Monaco – A Guest Preview From One Of Our Own
Mar 16th, 2015 by 'holic
I am indebted tonight to ‘one of our own’, Thundertinygooner, who has stepped into the breach at short notice to preview the Champions League clash in Monaco. Thank you so much Ttg, it is massively appreciated.
Hope really does spring eternal
A few weeks ago we experienced one of the most gut wrenching nights of hope and despair in Arsenal’s European history. Huge optimism abounded as the game began only for us to suffer the deflation of goals by Kondogbia and Berbatov, the old foe’s strike redolent of so many conceded by Arsenal in recent history at the Emirates. Then in just over a minute the biggest lurch of all. Oxlade-Chamberlain curled in a magnificent effort to give us fleeting hope only to stumble when play restarted to leave the Monaco substitute to run through and restore the two goal advantage off the far post.
We trailed out dispiritedly ready for the cacophony of jeering and taunts from those who don’t have our best interests at heart, many of whom sadly were in the stadium. Predictably the criticism from professional and amateur critic was harsh but predominantly justified. A naive defensive display, quality and robustness in midfield from Kondogbia and Moutinho and a strangely muted night for our best players seemed to suggest that the last 16 of the Champions League, even against what seemed eminently beatable opponents, was a bridge too far.
Four games on however, optimism is rising again in our camp. This has not been promoted by any collapse in form by a formidable Monaco team in prime form and back in their tight and frankly tiny ground, and sitting on a huge European advantage. It helps that those four games have all been won and won pretty well, most particularly the huge cup tie last week at Old Trafford where the team showed that away from home they can fight hard, and defend well against a major team in a major stadium.
Saturday’s comfortable victory over West Ham has prompted an outbreak of the feel goods that has clearly permeated the support in this bar and hopefully the hardy souls from North London who will step into one of the most luxurious environments in the world with renewed hope and belief.
There may be changes from Saturday. Bellerin seems likely to return and it is possible that Gabriel might be preferred to BFG who had such a wretched night in North London. Cazorla will return and Ramsey seems likely to provide the mobility in midfield we lacked in the first leg. Giroud will be given the chance to atone for the worst night of his professional life and while I would controversially rest Sanchez his early withdrawal on Saturday suggests Arsene Wenger is not of the same mind.
Monaco will be strengthened by a number of returning players including another old London foe, Ricardo Carvalho who missed the first leg.
The Guv’nor has indicated in the previous drinks that the ‘holic pound is on 3-1 to the Arsenal in normal time. How wonderful that would be as every goal we score after that would mean Monaco must get two. I am less hopeful but who in his right mind could bet against a man looking to see the ‘holic pound sail in for the fifth game in a row.
Those who love and respect Wenger , and that extends way beyond our club would love to see his CV completed by winning the Cup with Big Ears. How lovely it would be too if we are citing fixture congestion as a problem as we try to maintain our bid for a glorious treble.
Well we can dream!
155 Responses to “Monaco – A Guest Preview From One Of Our Own”
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😀
And another! Just need one more!
Dream indeed TTG.
Nice preview, sir.
Fuck it, I’ll score the third myself if necessary.
Top 4?
Öskar
Ttg that is an excellent preview on short notice or long. Another chance to step up when it counts. Come on Arsenal.
Nicely done, Ttg. Very easy read. 3-0 to The Arsenal is the magic scoreline for me. Come On You Gunners!
Cheers Ttg. Good man. That is well worthy of this blog. (I mean the actual blog- not just the drinks where all our usual waffle happens.)
Que sera sera. But I hope we trounce ’em…
Nice one TTG. God knows what happens tomorrow … Anything is a bonus!
Top Class Ttg.
Great article.
Excellent piece, Ttg.
If Danny starts I hope he scores 4. Or he and Özil two each. Or any other player or combo of them. I don’t care who. So long as they do.
Logic suggests this will be a bridge too far, but if we go for it from the off we could get an early foot on that bridge and then anything could happen.
‘Going for it’ means our best attacking players, Santi, Rambo, TR7, Alexis, OG and Theo. But I can’t see AW agreeing. I expect to see Coq, Rambo, Alexis, Özil, OG and Danny. But if we can get any sort of lead by HT our bench players could do the biz in part 2.
Or am I dreaming? Probably. 🙁
Öskar
Excellent preview, ttg. Worthy of the Guv’nor himself. I feel our name is on the Cup this year, so can’t feel anything but the greatest optimism that we’ll sail through the second leg. 5-0 anyone?
Meanwhile, in other Cups:
Quick history of our cup matches vs Reading:
Played 6 W 6.
1. FA Cup, 1935: 5th round 1-0 away win. Cliff Bastin the scorer. Went out in quarter finals.
2. League Cup, 1967: 3rd round 1-0 home win. Peter Simpson the scorer.
3. FA Cup, 1972: 4th round 2-1 away win. Pat Rice and o.g. the scorers. Lost final to Leeds United.
4. FA Cup 1987: 3rd round 3-1 away win. Martin Hayes and Charlie Nicholas (2) the scorers. Went out in quarter finals.
5. League Cup, 2005: 4th round 3-0 home win. Jose Antonio Reyes, some Dutch bloke and Arturo Lupoli the scorers.
6. League Cup: 2012: 4th round 7-5 away win: Theo Walcott (3). Marouane Chamakh (2), Oliver Giroud, and Laurent Koscielny the scorers.
We’ve also played six league games against Reading, winning all six thus giving an overall record of P12 W12 D0 L0 F37 A12.
Cause for monkish optimism?
Inner serenity, bt8b. AW has never beaten Monaco (L3, D4) as a manager so it is time for the tide to turn. Plus Arsenal have five times faced French clubs in knock-out ties in European competition, and always emerged victorious. Time for the tide not to turn. The monkish serenity is obvious. Arsenal are 225-1 for a 5-0 win. Money for old rope.
I hope for your sake, Ned, that we don’t score 6…
Öskar
Good preview, ttg.
It just throws up one question for me:
Did ‘Holic convert it into paragraphs or did you change the habit of a lifetime ? 😉
…but I’d be delighted for ours if we do! 😉
Öskar
How very dare you, Trev. 🙂
5 – 2 anyone?
BMBD
Of course I mean this leg only and in favor of the good guys…
BMBD
Cheers TTG! Ned, you can get 80-1 on us winning the CL this year. Lump it on!
Trev
How could you:) ?
I tried extra hard and read it before I pressed the button. I tried not to give the Guv’nor any extra work- or wonk as I might normally say
Otd@14 & Esso@20: 🙂
First he bankrupts Ladbrokes and now he gets the hired help in.
How long till tax exile becomes a reality?
Nice preview, ttg.
TTG, nice work on the preview. Like I said in the drinks yesterday I think there ARE logical reasons why us turning this around wouldn’t be the massive shock many seem to think it would be.
Attack them without going gung-ho and take the chances that we will get and we are more than capable of doing this.
Zico,
No money changed hands but he has compromising photographs of me which he threatened to use.
Heh @ 25.
Thanks TTG for the preview, and a great read it was too!
No two ways about it: Monaco practically won the lottery at our place, with Mert and the BFG both having one of the worst nights in recent memory. What were the chances of a dangerous, in-form striker missing I don’t remember how many good chances, while at the other end of the park one of our main defenders played like a complete donkey? And then we iced the cake by forgetting everything there is to know about sensible defending…
When you think about it in those terms it would be quite a surprise if we didn’t give that lot the scare of their lives tonight. Score one before the break and they will be calling for fresh boxers at half time.
Oh my god – I just talked myself into believing.
A dream, a bridge too far, false dawn or something miraculous. A day of reckoning or a day to wonder what if. I believe this will be a game where we will play well, win but wont progress and strangely it maybe not because of goals scored but goals conceded. I just sense one counter attack which may kill the dream.
Yet it is nice to see optimism than the usual pragmatic mood in the team as well as the boss. I expect the pitch to be average at best, stop start game by monaco to prevent us getting any rhythm. The early chance if scored may set up a grand stand finish but Arsenal need to be defensively solid and keep the game alive till the end. Scoring 3 will be tough, improbable but not conceding 1 still needs to be a huge priority.
A game set for headlines, a game for the likes Ozil and Sanchez to prove they indeed can do it on a big night( not questioning them) yet could be a day where the ones least expected may rise to the occasion.
I wouldnt mind any result bar losing the game. I dont mind if we dont progress but what i do want is the team to play without those famed hand brakes on. Go for it boys, this just maybe a great night afterall.
5-2 Lonestar ?
Unless I’ve miscalculated, 4-2 will do it for us.
Were I a betting chap, that’s where my sponds would be. 😉
Worth a read if you’re in doubt as to Ozil’s quality or contribution, or if you just fancy reading about him:
http://www.football365.com/f365-says/9763316/F365-Says
The weather is dismal in the south east of France,grey and drizzly,should make the visitors feel at home.
I don`t feel we have very little chance of getting a result which will take us through to the next round but I must say you are all messing with my expectation management with all your bloodey optimism.
TTG = Supersub.Good review in a little time.
Pick the same side that started against West Ham, with the exception of Bellerin for Chambers. We made shed loads of chances with that team and need the same approach tonight. We don’t have to keep it that tight at the back, as if they score one we’ll still have to score three (for extra time.)
Better to go out gloriously than play tight, fail to raise the pace when needed and fail that way. Start off fast, ease off later if necessary. Far easier to do it that way than arse about face.
Exactly, Cynic.
One chance every 23 minutes. That’s all we need as long as we take them.
We can even afford to concede two goals in the process if we do that.
4-2, history made, The Arsenal through.
Fine preview, warden.
Just nipped into the public library on day release,like.
COYG
Panglossdroid
Many thanks and good luck with the tunnel.
Heavy rains forecast for the game?? Oh god water logged pitch as well now, amazing. So odds, history, weather, what not to beat tonight??
You’ve only gone and blown it now ttg. I told you about Tom in strictest confidence.
Pangloss
Oops. Better not mention Harry then
Yup, I’m getting a bit twitchy about it.
Right,setting off for Monaco now.I will try and write an account when I get back.
The weather forecast for tonight in Monaco is in fact just overcast but we have had a 4 day rainy spell,so the pitch ,normally shit,might be even shittier.Funnily enough I will be having a pre match drink with one of the groundsmen who is a mate of a mate.
COYRRR
2-4. Sounds so good I will have enjoyed it quite thoroughly in my imagination before the game even starts. And just in case it doesn’t happen during the game itself. 😉
Trev, although 2-4 will do the trick, I prefer 2-5 for history’s sake.
BMBD
Wish I could bet it…
Lonestar. You are quite insistent on this 5 thing. Ospina to score the fifth? 😉
Heh, I got this strange feeling of optimism this morning that I actually bet on – us progressing and us winning the whole thing.
Should that came to pass, I would be happily receiving a small fortune in May XD
few hours passed and I am back to my usual nervy self on matchday. Just win Arsenal…..by the scoreline which puts you through;)
“Comic relief”
“Bendtner”
Now officially synonyms.
http://blog.foxsoccer.com/post/113708946677/its-official-nicklas-bendtner-is-now-an-actual
hahah bt8, thats actually quite hilarious 😀
Bt8 @45,
From his PR agent:
“The only problem with this is that fans will still have to call him Lord Bendtner even when he’s playing badly.”
I think you’ll find they won’t. 😉
The saddest thing is that we paid him the money that has enabled him to do this. 🙁
Lord Bendtner = Lord Red ‘n Bent.
Much better. 😉
Well played TTG, thanks for the preview.
Nothing to lose tonight, imho, as nobody really expects us to progress. We are the underdogs and I like it.
COYG’s
Going on media lockdown to make small sacrifice on the altar of broken dreams…
See you gents (and ladies) later tonight. COYGs!
BMBD
5-0 to the Arsenal now down to 175-1. Odds swinging monkwards.
Team selection a bit odd IMO.
I’d have Ramsey in the side, whether that’s a direct swap for Cazorla or instead of Welbeck with Cazorla playing wider.
Personally of course I’d have Walcott wide because they’re a tight unit and we need a runner in behind. If Saturday proved anything it’s that he gets into places others don’t.
Taking out my personal bias we’re a better side with Ramsey in it.
If it bleeds we can kill it.
I too would like to have seen Rambo starting after a top performance against West Ham. Wele is such a strong option off the bench. What do I know…In wenger we trust ! COYG
The ‘holic pound has them running for cover. 20/1 last night, 16/1 best available now. 🙂
You’re going to smite us both? It’ll be like the end of Thelma and Lousie…
I’m actually pondering going out and watching a live game rather than endure the telly box… 🙁
Don’t do it C 🙂
But as I have a heavy cold, I’ll stay in and suck on a packet of Lockets instead. Just the packet mind, the sweets cost 80p and are far too expensive to actually eat
😉
Not sure that this was the best selection for tonight as I would surely picked Ramsey and Gabriel, but what do I know.
Anyway, we can do this.
COYG! For glory!
Dixon and Petit either side of Scholes? Kick him off the stand lads. Give him a shoeing.
We have a bit of a pattern this season of scoring two goals in quick succession… We just need a couple of those spells of devastating minutes tonight and I have a sneaky feeling we are going to do it…
Talking of bets, you can get a cheeky 18/1 double on Atletico and Arsenal to both qualify with Skybet.
Come on you Arsenal!
Also Welbeck to score first and Arsenal to win 3-0 is a tempting 105/1 with them
It’s time boys we need goals
COMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE ONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!
COME ON BOYS!
Time wasting has begun
ARGGHHHHHHHH! Giroud… come on!!!!!
oh OG ..close!
Magic boots ON
Just build it up.
I am not in the camp that says go for it from the off. Judge the opposition. Push as much as we can whilst being secure. Build the pressure.
It is Saint Paddy’s Day. And good things come to those who wait…
The way this is going it’s going to be a bloody LONG wait an’ all.
Not going to do it .. we’re breaking too slow.. allows them to get into positions… put on theo..!
Giroud u beauty
GET IN!
Dooms my 105/1 bet but GET THE FUCK IN
Hahahha!
I am the jinx!
Hence we’re still not going to do it…! Need to break faster!
😀
Say what Cynic? (Don’t mean that in an arsey way)
Just build. No smiles. Next one please.
Fuck fuck fuck that was in
Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh welbeck… arghhhhhhhhhhhh!
COME ONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!
Bullshit
Pen pen pen all day
Hope that yellow fires Alexis up…
Wow did we have some chances
We should have been 3 up.. !
Let’s see if we can get any justice in the second half..
It looked like Alexis could have injured his knee had he not pushed off from it but that the ref thought he was trying to exagerrate the contact to look like a pen. No decision for me.
step up a gear in the second and they are there for the taking, as for alexis, would be soft pen, did not have any other option than to book Alexis if it was not a penno, still, he is wanker, the one against Coquelin shortly after was not a foul ..ever.
Also we have been terribly unlucky with deflections, Dannys shot should have ended in the back of the net.
Half decent performance. Welbeck giving us a lot.
Have to admit they defend very well, one goal from penalty and free kick would do them
Well played Arsenal.
Got ourselves in with a shout now.
Quick strike in the second half and Monaco will brick it.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS>
Been fuckin close so far
The monks are chanting …
We only need four more goals.
We only need four more goals.
😉
Swapping shirts at half time should result in a slapped wrist. Hate that shit.
Ozil off, Ramsey on please.
Odd sub that.
Arsene going for all guns blazing now
Walcott to score! and Alexis too!
COME ON!
This ref is a cunt
Ref is a cccccccccccccc!
what in the hells fuck
Berbatov got eyeliner on?
Very static up top. Just hanging about in the box.
As I was just saying LOL
Yyyyyyyeeeeeesssss
..That’s more like it!
NOw .. COMEEEEEEEEEEEE ONNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!
GEEEEEET IIIIIIN
AARON!
Keep building.
Bono looks like someone’s gran…!
Just saying…
COME ON!!!!
I repeat my 99
SACK THE REF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ALexis is getting kicked off the field!
Come the fucking fuck on
We have our fastest team on now.. will it be good enough?!
Can we get a darn break please
Well unless we have a bit of luck.. doesn’t look like it today..
Can’t believe we’re getting knocked out to this pile of shite. Come on Arsenal!
They have no legs left…
Can we do it?
One last attack….!
Fuckfuckfuckfuck
ah well…
Even their goalie is kicking it out… hahah
Desperation!
Nice try.
Shame.
We gave it a good go…
Great great effort so close
Absolute shit. Not the performance, which was fine, just the feeling.
Blew it in the first leg with the missed chances and chucking the third goal away.
So frustrated, because we’re better than this.
Bollocks.
the third goal we conceded at home is now even more stupid than it was back then..gutted
If only we had taken a chance or two more in the first half…
Still.. it continues our wins… hope the players are not too down by this performance.. need to win the next one!
Fuck!
Picked the wrong team tonight though. Leaving out Ramsey was a mistake.
Still.. chance of second in the league and an FA Cup to win.
Bono fuckin’ bollox.
Good try boys…now roll on to the next one…
Damn… This going out after heroics sucks big time… Well played to the lads… Did us proud tonight
Did we inherit the Red Sox curse??
Fuck it. If we can’t beat Monaco over two legs then why the hell are we in that competition? Roll on Newcastle away.
Even if you don’t support Arsenal, you gotta love em.
Unlike those Chelsea cunts
Cynic, how was it the wrong team? We played one of the best defensive sides in the world, scored two goals and several great chances. The players out there did us proud, sadly one mistake in overtime at home was our undoing.
@kenyan: What curse? If we won the first leg we won’t be in this situation. We make it difficult for our selves…but really good try, no complaints…next please…
Bringing Theo on was a mistake…
Did pretty much everything we could considering the situation we started in. Referee allowed a handful of kicks on Sanchez that should have been yellow card offenses, not to mention the penalty he called a yellow card against Sanchez. Watching it live I was expecting the referee to call a penalty in that situation, but not to be.
The performance we put in bodes well for the rest of our season. Spirit and determination were all there and I’m expecting they will be there against Newcastle as well. The double is still on. 🙂
Eandy @127 you are spot on. I still can’t believe AOC didn’t keep control of the ball before Monaco broke for the third one. 🙁
Abject performance by the entire team in the first leg, it must be said, and that is the problem that must be solved in the Champions League. We underestimated them this time but other seasons we have given the sense of being overawed. Oh well, it’s the old refrain of the fewer competitions we participate in the better our focus can be in each one that remains.
The chances were there to get the third but sadly none of them found the back of the net. A great away effort but that stupid 3rd goal at the Ems was our downfall. There is always next year. 2nd place in the PL is up for grabs ,so let’s go and get it.
COYRs
There will be plenty of teams pleased with the fact that this arsenal side didn’t make it to the quarter finals. And for all their efforts, I just don’t see this Monaco team going beyond the quarters….Really gutted. We need to just keep a clean sheet in the first leg next time around in the round of 16. We have made it a habit to give ourselves a mountain to climb in the second leg.
Lovegood – I would have started with Ramsey, most likely instead of Welbeck. Better team with Ramsey, Welbeck offers less.
Still, it doesn’t matter now.
Spirited performance.
Now let’s go give that Mourinho chap a proper scare.
I just think that the away goals rule needs to be done away with in a competition like the champions league. If at all, away goals should count only if aggregates are tied after extra time. But if aggregates are level after two leg, it should certainly go to extra time.
Tottenham Hotspur have reached more Champions League quarter finals than Arsenal in the last five years.
Don’t have nightmares…
Good night 🙁
Just how good was Cazorla in the Xavi role. And what a a performance by Kos, or make that the whole team in general.
Feel exausted at the moment, makes you wonder how the players feel now.
Night all.
It is obvious that we are capable of generating good periods of sustained pressure. However I feel that we can be more efficient in our attempts to break teams through the middle.
We created just a single chance in the last crucial 15 minutes. I would expect more, considering the talent of our midfield.
The build-up to our attacks gets broken off far too often in the middle of the pitch. I suspect this may be a consequence of us having become somewhat more of a counter-attacking side recently.
Fucking shattered.
desi @ 147: An opinion shared by many, including Arsene.
Booo, Cynic…
Right proud of the boys. They just about did it. Onwards and upwards.
BMBD
We can hold our heads up high. We are not miles away in Europe but we are tactically/ mentally weak over a two leg match at times and it is Groundhog Day all over again. Barcelona/ Bayern , Milan and now the weakest of the lot Monaco. Chelsea felt like that when they went out to them in the semi- final in 2004.
I thought that we should give huge credit to Wenger. He picked a very appropriate side and made good substitutions. There is a lot of wise after the event comments in here tonight . Welbeck had a great first half and Ramsey changed the game when he came on. Everyone gave their all and had Sanchez been less knackered we might have done it.. I’m very proud of the team tonight but inevitably frustrated.
Drat that’s only the Double left
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Excellent collective performance. The real benefit of topping the group is not just the relative quality of the competition in R16, but the chance of playing the second leg at home. I know there too we recently blew our chances in that 4-0 away loss at Milan, but to progress in CL further I think winning the group would come a lot handy.
About Danny starting ahead of Rambo, originally I thought it was a questionable decision but then Danny came up with a commendable performance even though started to fade in second half. Rambo is coming back from injury so I suppose it is wise to not play him three times a week for full 90 minutes.
Koscielny was excellent, as was Santi. Ozil had the odd passing mistake but he conducted the match brilliantly, dropping deep, moving across the front line, and providing some great balls. If Alexis and Giroud had a better communication Alexis might have scored from the one where Giroud’s attempt was saved.