Spot On Gunners In Europe's Last Eight Again
Mar 11th, 2009 by 'holic
The regular press have a duty to be restrained and measured in their reporting of events. Bloggers are thankfully free of that responsibility. It is 10.50 pm. I have endured a tense two hours of football at the highest level, followed by an extended penalty shoot-out. I have supped a gallon of Guinness and have a couple of inches left of a litre of malt whisky. So forgive me if first of all I get something off my chest that I could not have done had we lost.
Alan Smith, I love you to bits since you gave me one of the greatest nights of my life in the Parken Stadium at Copenhagen in 1994. Tonight, however, you and the miserable git that is David Platt have well and truly taken the gloss off a fine achievement by the club I love. Since this will mean nothing to readers outside of the UK I’ll leave it at that. No I won’t. One last childish retort. Experts my arse! You’re both raking in money at the expense of the people who once paid your wages, and you are earning it with cheap punditry.
Now perhaps I can start to enjoy the moment. What a moment too. For all of the negativity spread by Sky tonight I have to say I have just thoroughly enjoyed a game between two sides who went at each other from the first minute to the last. Granted, neither side was at their sharpest in front of goal as two outstanding defences largely earned their corn.
I say largely, because obviously William Gallas and Kolo Toure had one horrendous moment as early as the tenth minute which lead to Juan cancelling the one goal advantage we brought to the venue of this season’s Champions League Final.
By then we had already had a great chance to grab what would surely have been a decisive away goal, but in only the third minute Robin van Persie delayed pulling the trigger, and the moment was gone. that summed up the night for both sides as a partisan crowd watched play flow from end to end.
I must confess to thinking that when we brought on Theo Walcott midway through the second-half that we would be able to capitalise on the tiring hosts. You have to appreciate the defensive doggedness they displayed, however. Quick to contest every ball in the final third, they made it a difficult task.
Although we had the lions share of possession in the second-half it was Roma who could have nicked it when the Beast, of all people, squandered a golden opportunity to sink his former team-mates. Kolo Toure proved equally wasteful with a glorious last-gasp opportunity from point-blank range.
Extra-time is often a tame affair as both combatants err on the side of caution, but still the game flowed from our final third to theirs, and back again. Innovation may have been at a premium, but effort there was aplenty. The stalemate was somehow fitting, although I doubt that would have been my opinion if we had surrendered the penalty shoot-out after going behind.
It is a tribute to the nerve of both sides that the deciding spot-kicks numbered sixteen. No matter who lost the feeling would have been awful. So thank you Roma for your contribution to a tense and gripping evening. Most of all though, thank you Arsenal for coming through one of those roller coaster rides of emotion. We may not have been at our best, but that should not detract from a disciplined and determined performance. For once I am not shifting uncomfortably as we talk about the ‘character’ of the side.
36 Responses to “Spot On Gunners In Europe's Last Eight Again”
6X please. By the gallon if you do not mind? I am shot to bits……
Heh,
Have a gallon on me Steve 🙂
An interesting view holic for many reasons, not least the reference to character. I am more than grateful to be in the last 8. I am also hopeful that Cesc, Rosicky and Adebayor back that we will pose more of a threat. I also hope that both Eduardo and Theo will have more games under their belt and also be more potent. But tonight I thought we were poor. I really do not want to be negative after such a hard fought 2 hours but our passing was woeful at times. We gave the ball away far too much and did not make the second ball anywhere near enough.
We also created very little. We all know the tie should have been finished off at The Grove but i for one did not think we looked like scoring from open play.
Positives for me were Diaby who I though battled manfully. Also Bendtner. He did not have his best game but was prepared to battle for the cause. Balls of steal from some, especially the penalty takers. A few youthful heads managed to make their way forward which was good to see. Character in abundance tonight but be under no illusion, we need to improve.
All our games now look biggies. Wins against Blackburn and Hull and we will be on the right track.
A win is a win. Let’s just make sure we build on it.
Keep the faith.
Cheers, and is that some Weller I hear in the background??? Bring it on.
If you are satisfied with this kind of performance……….then you need help.It was an appalling performance from Arsenal and it riminded me about the fa cup final of 05 were we got seriously lucky.For all this bravado Wenger spews we are seriously inept.Tonight i saw an Arsenal afraid of its own shadow afraid to play that kind of football we all know they can play,yet again in an important game they played with the handbrake on largely due to some seriously inept tactical set up by Mr. Wenger.This Roma side ships goals for fun in Serie A and we failed to test them for 120 minutes it says a lot about our so called attacking threat.
How much for the entire bar ‘Holic?
I am so glad we have progressed because with the momentum being built and the addition of Cesc, Eduardo and Theo I believe the club will give the competition a real shake.
The Champions League is very much about timing. Our star is rising at the right time – contrary to this time last year.
I wholeheartedly agreed with some of my Manc and Pool friends who did text me tonight that Wenger havnt got a clue on how to actually make an easy game become easy,we always struggle from Thun to this very limited Roma side even in the heydays of the Vieira and Henry area we failed to get enough out of this team European wise.But i will still celebrate my heart out tonight but i might apply the handbrake.
Danish, this was not like the 05 FA Cup episode. Arsenal was overwhelmed that day.
I agree with some of what you said but in hindsight what options were available to AW? Start Eduardo? Difficult especially when his contribution would have appeared more valuable when Roma were tiring. Same for Walcott. The games are coming thick and fast. We need Eduardo to make a contribtution against Rovers. RVP will be exhausted
I was suprised by Bendtner’s presence in the starting line up – but there you go.
That’s entertainment. I’ll have several bottles of peroni please barman.
* wipes vomit from bottom lip*
Oh, and spot on about the punditry ‘holic. It seems any ex Arsenal player that Sky roll out has nothing good to say about our club.
Cheers
brats! always complaining even after making the last 8 of CL
What the f**k do you want?
Yeah let’s talk about punditry ‘holic because I have to say the match didn’t really deserve too much analysis. Perhaps your fuel intake coloured your vision?
Credit to the guys for sticking with it and most especially to all the penalty takers. It doesn’t seem too long ago our ineptitude in this area meant the mere mention of penalties struck terror into the hearts of Gooners everywhere.
Last 8 is all that matters at the moment, however achieved. Basically we have a bit more time get some more players back and sort ourselves out – and there is still quite a bit of sorting to do.
As for pundits though, what is it with these people? Platt I always thought was a useless tosser but Smudge should know better but never seems to. Even the likes of Dixon and Adams are far more likely to be critical than positive.
Contrast this with the host of ex-scouse and mancs who seem to consider anything short of their team committing genocide is an excuse to pile on undeserved superlatives.
Do they threaten to withhold our guys wages? Do they hold their families hostage? It’s all very tiresome. How long before they employ the likes of Pennant and Bentley for a really rounded opinion?
Oh and can we change the soundtrack? Had enough of Weller for the moment – any chance of some Grateful Dead?
Its not easy to go to Rome and pull off a win. I was reading somewhere Roma haven’t lost at the Stadio Olympico since Oct or Nov of last year. Yes we weren’t very creative but they defended very well. This game had 0-0 written all over it but we let in a really soft goal in the 9th minute. Remember even ManU lost to these guys in the first leg before the 6-1 demolition at Old Trafford.
I also dont understand why Wenger’s getting so much shit for his formation. What other choices did he have? Its not as if Theo or Edu really made much of an impact after coming off the bendch. After this same team created so many chances in the first leg, I dont blame him for sticking with the same team. I highly doubt having a different set up would’ve had a different result. I wish all the arsenal fans would stop complaining about our supposedly poor performance tonight and just enjoy the hard earned victory. Cheers!
are we forgetting about the ineptitude of the performance by basking in the glory of a lottery pen shootout? surely, an opposition stronger than roma would’ve decimated us..
I hate to say it, but of all the 8 quarterfinalists, we are the least deserving of the lot.
Pathetic moaners …. come 20th march draw of the last 8, we will be in the hat and that’s what matters. Also in the next rounds, we will have more players(fingers crossed) to choose from.
Now lets get 3 points in the weekend against Blackburn please — yes a 1-0 against them will do for me.
And people don’t be surprised if anyone remotely related to Arsenal gets stick from the media/blogs (eg AW for the team/formation) — that’s what the media has been doing for so long, that is what the le-grave spawns do to annoy/irritate us.
Regarding the punditry : if the employer “asks” an employee to say some things, what will the employee choose — the job or the fans of the club?
I cannot believe the pundits are asked to talk us down by their employers. That would suggest that the likes of Sky and the BBC have an active anti-Arsenal agenda, and to suggest that would be verging on hysterical paranoia.
*looks quickly behind*
With regard to the Sky pundits, I have to take my hat off to Mssrs Merson and Nicholas. Never a bad word to say abour the boys and always when referring to Arsenal say “we”
we really missed cesc. quite a few of our players really looked out of their depth.
it was a dreadful performance, but of course i am happy and relieved to be in the quarter finals.
however, the reason i am happy and relieved is not because i believe this arsenal team can go on and win the competition. no, no, no. i am happy and relieved because the atmosphere around the side will remain positive and help us in our bid to finish in the top 4. going out last night could have been disastrous.
neither of the sides on show last night had any chance of winning the competition as both were so poor compared to what else is left.
Geez, my heart cannot handle this Arsenal team of 2008/2009!!!
They making me old I tell you!!
but i think after it all, Arseblogger sums it up perfectly, Steve T please have a look…
“It may not have been a great performance, but it doesn’t matter. The defending might have been shit for the goal, but it doesn’t matter. We might not have created any chances, but it doesn’t matter. Our unbeaten record might be gone, but it doesn’t matter.
What matters is that we’re through. Into the 1/4 finals. That’s all that matters. Analysis. Pffff. Who gives a fuck? It’s about time we got a break this season and anyone who wants to poke holes in what they saw last night in the wake of the result is too miserable for their own good.”
Well said sir, well said!!!
It wasn’t a great game to watch and it wasn’t a great attacking performance but Roma set out to stifle and frustrate us with more than a little success.
RVP,s game doesn’t suit the job of loan striker but I thought he battled well. Bendy isn’t a wide man but again he worked really hard and did a good job. Nasri also worked his socks off and did his best to create something as did Diaby. It seemed obvious that Denilson had been asked to sit deep and not commit forward too much. Apart from the cock-up the defence did well although there was good fortune in Baptista’s miss. Almunia kept us in the game and it was a good job he didn’t try to anticipate the saved penalty and move from the centre of the goal, if he had we would have lost the game. The substitutes did what they could in a tight game.
The penalty takers were awesome and deserve full credit for the way they held their nerve in such a hostile atmosphere. I think that a lot of growing-up was done last night!
Thanks ‘holic. I think you and Arsenal Addict are the only ones who actually watched the game rather than listening to some shite commentary last night. Well done.
`Determined and disciplined` sounds like Wengerspeak to me. The truth is that although we had the greater share of possesion, we never looked capable of scoring against a team of ageing stars, many of whom were crocked or like Totti carrying chronic injuries. As soon as it was clear that Bendtner would be starting with van Persie, it was also clear that we would struggle to take any of the chances we could manufacture, and so it proved. We have to thank `the Beast` for an outrageously inept performance in front of goal, and the Roma fan who let off a firecracker at the precise moment that (I forget who) was about to take their third penalty, that caused him to stab the ball meekly to Almunia. Had we started with Edouardo up front and Walcott marauding down the right we might well dave scored the goal that would have relieved the pressure and saved us from the agonies of th shootout. Why did AW start with these two on the bench? Probably because he doesn`t think we have a major chance of winning this competition and is saving them for the potentially more important game against Blackburn. No more defensive cock-ups though.
after reading all that were written, i just have this to say to some of the knights in shining armour here;
yes, he is the best manager that we ever had, since. all yes, the game was won with sheer grit, determination and going beyond their threshold for aches and pains.
but please, to err is to be human. i cant understand why some fans think that voicing mistakes made by the manager or the performance of players screams disloyalty or betrayal, and should stoned or strip off the title of a Gunner.
why?
it is indeed a drop in performance in the run to the PL, and a poor performance in the Roma game?
so fans should say, “oh, yeah, give them time, good effort, no worries, in Arsene we trust, we got into the last 8 what else do you want, and such?
we scream, we voice anger, disappointment, yes i agree we go overboard with words and expressions, threads started by people who wants AW to leave, calling Eboue Denilson and Com to leave, and the lots. but alright, this is English football isnt it? you drink the beer and get into the game and burn the fuel that has been the reason you love the game and the club. it isnt all teletubbies is it? should you moan or weep in silent? oh you the only intellect thats the professor as well?
fans young and old, some fairweather ones, some older than Wenger, they are still here at least, no matter what they say. they choose to watch this Arsenal game than to watch Barca exciting Messi and Henry. they endure pain and fucked up weekends than celebrate ManU.
Not a fan anymore, because I have my passionate opinions or cries for change?
its true that some of us could not understand the intricate details or the science of making a great team. hell, do you? and you spoke to Wenger often? ffsake’s, we are just trying to think whats best for the team in our way, no matter how stupid our words are.
we all know that no matter how we write here, we cant really make AW leave, change the starting line up or even be read in the first place. but what is this website for then? only for the elite writers or fans that seem to gather strength when they gather the bunch who say nothing but “we are true Gunners no matter what?”
fuck, its just a matter of character to voice concern, damn it.
i am sure there’s alot of young fans who are loyal with a lose mouth, and wants some ventilation point, and still bite his finger when the next Arsenal game starts.
tell me, you want to define a true fan or separate classes in loyalty, jus because of the passionate, heated moments?
yeah, you the fan.
Something that is not an espresso is needed now, I think.
Cheers, ‘holic.
very nice blog thank you! please exchange link
GoonItAll,
there are better ways to get off your daily frustrations than beating up a football team.
You should seek psychological help rather than spent your free time in a pub or a football stadium.
19) South African Gooner, not sure I really get your point. Apart from the fact that I actually think it does matter how we played. As I said, I am more than happy that we are in the next round and can not wait for the draw. I also said that I hope we are in a lot better position with players returning that we may be able to keep the run going. And yes, it was time that we actually had some luck go our way. But if you think that qualification is sufficient to justify that performance then I disagree 100%. The honest truth is that we are extremely unlikely to get through the next round if we play like that again. There needs to be an improvement.
I am still celebrating our transition into the last 8 but with feet firmly on the ground.
Just back. Was at The Grove for the Burnley game. Worth every penny of the entrance fee just to see Eduardo’s goal and feel the passion around the ground as the players lifted him in celebration. I thought Song had a really good one and Gibbs will Clichy a run for his money for LB next season. I wished that Diaby would make himself more available to the other players around him. He has the potential to make a huge impact in the middle against teams like Burnley. I just wish he’d take his chance with Cesc out and really get on a roll.
Watched the Roma game in a pretty manky Irish bar in Cologne. Four screens, one of which (the tiny 1970’s model) was showing our game. All three others were showing the Mancs match and their commentary was coming through the loudspeakers so it was a bit like watching the Keystone Cops to the soundtrack of the Sound of Music. Over the two games, Arsenal were by far the better team and deserved to go through. Having said that, on the night there were some very nervy moments. The record books will show that the Gunners won and advanced to the final eight. There will not be a footnote explaining that we weren’t at our best.
Come on you Gunners!
Woops! What was Piers the Plonker’s Mummy doing on my Apple?
I suspect you have been entertaining him unknowingly BTM…
@th78
i am not beating my team up, i am not frustrated.
are you?
When I find myself frustrated I have a coulpe of beers.
A cornucoulpeia.
‘Holic!
First of all – read your blog for quite a while, always liked it, and no pun intended – I like it because it gives a sober view on The Arse. That is – credit where credit is due, stick where stick is due. Great job and keep it up.
What really got me in the mood too thank you this time was your post (and perhaps even more your chat with Arseblogger on the Arsecast) about the Roma game. Have a listen to what you said to ‘blogger again and feel proud because it’s some of the best stuff you’ve said. Spot on and exactly the game I saw as well. Two sides that tried to go for it, couldn’t really and largely cancelled eachother out, even if we perhaps should have won it towards the end, but what a way to end it when we did!
Lastly – would like to wave the flag for Arsenal Sweden at http://www.arsenal.se , the supporter club I’m a proud member of. See you linking to supporter sites so you may want to add that one.
If I’m ever around your local pub I’ll buy you a few pints!
/T
‘Holic – Now that is the report of a true Arsenal supporter, emphasizing the positives and recognizing the worth of our opponents. A pox on these fans and websites who come to these blogsites spouting nonsense about a poor Arsenal performance. Leave the tears to Totti. We suffered yes, but we won by persevering.
Thanks all.
I have just been trying to ensure people appreciate the difference between those performances (i.e Fulham and Stoke) where we were dreadful and didn’t appear to give a hundred percent, and the one in Rome where I felt we gave everything, and approached a well organised and difficult opponent in the right way. The fact that two attack-minded sides cancelled each other out should not lead to the level of negativity evident from some supporters this week.
Toby, you should see your link in the sidebar now. If there are any other Supporters Club websites out there that I have missed just drop me a line and I will make sure you are added.