Gunners Punished By Barca Finishing Masterclass
Mar 16th, 2016 by 'holic
The rain lashed down on the travelling Gooners as kick-off approached. Would that be an omen for what was to follow? The team news was interesting. Arsene preferred Gabriel to Per Mertesacker, Mathieu Flamini to Francis Coquelin, Danny Welbeck to Olivier Giroud, and then Alex Iwobi to Joel Campbell. The latter raised eyebrows but Iwobi has been excellent when given an opportunity and was a positive selection by the under-fire manager.
Barca started brightly but the first chance of the night fell to Welbeck courtesy of a superbly disguised Mesut Ozil pass. Danny miskicked from a tight angle. Before ten minutes was played Ozil tried his luck and fired just wide of the far post after a rapid solo break.
There was little or no time to dwell on the ball as both sides closed down quickly. The seventeenth minute saw Barca all but take the lead. Messi’s sublime touch set up a volley from point-blank range which brought an incredible reaction save from David Ospina. Cruelly the Columbian was beaten a minute later when Suarez teed up Neymar for a cool sidefoot finish.
Barcelona 1-0 Arsenal
To be fair Arsenal’s heads didn’t slip and Flamini shot just over from distance after a corner he had earned was only partially cleared. Barca sought to increase their advantage but Elneny headed clear a menacing Suarez cross and Ospina saved comfortably from Neymar.
Flamini’s ‘challenge’ on Iniesta drew the first yellow card night with barely half an hour gone on a slippery surface. Minutes later Iwobi hit the deck in the box looking for a penalty but the referee ruled that Mascherano had not made contact. You don’t get decisions against Barca in the Camp Nou. To add insult to injury Gabriel was booked for protesting, presumably in Portuguese.
The same player blasted one over as Arsenal continued to hunt the equaliser. Alexis fed Elneny in but the recent signing took an extra touch and his effort was blocked. Bellerin’s inch perfect cross found Alexis in the middle of the box but he glanced his unchallenged header wide of the target. Welbeck played a one-two with Iwobi and was denied at the last second by Mascherano.
As the half came to a close Flamini limped off to be replaced by Coquelin. Barca were probably happier to hear the whistle as the Gunners were producing a performance the like of which we have not seen for a while.
Arsenal applied yet more pressure at the start of the second-half but were grateful that Laurent Koscielny outpaced Messi to a long through ball. Arsenal attacked again and Iwobi’s shot was deflected for a corner. The reprieve was only temporary. Alexis’ cut-back to the edge of the area was met by Mohamed Elneny who fired his first Arsenal goal into the top corner. Game on.
Barcelona 1-1 Arsenal
Stung into action Messi brought another fine save out of Ospina after a wonderful exchange with Neymar. This was end to end stuff and only a desperate block by the overworked Mascherano denied Welbeck a second for the Arsenal.
Messi was reduced to a wild strike from long range as Arsenal defended in numbers, Ozil , Alexis, and Iwobi dropping to create a second wall of five in front of the back four. To the other end and Iwobi played in Alexis but his strike was blocked by Busquets. Welbeck headed the resulting corner narrowly wide.
The visitors suffered a hammer blow as the clock ticked round to 64 minutes. Alves crossed to the far post, Suarez peeled off Bellerin and finished spectacularly. What wouldn’t we give for a predator of that ilk?
Barcelona 2-1 Arsenal
Again there was no surrender from the Gunners and Welbeck’s effort smashed into the woodwork. The substitutions followed as fresh legs were sent on in the shape of Giroud and Theo Walcott for Welbeck and Iwobi, both of whom had played well without reward.
With eleven minutes left we were denied an equaliser three times in quick succession when an Alexis free-kick was palmed out by Ter Stegen. Giroud and Walcott saw their follow up efforts saved and blocked. We had fired our last shots, but the best team on the planet hadn’t.
In the final ten minutes either the Gunners efforts drained tired legs or they started to save themselves for Saturday lunchtime and a trip to Merseyside. They could be forgiven that on another night of ‘what if”. There was time enough for Walcott to mis-control when picked out by Ozil and Messi to chip an impudent third for the favourites.
Barcelona 3-1 Arsenal
It may seem strange, a particularly ‘rose-tinted’ view, but there wasn’t a four goal difference between the sides in terms of performance over the two legs, but what was clear was that our inability to finish the chances we create. It is an ongoing issue and one that needs to be addressed by whoever is responsible for recruitment in the summer.
Few expected anything out of tonight so the air of disappointment doesn’t hang as heavy as recent reverses in the League and FA Cup. If we can reproduce this level of performance over the final nine matches there might yet be an exciting finish to the season.
But that is a big if, granted.
177 Responses to “Gunners Punished By Barca Finishing Masterclass”
Get In!
Elneny!
😀
Cheers H! All the best mate.
A much better performance despite the scoreline but I do hope we keep it up as ‘holic alluded to.. it’s a big ask! Big IF indeed!
😀
Cheers Esso. I’m not at all down after that. We showed spirit and put in the sort of effort that has been lacking. Barca will take some beating.
Thanks BB.
Good report Holic! Buoyed by that performance, but it’s ‘put up or shut up’ time in the league now.
If it wasn’t for the fact we’re playing in little over 48 hours time, I’d be quite happy to see the same 11 start against Everton (with obviously Coquelin for Flamini.) There could be an argument for starting Giroud up top and possibly pushing Danny out to the left at the expense of Iwobi, but apart from that the same team.
Thought Alexis looked a lot better today – he’s not getting caught quite so deep and infield when he plays on the right. Liking the look of Elneny more and more too. Good passer, sees the game around him very quickly, and has a good temperament – nothing seems to phase him.
Everton away is a notoriously tricky tie for us, but if we can navigate the cauldron in the first 20 minutes and not give Lukaku and Barkley any encouragement, then I think we can do a job on them….
I hope Bayern gets the chance to play Barca.. they’re ahead again!
Great quick report Holic! You are the man!
Just watching the Bayern game now I think it will come down to the wire and Neuyer will be the better keeper!
I think we started as no commentator would have thought we were up there gainst the best and we made really good moves.
We had loads of decent chances and just couldn’t find our shooting boots nothing was working and midfield could have done better as well .
Lady luck has not been on our side for some time now and that
Bayern is doing it now
That’s it Bayern have sealed it!
Hope Pep doesn’t perform as well next season!
He’s faster than most. Good stuff!
@BB
I don’t think Pep know the English league this is a different pop all together.
Wait until he goes to Stoke 🙂
@ATG
Hope you’re right there, although the orcs seem to be less like orcs these days… am thinking maybe at West Brom. 🙂
There shall at least be 5 or 6 teams seriously up to challenge for europe next season, and I’m adding Everton into the fray if the new owner decides to spend big!
😀
Nice one ‘h and quickly in!
Encouraging performance but a defeat nevertheless against a Barca side that was in 3rd gear all match out of a sense of professional respect!
Ozil and Alexis turned up and I was impressed with them. They need a real sense of hope and something new in the offing in the pre-season if they’re going to be at the Grove next season.
BB from the previous drinks,
Not a dig at Arsene per se but a statement of fact: 2 nil down at home and about to go out of the CL against a bastardly tough Italian defence so I bring on Kingsley Coman and Tiago Alcantra who both help us to equalise then score the two winning goals in ET time to take me into the last 8, yet again!…, QED!
Up the Arse! COYBG!
@BB
No foreign manager can just turn around this league upside down!
At if we are getting down to the grind who would still have Flamini in their side ?
@Dapper Danc
If you say so… then we’ll have a tough time against city come next season regardless of who’s in charge here.
😀
Blowing my own trumpet. Preview spot on.
“start with out-of-sorts Francis Coquelin or the more experienced Mathieu Flamini alongside Mohamed Elneny. Whoever gets the nod will probably have to give way to the other at some point to protect the starter from a second yellow.”
DDC
I’m sorry I have to disagree with that Barca was in third gear throughout the game, I honesty believe that if we would have taken our chances that we presented ourselves then that wold be a different tie altogether
Coman is a great talent, if not one of the very best in the world at that age. Surprised Juve let him go that easily this summer.
Nice and fast report Holic, as was the game itself. As you sad it Suarezis a predator and one of a kind, and if we had him and Barca had Walcott, maybe the result would be different . But Barca had both of them it seems, as Theo like it or not help them score a goal in both games.
@ATG
I foresee many new purchases if not promotions from within for us next season. Iwobi (WOW!), Campbell and Elneny can only get better and we will surely let some of our midfielders go. Per as well is not getting any younger, so i hope Gabriel gets up to speed quick!
This season the turning point for me was when Santi got injured and faced a long layoff.. and then if I am not mistaken Alexis got injured too.. so that’s that.
Am hoping we will finish strongly.. but based on our current run.. as ‘holic says it is really a big IF. Still i can hope for the best and shall.
😀
Holic @15
Well that is Flamini for you, I did hear that he got a tight hamstring for not playing in a while.
Speedy Gonzalez again H. You’re a bleedin’ marvel, sir. Off to read your take. Didn’t see anything after 2 minutes. Probably better for my digestion! ?
Nice to see Elneny pop up with a goal. Like the look of him.
Well, now it seems that the SINGLE is well and truly on.
C’mon you gunners!
@BB
Of course you are correct in many aspects as usual I have been reading this blog you know! 🙂
We have to make changes and I hope Arsene if he is still here that he will make the right changes. I do not obviously think that we had a such bad game tonight I think it was very decent if you consider the opposition. It was a great game in fact Wellbeck hit a bar come on it was a great try and we are really unfortunate to be missing all these opportunities.
Iwobi was tripped as well…. and if some think that Barca was in 3rd gear then they do not know a great deal about footy you need to stretch them and we did that but we did not take our chances.
If we are to take those chances more frequently we need to find the much yearned for ‘fox in the box’. I hope we are scouring the planet. There can be no excuses this summer.
And nice report Guvna. I kind of feel I’ve seen this movie before sadly.
Holic, your reporting is speedier than Hector’s run on the right.
The result is not a true reflection of the game. We have nothing to be ashamed of.
Focus on the league and release the fucking handbrake now. Leicester seems to be destined for something extraordinary but they will be dropping points…they play West Ham, United, Chelsea and Everton. They will loose at least two-three matches and will draw some as well.
If (I know Holic, it is a big IF) we can repeat our run-ins from the past few seasons we can still finish above the Spurs and even win the league in the process.
COYG!
A drink for Bosnian is on the Bar!
@ATG
We needed a bit of ‘Luck’ tonight that just wasn’t forthcoming as you said, from the penalty that was not given to Welbeck hitting the post and Alexis missing his header and Elneny earlier shooting over too.
I too think we had the best game for some time despite the scoreline.
They are now saying this is the best if not one of the better Barca teams.. funny they said that they were at their peak too when Arshavin scored that beautiful goal then and we won that game.
We had the little bit of luck then though…!
But i know our detractors will say that good teams make their own luck, and rightly so, after all Suarez’s goal that came off his knee/shin?! certainly wasn’t all skill and had an element of luck involved but to even attempt that shot needed confidence!
And Barca has that in spades!
I think we need to get our confidence back on the double otherwise it won’t bode well for us.
That’s my two cents.
😀
Cheers, Holic.
A much better performance from us tonight, although I think you were a little generous to our defensive efforts.
We looked much more switched on and fluid through the midfield and created several very good chances, especially for an away side at the Nou Camp.
Our continuing ability to finish has already cost us dear too many times.
@Bosnian Gooner
We must finish above the spuds!
..and I look forward to them getting their arses handed to them by a very good Dortmund!(As if a 3-0 loss in the first leg isn’t enough of a whipping!)
Up The Arse!
😀
Good one H. What an exciting game it was. The lads worked really hard and the result is atleast a goal too high. Hope we’ll keep up the spirit for the coming games in the Premier League beginning with Everton on Saturday.
I thought that game showed exactly why we’re not beating teams like this and getting knocked out early every year.
Lots of huff and puff, no edge. The difference in quality was obvious, I thought. They never even broke a sweat IMO.
Welbeck did ok but isn’t a top finisher and you need one at this level. We don’t have one.
Strange team selection if we were really trying to go through.
Iwobi played very well but we needed to score three goals and he was never going to enable us to do that, unless he had the game of his life. And then some.
Not disappointed, not exactly content with that either.
All a bit meh really.
Our continuing failure – even.
I’m still optimistic about our league chances. No more distractions from now until May. A few wins on the bounce and we’ll be on course for the title. A few defeats however and we will be behind West Ham fighting for fourth. It’s been that kind of season but Come On Arsenal!
BB @14,
Not if we’ve got someone with a plan B, C & D, and can organise his team to know how to play when they don’t have the ball.
ATG @16,
Perhaps, but then they’d have gone to fourth, fifth and sixth gear if necessary. They also wouldn’t have substituted Andreas Ineasta if they were worried. Anyway, the CL’s over for another year and onto the now make or break league game away at the Toffees! Lukaku and Barclay are going to be a handful!
*Iniesta
@Dapper DanC
Pray tell who is it that you want to come in next year in place of Arsene that is certain to provide better results?
And then the likelihood of that happening as well if you will.
Otherwise it’s the same thing you’re repeating ad infinitum with no change in sight.. and you know what they say about people repeating the same thing over and over again while expecting a different result…!
😀
and you know what they say about people repeating the same thing over and over again while expecting a different result…!
Yeah.
Wenger out.
🙂
BB,
Ronald Koeman. End of my contribution on this theoretical debate. Salut!
Cynic
😀
mooooooo
?
@Dapper Danc
..and he’s very likely to come in by next year too!
I guess it’s the end of my contribution as well.
😀
yeah yup
cheery chune
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1ObTFr1RQ5s
been a gooner for ages
will continue
join in
the
doot doot doot doot doot doot doot roots
BB,
As usual, we shall wait and see what happens at the season’s end.
Up the Arse!
#72 in previous thread
Cheers CBA
Knew someone would get the Husker Du reference in the end
Maybe we should run out to this first game next season ?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ND3haD-c0lw
would anyone care to peruse
my fine selection of handbags ?
nope ?
.
clearly all tooled up then
ah
howdy Mr Raisins
husker du
fuckin brilliant
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SjZWJoNYpHI
sorry for taking so long
DDC
4th or 5th hear they could not contain and even if 6th was introduced yet again chances taken chances given …………
Different ball gems altogether! Hey lets not bring the ref into this melancholy….
@BB Thank you for the company great as always!
Night night all…..
@ATG
Pleasure is all mine. Goodnight!
Our guys need to click and we have not done that for way tooooo long!
i was walking down the road
the other day
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Z72pr0x1RKg
When I heard footsteps behind me…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucRmSg3IX14
We’ll never know now ATG.
Goodnight Gooners! Let’s do it all again over the weekend; and successfully this time!
Salut! Up the Arse!
although it doesn’t play here
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OW672HSzeRg
Same old same old … 20 attempts on goal, just 3 on target, none of them threatening. At the other end the Suarez goal tells you all you need to know about our deficiencies up front.
Anyone who believes Danny is a CF should be made to sit and watch his attempts on goal today over and over and over and over until they beg for mercy. He’s even worse than Theo, and that’s saying something.
Elneny continues to impress. Some nice stuff from Iwobe until he ran out of ideas and/or gas. And we can thank OspinO for keeping us in the game (sort of) for so long.
Give it up AW. I used to think that your record entitled you to name your retirement date, but you’re starting to sound senile with your “I made the club” arrogance and senility can affect judgement. The Board needs to take a close look at you, and at themselves if they remain happy with what they see.
Oskar
oskar
now
come on
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xR_A4Su-TrI
but what do i know
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pJxvh16Ky_c
?
Very conflicted about our club at present. I detest posters who just pop in like David last night after months away to explain how right they were about Wenger. I’m down neat Cheltenham for the racing and we got talking about the Wenger replacement. The certain to better replacements are very few and far between, I like Koeman but what suggests he will get Arsenal finishing higher than they do now? To help might be worth a punt or Simeone although his team squeezed past an average PSV side and he looks like a psychopath to me.
I’d forget the Arsene as technical director theories. The man is a control freak and who wants to change a team with their predecessor peering over their shoulder?
I would like Arsene to acknowledge the club might need some fresh thinking but I’m not sure if a new coach can work under him. Frankly the owner won’t lose too much sleep. He doesn’t really understand the game but the bottom line looks good and that is all that concerns him. Until Kroenke leaves this club won’t be ready to move on from where we are now .
Hi there cba, have a drink on me … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzKnUVr_p40
Oskar
thunder T
did i invent that slimline moniker ?
pfffftttt
dunno
can’t be arsed
decent fella
been there
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JHuU65VEcxQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-goDc4zfX5k
nice one oskar
?
Nice summary ‘Holic. (long boring post warning…)
A much closer match (again) than the scoreline suggests, which bodes well at least compared with recent performances. After your wrote your previous ‘Sorry, Arsene’ piece you noted you were shocked at how few had countered that opinion, which I know deeply isn’t one that you rushed to by any means.
Over the past few days I’ve been tempted to write but resisted as I didn’t want the debate that follows but in some senses the very reasons I want Wenger to continue were on the pitch tonight. Unfortunately, my theory relies on even more patience but some of the brightest points of tonight and in recent weeks come via players perhaps only Arsene would be backing.
Elneny – covers some amazing ground (something that was noted when we signed him that he ran more distance per 90 mins than anyone in Champions League last year) but it’s more than just his endurance but he uses the ball well, fills in defensively, has a good shot on him and seems to make great decisions while functioning on a very even keel. I have very high hopes for him. (Why didn’t he slot in immediately I ask?)
Bellerin – Better in the first half of the season (who wasn’t?) but arguably one of the best right backs in the league even if still learning which is apparent often when faced with thoughful wingers. With that said though I think he’s got amazing potential and could dominates his wing in years to come, in fact, might he be best suited to convert to a wide attacking player.
Welbeck – I don’t think he’s the striker we still seem to need at present, but there is something raw and relentless about him that makes you think he’s that close (fingers close together) to having a breakthrough season. I’m not sure what that is defined as because he might be a wide player or a rotated striker but if fit 25 appearances and a dozen goals seems very plausible.
Monreal – I don’t have sufficient adjectives to summarise his season and most of last too. Remarkable player – as dependable and intelligent as they come.
What I’ve written above doesn’t compensate for where we’ve failed this year and earlier of course, but these are the players I pull for in part because I see them as ascending and diamonds waiting to be polished. I guess if you say Cech was our 3rd ‘big signing last summer after Ozil and Alexis you’d argue that overall they’ve all worked out – none would be called a waste of cash, poor ideas, nobody anticipated Sanchez struggling as he has most of this season, but he could yet go and score 8 in 8, he’s that type of player. My biggest complaint was that in addition to Cech, we should have made one more marquee signing if not last summer then in January. It was very odd that with six teams in the race two months ago none really seemed to move mountains to bring in a true star/starting eleven player, despite how hard it apparently is.
I know injuries are a timid excuse, but I’m certain we’d be at or near the top if Wilshere/Rosicky could have fashioned even 15-20 appearances between them this season, it’s almost impossible to suggest that wouldn’t have made a difference as our midfield functionality has been the issue.
If Arsene stays next summer he has a long list of concerns and movement, which won’t be aided by the Euros – but I personally hope if he decides to stay (he won’t be fired) he has a chance to shuffle the deck once again with no restrictions. It’s quite likely that six or more squad positions are to be vacated, so whoever is in charge come July/August has some work to do.
I respect those who have had enough of Arsene, I’m not one of those and hope he either leaves with his head held high in two months, or sees out his contract with us winning the league next season. Thanks to you for all of your outstanding work writing all season, as I’ve told you before being 5,000 miles away I miss going every fortnight more than I can ever convey but your blog and bar makes me feel like I’m standing on th North Bank overhearing brilliant debates every week.
Sorry so long-winded.
Cheers…
Arsene has spent much of his post match presser praising the exploits of Barca’s clinical killing machine front 3… He even called it football Art, which it is, and the best he has seen, with which I agree.
However, what I don’t understand is why he didn’t think it was of the utmost importance to buy a single striker of the near equal of any of those front 3 in the last 5 or so years…after the RVP era.
Truly very hard to understand how a football person of Arsene’s high level of world footballing experience doesn’t feel it necessary or doesn’t even bother to spend big on a world class striker…as a primary point of our squads spine over these past few years.
Did he truly believe that Theo or Giroud would give us the edge or match it with the worlds best defenses on a consistent basis…surely not.
As others have said on here many times over, his loyalty is one of his biggest strengths as a person, but unfortunately it is coming back to haunt him as one of his biggest weaknesses as a manager.
The same could be said for our back four in recent years, with the likes of sebastien squillaci/gabriel etc.. Our recent years of keepers – Flappy and almunia – surely all 2nd or 3rd level players from the bargain basement of footballers.
A midfield that includes Flamini or Callum Chambers on occasion is surely taking the piss out of the Arsenal Fans.
It truly does seem that Arsene as a manager in this current form and the Arsenal as a club are taking the arsenal fans to be football fools.
A fine drink, Tim.
A Redbreast on the bar for you, sir. But hurry, its running low…!
Cheers.
We can concentrate on the league now though I don’t give us much of a chance to beat Everton this Saturday. The guys are knackered from last night’s exertions and the next match is coming a little too soon. Cannot understand the scheduling, the Everton match should have been played on Sunday evening, it was brought forward to early Saturday.
Hope we win our last eight matches and at least end the season ahead of the tiny totts.
A strong coffee please bar man too many glasses of Rioja last night 🙂
A fine post Tim @65
This is exactly what it will come down to I think Arsene will have one more season if he fails he will walk.
Just wanted to pop in to say thanks for some thoughtful and thought provoking blogs in the last week or two, Holic.
It’s tempting to wonder if this summer might witness the end of an era. This has clearly been Arsene’s worst season with us: on other occasions there have been injuries and/or money to blame, but we’ve beaten most of our wealthier rivals this time out, spent a ton of cash and stumbled in the games we really ought to have won. Clangers have been repeatedly dropped, and the apparent collapse in form of the team post Christmas has been deeply painful to behold. We can blame the players, several of whom have been underwhelming (to say the least) of late, but on this occasion the buck stops with the manager.
I still believe that the man has earned the right to choose his time of departure, but it’s clear that the hard of thinking have taken it upon themselves to force his hand as best they can, with juvenile banners and a further heightening of Internet invective. Shame on them, and shame on you, Oskar, for bandying the word “senile” around above – much as you may like to stir the pot, you’re old enough to know better.
Given all of the above, one’s mind turns to the future. What will supporting Arsenal be like, without Arsene? Will we be spared the occasional intrusion from the negative brigade, here to tell us how much they love everything about Arsenal except the owner, the manager, the board, the players, the stadium, other supporters and (one presumes) North London? The new manager (whoever he may be) will have my steadfast support. Can the same be said of the long term agitants who finally have their heart’s desire? Or will they be back in here, abusing the new appointee, blaming the board for botching the appointment (“not my choice”) and complaining of the unbearable match day atmosphere to which they contribute so readily? Will we still be treated to the delightful trill of “I told you so” from the men who gave us “Arsene will never spend big money on a player” and “he’ll never win another trophy”? Will we be allowed to celebrate Wenger’s undoubted achievements in his retirement, or will they continue to pursue their quarry with cries that he merely inherited the George Graham defence? Time will tell.
The prospect of following the Arsenal without endless arguments about Arsene Wenger seems positively blissful at this stage, but will the arguments end? And if the new appointee struggles, will the “Out” brigade put their hands up and admit they may have been in error? Somehow, I doubt it. Once the mob has tasted blood we can expect the guillotine to be kept busy.
Of course, I could be wrong. We could change manager and all could be rosy; we might win the title, or even the Champions League. We may even find a way to become “the best that we can be” (that yardstick which guarantors our perpetual misery – was this box ticked even in 2004?). God, I hope so. And if the opposite occurs, if the upheaval sees a downturn in our fortunes and it proves that Arsene was not the sole obstacle standing between us and perpetual glory, will I be able to resist a few “I told you so”s of my own? I would hope so – when Arsenal lose, none of us is any the richer for it, whatever you may be told to the contrary.
In terms of who comes next, your guess is as good as mine, but I hope it isn’t Koeman. One decent half season, already running out of steam. If Wenger were to go tomorrow, the three men I would hope we’d look at would be Simeone, Bilic and Emery. The former two may prove impossible to procure, and besides there are legitimate doubts as to whether they could replicate their current success with clubs at which they were already legends. That leaves Unai Emery, who has won back to back Europa League trophies with Sevilla, and appears to be an erudite, progressive manager who would fit the club well enough. My suspicion is that whomever we appoint, things will get worse before they get better – history tells us that transitions of this sort do not generally run smoothly in football – but maybe that’s a price worth paying, as the handover has to occur at some stage.
More than anything, I hope we can find a way to roll back the years. Supporting Arsenal used to be a lot of fun, even when the team was shit: being a Gooner was a fraternal experience, friendships were easily formed and you weren’t required to pick a side in an endless propaganda war, or pretend to have a doctorate in economics. Can we find our way back to those halcyon days? And if we are taking the trouble to change our manager, might this also be the moment for a little soul searching of our own? Are we, as supporters, living up to our end of the bargain, and do we bear some small measure of responsibility for the misery which engulfs the stadium with each defeat, or does a £50 ticket absolve us of all such introspection? More importantly, can we somehow return to being a united front, side by side and behind the team/manager, for a while at least?
Victoria Concordia Crescit. It’s an idea just daft enough to work.
Onwards and upwards, whoever may be in charge.
COYG
Happy St Wakeupinyourownsick Day
‘holic and ‘holics everywhere
slainte
we’ve beaten most of our wealthier rivals this time out
Three wins, six defeats against the clubs ranked higher than us in wealth (we haven’t played Real Madrid though). Lost to Chelsea twice, United once, got hammered by Bayern away, two Barcelona defeats.
One game to come against Man City after beating them at home and we also failed to beat both Spurs and Liverpool this season.
Progress?
i may stay sober today
just to yank the dick of the cosmos
.
?
.
?
.
Fair enough, Cynic. Delete “wealthier” and refer instead to the other sides in the top four right now (ie our immediate rivals), against whom I believe we’re unbeaten.
It seems to me that our issue this season has been serial failure to dispatch the weaker/mid table sides – we’ve not suffered because others have outspent us as in previous seasons; we’ve suffered because of our ability to locate both feet with the barrel of our own gun.
Regardless, it was intended as a criticism, rather than an indicator of “progress”.
Hey CBA – Husker Du = Godlike genius of a band.
Saw Bob Mould live last month for the umpteenth time – the man has still got “it” in spades.
On a football note does anyone else think De Boer / Bergkamp may be a management duo to take note of ?
Any excuse to watch this again : best non Arsenal goal ever.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsZkCFoqSBs
I am still not sure that I want Arsene to leave, I mean one day I want it, the other I feel exactly the opposite.
But it seems that it becomes inevitable, of course only after this season ends.
And if that happens, I would like the club to try and get Joachim Low.
I like him as a coach and a tactician, like the style of football he prefers, he is a well respected among football community and I am sure there are many great players out there who would like to play under his guidance.
It would be hard given that his contract with Germany is up until 2018, but if we show some ambition, it might happen.
@Lurky
Low is a shout. My only reservation is that I spend a bit of time in Germany with work and he’s (perhaps surprisingly) not held in particularly high regard there – the perception is that he merely oversees the team that Klinsmann and various Bayern coaches built. Possibly unfair.
amen brother Raisins
husker du and Dennis
geniuses all ?
@N7 Gooner
Thank you for that thoughtful read. Think it sums up most of my feelings about going forward to.
Might I also add a little to that.
Arsene goes when he goes.. be it by the end of this season, end of his contract or another few years.
Personally in my opinion, I think he wants to leave on a high, ironically that means those calling for his removal might get it soonest if he wins the league this season. 😀
Who we get as a manager to me is actually less of a concern, because I think the age when managers have long careers at a single club is coming to a close (I suspect Stan hates this as it’s not good business.. but that’s only me.)
What concerns me more is whether we will be able to keep some of our current crop of players.. Ozil and Alexis comes to mind, their renewal of new contracts or lack of should be an indicator of whether we may be heading for a long rebuilding process.. One will have to just look at ManU to see how well that has come about! Of course we may get lucky on the first try but i think that would be the exception and not the rule.
Whatever happens I am hoping for the best!
😀
raisins
friends of mine had cause to be in the power station in N.Y.
while back now
90s
.
filling everyone in on their exploits
upon return
as an afterthought one of them said
lookin at me
.
oh you might like this
bob mould was in the studio as well
.
aaaaaahhhhhhhh !
An Lewandowski or a Mueller running on to Ozil’s through balls would have killed barca yesterday. Wait that may happen if the magician decides to go to bayern. Hope not but the signs are not great. He , Elneny and Iwobi were the ones who played the game with the spirit and the guile needed. the rest tried hard and thats that.
Barca are brilliant, not one miss placed pass from anyone is a true mark of how fine tuned they are and how much gulf there is . We were good but they were better, should i say far better. I hate barca, they are filled with egoistic arrogant so and so but boy they are the best team in the world.
9 games in the league, a league we wont win but we should give it all and then bow down to Leicester and say well done. Everton on saturday is a bogey team and their high pressing and an in form striker will be very tough to handle for a tired squad. Give it all boys and may the results take care of themselves.
Arsene to leave end of the season? I would say the board needs to have chosen his replacement for that to happen. I am sure thats not the case, so i dont see him leaving. The great man has given it all but he needs to accept that has not been enough and he should leave honourably. Who replaces him, well thats tough to answer.
If we had a Lewandowski or a Muller, Barcelona would have taken the game a bit more seriously than they did. They won without much effort and were taking the piss throughout with their attitude. Which pissed me off, but I knew we couldn’t do anything about it.
And so did they.
82 V
+1
re lewandowski and mueller
me brother said that relentlessly last night
fuck
how do you do umlauts
Behold rottenly written, self-regarding, Needy, platitudinous poo – as per.
Is that Mike Walters at 86?
hüsker dü
müller
?
.
thänks mrs öf më
she’s clever
she’s also
the proud purchaser
of 2 dozen eggs
half duck/half hen
(separate beasts)
tomorrow’s breakfast
and
what looks like a pillowcase
of
sausages
bacon
black/white pudding
(separate beasts)
i’ll be
dry panning
soda breads to order
most likely
.
all of which is
non Arsenal related nonsense of course
FUCK OFF ?
The bar has been an interesting place over the last few days. Last night was an improved performance. At least we showed some fight and some spirit against possibly the best club side in world football. Apart from the spirit, for me there was big difference in class. I thought we defended poorly for the first two goals. Why you would give someone with the quality Suarez has that much space and time in the box is beyond me.
Holic, you asked above re Suarez, “What would we give for a predator of that ilk?” The answer is quite simply, not enough. We have been craving a player of that quality from the day we sold RVP. It’s that kind of inaction that has resulted in the stagnation of the last several years and culminates with the position that we find ourselves now in. It’s not only in the striking department though is it? Again, I’ve lost count of how many years we have been “3 players short.”
I struggle with the champions league these days. I fail to understand why we crave the 4th place trophy to gain entry into such an auspicious completion when we turn up year after year so ill equipped to mount a challenge. This season we have played 8 games in the champions league. We have won 3 and lost 5. It they were all league games it would mean 9 points from a possible 24. It’s been clear to me for some time now that the current regime see the champions league as yet another money making exercise and nothing else.
The comments about and from Arsene in recent days have also been interesting. There has been more than a touch of arrogance about his comments. My view has always been that Arsene has not quite been the same since David Dein left. He has been his biggest loss. Whenever Arsene chooses to depart he will leave having been the best manager in our history. What he has created both on and off the field I will always be grateful for. I just sincerely hope that it does not get to a stage where many feel that he has outstayed his welcome.
Last night did have positives. As other have said, Iwobi continues to impress. Elneny’s strike was more than worthy, even if it was our first shot on target in the match.
Like some above, I have genuine fears re our attempts to keep Ozil and Akexis. If the club don’t want to show any ambition then why would they want to stay? I hope it’s a question that never rears its head. However, I would have my doubts.
I’ve heard for far too long that this is out time, this is when we kick on, this is when we do what is required to take us to the next level to think that this summer will be any different. With Stan at the helm I just don’t see the drive. Hasn’t he just won some sports business award? Remind me, how many titles have his other franchises won?
A nice report H although the fact that the general feeling after a 5-1 aggregate defeat is, oh well, it could have been worse I would suggest tells you all you need to know.
Stay safe CBA.
Top stuff there Steve T and Dan, above.
This summer better not be Groundhog Day. If it is, our worst fears are confirmed.
cheers big man
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MrLKP5E-k5Q
.
am of an age
and
current location
where mad hunger means i break up swallying
with regular trips home
city centre
the nosebag for to have ?
and a quick snooze by the stove
.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IXKaeK1Dzw0
.
and
86
jam it up yer jute ya sullen cunt !
N7, if you had mailed that drink I would have published it. Great stuff sir, I doff my cap to you.
Steve T @89,
Top drink! Have another!
Cheers Bath!
if i email you my post Patrick’s day deconstruction
promise me ye won’t publish it ‘holic
honestly?
think of the children ?
*checks trousers*
*pats pockets*
“Where’s my little people” ?
a seacht
a hocht
a naoi
WALLOP
shocking stereotyping
but ??????
as
grandmaster o’flash said
fun baby
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2ChjLMbXVrU
If Darby O’Gill is in, that must mean we’re the little people.
🙁
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NvgLkuEtkA
as a fine big tall strapping figure of a man
i feel your pain
*preens modestly*
speaking of nothing related
cynic
you a moving camera man
or a stills camera man ?
just bought a new lens
bit too fuckin much
but bought now
so
fuck it
Stills but hardly do it any more. What lens you bought?
voigtlander
Eek. It’s too bloody expensive a hobby that’s for sure.
cracker for moving stuff
17.5
f0.95 !!!
saved for over a year
haven’t taken a still for ages
though
i do run a still
which gushes true and see through
got
a few bottles ready for battle
??
the bedlam
will be starting here soon
early teenagers
ballooned off their nadgers
wrapped in tricolours
singing songs about a recent past
they were born after
.
well it’s a toura loura loo
and a toura loura laldy o
.
ps
UP THE O’ARSENAL !
(to be sure)
f/0.95? Christ in a fucking bubble car, that’s wide.
Happy paddy’s day, cba and all the holics. 😀
that’s why
to be honest
it’s closer to two years saving
it’s a heavy fucker
but
hopefully it will pay for itself
mind you
what with the Arse and this
i’m running outta fingers to cross
slainte bt8
always a goodun ?
Tim, Steve T, N7,
good thoughtful posts.
There is clearly something wrong at the club. I have my own ideas on what it is but I’m letting them mature for a few days.
I don’t think the problems are all attributable to any one person but they are undeniable.
As Steve T said, relief at a 5-1 aggregate loss, even to Barcelona, is not where we were supposed to be after ten seasons in our new home.
Is it Pretend to be Irish Day?
I’d best be off to buy some fertiliser…
See youse laters boyos and all dat shoite.
*ahem*
have a wee Bailey’s trev
fire up yer ginger heritage
?
115
we know where you live
and
where you’re thinking of moving
a house i’m guessing
a roof an shoite
d’ye want yer drive tarmaccin’ ?
Don’t know what changes may be afoot all I know is I’ll be watchin’ and hollerin’ when we take the pitch at Goodison Park.
and
irish accents in yer head
are fuck all like mine
imagine living in a place
surrounded by colin murray
times 10
Happy Paddy’s Day cba. Have a rerr terr, pal.
Ah yes, you’re in Norn Iron and not surrounded by the mellifluous tones of Blogs of that Ilk.
hate that string bean twat
colin murray not blogs
blogs – he very funny
as an exercise in exorcism
baff
the tune
i sing in me head
when i post yer reads
involves
a young man , donald
bereft ay his breeks
slainte ?
i love stereotyping
far faster
?
Aye chiel, the lassies in Milsom Street love it when ah dae a wee twirl take the skirl o ma pipes.
Dae ye tie a wee green ribbon roon yer shellaglee on Paddy’s day?
I have an image of a burly chiel in a tweed waistcoat and breeks with a jaunty angle to his cap when I read your posts, cba. I’ll say nothing about what’s stashed in thae breeks.
Much like Colonel Nathan Brittles sergeant tho he had a bowler hat. Don’t see you in a bowler. ?
there’s only one
bath gooner
one
bath
gooooonerrrrrr
.
top o’ the range fella
top
?
on her return
from the offy
just now
i opened the door
(contractually obliged)
spanner across the road taking a piss
shouted
happy st Patrick’s day
i am proud of myself
after i stood on his neck
i stopped the wife
from shitting in his ear
.
we are all about the decorum
indeed
decorum is what we’re all about
that’s a lie
.
she wasn’t at the offy
she was with her lover
we’re hoping we can get a country hit out of it
though
and
notwithstanding
my heart remains resolutely broken
*scans ebay for Col Tom Parker hat*
I’ve got a Borsalino I could lend you. I don’t wear it often as it’s the genuine article and I’m frightened I’ll leave it somewhere or sit on it. Silly arse that I am.
baff
cheers
but how could i ?
man of a certain age ?
north of ireland ?
hoodlum hat ?
it’s like putting
the tin lid on t h e biscuits
.
.
.
(feckin sassenachs)
?
???
That Ivan Morrison fella gets away with it.
at a leisurely pace baff
he’s a tub of same same same
lard
.
do Ramones songs all sound the same
no
but if they did
fuck
i don’t care
cos
Johnny Joey Dee Dee and Tommy
changed the world
and
Raisins
husker du ?
original unoriginal geniuses
dye think the pixies or nirvana woulda sounded like they did
without Minnesota s finest
NOPE
for cynic
Michael Gambon is described
as
irish born english actor
.
i would cheerfully
put my toe
through that nonsense
.
it’s simple
if you are born in Ireland
you are irish
if you are born in England
.
bless
(a rooty tooty too )
(a rooty tooty di day)
apples and pears
pie and mash
.
mind you
i am having beef gravy pie and spuds for dinner
.
I hate paddys
mmmmmm
pie and mash
(no liquor)
Howdy – grand to see you are in fine form today. Quite right, you can’t be having pie & mash and green liquor on Paddys day 😉
Used to be a fine pie & mash shop on Hornsey Rd ( top end non posh) in the 50s & 60s – you were still a twinkle in yr mammy’s eyes then.
Think you’re heading. for a fine end to the day…& night.
139 howdy to cba, the man himself, of course…..:-)
cba, you look like you are enjoying the day in your own unique way. Happy St Patrick’s Day to you sir.
I had a quiet sup of the plain at lunchtime, and will enjoy a couple of cans while recording the ABW podcast tonight. Rami Shaaban is on with us so I’m looking forward to that.
Surely it is bacon and cabbage tonight? 😉
Didn’t know Hüsker Dü were from St. Paul, Minnesota but more power to them. Wikipedia says:
Formation and early years (1979–1980)
The members of Hüsker Dü first performed together when Grant Hart, Bob Mould, Greg Norton and keyboardist Charlie Pine began playing in 1979 in a band called Buddy and the Returnables. At the time, Mould was a freshman at Macalester College, and frequented Cheapo Records, a St Paul record store where Hart was a sales clerk.
I’ll have a Rami Shaaban and Coke please, barman.
howdy diddle doo again
cheers Up
?
lived in the east end coupla years
80s
upton park
no pie and mash there
but
remember pie and mash
further in the line
.
‘holic
as is well known
stout is a london drink
guinness knicked the porter
so
guinness is about as irish
as
the guinness heirs and heiresses
.
and
bt8
.
I met her accidentally in St. Paul (Minnesota).
And it tore me up every time I heard her drawl, Southern drawl.
Then I heard my dream was back Downstream cavortin’ in Davenport,
And I followed you, Big River, when you called.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=s_21p14TAXM
N7
I’ve been at Cheltenham imbibing Ireland’s finest export today in honour of CBA. I just wanted to say that was a very good piece from you yesterday ( or was it earlier today) . It’s good that even if we recognise the need for change we can still express our reasons without the vitriol so often aimed at Wenger. Great stuff
had a good word
from a Belarus-ian just now since
my swally was off the scale ?
it is good
it’s ethanol
it’s vodka
it’s poitin
it’s whiskey
it’s not brown or £40 a bokkle
it is
double/triple distilled
and
carbon filtered
fancy meeting someone
from Belarus
called ian
?
Davenport Drawl a Southern Drawl? Must consult the Iowa insiders on this one.
wee speed nap necessary
*puts on u2*
not that i have any
hence
insomnia
howdy m’lud
top man
If we could persuade him that his promise to his grandfather to go to Real was child abuse, Aubabambam would be a great signing. He hates the Spudz (cf accounts of his unpleasant experience of negotiating with Levy) and loves scoring against them.
Pool and ManU fans are at it.. seats being thrown too now.
Classy….
Aubameyang missed 2 chances.. but he always manages to get goals in games, which is more than can be said of our own …would not mind him at all. Dortmund are trying to hold on to him though.. last quoted price was 60m.
I would go all in. Fuck the other positions we need to strengthen unless we can offload our dead wood: Feo etc.
Make them an offer they can’t refuse. Klopp’s head in the Chairman’s bed.
Not going to argue there.. clearly we need new blood since some players seem to lack motivation and consistency…on a regular basis!
Bright spot would be Iwobi.. he really did not fare too badly against Barca. And Elneny as well.. that goal would have given him some confidence… needs more starts too.
Yep. Given that we lost the tie at home, the progress of Iwobi and Elneny are real pluses from that game.
Klopp… he thought he was out.. but they keep pulling him back in!
😀
Who is more sober, the drinkers or the lurkers?
Dortmund are very good at identifying good players and move fast in the transfer market. The year they got Aubemeyang we bought Sonogo (we know how that one turned out) and when everyone was talking about Reus, they did the business.
Aubemeyang is more than just pace, he has a good all round game. He is what Theo would have been if he had progressed as we expected him to. Generally, I am not so much for throwing big money to get players in and would prefer to blood youngsters (like Bellerin , Iwobi) but Aubemeyang should be worth it. Pity that AW would never spend that sort of money on one player.
In order to keep big players like Ozil and Alexis we need to start spending big in those transfer windows. This shows the exact clubs ambition if we buy players like Sanogo, Park Chu-young, Squillaci, Almunia, Santos, Bischoff, Chamakh, (free transfer), Djourou, Senderos…. just to name a few.
If Arsene stays and I think he will see out his contract he needs to have a real go at this.
@ N7 above, I often wonder at those who label anyone that criticizes Wenger or thinks he’s taken us as far as he can. You complain about the splitting of the support but you contribute to it by calling fellow supporters discussing our club “hard of thinking’ just because their opinions differ from yours. Not going to delve into the actual discussion about the football management just observing some of the contradictions in language. I don’t think you can call the people dismayed by this season or the past 2 or 12, “negative” either. There are a lot of easier clubs to support, no one benefits from the labels or trying to be seen as “the model fan”.
@Larry
You’ve chosen to read various things into my post that simply are not there (the “model fan”, the suggestion that I’m describing all those dismayed by this season as “negative”, the suggestion that I’m describing as “hard of thinking” supporters who are merely “discussing” the club).
As I say above, the endless propaganda war is deeply tiresome.
Wolfsburg (Germany) v Real Madrid (Spain)
Bayern Munich (Germany) v Benfica (Portugal)
Barcelona (Spain) v Atletico Madrid (Spain)
Paris St-Germain (France) v Manchester City (England)
Interesting draw… Atletico should be really motivated. City should be out of it soon enough.
😀
Just listened to the podcast at BWL good one Holic! Good stuff and a good laugh!
Borussia Dortmund v Liverpool …
Let’s see hoe good that Aubameyang is.. if he can get a couple against Pool too … then buy ..Buy .. BUYYYYYYY!
😀
How’s the head CBA?
I survived St. Patrick’s Day at Cheltenham on a beautiful day and had four winners! Almost a perfect day made better by Tottenham and Man U’s exit.
Thanks Arthur. The mood was deliberately as upbeat as we could get it this week.
I suppose I’m alone in hoping City win the CL.
For co-efficient reasons, mainly, so we can keep on fighting for that fourth place qualifying spot in years to come.
Holic…where is the preview? Press conference is over. Don’t tell me you too suffer from some kind of confidence crisis.
I have to say, I love how the CL draw looks in the last 8 and that Liverpool have got Dortmund in the Europa League. Lots of shadenfreude to be indulged in with some very fresh and eye-opening, young and upcoming head coaches/managers tactical acumen.
I would like to see Guardiola win it again outright with Bayern if Simeone or Laurent Blanc don’t do it. Diego Simeone to plan a masterly way with Athletico Madrid to knock out the “greatest club side in the world” and stop them doing the back-to-back for the first time in CL history. That privilege has been left for Arsenal Football Club to deliver on!
Some talk of Ibrahimovic joining this summer on a free transfer! Well, now wouldn’t that be a genuine game-changer in the “we need a f**king world-class striker” and “we need some f**king leaders on the pitch” debate?! Up the Arse!
Appearances can be deceptive but Simeone strikes me as a revolting little spiv. I’m interested to see the draw . My view is that PSG are the wild card that might unhinge Barca or Bayern and I don’t expect Citeh to get near them.
I think we are at least the level of Benfica or Wolfsburg but the draw has been kinder to them. I’d like to see both English clubs left do well for the sake of our record in Europe but if they both won (?) the fourth place English club might be out of the CL and that could be us if Coteh are outside the top 5.
Wenger has indicated he is not indicated in Zlatan but has reminded us that he nearly signed him and Lukaku. We must have the best team of nearly signed players ever assembled!
Finally props to Victoria Pendleton. That is a very ballsy effort
I read a report that Juve losing in the last 16 ensured that the Premier League will remain with 4 Champions’ League spots for the next 2 seasons at least. We are in direct competition with the Italian League as it relates to the co-efficient ratings, based on the report.
Preview later tonight. Four, maybe five pinter. 😉
Impec
I think your impression is correct.
My point was that if Liverpool win the Europa League and say the top four are say Leicester, ****s, West Ham and Arsenal in that order, if Citeh won the Champions League they and Liverpool would qualify for the CL together with the top three and we would miss out.
I have to say given today’s draw that is highly unlikely!
CBA – 136
To be fair I think the Pixies and Nirvana – great bands both imo – were always happy to acknowledge the massive influence the even greater Husker Du had upon them…
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>