Of Course I’m Backing The Arsenal To Beat Barca
Feb 22nd, 2016 by 'holic
“As I said after the Hull game we had seventy per cent of the time the ball, but we didnβt make a lot of it. Against Barcelona we will have much less the ball and we will have to make more of it.”
Arsene Wenger anticipating a complete role reversal when he spoke to the press ahead of the visit of Barcelona in the European Champions League. Yes, it’s them again. Yet isn’t it precisely for nights like this that we crave Champions League qualification every year? Although the overall standard of Premier League football is improving, and particularly outside the top four, we don’t get the chance to watch forward lines like this in the flesh too often in a lifetime.
Barca prompt mixed feelings with their antics on and off the pitch, but as well it has to be said that few teams regularly produce their high quality, high tempo, pressing and passing game. We aspire to it, and as Manchester United discovered at the Grove this season when we get it right we too are an irresistible force. Should that Arsenal turn up on Tuesday night then we have a chance to further heal the scars of Paris, 2006. To gain a measure of revenge for all of those players they tapped up and stole from under our noses, although thank you by the way for Alexis. Β£30m? Dick Law must have been wearing a mask for that deal.
The same Alexis is searching for form and confidence and it would be wonderful indeed if he found both as well as the back of the net against his former employers. Mesut Ozil too will need no lifting for this one having experienced El Classico in his previous incarnation. Olivier Giroud too may relish the chance to get at a defence that isn’t as highly regarded as the much-vaunted attacking trio.
It is strange to think that if players contracts meant anything at all that Suarez might be wearing the red and white in this fascinating tie. His partnership with Messi and Neymar is undoubtedly the biggest threat we, or anyone else for that matter, will face all season. They are the reason that Barca are running away with La Liga, winning 20 of 25 games played and scoring 67 goals in the process. In the group stage they won Group E by eight points and their six matches yielded a further 15 goals.
Arsene confirmed only that Petr Cech would be recalled in goal in his press conference although the side probably picks itself. Former Barca junior Hector Bellerin and Nacho Montreal are likely to return alongside Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny. Surely Francis Coquelin and Aaron Ramsey will anchor the midfield. Giroud will be directly supported by Ozil behind, Alexis to the left, and Theo Walcott may well get the nod on the right after his goal against Leicester. Only the latter is under serious competition for a start, but at his best he is a wonderful asset to the sort of counter-attacking game we may be forced to play.
The ‘holic pound
The bookmakers are making the selection for an eternal optimist straightforward for this one. Arsenal, at home, are 4/1 just to win. Now invariably they are right. Bookmakers don’t do charity. So what fuels my hope for a home win that will set up a lip-smacking return in the Camp Nou? A number of things actually. The same bookmakers gave us no hope when last Barca came calling. Five years ago van Persie cancelled out David Villa’s opener before Andrey Arshavin scored a late winner. It was one of the greatest nights to date in the Grove. Then there is the fact that we do have the players to carry out a similar smash and grab. The pace of Walcott, the youthful Β exuberance of Bellerin, the strength of Giroud, the energy of Alexis, the stamina of Ramsey, and the guile of Ozil.
Well, a boy can dream, can’t he?
246 Responses to “Of Course I’m Backing The Arsenal To Beat Barca”
Bloody Barca
The bloody pies are bloody old
The bloody chips are bloody cold
The bloody beer is bloody flat
The bloody flats have bloody rats
Bloody barca
Play the 1-10 formation.. we’ll knock the stuffing out of them!
Am feeling for an Arshavin win!
π
BMBD
Simples
Diving, cheating, whining varmints.
Off to read the pearls.
Fine preview Guvna. I feel better already.
The spirit we have to show : http://i.imgur.com/bp5gMcu.gif
π
Cheers H! Enjoy yourself tomorrow mate.
Thanks Esso. I will.
Evening bath et al.
In October ’99. Wenger was on the bench and both Pep and Enrique were on the pitch.
Time flies, eh?
…or not?
For the 2-1 I was in the Clock End Upper, and very high. If we repeat tomorrow I will be screaming in Enrique’s ear.
What is the Catalan for “Take that you shower of shite”?
What is the Catalan for βTake that you shower of shiteβ?
Preses que es dutxa de merda is what Google translate says, but a reverse translation reckons it says, “dams that fucking shower”
The latter may well be the reaction on here to the result⦠but we shall see.
Unless we choose not to watch it π
Hehe, evening Cynic. Hope all is going well?
Wish you a lot of joy tomorrow `Holic and to all of us by extension!
It’s a great preview although from the look of it the plan is to defend like lions and hit them on the counter. I wouldn’t be surprised if Welbeck leads the line so we have 3 speedsters to test Pique’s and Mascherano’s high line…
Holic,
I would be a bit left field in my team selection. I was very impressed with Elneny who can do a much better Cazorla impression than Ramsey. I would use him to anchor midfield with Coquelin . He has experience of Champions League and is a class act. He won’t give the ball away anywhere near as much as Ramsey. Aaron still could play wide right . Although this is not a role he should play permanently this is not an ordinary game and he would offer protection against Jordi Alba getting forward. We will be chasing the ball for the first seventy minutes as we were in that famous victory . After seventy minutes Theo and Giroud can hope to replicate that triumphant ending , or the great recovery we put together in the 2-2 draw.
For that reason I would start with the mobile Welbeck. He isn’t fit enough yet for ninety minutes but he combines the key attributes of Theo and HFB and with Sanchez to his left and Ozil behind he will frighten any team .
Wenger won’t do this I suspect. Ramsey and Coquelin will anchor and I think we may see Ox wide as he didn’t start on Saturday. That boy has huge ability but needs to step up at this level.
I go in hope rather than expectation. It will be a terrific game. I hope we can replicate the Bayern result but whatever we need to emerge from this tie with belief and respect intact.
Cheers H – you set the tone nicely.
For the fans, this is what top four finishes are all about – pitting yourselves against the best in europe. The whole team should be up for this…to beat the Catalans is a huge achievement.
Let’s stuff those “paragons of virtue” big time.
@TTG/13: Ox on the wing would be an interesting if surprising choice. I too agree the player is exceedingly gifted.
Now on the other hand your assessments of both Elneny and Ramsey are way too premature to say the least. I don’t remember Cazorla shining when paired with Flamini, quite the opposite. Let’s give Rambo some time to build a partnership with Coq before passing judgment.
We’re going to knock those Barca Berks out. We are better than they are. They’d be lucky to finish 4th in our League. Messi would get hacked to pieces, and Suarez failed in England.
Only two things can stop us: A referee as corrupt as the ones in our 2006 and 2011 matches against them, and Alexis turning out to be a double agent like Fabregas. If he remembers the name on the front of the shirt, and plays an honest game, we’ve got them.
It’s never going well, H, the best one can hope for is “not worse”
But thanks for asking π
Living up to your name I see, Cynic. π
TTG on the other hand has identified both the most imaginative team selection and the most likely team selection by Arsene Wenger which is no mien feat.
Up the Arsenal and up the holic pound and thumbs up all around. π
hope ye have a hoot ‘holic
and Up /h2h
lived manys happy a year
just further up
archway road
the 80s Up
i’m a youngster
π
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NfIeZuZnbBY
tune time
just me
don’t worry about
puttin the hoover round ‘holic
in the morning
a 1000 youtube links to nowhere ?
i’ll behave
Nice preview H. Must admit I’m a little nervous about this one. Again it will all depend very much on which Arsenal team turns up.
We can say what we like about Barca but we all know they are a class act. We will need to be on top of our game and beyond.
Like many I was there 5 years ago. A wonderful result and a great atmosphere. More of the same please.
I wonder if we will get another nice new carrier bag to wave?
unbridled lust
https://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=HvnWcb6mu4Q
ayyyyy ya wayyyy ya
hoootchie mama
howdy steve T
are ye well ?
gonna try not to make a fool of meself
what odds d’ye think
evens ?
https://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=WR8H9KDQiJg
yup
that’s what it’s like rooond bath’s hooooos
the man’s a Dr McCharlatoooon
he’s a McPistolero !
I reckon we lull them into a false sense of security with a 0-0 tonight, and then hang on for any kind of score draw at the Nou Camp. Suarez might have scored 41 goals this season, and their front three 91 between them, but that’s cos they don’t face any Petr Cechs in La Liga.
It won’t happen but I would play Rambo and Elneny in MF. Coq is too prone to picking up cards, imo.
Oskar
how’s things by you oskar ?
homemade hoocheroo here
but
tesco bought cordial
only
as a mixer
both
double strength
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=n0VQeByzDLo
duly told
but
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=48hrHVMCRgY
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GIG9P0lB1iA
i wish
Howdy CBA
All tip top.
I hope yours are all blossoming.
#youtubetastic
Big hugs Big fella
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DwnAz1nDVDI
God Rest Joey Dee Dee Tommy and Johnny
drink taken big man
drink made
hoist by my own drunktard
joey was it for me but
let’s fuckin face it
dee dee wrote the tunes
johnny was the brand
and tommy started it
then beat the fuck outta the drums
eigth notes
nobody else
https://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=4SNQcPmMmbI
all dead
breaks my heart
i moved to your devil country
in the 80s
knowing
i’ll see Ramones, The Arsenal and fanny
and
LO
?
yup
again
bouncers ?
.
yer wife buying you a ben sherman
you wearing the ben sherman
does not make
either you , ben or sherman
a bouncer
.
talking
that’s what works
or a stamp to the knee
i should run a bouncer course
shortly after
I eat shoots and leaves
INNIT
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=troL2Toww24
.
..
…
https://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=G4NRTks2M50
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=viYfWqSECAk
https://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=654H4xfDYKM
s s sorry h h hol
b b but
ba ba ba
ba ba ba bra ann
ba ba ba
?
if there is a god
he will kick mike love
square in the blaaaaaa
oops
Brian was the genius
take yer small praise mike
https://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=bGp1a4O29oI
go on
Ye know ye wanny
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xiorncOFpcg
https://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=udWMGiv-MZs
cheerio
I’m fine cba. Apart from it’s been one of those weeks chez moi. First my printer packed up, then my electric kettle, then my car radio and windscreen wipers. So I went to bed … and put my foot through the bottom sheet.
But can’t grumble, aye.
Off out again now (to buy a kettle), cya, hope you’re fit.
Oskar
Check your back garden for alien spaceships, Oskar, and start worrying if you find yourself making model mountains out of clay like substances.
Oskar – “My God, my toilet is blocked with an Everest sized poo!”
Nice one ‘h!
“Yes, itβs them again. Yet isnβt it precisely for nights like this that we crave Champions League qualification every year?”
It certainly is Guvnor! It certainly is!
I’m just as excited as my li’l Nipper is and can’t wait for the 7.45pm kick and the CL anthem at the Grove!
2-0 or 3-1 to the Arse!
COYBG! Up the Arse!
Afternoon cba. Hope you are ok.
91. The numbers of goals this season scored by Messi, Suarez and Neymar.
43. The number of assists created by Messi, Suarez and Neymar.
What could possibly go wrong?????
Just give thanks that the Flapster decided he would be better off at Swansea!
?
Up the Gunners.
Apologies. How rude of me.
Good afternoon H. May well see you later pre match if times work out okay.
The task tonight is extremely difficult but definitely doable…As Olivier Giroud rightly put it in the presser – the win against Bayern should give confidence as well as the blue print. We don’t have an option but to play on the counter. The fact that we don’t have Santi in midfield might mean using the long ball more to bypass the midfield and Giroud will start in order to ensure that. Theo will be used as a late substitute to create havoc in the barca defense(hopefully it won’t be the invisible theo but the up for it theo tonight). The right wing attacking slot is the only one where there are no clear cut choices but as mentioned by others in the above drinks, I also think that Arsene will start with the Ox on the right wing. Joel Campbell will be a defensively better bet but if we are to have relieving spells in their half – we will need either the OX or Danny. Since Danny has just been back from injury, I don’t think he will be starting a game of this intensity.
This is just the sort of game where every single player will have to put in an absolute best and be tuned in for the entire duration of the game. Also the sort of game where they will need to guard their temper if one of their stars indulge in some show-boating or some theatrical diving. Leave such incidents behind immediately and focus completely on the moment. A 0-0 would be an immense result but looking at both teams that is a remote possibility. We absolutely have to take some sort of a lead going into the second leg to have any chance of qualifying.
Some people are calling this Barca team even better than the 2011 avatar. I disagree with that. The front three of this team are absolutely top draw but the midfield isn’t what it used to be with Xavi in his absolute prime. And Pep’s possession mania made it impossible to play against them with any sort of rhythm. Even more frightening was the speed with which they used to wrestle back the possession. It must have been a nightmare to play against them at that stage when they were in their prime. That 2011 game at the grove is obviously remembered fondly for the arshaaaaaavin….moment but Szcz made some heroic saves early on in the first half to keep us in the game. While Pep’s Bayern is a very good team, it still isn’t as good as his barca team simply because of the personnel. At Barcelona the players were absolutely aligned and prepared to play in his style whereas at Bayern it has taken a bit of twisting & turning. So in a nutshell we might have a better chance at progressing this time around than we had in 2011.
Looking eagerly forward to the game tonight. Normally I don’t like predictions and all but I have a hunch that Giroud and Alexis will score tonight. 2-1 to the gunners…
Uck Arca.
How far can too far go?
Just play to your full potential, Arsenal.
Give everything you’ve got.
Bleed for us if necessary.
Don’t respect them. Give ’em ‘ell.
BMBD
It has been a while since I made any contribution here…but I am around, reading you guys. Like most of you, I can’t wait for the game tonight. I have a feeling that we will not disappoint and, for me, it means that we will fight like mad for every ball and will not not show them too much respect. They may be Barca…but we are Arsenal. They know that we have beaten them before and they know that back then they were through only because of the dubious Van Persie’s red.
I also hope we will be smart enough to finish both matches with 11 players. Even if they score first tonight we should not loose our heads…we should just stay focused and convert our chances. Oh, I am sure we will have our chances tonight. Even if we draw in the end, we can still go to Barcelona and finish the job there.
I think Ozil and Ramsey will shine tonight. I am a bit worried about Alexis and Ox (if he starts) but I pray they will prove my concerns unfounded.
COYG
I don`t agree with `Desi`gner Gooner that we absolutely have to take a lead into the second leg.Anything is possible in a cup game ,even a two legged cup game ,so even if we go one or two down we have to keep our heads up and our shape to the final whistle to leave far fetched hope for the second leg.
When our balls were pulled(ouch!) to match us up with Barca I was personally pleased as it would give me the chance to get to my first match this season.I calculated that the return match would surely get to Red Members(big allocation ,rubbish seats in the heavens,regularly drawn together and it would all be over in the home match ).
Well I totally blundered that and the tickets for the away match did`nt even get to Silver members but not before I had already bought my cheap air tickets and booked a hotel.I can still find a ticket on the internet but not in the Arsenal end.
So I`d like to put in a request on here to anyone who has or who knows someone who has a spare ticket to get in contact via `Holic before I splurge on a ticket somewhere where I can`t celebrate when we score.
Sorry `Holic I hope this does not break any Goonerholic guidelines ,if so please feel free to remove this post.
0-0 is a good result
TGSTEL has left us do we can nick a win in the Nou Camp.And Messi’s nemesis is Peter Cech!
Frankly I’d be delighted with 0-0 but a 5-5 would be a better game.
5-0 to us would be better still. My nurse is coming with my medication now before I leave for the match.
By reading various experts and pretty much anyone anywhere we have no hope so may as well not bother hey – Fuck it better teams than this one have been beaten over the years and will be beaten in the future – Give it your all and then see where we are, Personally cannot see the point on trying to keep them out as they will score anyway so let’s out score the fuckers π 5 – 2 the Arsenal π
Up The Arse
Won’t be able to watch the match tonight, or even listen on the radio. No idea what’s going to happen, or to be honest, what result I would most like.
I may as well weigh in with some pointless advice for the team; let’s face it, every other bugger has. π
Good luck guys, give it your best shot.
COYG
One thing Welbeck has shown is that he scores goals in big games. A factor in team selection, I would say.
The Arsenal play the best team in the world, no 2 words about that. They have the best attack in the world and for once their is no shame in accepting that the front 3 are among the best the game has ever seen.
We need to start the game quicker, faster and covert the chances we are bound to get. If you follow them a bit, they start off slow and are traditionally second half team. First half is more a warm up for them. I do not think we will take a gamble on the selection. Theo right. alexis left, giroud centre, coq and ramsey cm and per and kos as cb. Rest pick themselves.
What we cannot allow is them to score early, they do and it could be a long night. Past games against them do indicate they score first, remember villa/zlatan doing so!!!! we need to prevent that.
I am not sure the bayern approach works, barca are better than bayern and they will hurt us with that much possession. I rather say take our chances early and then hustle them throughout.
So many sub battles but our full backs will have to have their finest games in ages. Coq and ramsey need to keep it simple and no extravaganza please, ok i will stop blabbering, we can win this Arsenal, we will.
One-nil to the Arsenal, late goal to clinch it.
Barca is a great side, then again they haven’t faced the Arsenal this season.
COYG.
We’ll have to play like 70’s brazil…
Let’s get the job done!
Up The Arse!
π
Right, come on lads. Let’s do this.
Like the landlord said, you can dream can’t you? And really, what on earth is the point of bothering if you’re going to be all doom and gloom about it?
Will be following text updates only as I fulfil dad and husband duties. Enjoy it all, and here’s to a 0-0, or (whisper it) a 1-0!
Back 5 as predicted.
Coq – Ramsey – Ozil
Ox – Ollie – Alexis
Arsenal: Cech, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Ramsey, Coquelin, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ozil, Sanchez, Giroud.
Subs: Ospina, Chambers, Gibbs, Flamini, Campbell, Walcott, Welbeck
Cannot believe Ox has been picked.
Tactics for the night – keep it tight and bring on the subs at 3-0 down?
π
TTG: You were prescient π
Cynic
It does seem strange, is it anything to do with his defensive work being better than Theo’s? Not that I know if it is indeed better.
I don’t know what it is, but he’s playing really poorly and he wouldn’t be in my team if he was playing well.
Ah well, he’ll probably score eight now.
Or they will π
Off for a cup of tea and to have a bet on the score….
Methinks the Ox will run at players and not try to run faster than them.. still.. see Theo coming on later when they get tired!
π
Visca el Farsa!
Come On!!
It’s not a Theo thing BB, Ox would be/is fourth choice if he is playing wide right. Fifth if you decide Ozil is going to play wide.
We shall see what we shall see.
Okay boys let’s go!!
Ref is known to give out cards freely…
Man can’t even breath on these guys without a whistle…
Go bite someone Suarez…!
COME ONNNNNN!
Dodged a bullet at the end there
Take Ox off.. he’s clearly limping still….
Refs love to help Barcelona
Pretty balanced so far aside from the ref.
Let them tire a bit more and get the Ws on the pitch…
Ref has been absolutely fine. Our finishing has been awful as usual.
Is it safe now to come out from behind my sofa?
Ok then.
It was a fairly balanced half, and we have a good measure of control in this game. I feel we need to approach teh second half with a little bit less emotion – need to be more level-headed. The OX’s mindless running could have cost him an injury, and we should really have scored one so far.
Come on you rip-roaring.
Barack I can’t think of the last time I saw a 5th minute yellow card.
A good half overall, I think they have some concerns over our pace…..so let’s give ’em more and squeak this one-nil
COYRs
Especially for such an innocuous challenge.
The Ox was playing well – unfortunate that he couldn’t get the ball out of his foot for the chance… He really turned his ankle badly in that collision with mascherano.I was amazed that he carried on till half time. Doubtful that he will comeback for the second half and if it’s an injury I hope it’s a really minor one…
If Ref wanted to be more ‘fine’, he should have gave Busquets the yellow for that chalenge on Alexis..
Speaking of awful finishing.. how’s that miss in front of goal from Suarez…!
That being said.. if we are to beat the top teams.. we need to finish the sparse chances we get! Not sure there are too many more chances like the one that Ox got. Hope he’s allright.
Is Cunt short for Cuneyt in Turkish As it’s a name well earned. !
Loving the Energy and work rate carry that onto the seasons end and all will be good π
You tell ’em Chippy. π
“The referee is stopping the flow of the game and has gone way too much in Barcelona’s favour. You can understand the frustration of the home fans but you have to keep your head and focus – I think Arsenal are doing that.”
—-
All that from Jermaine Jenas… not too bad from an ex-spud.
π
So far so good. Ox continues. The only question is can we sustain all this running and pressing? COYG.
He’s had 15 minutes to make the change, why wait? They’d know at half time whether he could continue or not, you shouldn’t need three or four minutes to see he can barely run, he could hardly trot before the break.
Awful finishing from Neymar!
π
F you C… REF!
Barca babies feigning injuries!
Our constant obsession with blaming the refs is getting embarrassing. Come on guys get behind OUR TEAM.
“Olivier Giroud has done absolutely nothing wrong. He’s just brushed Jordi Alba running past him and Alba went down holding his face. As good as this Barcelona team is, those sort of things aren’t nice to see. It is cheating.”
—–
I am liking J.Jenas more and more…!
COME ON!!!!!
We blame the refs for the mistakes they make… not for making any excuses for not winning… apparently this one is so blatant .. even a spud could see it!
HAhahah!
COME ON!
Please arsene
Get Ramsey off
Waste of a playing spot
These are the same officials who awarded Ozil’s goal against Bayern when nobody else in the stadium thought it was in.
Come on boys keep it tight and nick one in the 90th!
Finally broken.
Naive bollocks. Should have made the foul on half way because we were stretched.
What is this?
The anti-Arshavin! Great play.. good goal!
COME ON!!!!!
Oh well. Let’s settle for 1-0 and at least keep the tie alive.
Is Ramsey playing for barca or Arsenal
I can’t understand why we bombed away leaving so much space for the deadliest attack on the planet. We are naive, not surprising AW was furious. Don’t know how Suarez missed. We need to keep defending.
If only we improve our passing we can play Barca on equal terms with this Barca team.
Their confidence and skill on the ball is a different class to us. We are intimidated and we are not taking the 1-2 chances we get in this game.
Sanchez going completely missing…
oh noooooo
Flamini
We must be looking to give barca another
Great tactic arsene
Welbeck brilliant since he came on…
Rubbish by Mertesacker. I can’t blame Flamini for that.
Flamini’s first contribution is giving away a penalty and Messi scores. We can now switch our attention to PL and FA Cup.
…and that’s that!
We’re going to need a deeper squad…!
And that’s a wrap.
Send the youngsters to the Nou Camp, Arsene.
Play Welbeck and Giroud in the 2nd leg!
Pique is out of that one…we just need to claw back one here!
COME ON!!!!!
Dani Alves is a fucking knobber.
Ramsey really suffering here.
From a terrible tattoo on the knee.
Kos takes Ramsey out…ouch!
Whatever. They are a different class and we cannot string a decent sequence of an attack together. Their tactical discipline, their collective movement is clearly taking us to our limits
Feel sorry for Mertesacker, my MOTM until the clearance for Messi.
Didn’t take some excellent chances. Pity.
We threw away a match we could have easily drawn, maybe, even won. Our habit of screwing ourselves in the first leg continues.
Played brilliantly for 2/3rds of the game.. 2 lapses of concentration and they pull an Anti-Arshavin.
We’ll probably surprise some people in the 2nd leg.
Good game.
That was a fairly ok performance if you’re trying to take a 0-0 to Spain, but two bits of terrible play cost us dearly.
Should have given away a cheap foul when they were on the break, and the penalty was really weak.
Flamini is going to get all of the blame but that was 100% Mertesacker’s fault.
At the end of the day I think we paid the price for the team selection and not taking the half chance that came our way in the first half.
One plus to the score is that we have to go there and attack them, and that’s where we’re at our best.
None of this picking players because they are a bit better at defending. Go at the cunts. We should have done that tonight, but bottled it IMO.
Not over if we hit them hard next time and get an early goal, but in trying not to get beat we’ve ended up in an almost no-win situation.
Unflattering result but players can take heart from this performance. More of the same in the league please.
Ramsey, Ox, Theo, OG, FlaminI simply not up to the required standard. Something needs to change or this will just keep happening.
@Barack/138: It’s happening to every team in Europe that play Barcelona, changes or not,
Can’t wait for Santi and Wilshere to get back…
We can give it a good go this year.
Alexis is playing dreadfully at the moment as well. Trying too hard, needs a spell on the bench.
All day meeting.
Fucking hell. 2-0?
Looks like more theatrics and BS from the diving, Catalan cry babies. Disgusting. Ref’s name seems familiar, surely he’s fooked Arsenal over before.
Understood Matt, but when you miss a chance like Ox did and make mistakes like Flam and Mert did then you’ve only got yourselves to blame.
The defense and Cech did us proud, but from midfield and up they played like a bunch of little shy girls. I find it embarrassing because I’m convinced we are much better than that.
We couldn’t string a few passes together, players running into each other, there was always a dribble too many – nearly no coherence in the building up of our attacks whatsoever. I had seen clear signs of these shortcoming – albeit not to this extent – in our most recent league and cup matches.
What do these guys do in training? Fucking hell.
And Dani Alves is an odious little so and so.
Here’s to recovering in time, and well, for the league matches.
And not just today either
If only we had Suarez..Neymar and Messi… but wait then we’d be Barca!
Players can take heart.. now to get on with it and put ManU in their place!
Hope no one is out injured after this..although Ox doesn’t look too good at all.
Well i got them getting 2 right – Shame we didnt get the predicted 5 π No shame in that result they are different mustard, Could do without all the fucking cheating mind as for Alves what an utter utter wankpot he is,Thought we played rather well and were a tad unlucky to find ourselves getting done by 2 but then again thats why they and Bayern are the best sides in Europe by far.
Onwards and upwards and 3 points Sunday would be just the tonic after tonight,
BOB @ 138 Theres not 3 forwards on the planet that can match them 3 in full flow unless we buy Ronaldo, Bale and Aguero, cannot see that happening mind π So i thnk matching them maybe a few years off π
Up The Arse
Welcome to la la land.
Free beer for everyone.
And food…
3 points Sunday. Shrug it off.
Against a team like Barcelona you just have to convert whatever chances you get… Giroud’s header was top draw and so was the save from Ter Stegen… Flamini can’t be blamed for the penalty – per should have cleared that one.
Bellerin should have fouled neymar just outside the penalty box with a diving tackle… But the thing with Bellerin is that he always believes that he can outrun anyone and is usually very very good at last ditch recovery tackles in the box (had a couple very good ones tonight as well), so can’t blame him for chasing neymar all the way…
It was a real pity when that first goal went in. Barca players had begun the theatrics and we were clearly gaining the ascendency. Thought the tactics were spot on tonight… If only one of our chances had gone in it would have been a completely different game.
Danny Welbeck looked really impressive and gave barca defenders a lot of trouble. He must start the second leg alongside Giroud… If we get an early goal – it could well set the cat amongst the pigeons… Well hope springs eternal.
Proud of the team tonight…
Diapers, too…
Better team won no doubt. Referee and all officials absolute dog shit.
He needs to get Ramsey out of that CM role, for to many obvious reasons I won’t even bother to explain.
I would have subbed Ozil at halftime if Ox wasn’t injured. The tactic we were supposed to play tonight is completely not suited for him.
We had our chances and we have some great players especially Kos, who (apart from Monreal and maybe Bellerin or Cech as subs) is the only one in our team who can get in this Barca squad, as they are a different class. Not unbeatable though, as they had some lapses in concentration today and if we were more ruthless we could have score a goal or two.
Enrique is doing a great job for them, much better then the overhyped Guardiola, IMO.
As for us, the battle continues.
Bring on Man Utd.
Esso knows!
And the Flamini hate is also dogshit. Been on 30 seconds, gets put on the spot by a poor clearance, fucks it up. And that’s it. He aint the second coming of satan, such as some twats would have you believe.
Oh, and how much we miss our little Spanish magician.
Just on my way back from the game now. The talk in the pub pre match was one of realism rather than optimism.
There was a great atmosphere from the start and I can’t thank the club enough for another carrier bag to add to the collection.
Overall we battled and worked hard, but the gulf in class at the end was there for all to see. We ran our socks off but as soon as they scored we were chasing shadows. They bossed the game and we looked like lost boys at times. They are a quality side and we are miles away from that level.
Barca as a side work tremendously hard. We were second to many of the second balls and started to give away cheap possession.
It’s hard to be too critical. As I said, Barca are up there with the best in the world. Unfortunately, we aren’t. Until we do something proactive to change that then the situation will continue.
Onwards and upwards.
The good thing is that after playing the catalans, Manchester should feel like a walk in the park π
Agree with BOB. Many players not up to standard. We crippled ourselves starting Chamberlain who has the football IQ of a turnip. Giroud who “holds the ball up well” yet can’t dribble for two steps. Ramsey just awful. There are no words to describe the disaster that is Flamini, and Sanchez is trying so hard to get back to some kind of form and isn’t much better.
So glad we beat Olympiacos.
2 shots on target and 34% possession. Were you watching the same game BTM?????
Lurky, precisely.
I think you have qualified your 153 with your 156. If Cazorla were available today, Ramsey would take the place of OX out wide as well. We immediately become a much more balanced team.
My hope for tonight was to come out with a result that would give us a chance for the return leg – Cazorla is supposed to be a couple of weeks away in terms of fitness.
It wasn’t to be. (But you never know!)
Dear God!
Agreed Steve @157. Unless we take serious steps to address our shortcomings this summer, we’ll be having the same discussion again next season and the one after.
Will say that Welbeck looked better than anyone else in the side across the front line and probably should have started. And while I’m no fan of Mertesacker, he was pretty great until the awful clearance, which should have been smashed upfield. Back four and the keeper were generally good. Agree that we miss Santi so badly right now, but even he can’t carry the mediocre performers.
Flamini for me is an interesting one. Why was he on the bench ahead of Elneny? Was Le Coq injured? If not then why when you are 1 nil down at home with less than 10 to go do you make that change? I don’t remember Flamini performing the role of game changer?? That was strange for me and all of those seated around me.
Steve T@157 your grievances regarding our transfer business are well known but trust me no matter how proactive we are – we ain’t ever going to sign Messi, Suarez and Neymar… And it was them three that made the difference between the two teams tonight.
And btw Barcelona didn’t register a single shot on target(your favourite stat) in the first half. The first time that has happened since November 2013… Well it’s a shame that they more than made up for it in the second half…
Steve,
Completely agree. What is the point of the Elneny purchase? One for the future I guess. Is a Champion’s League veteran from Basel a worse option from the bench than Flamini? Elneny has been at least putting in some decent shots from range, and has looked comfortable on the ball. That is just weird.
But no more confusing than starting the Ox who has a lot of physical gifts but doesn’t show the intelligence of the typical Arsenal player. He reminds me of Gervinho with inferior dribbling skills, though he can kick the ball and run after it really well.
Guys, lets be realistic. I don’t think anyone believe that we can go past Barca. Even if we won by 2-1 or drew the game today. There is only one team that will win in camp NOU and that’s Barca. I don’t even feel bad about the result, happy that we didn’t get humiliated by some crazy score line, that would have shattered our confidence. I say we get our focus back on the PL. I don’t see why this team cant beat Manu this Sunday. COYG!!!!
@ Esso 162
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6EhZaFZ-Dc
Any excuse for a toon.
Desi. We had every opportunity to sign Suarez. From memory we made quite an embarrassing hash of it all.
Out First leg scores at the first leg of the knockout stages for the last five years.
Milan 4-0 AFC
AFC 1-3 Bayern
AFC 0-2 Bayern
AFC 1-3 Monaco
AFC 0-2 FCB
As a result, like many, I’m neither surprised or that upset about tonight. Sadly, the result today was about as good as we could have expected.
It is what it is.
Just home from the game.
Upgrades required.
Did Feo come on? I didn’t see him.
We were doing just fine until foolishly believing we could win it, then (surprise surprise) it turned to custard. Who decided to grant Messi the freedom of Ems for the first goal, with time to trap, set up and wait for Cech to commit himself before banging it home, all in the area?
Ah well, CL was always a dream this year (and will remain so until we upgrade 50% of the squad) so better out now and concentrate on more achievable goals. At least it’ll be Barca this year and not another Monte Carlo debacle.
And AW ffs sell Ox, he’s an embarrassment who hasn’t improved a jot since he first arrived … exemplified today by missing an easy goal when he couldn’t find the ball and then for not missing the former bindipper after losing the ball. I don’t mind playing Theo as a sub in most games, but this is one he should have started. Otherwise just about anyone else other than Ox at RW could have done better – Danny on the left and Alexis on the right for example.
Oskar
@Steve: “Sadly, the result today was about as good as we could have expected. ”
Speak for yourself on this one, a draw would have been fair result. I got lucky and found one of those silent streams where a lot of the game is shown from above and we were really well organized from the start. There was no gulf in class for 70 minutes and we could/should have been ahead when they scored. We lost shape when we pushed to equalize and even then they scored on a poor clearance.
That said I wish Welbeck had started, Giroud’s game is not at all suited to counter-attacking football. That and Welbeck looks even hungrier than Alexis.
Back from the Grove and I must say that I’m disappointed with that result. It wasn’t a 0-2 game from what I watched. A 0-1, I would’ve happily taken that back to the Nou Camp and the boys deserved that at the very least. Nevertheless, it’s not over yet, as some are saying here and everywhere else, if we show more attacking quality with the final pass in the final third, and courageous intent on the counter.
Welbeck’s mobility and strength was impressive and he should’ve been employed a little sooner.
Ramsey had another bad game and he looks cream-crackered.
Two early away goals at the Nou Camp and we’ll be back on-track for our first CL quarter-final in over 5 years.
Back to the day job and bring on Manure.
Up the Arse!
@Oskar: Actually I thought Ox was pushing hard and was working as hard as Alexis until he got hurt. And the goal chance was everything but easy, no time on the ball a bit behind him and the keeper sprawled just in front of him. If anything I really want to see more of him.
@Dapper DanC: That’s the spirit π
Ditto Matt! “Belief!” π
I’ll have what they’re drinking, barkeep! π
Matt. In that case your stream did not show you the full picture.
@Steve: I beg to differ, if anything I had a better one than from the stands. I had two HD streams in parallel, the normal/field-level one a few seconds behind. Probably one of my best setup.
Your frustration is well understood and at least partially acknowledged, nonetheless it’s gotten to the point where it consumes you and makes you perceive everything gloomier than it is in general and our performance tonight specifically.
It certainly is not my place to tell you what to do but it’s a shame that the excesses of modern “sales & marketing football” are now preventing you from enjoying one of your life’s passions or so it seems.
Wenger calling his team naive and average.
Well you bought them, you coach them and it’s the same mistakes time and again, as you say in your interview when referencing Monaco.
And you picked your fourth choice right winger, so you can’t complain about the technical ability of the team being low.
If we’re naive, why aren’t we being told (although players shouldn’t need to be told) to dirty it up a bit at times? For all the anger about cheap fouls and referees, there was one team out there playing the game adults play, and there was one playing like children. That first goal is a goal a proper team doesn’t concede too often. Just foul the cunt out on the half way line and get organised.
The maddening thing is, it was a close game. They are better than us, but not THAT much in my opinion. They didn’t pummel us, for all their attacking ability, they’re simply cleverer and a shade better at moving the ball around.
So annoying.
There is much truth in what you say there, Cynic.
I was very ambivalent about this game because in the greater scheme of things it was irrelevant to our season. But when Barca come to town you have to give it your best. In the previous two matches Barca have been more dominant and we got our tactics spot on until we got caught on a break and Per dived in and the rest got very Messi.
When you are at a game you don’t know why some subs were made . Why on earth was Flamini brought on. In what Galaxy would Flamini produce anything of value against Barcelona. He should not have been on the bench, we should have started Elneny with Ramsey wide and Welbeck upfront as I hoped in my note yesterday. Ramsey is poor centrally. Since Santi has been injured the goals have dried up. Elneny keeps the ball better and has a great engine.
Ox is out now anyway – see you next season if his usual recovery rate applies. Ramsey got a knock and may not have done his chances of a Barca move too much good.
On the plus side the defence was good for most of the game , Koscielny was outstanding and when Welbeck came on he looked really sharp .
It was no disgrace to lose to the most potent attack ever assembled especially with a pathetic referee who lived up to his name.
My big worry was the body language of Ozil who looked do disappointed. Wenger will do well to keep him and Sanchez out of the clutches of the mega- rich clubs. I have a bad feeling about this, but overall Im proud of the team and they can kick on now and challenge for the League.
But I do wish Wenger had bought a top striker in the Summer
CYNIC.. nails it @ 181
cynic pretty much called it
well said big man
just noticed – goners
?
@Cynic: I for one am glad we’re not despicable cunts like Barca are. Always going down like they were gunned down by a headshot, countless dirty fouls (Rakitic’s slap on Sanchez or Alba’s head bump on Giroud both clear yellow cards) with even Messi waving imaginary cards at every opportunity. Beyond tiki-taka it’s the other Barcelona trademark and for that they’re utterly despicable.
FIFA/UEFA won’t be able to hold back on technological advances forever. The same way technology in tennis has prevented the emergence of another McEnroe it will stamp out cuntish behaviors before too long.
That’s what I’m talking about:
http://arsenalist.com/f/2015-16/arsenal-vs-barcelona/divey-barcelona.html
http://arsenalist.com/f/2015-16/arsenal-vs-barcelona/jordi-alba-vs-olivier-giroud.html
http://arsenalist.com/f/2015-16/arsenal-vs-barcelona/mesut-ozil-and-dani-alves-swearing-at-each-other.html
I am proud we are nothing like them.
That’s Barcelona for you:
http://arsenalist.com/f/2015-16/arsenal-vs-barcelona/divey-barcelona.html
Another: http://arsenalist.com/f/2015-16/arsenal-vs-barcelona/jordi-alba-vs-olivier-giroud.html
And that too: http://arsenalist.com/f/2015-16/arsenal-vs-barcelona/mesut-ozil-and-dani-alves-swearing-at-each-other.html
mind you
lived in totteringham too
liked living there
rent reasonable
as was the chip shop
and
cos
haven’t been 6year old
for half a century odds
the notion of getting grief
fer wearin the jersey
never arose
.
mind you
few bits o nonsense
what de ye expect though
great chip shop and great offy
nice people in both
They select the individuals and train them to behave like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwapyK7Rlp4
I am proud we are nothing like this.
And while people marvel at the most expensive forward team in history bought with bungs, all proving themselves to be tax evaders in the european country where footballers pay the smallest amount of taxes, they’re as contemptible as any Mourinho team and that’s saying something.
You need to spoil it sometimes though. I don’t want us behaving like a common (such a fitting word) Alves, but we have to be clever. I’d rather have a guy take a yellow than concede a goal any day.
TTG – If Ramsey is poor centrally he has no place in this side, as he doesn’t have the pace to play wide, neither defensively nor in the attacking sense.
He is a very good player but β¦ he needs to keep it simple. He was much better when he was just doing a job, when he had that golden period of form and looked world class.
He looked fantastic back then, but he wasn’t forcing it all the time. I always feel he’s trying to impress.
Himself mainly.
I am neither shocked nor disappointed with the result. For the record I don’t think Barca actually played any better, and there lies the problem. If we could lose 2-0 at home against them, we sure don’t have a chance in hell at the Nou Camp. For the past 5 seasons, we have lost the first leg at home. We can’t keep making the same mistakes. There has to be a game plan. DONT LOSE AT HOME. Flamini.. I am not even going to waste my time talking about him. Unless Elneny is cup tied or breastfeeding his new born, why is he not playing.
Seems to me it’s always the ref’s fault, or the opposition are dirty, while we play the game like it’s cricket and expect respect for it. Cynic is right. A bit more Peter Storey would solve the problem, and perhaps an inspirational captain a la TA6. Flamini is the only one out there with any leadership qualities … just a shame his best position is Left Back in the sheds.
Oskar
oskar
i
for one
have know idea
who peter storey is
?
bip
bop
boop
*who’s glasses are steamin’ up ? *
?
Yeah
question marked up
Sistaaass
and cheers for the laugh
proper good chuckle
” foot through the bottom sheet”
??????
Well in, cba.
untapped genius there
and
here
slainte fella
.
.
.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iVnkd_ls6xE
stylized shite video
first time saw it just now
great song
great fella
met him a few times
shite video
howdy 8ball
pick a good tune
it’s a bar
if this was a real bar
ye’d go up to the
coinsintunesoutnoisyjoymaker
and
play a tune
.
I’ll start it off
https://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=h32QHUtZSXY
ok
you turkeynecks !
DO THE EYE GOUGE !!!!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YvBN3C2wepY
https://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=NYh83a4JRuc
tunes made in heaven
hair made in jelly mould
and
the end of the puter tag address is Ruc
jeez
us
?
and before i forget ‘hol
in a thunder T way
i was talking to a load of Arsenal fans
Today
came round my house
no choice
but
yeah
*bows to m’lud*
(very smart fucker )
I have no fuckin chilli con fuckin carne left
at fuckin tall
i am tooooo polite
clearly
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JcWqE7EAJRE
failed
https://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=7Ka-WpqCAJI
now
is the fact they’re scottish
the reason for the glum
or
are they a superfunkybeatcombo
from scotland
searching for
the anti-glum
it’s getting light
time for
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=I3c5rumiVBE
NZ goodness
30
only a baby ?
‘cept i gave me leather jacket
to me brothers daughter
didn’t want to
but was in a series of upheaval
a while back
thought
it unseemly for a
man of my years
to be “rocking”
a leather jacket
even though
according to toothless bridie
–
i still could
i proper still could
–
yeah
‘hol
ye have loads of long time readers
“scared to” drinkers
so
can i say hello to
Emer and George
in yer work this morning
.
see !
told ye blogs is a daisy
https://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=cxUSgrAv7VQ
.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zHc6x01QCKk
.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zHc6x01QCKk
.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zHc6x01QCKk
.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zHc6x01QCKk
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zHc6x01QCKk
.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zHc6x01QCKk
.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zHc6x01QCKk
.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zHc6x01QCKk
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zHc6x01QCKk
well
let’s face it
nobody looks at the tunes i suggest
so
here’s more of the same the same
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yo7hAyonWqE
Peter Storey, cba? Married four times (including a Playboy bunny), owned a brothel, known associate of gangsters, jailed for sundry offences etc etc … but for the purposes of this column was a hard man (some prefer hatchet man) for Arsenal in ’60s and ’70s, playing nearly 400 games for us and 20(?) for England.
No doubt you would be too young to remember? π
Oskar
cos
there is only one
https://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=O0ISQQxA6WY
peter storey
how very dare you incinerate i would know him
.
?
i have to stop tartan bating
baff n trev are top of the range
my ailments are many-fold
and
free advice from the top is golden
.
.
.
.
trev ?
the owner of the scot ginger cliche
ceptin he be engerland
yeah
yer all undercover
I for one love your taste in music, although one can have too much Ramones in one sitting (unless you’re there live).
Here are a couple for you from my nephew’s brother-in-law’s band – the one who married Kate Moss (rhymes with ‘weight loss’) although I think that might be over now …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VkjJuKDRMg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XNkZNwt0rI
Oskar
enjoy/tolerate a bitta kills
Australia/New Zealand tunes i bought near 35 /40 years ago
the sound was just different
even if it was the saints and their Ramones fixation
or
the boys next door
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wLhaoob1ziI
the triffids
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FSMF3h7LE2Qor
the go betweens(half of)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sJ9096U897k
enjoy/tolerate a bitta kills
Australia/New Zealand tunes i bought near 35 /40 years ago
the sound was just different
even if it was the saints and their Ramones fixation
or
the boys next door
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wLhaoob1ziI
the go betweens(half of)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sJ9096U897k
Awaiting moderation ?
What else can I throw outta the balloon basket ?
*aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh*
*as i float to the ground*
.
“TAKE IT DEE DEE”
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=k2LfX-E4UAc
A couple of Aussie numbers for you, from my middle age (music from my Aussie youth was crap basically) …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qj-82dn75bg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPjErNRwuoA
A version of the latter was used as walk-in music for Aussie world champion boxer Kostya Tszyu (typical Aussie name that). I knew his manager (Aussie singer Marty Rhone) and rejigged the lyrics and recorded it with Marty singing. Can’t find a copy online anywhere though.
So here’s another guy I worked with a lot, Aussie’s greatest guitar player Peter Northcote (note the nod to Layla towards the end) …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9YHp7Y0iNk
Oskar
I also got ‘Your comment is awaiting moderation‘. I think it’s cos of the links. And the boss moderator is probably still in bed.
Time for me to be elsewhere anyway, so cya cba.
Oskar
Its easy to blame Wenger for the naivety of the team, but the reality is that we’re just not a team that is primarily set up to play defensively. It’s not in our DNA no more than its in Barca’s DNA. We play attacking football and while we did ever so well yesterday for much of the game to contain Barca, old habits die hard and as soon as we got a sniff of blood we committed too many players forward and we caught on the break. That happens. Barca could just have easily conceded if we had taken the chances that fell our way. The primary difference between the two sides is they have a high capacity to finish chances and we don’t.
Of course, it is disappointing, but this team went to Real Madrid earlier this season and spanked them 0-4. They are not European Champions for nothing.
I would take some issue with Wengers team selection (the omission of Welbeck proved to be silly) and his substitutions (Walcott and Flamini contributed nothing). The real heroes were Coq, Rambo (he was everytwhere) Kos (who bullied the “MSN”), Nacho, Bellerin and of course, as usual, the great Petr Cech. Sanchez tried hard – but is just woeful at the moment and Ozil was very quiet too.
Overall I thought we played very well for a team that has been looking for form all season long. We got some big games coming up and a league to win so its time, as Holic would say, to point the cannons outwards and get behind the team.
Great summary, Joe. I saw it all that way too.
Agree completely with Joe@230…We are a team that attacks instinctively and after such long periods of defending in banks of four – the team sniffed an opportunity and completely went for it. We didn’t get outplayed and the game could easily have finished in a draw….In fact if we had scored first – the game could have unfolded differently. I can understand the disappointment amongst our support but to compare this defeat to the monaco one is wide off the mark.
Rambo has been criticized heavily by some…His misplaced passes were obvious but he put in a crazy shift on the night. He made a lot of crucial interceptions and made life difficult for busquets and rakitic – the prime reason why MSN didn’t have a lot of joy for about 70 odd minutes. Was disappointed with Ozil – especially his set-piece delivery yesterday. That is an obvious area of weakness in barca’s game and we didn’t capitalize on it at all yesterday. Sanchez was up for it but hasn’t found his rhythm yet which is worrying. I have a feeling that a game where we score around 4 or 5 is just around the corner….Maybe it will happen against the Mancs..
Good post Joe. You hit the nail on the head.
OTD makes the point we should be harder but modern football especially last night with that ref doesn’t allow us to play like Peter Storey. Nacho was on thin ice from early doors for an innocuous challenge.
I have to say the player ratings n the Times make me wonder if the guy who did them listened to a radio rather than saw the game giving our best marks to Ozil, Sanchez and Giroud ( and Koscielny who was brilliant). I really do wonder how many journalists really understand the game tactically as well as they should and if they’ve ever played the game.
Arsenal invite so many cliches and Wenger’s remarks afterwards reinforced them last night. The big issue and we pondered it long and hard , is whether Wenger has it in him to make this side as strong as it could be or if he is wedded to a dream that is unrealistic , of competing without throwing the cheque book at it. His disdain for clubs who ‘ buy success’ is clear but there is no alternative if you want to compete at the very top level. Last night was a bit like Bournemouth playing Arsenal in terms of the relative levels of the team yet as we have said sooo often we have the highest match day revenue in the world and huge reserves of cash which sit in Coutts or RBS or wherever gathering dust and very little interest. As I mentioned last night the signing of quality costs and when you invest it usually pays off. But if you don’t continue to do it, you can disillusion your best talent.
We have some stellar talents coming through but it’s such a huge step up to the highest level and we have so many players- mainly British- who have plateaued- Ox, Theo, Ramsey, Gibbs. Last night reading the programme which tries to give a flavour of the dressing room banter Ramsey claimed that the best car of any of the players was Theo’s SLS.
Theo a young multi- millionaire, made for life, umpteen caps for England but half the player Geordie Armstrong was. It’s a different footballing world with different values but the message to me last night was ( and don’t take these names literally) that we needed Cavani for Giroud, Isco for Ramsey, Howedes for Mertesacker and Grietzmann for the Ox.
We have to be at that level to compete in the CL or it becomes a sad and ultimately unfulfilling crusade every year.
Is the board’s ambition the same as the fans’ ambitions and can Wenger bring himself to take that next step?
Last night showed how tactically astute Wenger can be ( albeit I didn’t like his team in places) but it’s impossible to ask A grade players to compete with those in the Elite Plus category. We’ve built the Emirates to compete, we’ve signed umpteen commercial partners to compete and we’ve started to sign top players to compete but we have wasted the last three transfer windows by and large( with the shining exception of Cech). That’s a big challenge for the people who run the club to ponder. Hopefully domestic success will follow but we should be aiming even higher.
“Barca could just have easily conceded if we had taken the chances that fell our way. The primary difference between the two sides is they have a high capacity to finish chances and we donβt.”
Spot on, Joe. Some very poor decision making starting with Alexis lay off inside seven minutes, rounded off by Giroud’s lay off to no one before he went off (Both should have taken the shot) and a great lack of composure when opportunities arose. Wellbeck looked good when he came on and has been a big miss this season. Good to see him back.
Good stuff, TTG. So you’re saying we should have done a Van Gaal and spent 250M of the “huge reserves of cash”? That should have got us to, at least, sixth in the league and we could have watched Barca on the telly rather than play them (thereby making life easier for everyone π ). Then there’s City…….
I think Manure’s lack of success reflects the paucity of options available over the past few windows and that availability needes to be balanced against the “huge reserves” (Our annual income is still 200M behind Yanited). I had thought Schneiderlin would be a good buy for us but he’s proving to be a bit of a dud at 27M. I was scornful of 58M for Martial at 19. He is going to be a major force for the next decade, I would now love to have had him though, and that kind of price tag per player is probably what’s going to be necessary to drive major striker upgrades.
No doubt whatsoever though that we need to see some very significant spend this summer. We could always do a Leicester and buy a Vardy for 2 shillings and sixpence, of-course. Actually, Arsene Wenger has been more astute than most at buying low cost talent. Hector eliminated Neymar from the game last night. Not bad for 150k (a wee bit more than 2 and 6, but not much). Have a good day, the sun’s shining and we’ll thump Yanited on the weekend π
Everybody thumps Yanited.
But everybody was thumping Chelsea as well.
Except us.
Where’s me shotgun…
I agree with BTM for once, our poor finishing is the difference between winning and losing not only matches, but potentially titles too, the way this season is shaping up.
Let’s hope we’re just saving it for Utd and Spurs..
I agree to a point but it’s also our poor chance creation as well at times. Ozil and Sanchez have largely escaped and criticism, but one was dreadful and the other anonymous last night.
In fact, for a bloke with such a lot of assists, Ozil is often anonymous as far as I’m concerned and yet seems beyond criticism.
any criticism*
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Put the shotgun away, Cynic π
Ozil was poor last night and Sanchez was terrible (Sanchez was less anonymous than Neymar because he wasn’t playing against Hector but his error rate and decision making were way below what we’ve come to expect from him). I’m hoping for a big bounce back sometime soon, hopefully this weekend.