYG.
tabs:
“solipsistically” — excellent!
(had to reach for the dictionary on that one!)
Homer – it’s basically a legal term for a ‘big head’. 😉
8ball @68,
No wonder some folks are disappointed with Ozil. According to your stats he hasn’t even played. 😉
Nice work, tabs.
inflexible hair cannot be faulted. Heh.
Reminds me of Captain Scarlet – so why no armband, Arsene?
Trev. You forced me to dig deeper in the Arsenal.com to find these additional figures on minutes played in the league:
Ozil 1,834
Flamini 1,157
Bendtner 156
Sanogo 18
Fabianski 0
Those first two guys seem to have played quite important parts in our season, oddly enough. 😉
H2H@62: Giroud has come on four times as a substitute this season. In the FA Cup, 2 goals in 33 mins against Everton, no goals in 6 minutes against Liverpool and 1 goal in 16 mins against Coventry; in the League Cup, no goals in 28 mins against Chelsea.
When you wish upon a star…
I believe.
Do you?
BMBD
Before anybody tells me who else I forgot, there’s:
Gnabry 464
Ryo 17
And those are minutes played in the league.
BMMBD
Cheers Ned, a drink on my tab for the monks and your goodself.
Cheers Homer, and heh Trev 🙂
Cheers Dr Z 🙂
8ball @ 78, I agree with you wholeheartedly, but, for karmic reasons, I will not change my benediction.
BTW, Ameriholics on the West Coast, I assume you all made it through yesterday’s earthquake ok. Yes?
BMBD
An hour to go.
A pre match drinky (or two) time!!
Hey Lonestar,
Just a little shaking here. I was actually working when it occurred so I felt it but my family were all asleep and none of them even noticed.
I hope we cause a little earthquake in Pep’s pantolones.
All the best to West Coast Holics – hope all ok.
Now let’s have the team shake ’em up in the ECL.
COYG
BMMBDT.
Bayern Munich: Neuer, Lahm, Martinez, Dante Alaba; Schweinsteiger, Thiago; Robben Gotze, Ribery; Mandzukic
Subs: Starke, van Buyten, Rafinha, Boateng, Muller, Kroos, Pizzaro
Arsenal: Fabianski, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Vermaelen; Arteta, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Cazorla, Ozil, Podolski; Giroud.
Subs: Viviano, Flamini, Gnabry, Jenkinson, Rosicky, Hayden
Sturm und Drang vom Arsenal!
That is a pretty impressive Bayern bench, Bath.
Hmm did wonder if Podolski might get a run out to show his former employers what he can do. Hope we’re not too narrow.
Brave call to rest Flamini.
Go on Gunners!
Why do they get one more person on the bench than we do?
Re: NBN @87. It’s our first eleven that can take theirs. 🙂
It looks as if the plan is to go toe-to-toe with Bayern from the getgo and not sit back in the hope we keep a clean sheet for as long as we can.
Why only 6 subs???????????
Trev, Tabs. He is and will always be, Flappy. It’s the law.
😀
Bt8b@90: Here’s hoping.
Agreed on the Flamster.
I’m tipping Poldi to have a blinder. He is due.
As is Oezil.
The key for me is TV5 showing up and staying positionally disciplined. B/c if I’m Munich, I’m going straight at him. Perfect chance for him to show that he’s back!
SteveT 🙂
@89
We screwed up. Took Ryo for the bench and then discovered he wasn’t eligible. Sanogo and TGSTEL did not travel cos crocked.
tabs……all good?
dinks the ball across to the right wing and sprints for the near post……
Ozil pulls ball back towards centre…
BANG
Steve T: With all the injuries have we run out of available players registered for the CL squad?
Evening all,
these are the nights football is all about, I have a feeling that this is going to be a night to remember and cannot explain why since every rational look at the tie is that Bayern is going through…but I just…well…lets just win and go through if only for the sake of Neuer celebrating getting us in a draw.
Also here are the streams for those bound to watch on their pcs
http://www.wiziwig.tv/broadcast.php?matchid=247025&part=sports
http://livetv.sx/en/eventinfo/218433_bayern_arsenal/
Probably plus I think we simply forgot that Ryo hadn’t been registered.
I’m not sure what the reasons are but not having a full bench for a game of this magnitude I find a tad embarrassing.
Perhaps we did not register Ryo for a reason????
Wouldn’t have been the team I would have picked Bath but hey ho, Arsene knows more than me 🙂
I would certainly have preferred Flamini to Arteta but …
Tell you at full time 😉
Well in Bath….could do with you on the pitch at the Allianz.
Come you rip roaring…..let’s stuff it up the Krauts.
cheers, lonestar, bath. it was about six hours’ drive north of us in the bay area (think london to glasgow), and offshore. didn’t even know about it until i read about it! glad all’s well in the northeast, norcal.
thanks for the links, eandy.
come on you reds!
Bendtner crocked? Again? Swallowed a beer glass I suppose.
nervous about this one. i just hope the first half goes on the same as the last game, until the missed penalty…and we score first. we really should be all over them. we proved we could hang with them, and that fucking robben…argh! COME ON!!!
Feuer Frei!
COME ON YOU GUNNERS
get in there, ox. yellow on dante. hell yes.
F.O DAnte!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
COME ON YOU GUNNERS
Not just Arsene Tabs…..
😀
good vision, ox. nearly played ozil in behind (i think, maybe arteta).
too much action in our box. ugh. but it does give us the opportunities to break…COME ON YOU GUNNERS!!
They press us incredibly high
We’re not good against that kind of press either.
Good work Poldi
nicely done, lukas. put him on the ground, wimp.
whew.
Go on Ox!!!
That’s good to hear Norcal.
COYGs! Keep it tight.
BMBD
Man, Munich ARE an impressive lot.
But we can still do ’em. Let’s get to halftime with a clean sheet.
BMBD
How was THAT not a yellow? C’mon blue…
BMBD
nicely saved, fabs.
Good save Fabianski
Good save Fabianski! Keep it up, boyos.
BMBD
whew. made it to halftime. now, play your guts even further out the second half.
Good first half by Arsenal.
Well we got to half time with clean sheet now we need to score some goals and cause more worry for Guardiola.
COME ON ARSENAL!
1st half as expected, Bayern dominant but good on us that we have not conceded and apart from Götzes late chance and Mandzukics header they did not pose much of an actual threat..we need to cut out losing possesion so early tho.
First half survived.
Score three in the next 45 and we’re through, easy. 😉
If the intention was not to concede in the first half, then job done.
Now, can we please get out of the shell in the second half and show to all of Europe that we are not fucking Stoke and we know how to play football.
Given ourselves a platform. Mert absolutely outstanding. A few scares down our left but that was to be expected.
Now for the hard bit. Ox was superb but he had been our only outlet. Need to find a way of getting Ozil in the game.
SteveT 🙂
Rosicky coming on for Ozil apparently
Didn’t see nearly enough of the half to form an educated opinion, but from what I did see, we are defending stoutly and the Ox is giving it his all.
Tight hamstring for Ozil. Fuck
Cognac called it.
TR7 for Ozil.
Keep him fresh for the visit to the swamp.
H2h – it was ITV what said it
Robben is despicable. Should have been booked.
BMBD
FUCK!
fuckity.
We have nothing to loose now come on!
Fuck..well..have to score three now then
Meh, damn Pigmounter.
We had to score three anyway.
3 on Ribery and noone in middle oh dear
coyg
POOOOOOOLDIIIIII
GET IN THERE!!!!!!!
Focking swinefarmer!
Lukas you fucking beauty.
Poddy goal
There is one, Two to go
POLDI! game on!
I say game on!
Just the tonic we needed!
Ooooooouuuu OX!
Game on!
Poldi. He’s just getting started.
Bayern look a little flustered, no?
Pep is a bit nervous
No fucking foul there at all!
Shut up Robben shut your gums!
OG needs to stop raising his arms in the air and fight!
Up at ’em!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fan from Fab
OK FABBY!!
Ref wants them to win…
never a fucking foul ffs
Come on ref, share the spoils
ok now on santi it is not foul and Robben then dives like primabalerina …fuck this cunt of a ref
Full of shit Robben.
robben is a fooking discraceful cheat.
fitting he plays for the shit ex-barca pep.
Come on ref you fucktard.
Gnarby for MA8
though my last comment was surely a bit shrill.
completely accurate, just poorly said.
apologies all.
no worries, homer.
at least we got one back. let’s get another, and another. COME ON.
Dirty bayern focks…………….!
you *know* they’re going to push the ref to his limit the rest of the game, just to keep us out of any flow.
Ox off. Well done. Great player!
Argh Gnabry!!!!!!!!!!!
REF IS A WANKER!
Dispicable!!
Robben is a fucking disgrace!
SAVE!!!
COME on Fabianski!
how is this a penalty …oh come fucking on
Briliiant Fab!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fucking Robben. Hope you miss decisive penalty in the final once again you piece of shit
YES!
I thought Germans were supposed to be good at penalties. 😉
Fab deserves a new improved contract. We are never going to find a better backup goal keeper
A draw in Munich
Proud of the lads!
Officially, I will no longer call him him Flappy. At least until he flaps at a cross.
We’d have had a fair chance in the tie had we finished the first leg on ten men.
Very proud of the guys after tonight.
Home I bet you’re tons better in goal 🙂
sad, but true. what a team we have.
IF we had 11 for the 1st leg, we would have taken them!
Hope Fab stays!
Arghhhh!
Well played shame it didn’t work out in the first leg as usual well there is always next year!
Well played boys…
Robben and the Ref were complete CUNTS still!
Lurky, fab doesn’t want to be back- up anymore.
The boys made me proud once again. Cudos to them and Arsene.
Fyck UEFA ! Respect my ass.
gave them a proper game, shame that in crucial moments some of our movements did not come off.
Ref terribly inconsistent, loved Poldis “in your face wankers, play to the whistle” goal. Hopefully nothing serious for Mesut.
Ox was massive today, as much as I want to praise every single of our players he was head and shoulders above anyone else, especially in first half.
Bayern won’t win the CL.
Unlucky reds. If it wasn’t for cheating Robben, just what could have been.
Did you see Arsene’s face after the pelanty award – tells it all
Great effort, very proud of the team
Coyg !!!!!!
Top effort from our team up against One of the best if not the best club side in the world at their home ground and we did the badge proud.
Ox showed how much he has improved .
Sadly Bayern showed they are also the best diving pricks in the game besides the great bunch if barca divers.
Robben disgraced himself tonight with his theatrics
Well done boys well done
Then make him Number One. I don’t care. He deserves it! He is close maybe even better then Woj, imo.
To all those who said they run over us: fook you.
To Pep he-of-the-shavedhead-and-tiny-suit: fook you.
But robben takes the biscuit. What a loathsome human being he is.
Atletico looks good for this year.
He’s improved a lot. I like his latest performances.
Now let’s give the league a fair go… this sort of performance should rejuvenate us, it did the last time!
No, he’s not, Lurky. Woj is number one.
Well, time to go smash some spuds…
Good job boys. Proud of the effort. Bayern really are a strong squad. It’s a shame they have curs like Robben on the pitch.
BMBD
Been reading what hartson has been spewing on the beeb.
When did he become such a plank?
H2H – yeah just read that idiot Hartson’s comments. He did see what Bayern did to Barcelona last year right? Are people really that unhappy when we don’t roll over like they predict we will?
What a cheating little cunt Robben is
COYG the spuds await and you can hold your heads high.
Very good tactical game planned by the boss. We’re just missing Theo’s pace up front. It becomes much clearer in games like this how important Theo is – with him on the pitch, there is no way Alaba would have been making all those forward runs – he was like an extra man in midfield for them.
That’s a good result in the circumstances. Of course, Bayern had the 2-0 advantage and could be less direct than normal, but the disappointment at going out at this stage again should be more than countered by the knowledge of a fine performance.
The Ox is coming on by leaps and bounds this season – much more confident and consistent. Not surprised he was taken off – have to remember he’s only just come back and still needs the games to reach peak fitness. Jack’s going to struggle to get back in this side as first choice.
Nice that we have an extra 2 days recovery time over the Spuds – bring ’em on!
Guys, we shouldn’t be surprised at their diving and niggling – they’re a typical Guardiola side.
Porco – it’s not all of them – Robben is the major culprit. He just works on the basis that he’ll get X% of the dives so the more he makes, the more chance he has. If the ref had booked him for that blatant dive in the first half – as he should have – there’d have been less of it. It’s as much weak refereeing to blame as anything else. Robben should have a yellow for just running on the pitch.
Ozil was evidently carrying something minor, he was not physically pushing it at all even with ball on his feet, that is rare. Hopefully fit enough for the weekend.
Splendid performance by Ox, someone just needed to follow him on his runs. Hopefully it was just cramps and nothing more.
A bit of pace from Giroud and some composure from Gnabry and we may have scored at least one more. Couple of occasions Serge should have dragged the ball outside and send in a cutback instead of cutting in and taking a shot.
Not just the goal, Poldi’s overall performance was very good. Kos was majestic and I thought this was TV5’s one of the best performances as a left back. Much more maturity and intelligence in his game now, covered Robben-Lahm quite well. And Sagna was equally good on Ribery, the goal conceded was more of the midfield’s fault as no one tracked the run.
Arteta’s physical limitations get exposed in matches like this, we do really need a fast, strong and technically proficient DM next season if we are to go some distance in the CL.
Seriously, I want whatever Hartson is smoking, he’s acting like we just lost 10-0 to Fulham.
Makes me laugh when third-rate ex-players like Hartson talk about needing quality.
What – you mean like you, John?
Talking out of your drunken arse.
Porco @ 223: That is how Robben has been for all his playing career, under all managers and in all clubs. Just an awful cheat.
Bayern is not that much of a diving side: Martinez, Robben, Mandzukic are the worst culprits. Majority of the German players are pretty decent.
Re. defensive midfield, Dr. F. knows.
Arteta was always a stop-gap and he’s lasted much longer than I expected. All credit to him. He’ll be a good squad player to keep. Flamini is also not getting any younger. A young strong DM (or 2) is top of the list in the summer.
Bench looked a bit bare tonight – and what a cock-up with Ryo!
But let’s remember we were playing without a specialist left-back (well played TV5), without Aaron and Theo, without a replacement striker to relieve OG and without Diaby. (Sorry – couldn’t resist that.)
Sure Dr F/DK,
But I thought more than a couple of them did a nice line in sly, under-the-radar fouling, especially when we were building good breaks. They were extremely focused on preventing us from putting together effective attacking moves, precisely because Pep knows what we can do with a little space and momentum.
We’ve the best pair of centre halves in Europe. The were just majestic tonight as they have been all season.
I thought Oxlade came of age in the last few games. That lad is going to be some player.
Having been missing a hatful of players, conceding two penalties and getting a man sent off in the first leg, I thought we acquitted ourselves well with a gutsy performance in both games. Pity about the first leg sending off. That really decided the tie.
A few more players and this current crop will be some side yet.
Time to recuperate and get set for the weekend.
As for DMs, I’d settle for Tony Kroos. Winning the PL might persuade him to try pastures new with us. He’d certainly be guaranteed a starting position. And still only 24.
Joe@231 knows too.
Porco @ 230: Oh, absolutely, all team does that, more or less. We are on the “good” end of that spectrum and do it rarely , Bayern is not very bad either.
Pep divides opinions, I am in the ‘good and likable manager’ camp but many Arsenal supporters I know think he is a bit devious under the guise of the nice manners …
dk @ 229: The way this season was shaping up losing Rambo for such a long time was pivotal. He really was central to overcoming our two key limitations – lack of physicality in the central midfield and lack of enough ‘chance takers’ from our build up play.
Out with dignity in tact, at least, though out it is. With a full side — both injury free and all 11 on the pitch — we’d give Europe’s finest team a run for their money, me thinks.
Brave performance. A damn shame we were done by Rollin’ Rob’em and the ref 3 weeks ago.
Big cheers for Fabianski, Per, Kos, TV5, Arteta and Ox. Cheers for the rest.
This squad is 2-3 more top players short of being a top side.
Had we had Rambo and Feo fit and 11 players throughout the first leg, this tie might well have had a very different outcome. Frustrating.
Let’s go peel some Spuds.
Ozil out for weeks with hamstring injury? !!! Please no …
Sadly, sounds like it.
Time for Rambo to come back with a bang.
This surely cannot be a coincidence. Something in the training/pre-match/fitness programs/diet regimens, or combinations, must be in need of recalibration … the number of non-impact injuries our players pick up are just unbelievably high, season after season …
Could be a good thing, Dr F. Reasons why we should have played Poldi more often and Özil less this season were never more obvious than in both legs of this tie. Plus we only really switched on today when TR7 revved up the engine. I don’t care how many chances Özil has created against lesser teams he’s yet to have anything like a commanding performance at the highest level.
For mine he doesn’t have the right stuff to be a gunner. Nor do I believe he was seriously injured today.
Öskar
Oskar @ 240: We can respectfully agree to disagree about Ozil’s potential importance in the run-in and overall what he brings to the team. (He has underperformed in some key matches, yes absolutely. But it is his first season in English football, and it does take a while. He was just excellent against Everton in the FA QF).
But I don’t understand why any injury to any of our squad members could be a good thing. Not a good thing at all. 🙁
Yes, he had a great game against Everton (as I said in the last drinks), and I was hoping it could be a turning point for him. He certainly has the talent as he has demonstrated often enough. But does he have the right attitude? I don’t think so. He’s too often ineffective when we need him most.
You’re right though, I was wrong to suggest his injury could be a good thing. I was just trying to make the best of a bad job. Whether he is really injured, or excuses are being made for getting him off after an anonymous first half, we shall see. I suspect AW may have reached the end of his tether with him.
Öskar
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/mesut-ozils-hamstring-injury-keep-3232049
definetly NOT a good thing.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Kos never learns doe he. Putting a hand on Robben in the box was incredibly stupid. But at least it didn’t cost us anything this time.
But on a more positive note we came away with heads held high, so having the right mental approach for Sunday shouldn’t be a problem. But a tough Europey game for the spuds wouldn’t go astray, and I have no problem with how many of theirs get injured in the process. 😉
Öskar
Oskar @ 242: Arsene just said in his interview the hamstring injury looks serious, it was actually the Bayern doctor apparently that diagnosed as a bad injury in the half time and there will be a scan tomorrow. I rather suspect he might have been chanced a bit despite carrying something minor and as is the case with Arsenal’s injury record, those always bite us back.
I don’t think Arsene is so quick to give up on a player, especially someone of Ozil’s calibre. The whole “attitude” thing about Ozil is somewhat subjective I think, his numbers are still very good for a first season and if Rambo and/or Theo were present they would have been much better. Remember he is used to have Ronaldo and Di Maria latching on to his through balls and some of his frustrations are often for not having an outlet to release the ball. His demeanor could be deceptive but he is one of the team’s top in distances covered statistics, in addition to topping the PL’s chances created stat.
I’d like to apply for this job clomipramine 20 mg metoclopramide 3mg students PY4 y ear.
Which team do you support? rder zyban n prescriptin 1. List / prioritize the problem list ± disease states, drug related problems
No, I’m not particularly sporty buy cheap clonidine will be considered eligible for Medicaid reimbursable
Which university are you at? order singulair online optional feature of the Pro-DUR program, which allows you