To Gamble, Or Not To Gamble? That Is The Question
Mar 7th, 2011 by 'holic
“Personally I would like him to play if possible, but I will only play him if he is 100 per cent fit.”
Arsene spoke those words about Robin van Persie today, but he would apply the sentiment equally to Cesc Fabregas, I’m sure.
It is astonishing the effect that news of van Persie’s possible inclusion has had on Arsenal supporters, and possibly his team-mates as well. For both he and Cesc to feature would be quite a boost, and hopefully not a gamble. The two of them have seemingly made remarkable recoveries from problems they have had before. If playing them means gambling with their availability for the remainder of the season, then the price may not be worth paying. Look no further back than last season to see what can happen to a much-weakened Arsenal squad on the run-in.
Putting cautious thoughts aside for a moment though the anticipation of what may be achieved at the Camp Nou is totally distracting, as I have discovered today. While the Catalans may be the boil on the transfer markets bum that you would like to lance with the filthiest needle you can find, they are a bit of a football team. We, of all people, should appreciate that. We are the team many would argue are closest to them in the style stakes, but we have lost the knack of adding success to that aesthetic beauty. This is a chance to gain belief in our ability to do just that.
I’ve done the flag-waving stuff before, written the ‘we will fight them on the beaches’ rallying call. This time I just want to see a great game go the way of the team that most earns it, and if we emerge triumphant it will most certainly have been earned the hard way, having been a goal behind in the home leg. Last season our second string had the temerity to open the scoring at Barca, which just made the buggers angry. Four goals later I hope a lesson was learned.
A lot of Arsenal supporters will watch Barca regularly at weekends. We know they will have the ball for most of the game. They always do. They sometimes don’t turn that possesion into victory at the very highest level, as we proved three weeks ago, and must do again. The same things will apply. When they do allow us to borrow the ball we must treasure it, look to break quickly, particularly down our right flank, and test their stand-in central defenders at every opportunity. Quality delivery from the flanks, and set pieces, may be the key to a remarkable result.
The ‘holic pound has to be wagered on a goalscorer. I fancy we may progress to the quarter-final with a 3-2 defeat, but i will never back the opposition to win. Johan Djourou may get opportunities from set pieces and has been getting at least one chance most games he has played of late. He is 22/1 to score at any time. That will do me. My bet is ‘in play’ as long as he is on the field.
That’s it. Those who are out there, I hope you have a great trip. The rest of you, get the beer in and make sure everybody else in the house knows the tv is yours for the match.
Take care ‘holics.
184 Responses to “To Gamble, Or Not To Gamble? That Is The Question”
1s
t?
Love the fight them on the beaches comment – I read the rest of this post with iron maidens aces high playing!
Holic
For being 1st can i get something non-alcholic?
I went crazy when i heard rvp was almost fit. Just hope we dont play them both and get them crocked. we need them for the season.
Lets hope and believe! Here is to an Arsenal victory!!!!
The anticipation is killing me. Their are just so many talking points that will only come to light when we see the starting line up.
I am drooling.
Really, I am.
No—- seriously. I am.
I don’t share you pessimism this time, I think we’ll at least draw this one as well. For all the complaints about Arsene not rotating enough, it turns out Guardiola has been worse with the same set of players playing in almost every game. Our players are fitter than theirs and they have a makeshift defense with the weakest goalkeeper at this level. We may go behind but I’m confident we’ll win it on the finish line.
3-2 for us.
GO GUNNERS!
Everyone else read this post-game remark by Brucey?
“The first [trophy] is always the most difficult,” he said. “When I was at Manchester United we were chasing our first title in what, 26 years? That first one was the hardest. It’s the same for this young Arsenal team. But the manager’s a genius and, for me, it’s only a matter of time.”
Matt
Did you read Guardiola’s comments about Wilshere?
“He is an excellent player, not just Arsenal, but also for the national team.
“We have many players like him in our second team. It is very good news for football to have players like him.”
‘holic,
Agreed with the gist of your post. I just want us to play to our potential and will be happy with that but won’t be surprised at any result. Well, maybe a little surprised if they don’t score at all. Come on Arsenal!
Matt: That’s a quote that couldn’t be, but if Bruce really said such a thing he must be trying to butter us up for the next time we face Sunderland.
Great post Mr Holic. I just really really hope we arent playing Russian roulette with CF and RVP. The consequences could tank our season.
Despite all the rhetoric, I just cant get up for this game, I think Walcott is a gigantic miss against their defence, he scares them. I am not putting a holic pound on the game but my demons are telling me 3-0.
West Brom is the next real important game.
My father is in town visiting for the week to play golf. Told work I couldn’t come in tomorrow and told dad I couldn’t get off work. HAHA!!!!! I’ll be in front of the TV at home in an empty house. UP the ARSENAL
@Usama thanks for the pointer, his entire interview shows the class of the guy: http://myfootballnews.info/2011/03/07/guardiola-wants-great-show/
@BT8BBNN: I lifted the quote from the guardian here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/mar/07/arsenal-sunderland-premier-league
I don’t think Bruce said it for any other reason that he believes it honestly. And so do I đ
As far as the match, Barca are not in the best shape either right now. No Pique or Puyol in defense with very little cover. If Adibal plays in the center then that only means Nasri can feast on Maxwell. As Matt in #5 says, Pep has been running the same 15-16 players into the ground for months now ….. Xavi and Valdes both playing with knocks. Pep is even injured lol. They aren’t exactly blowing teams off the pitch like in December. A scoring draw is in the cards (1-1 is my guess )
If anyone is interested I am doing a live blogchat here…
http://realsocialdad.blogspot.com/2011/03/live-blog-with-goonerholic-rico-from.html
Hi holic,massive week big games that can give us a huge lift if we do the biso,hope the boys can do it 4 us and the club! C’mon arsenal 2.2. Will do nicely.
what a lovely post….I can’t wait for tomorrow…feel like an 8 year old on Christmas Eve.
I wouldn’t risk Cesc and Robin to win it though…only as subs perhaps. We want the league title most don’t we? Beating Barcelona doesn’t leave us crowned European Champs, merely that we beat the favourites (not to downplay it). Imagine though if we nick an early goal !!!
Come you Reds ….
‘Hols,
You are quite the entreprenuer…
Back from Mexico, ran into a few Gooners who (like me) really rate Vela. Here’s to a solid win from the boys; a workmanlike win over the Baggies; and continued maturation from Vela for inclusion in the main rotation next year.
Trophies are like sex. The first one is ALWAYS the toughest. Let’s close the deal.
Up the Arse!
come on you reds….what’s wrong with me? nerves!!
Am havin the jitters already..i jus hope after the 90 mins ad still have my normal sleep patterns..after all we did them at emirates…we might pull another surprise at nou camp!
What a great chance for Guardiola to find out how many players like Wilshere are in Barcelona’s second team. I wonder if LJW would be interested in helping him to find out?
Matt, I guess if the Guardian says so, it must be so (blimey!)
so much excitement around iv started thinking the match is today!
@Matt
I think he meant it too Bruce likes Arsene because he lent him players which earned Bruce promotion to the premier league.
The question is do we threaten the pace of the game with two half-fit players? i think arsene will play cesc from the start and maybe bring rvp in later,hopefully he wont need too.
If Robin really is fit and does start, I am almost certain that we will go through – especially if Cesc is also fit to start.
I’m shaking already.
Don’t worry chaps. From a physio/medical point of view (I am one) and as mr wenger has pointed out a player returning from a ligament strain is not particularly at risk. That’s why he’ll play if “99.5% fit”. He may not be as sharp though hence the fitness test. As for a prediction, 2-2 denilson and clichy.
@BT8BBNN: Actually he’s been quoted everywhere, here’s a more complete version:
âThe managerâs been there and done it so he got the Âexperience but the first one is always the most difficult.
âIt seems unbelievable when I first went to Manchester United we were chasing the first title in 25 or 26 years and the first one was the most Âdifficult. Thatâs the same for this young Arsenal team.
âTheyâre a fantastic team. They only need to win one, or a cup competition.
âThey had a cup final last week, theyâre in the quarter-final of the Champions League, theyâre just behind Manchester United in the Premier League and theyâve another huge game against Barcelona.
âSo itâs a fantastic position to be in.â
Ok Holics,
Can I be the first to request that we not refer to Wilshere as “LJW?” I remember one recent visitor at the bar “erroneously” typed “LWJ.” This acronym is too frighteningly close to the Spuds for my liking.
Tequila shots all round…I snuck some good stuff past Customs (shhh…).
Whatever the result tomorrow I’d hate to see the lads belief waver.
We are playing Barca after all.
@Lonestar gooner
Im with you! we can call him Jack one more letter you know…..
Lonestar, maybe tomorrow will be the day LJW becomes BJW? Ahem, I mean Big Jack Wilshere?
Did you know?
Arsenal have won the first leg at home on 15 occasions in UEFA competition, and gone on win the tie no less than 14 times. However, their sole defeat came in the 2000/01 UEFA Champions League quarter-finals when a 2-1 home win against Spanish opponents â Valencia CF â preceded a 1-0 away reverse.
quote from:
http://en.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/matches/season=2011/round=2000119/match=2003764/prematch/preview/index.html#guardiola+offensive+against+arsenal
‘every Gooners will feel it… I start to shiver… can’t wait for the game to get started…
No worries, Lonestar. There is no possibility the U.S. Customs agents would be interested in reading Goonerholic. At least in days of yore that would have been the case ….
I love it 8-ball. I love it.
Err, the comment, that is, not 8-ball đ
Ahem, I mean the 8-ball (yam yam/ horse) not b8bbnn.
Not that I love b8bbnn…or don’t love b8bbnn… I mean – aww to hell with it.
*pours another shot*
Lonestar, Make sure to keep another bottle handy for tomorrow. Win or lose, it may be necessary.
I want Cesc and Van Persie fit for the run in, so playing them could indeed be a big gamble.
The Champions League will still take a lot of winning even if we were to go through tomorrow (and in saying that I don’t discount the confidence that this would give some of this young team if we did it) so we therefore have to consider what our priority is.
Arsene says its the league and so it should be.
I’m with Stone Roses who says the next most important game for us is the league game at West Brom. Having watched United in their last two games, we can definitely beat them in the title race if we can get our best players fit and keep them fit.
We can take confidence from good results in the next two games but we must start to go on a winning streak in the league.
Doesn’t mean I won’t be roaring my head off at the LCD rectangular thing at 7:45 come tomorrow night though đ
has anyone read the complete guoardiola interview.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/mar/07/pep-guardiola-jack-wilshere-arsenal
Good blog holic.
My tangent to it would be to ask whether Arsenal would also be in with a shout of winning La Liga every year were we to play in it?
And whether we would also be hailed as Barca’s equals with our free flowing style once we get going?
I say yes đ
I think we should still go for all three and field the strongest side possible at each game from those available. No point in *saving* a player only for them to get injured again. There’s only about 3 of our players that have put in a season long shift (sort of) so far, Sagna, Clichy, Jack. The others have all had little lay offs as the season has progressed. Even the CB’s have had the luxury of rotation with TV5 missing.
I think the next match is always the most important, so we should give it everything, although I don’t believe that RVP will start. As NB52 has scored before at Camp Nou, he may just have the taste for it, here’s hoping……….
COYRRG.
MtS, I have got to love a gambler, and an optimistic gambler at that! A wise man once said that there are winnings to be had for an optimistic gambler….
Is Nikki B. inside Barsa’s heads?
Good blog as ever, ‘holic.
Am off early to bed now for an early start to get out to Barcelona in the morning.
Definitely lifted by the news that RvP10 has travelled and has a chance of playing. Cesc was clearly lifted in his interview too. Am sure the whole squad will be boosted too. I suspect he will be on the bench rather than starting.
I really think we can get a result this time. We have a stronger defence and midfield than last time even without Song and a better keeper. We start with a better aggregate. Nasri and Cesc on fire. And no Silvestre!
Come on you reds!
I will have a bottle of Rioja on the Ramblas tomorrow, ‘holic.
bathgooner, Why wait until tomorrow when you can have a virtual bottle of Rioja now? Remember, Rioja does not come from Catalonia.
(drinking in good conscience, and all that jazz)
Must admit I am nervous about tomorrow. Not just the result but also the fitness of Cesc and RVP. Something tells me that when both are asked how they feel that both, unless obviously cropped will say that they can play. Whilst I would love to see both fully fit and out there I can’t be the only one with doubts?
It will be an attacking game. I don’t see that we have the players to defend our lead over there. I think it could well come down to who scores the most. Funny but I actually feel that the biggest loss for us is Theo. I just feel that his pace scares the living daylights out of people and is always an outlet for a defence up against it.
Jack to rub their noses in it??? Let’s hope so.
Keep the faith.
Caution doesn’t appear to have got us the prizes so far eh 8 ball đ
Steve T, my ‘nervousness’ comes from having to run the gauntlet of “I told you so’s” on Wednesday morning… having giving a large portion of verbal myself to all the doubters in the last couple of weeks đ
Catalan Gunner kindly recommended a fine hostelry for my first night in Barcelona for thirty years. So, Her Nellieness, myself and three fine friends set off for Cerveceria Catalunya on Callera Mallorca in fine fettle for a Catalan sherbet or two.
What we (and CG) had failed to figure was that all 150,000 Goonerholic readers who had seen the recommendation, had EXACTLY the same idea, and the queue for a seat began just outside the Bernabau in Madrid. Before Ollie arrives and starts to cause havoc, CG, please send details of another good place (in secret code this time so that no one else will suss where weâre going).
We ended up just around the corner in the rather unpromisingly named âEl Glopâ (!). Now El Glop is the kind of place you might expect to find El Bale and El Twitchy and the rest of the El WCs. But not so. El Glop turned out to be a very fine affair. Not one El WC in evidence anywhere, just locals going about the business of eating joyfully, while chuckling about the Deeply Indebted getting thumped twice in consecutive games.
The Maitre Dâ and the chefs at El Glop are Real Madrid fans, all hoping fervently for an Arsenal victory and a game in the final against us at Wembley. They kept giving us two thumbs up as we chomped our way through a good share of Spainâs suckling pig population. I did wonder for a while if this might be some cunning Catalan ploy to neutralize five Gooners in one fell suckling pig stomach-exploding swoop.
And we did lose one of our number at one stage, worsening my concerns. But I have to conclude that their intentions were entirely honourable and we had a fine night. A good omen and Iâll take that and every other good omen thatâs going at the moment.
I took a bus out to the Nou Camp today for a pre-game reconnoiter. If stadium appearances were the bench-mark, weâd win this game hands down. From the outside, the Nou Camp is less impressive than, well, Central Park Cowdenbeath or Sh*te Hart Lane even. I hear that it comes to life in the dark though. Iâll look forward to that.
News of Robinâs inclusion in the squad was like a thunderbolt from out the blue, wasnât it? IF he and Cesc play, weâll be within a smidgeon of our strongest starting eleven. I have a very good feeling that both will start and that both will have a significant impact. The BtM crystal ball, having predicted 2-2 earlier in the day with no expectation of Robinâs presence did a double crystal ball backward summersault on this new news and then promptly blew a fuse before an updated scoreline was forthcoming. So, regrettably, Iâll have to stick with the only score I have 2-2 and we go through.
Wojcieck,
Sagna, Djourou, Kos, Clicky,
Wilshere, Diaby, Fabregas,
Nasri, Robin, Arshavin
Bendy for Arshavin; Chamakh for Robin around 70 minutes.
Enjoy it Holics. It’s very exciting to be here.
Didn’t realise Her Nellieness was there too. Have a wonderful time, both of you, BtM.
Will raise a glass of something Spanish and red to you at teatime.
Mark. I know exactly what you mean.
BTM. Enjoy. Off to Madrid to visit another loved one???????????????
That Pep just turned into someone I don’t like from the filthy Barca club.
He went on saying that Jack is lucky cause we don’t have the pressure of winning trophies.
Well, Mr. Guardiola, let me remind you that FCB didn’t win shit from 1999 to 2006 and if it wasn’t for the fact you got yourself a Michael Jordan on your team dominating the whole game you would still be counting the years.
I just hate that club so much.
Up the Arse!
Gooners! Ready your breakfast and eat hearty… For tonight, we dine in hell!
Barman, please keep a series of cappuccinos at the ready for me between now and kickoff. I want to be plenty alert when we bombard their goal from start to finish.
BtM, wonderful report. My only question is did you tip the waiter higher for not being a Barcelona fan? If so, his ploy may have worked ….
OK, so it was just the Maitre D and the chefs and maybe they weren’t expecting a tip in any case. Stranger things have happened than a crew of Real Madrid fans on staff at a restaurant in Barcelona, but not too many.
More giddy chatter. Is it a sign that I’m nervous? Couldn’t be. We’ve got it sorted.
@ Sajit
THIS…
IS…
ARSENAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLL
@BtM: Thanks for the laugh, wish you best of luck for your partying endeavors tomorrow night.
@Snir: the link I posted above has a more complete version of Guardiola’s interview and he’s totally class, had only good things to say about us. As usual it’s the english press which is trying to stir some sh!t.
@Steve T: Totally with you on Theo. Nasri is pretty speedy too when given the opportunity but Theo is definitively scaring Barca big time.
Don’y you just know that if we do go through with a 3-2 defeat as you predict, ‘Holic, we’ll be leading 2-1 until 5 mins to go, then contrive to give up a dodgy penalty and a defensive howler.
My bones tell me we will knock Barca out, though, so a glass of your finest claret, as ever, ‘Holic, in anticipation.
I can’t quite express how nervous I am for this one. More than the first leg. It’s the Nou Camp, one of the most intimidating football grounds in the world. You know what? I’m not scared for us. Like last year. Even if we lose I think we’ll give it a real go.
I’m hoping my earlier prediction of 1-1 will come true.
@BTM- Excellent post đ
@Snir- I hate FCB too but I think that interview might just be misunderstood.
There’s only one guy who can change the game in an instant. And that’s Messi. Shackle him( Song IS a big miss), limit the number if chances he creates and we will go through.
Come on Arsenal!!
You know i think both will start, fabregas is sure to start he isnt gonna miss this one for the world, and will score.. We really do stand a chance i mean come on we have wonderful players who can retain the ball and keep possession, in players like Arshavin, Nasri, jack, rvp.. I wouldn’t include cesc in that list because he hardly has the ball for a few seconds then looks for that killer pass.
i was at the neu camp in 99 when we drew one each and i have been at more hostile garden partys.
i was sitting among the barcelona fans and the only time they become animated was when suker came on.
we were behind for 65 minutes and ten minutes from time lost grimandi for an elbow on pep guardiola.
it looked a big ask for ten men but a minute later suker had a shot spilled by the keeper and kanu followed up and put it in.
we are criticized for lame support and i thought we were shit at wembley 9days ago[walking out of a ground when there was 5 minutes to save it was a disgrace] but bigging up all these other clubs support is a lot of rot.
i wish i was there tonight and i believe we can beat anyone anywhere under any circumstances.
no club has a greater sense of theatre than ours.
come on you gunners
BtM – I’ll put my mind to it and send you a recommendation through the usual covert channels. It did cross my mind that maybe others would read it! Hopefully they had a good time. El Glop was an excellent choice though.
Any particular requests for this lunchtime??
Snir – Got to defend Pep. He is a class act, never says anything to wind up others (doesn’t really need to!), not even Fake Madrid. Remember also, that he is doing that interview in a foreign language to him, so emphasis may get misconstrued….
Big game tonite Holics, stomach still calm for now I usually get nervous just before the game. We know it’ll be a tough game. They will come out with guns glazing that’s for sure. If we can withstand initial pressure we can certainly get through.
Hi Holics, big game tonight….i may get some stick from some Holics but i think this being Barcelona its risky business playing guys like Diaby who hold on to the ball a fraction longer……we need touch and go players and i think Rosicky(my preferred option) or Denilson should start this match as…that’s the only way we will manage to get the ball out from tricky situations when the impressive pressing Barca system they employ to win the ball back is employed…..plus we need to capitalize on the counter breaks we make….thus its imperative we have players who release that ball quickly……..I am positive about tonight simply because we have a solid backline to build from compared to the last visit to the Camp Nou….we are definitely getting a goal against this Barca side…..Guiness please Holic………………come on Arsenal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Still not nervous at all and I don’t think I will be, I am just excited and looking forward to what I hope will be a great game of football and as I have said before, if Robin and Cesc really are fit then I am fairly certain that we will go through. But as long as we give it a proper go I am happy, if they turn out to be better than us despite that, well, then so be it.
Holic
AA Gill style restaurant guide in your mail for BtM and Ollie – please pass it on to them!
And a drink of your choice for you. May I suggest a chilled bottle of Penedes to get the right flavour for the day?
Cant wait , cant wait cant wait!!!!!
I am 100% certain we can go through tonight. Everyone thinks Barcelona will win and win quite comfy but I think theres a feeling and spirit in the Arsenal camp thats determined to prove them all wrong.
Either way I think we are going to go through. Good or bad for the league who knows, but I am in the camp that believes that a win tonight will boost the squad confidence a million fold and could carry them on to the league.
Going to be a good game!
Thanks Catalan,
BtM, you have me mail, Ollie, numericable for you!
All I’m going to say is we’re due for a win and this game is it đ
gunning for a 2-1 win đ
Damn I’m nervous as hell. Still haven’t decided whether I feel like losing Song is a huge deal, or not really a big one at all.
Arsenal 2 – 3 Barcelona tonight. Bendtner and Nasri. Through on away goals.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS
We’re underdogs without a doubt but I feel like that suits us better (just think about Birmingham where we’re favorites). It takes most of the pressure away : the team will do everything possible to win it and if we get knocked off we’ll win the league as united will be busier.
I’ve got a good feeling about tonight…
…I reckon our goal advantage is going to be the key. Defence is going to have to be tight tonight. But we are going to be at our damndest on the counter.
As PG said in his interview, it would be good if our strongest possible team play. I know they are missing two significant center backs and we are missing a little weight in the middle and some pace up front. Possession in the park could be an issue for us but Valdes will also need to be on his game!
hmmm?
Matt, CG and Harsha – That’s exactly why I dislike him only from yesterday and not earlier, he is a class act :).
I don’t mind the fact he said that they got Jacks in Barca B, I do mind the fact he thinks he can undermine AFC and say AW is under no pressure to deliver or less pressure than FCB when in fact they went on a longer run of no trophies.
Hangover from hell. Hope to catch up with BtM later. ‘holic, I have set up an ipodollie@youknowwhat address though I only use it to transfer stuff I need on travels like booking reference. Wifi working fine at the appartment though
Snir – true, but how many managers did they get through in those lean years? I think that is the point he was making; that Arsenal has a more understanding board of directors and have given Arsene time to develop these players.
Okay – have got contingency plan in place, will meet wife at hospital if anything happens during the game!
I can’t concentrate at work anymore it’s been a long day and don’t get me wrong it has been busy too. One project work finished indeed.
Can’t wait now Holics come on Arsenal! Keep it tight and make sure we don’t concede early I think is the key. Match them up and be ourselves, then hit them hard when they will tire!
Afternoon All.
We are in the middle of Carnival here in the village in N Holland, but everything will be put on hold at 20:30 cet, silly music out and tv on for the biggun.
Come on Arsenal, make us all proud.
Pre-match pint please sir and whatever the lads want.
Cheers.
Get ready for the ride Holics. Right behind the team.. whatever the result.
Looks like our prayers have been answered…. Rvp to start up top, I just hope they weren’t to false prophets. Something strong to calm my nerves please
Finally finished fixing up the injured for the day, only to discover that some of our injured have unexpectedly been fixed up too.
Fantastic news – if RvP’s injury was just fluid sitting on an impact injury, it could well have cleared quite quickly and there should be no more risk involved with that.
I don’t think AW would take risks with RvP or Cesc bearing in mind our run-in.
He has to know better than us – a tricky decision but that’s what he gets paid a lot of money for.
So, good luck Gooners – we must be due a little of that, surely.
Let’s hope we’re all on here celebrating in about 2 1/2 hours time.
Come on REDS!!!
Have you been drinking, Sajit đ
teams
Arsenal Szczesny, Sagna, Djourou, Koscielny, Gibbs, Diaby, Wilshere, Rosicky, Fabregas, Nasri, Van Persie
Barcelona Valdes Dani Alves, Busquets, Abidal, Adriano; Mascherano; Xavi, Iniesta; Pedro, David Villa, Messi.
rosicky in ,Arshavin on the bench.
Rosicky seems to be getting preferential treatment at the moment as for me AA has done everything asked of him in his last few outings
25 minutes to compose myself before my living room turns into a war zone.
Family pets and small children removed to a bunker for safety.
Beer in the fridge.
Let the games begin.
COYRRRs.
I can understand Diaby, cannot understand Roscisky over Arshavin. Arshavin has been our best player of late. Oh well, AW knows best.
There is no way we can park the bus tonight, so we just do gotta score.
Guess who’s back? (and starting)
đ
A Clichy hat-trick. You read it here first.
Well let’s just see how it goes.
Wish I hadn’t just looked at the Guardian’s live blog of the game, the prat doing it is of the ‘I’d rather be watching Stoke v Blackburn than this tippy-tappy rubbish’ school of thought. Well do us a favour and piss off then.
and the benches
Barca subs Pinto, Bojan, Keita, Milito, Maxwell, Afellay, Thiago.
Arsenal subs Almunia, Denilson, Squillaci, Arshavin, Eboue, Chamakh, Bendtner.
In an ideal world Rosicky and Diaby don’t get anywhere near this game, but both due, and capable of, something spectacular.
Fingers crossed, ‘holics. See you on the other side.
Looks like we’re planning to swamp midfield to prevent them from playing their game. Interesting choice we’re about to see how that pans out.
Come on Holics
A round for everyone in the bar please Boss!
Come on you ALMIGHTY REDS!
Beer in the fridge getting even colder…..everyone in the house telling me to take it easy but I know I wont!
COME ON ARSENAL!COME ON ARSENAL!COME ON ARSENAL!COME ON ARSENAL!COME ON ARSENAL!COME ON ARSENAL!COME ON ARSENAL!COME ON ARSENAL!COME ON ARSENAL!COME ON ARSENAL!
Where is Clichy?
Holic,
I’ve been talking about a 3-2 defeat as well — let’s hope we’re both right!
I’ve got a good feeling!!
Anyone know a decent channel on Sopcast that’s showing this — please advise once its starts and I’ll do the same.
Good luck all
Matt
clichy is in the tunnell behind chesney,guardian blundered
Right then Arsenal…let’s get to work.
2-2 draw…..Fabregas and Nasri
sopcast Channel – 82153
Fucked.
And that is that…
Fuckin’ Ref…
Tim — 97:
Are you sure about sopcast 82153 — I can’t find it nor any other channel (and am suffering Alan bleeding Green).
Cheers
Cesc out of the players???
Matt –
Try this link and look for the Fox Soccer Channel link
http://www.myp2p.eu/broadcast.php?matchid=107416&part=sports
ALV1172
Great stream…until the injury time….
Funy enough when you see the team line up it’s Gibbs not Clichy pravda.com have been on the Rioja before hand!
Anyway…………we are too deep no is thinking lets have a go ….
Come on it my last cry!
Try this one if have good speed
sop://broker.sopcast.com:3912/82153
Put Arshavin on for fuck sakes!!! Get Rosicky off.
I just realize how much I HATE Barcelogni. They dive, play-act, and needle just so.
For a team with so much talent, why don’t they just play the game?
They have the referee in their pocket though…
It’s utterly disgraceful.
Just a thought…the player we need most for the 2nd half would have been Theo…
Come on Arsenal !!!
Tempers have been flaring too. There was a little fight right at half
Why is the half delayed?
Lonestar,
Agree.. I hate them with passion now.. Used to like them few seasons back..
The ref is a joke.. Didn’t sent off Abidal for holding RvP’s face nor did book Mascherano or Alves for fouls…
Back 4 doing well. Jack battling hard. The rest have been average at best. No idea why Cesc and rvp are on the pitch at the moment. Both look laboured. Tommy and Diaby need to wake up. 1 down with another basic error. So bloody frustrating.
yeeeeeessssssss…!!!!!
GAME ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fucking diabolical decision.
This is a joke
Fifa are Fucking LOna!!!!!
Good GOD…!!! why does every referee hate us?
That was the cheapest fucking red card ever
THIS IS A COMPLETE JOKE
1 fucking second between the whistle and the shot.
APART FROM THE REFS WE WERE TOTAL TWATS NO FIGHT NO BATTLE BUNCH OF OFF STREET CUNTS!
LATERS…..AND I DO FUCKING CARE btw!
Barca 19 attempts.
Arsenal 0 attempts.
Our attacking play never got going.
Poor team selection by Arsene – where was AA? Rosicky is no the player he was. Where was Chamkh?
Cesc was obvioulsy not fit – he shouldn’t have played. His desire to play at the Nou Camp got in the way of what was best for the team.
Poor timing of subs – yet again Arsene failed to time his subs to add any real impact on the outcome of the game.
Ps the ref was a homie!
Really disappointed by Cesc he can go off to Barca whenever he’s ready.
Cesc was awful. That backheel was outrageous.
Robin was just stupid.
But the player who disappointed me the most was Nasri.
He is the only who tried on the offensive side but when you go and try to defend in the Nou Camp, and the focus is on defense then first of all – DEFEND! Dani Alves was their most dangerous attacker.
And that ref, oh boy, that ref.
aside from the red card….
starting Robin and Cesc was far from what was needed
Defence played brilliant.
Our man of match. Aluminium.
Midfield and forward, wankfest.
Alumunia was top class.
oh and…Almunia was fucking brilliant under the circumstances
RVP and Cesc are great playes but was it really the best move to play them when they are coming back from injury?
What message does it give to Chamkh, AA etc?
Form counts for shit it’s all about the name on your shirt!
Poor, Arsene, very poor.
Arsene really needs to start playing Lansbury, Ramsey, JET et al. They may not yet have the skills of the “established” players but they certainly have the heart.
We messed up our chances back in the group stages during matchday 4 & 5. Wouldn’t it have been better to have played Roma and not FCB?
and then Barca in the next round?
Let’s erm…do the league then
Am trying to decide who played best for Barca
5 contenders
Rosicky – must have touched the ball at least twice and one very half hearted tackle
Cesc who obviously was wearing the wrong kit today
The ref who couldnt understand why anyone else didnt hear his whistle in that stadium
NB52 who tonight demonstrated that he is not a front man – one touch was required to slide it to the left of the goalie, not two
AW for picking TR ahead of AA, delaying bringing AA on far too long, and also for losing his cool after the match
OK Barca played better than us but Bendtner was finally their best player
All the others played well and didnt deserve that result
*shrugs* If we’d topped our group we may have got a team like Roma now and gone through, but there still would have been the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Man Utd, Chelsea etc in later rounds, you have to face these sides sooner or later.
I’m disappointed but not too down.
I wish i could say something positive?
But I cant we were in no man lands for most of this fuckign game!
Oh dear, and I thought English refrees were crap.
I hope Szczesny’s hand injury does not keep him out for long. MotM was Almunia. He kept us in it and was excellent. Had Bendtner’s first touch not failed him, yet again, would could still have gone through with that late chance.
The wrong team selection really undermined our game.
Disappointed but not unexpected.
Personally I think that AW got his tactics wrong – so much was said on here about the defensive players they were missing and yet we wanted to play the whole of the first half in our own last third.
Wasn’t expecting to go through, so won’t lose too much sleep over tonight but I am concerned how physically drained some of these players will be for the weekend when they are faced with another big game.
Expect some major rotation for the Utd game.
Hats off to Kos, Djourou and Almunia – they were sublime.
Wilshire was the only one who stood up and was counted in midfield – a 19yr old boy lead the charge, not Nasri, not Cesc, not Diaby and certainly not Rosicky.
Alves ran Clichy and Nasri ragged all night long – It was unbelievable how poor we were down the left.
The RVP decision was a disgrace as well – but if were honest with ourselves, we didn’t have a shot on target all night long – even busquets scored our goal yet still we had a chance to win it (thanks again to wilshire) and of course Bentner showed precisely why he will never be a top class striker at the highest level.
Can’t believe Arsene didn’t make changes sooner.
There can be no regrets – because we were well and truly beaten by a better team, even if they are a shower of cunts.
Oh well I guess my 3-3 aggregate score line was one goal out!
10 men?
A pen?
Doh! đ
Well done to the Barca boys
I’ll speak my mind when it’s clearer.
Peace out fam, lets knock out Utd and win the Prem!
Cu’mon RR! đ
Not saying any fing YET!
In my 35 years of watching sports, I’ve never seen such an awful decision by an official as that red card.
Almunia MOTM.
Sums it up really.
We were poor, we’re out. No time to feel sorry for ourselves; we deserved nothing.
Well, let’s move on and win the league then.
Barman, I think i’m way too sober. I need a pint of Erdinger. Or 9.
Trying to find some positives I would say that jack was outstanding. Back 4 I thought did well considering all the pressure. Almunia has hopefully put a few million on his price.
But rest was poor. Cesc and rvp? Pointless. Diaby and Tommy? Not even close to being good enough. The sending off was ridiculous.
Yet again though we do contribute to our own downfall. Cesc back heal? Robins first yellow? Not one attempt on or off target. And let’s not forget the debacle of a qualifying.
Still, the double is still on.
Considering we will rotate in the Old Toilet and still have injuries we have to focus on the league now. It’s likely the only competition we still have a shot in after Saturday. And to think, there was talk of a quad not long ago. How things change in such a short time.
We need to rest up for WBA. Thank God there is only one EPL game this month. Get players back from injuries and with a full squad we have a shot at the league.
Well done Barca. We didnt play out best game, but still, 3-4 on agg is not the worst score against Barca over two legs. Robin may have been Ă tad unneccessary, he probably knew he was offside, but IF he’d been on id never would have forgiven him if he hadn’t taken the shot. 90 000 people in the stands, a is two inches long. Still a horrendous decision to give a second yellow. It wasnt kicking the ball into the stands out of spite, it was a shot on goal when he wasn’t sure.
We might not have earned it, but we could well have done it with eleven on the field.
Worst for me is Szcz being out for the season according to the BBC (can’t be arsed finding the link on twitter on my phone).
There was talk of quad in the hyperbole zone that is our newspapers – Man Utd’s jammy as hell Treble in 1999 means everyone is obsessed with it happening again, when anyone sane knows it’s nigh on impossible.
A WHISTLE is two inches long. That was what I was trying to say
Thank be-jesus I couldn’t get the bleeding sopcast thingy to work.
Oh well! Knocked out by the best team in the world with a measly one-goal between us (aggregate of 4-3); our third keeper between the sticks; our best striker sent off with 35+minutes remaining; and a dubious ref decision?
Bring on the mancs…
Here’s the link about Woj’s finger being dislocatd: http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_6802813,00.html
Too early too tell. A shame really that our 2 best players let us down. Oh well, no more distractions now.
BBC reporting that Szczesny suffered a dislocated finger.. not sure how long that will keep him out for
And when I say that having Szcz out is bad, I know Almunia had a decent game. But he still gets on his arse too much instead of making himself big. And now we’re just an injury or suspension away from having our fourth choice in goal.
Do you think Cesc was trying to knock 20 million off his price?
After today, I don’t think FCB would want him.
Not quite sure what to say after that, Do I say Wenger got it totally wrong with Rosicky and Diaby starting do I say fair play to the back 5 and comical Al, Do I say the Ref was a total Cunt, Do I say Bendter yet again carnt live up to his Ego, Do I say young Jacks the future of this football club , Do I say this side lack any bollocks so many questions no answers till my head clears.
Holic i love my gunners like all ur followers its not all doom and gloom chant, but fook me,football lesson regardless.
And for all you moaning about Cesc yes he was poor tonight but yet again he was playing on one leg the reason being we haven’t invested one fucking jot in this club for nigh on five years, How much longer do you expect him to carry the team Me I’d wish we stayed at Highbury,
One thing i have to say………………
FUCKING JOKE SENDING VAN PERSIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Chippy. Just back from the game. I think you should say all of that.
How can we pass every team in the PL off the pitch and not string 2 passes together against barca. I dont get it !
Not one shot on or off target has to be considered a bad performance.
Ref decison. OMG !
Defensive display. Please can we have some more of that for the rest of the season.
Positive : Concentrate on PL
WE JUST FOUND OUT THAT FIFA REFS ARE EVEN WORSE THAN EPL IS IT TRUE????????
the moment of his professional career for the one in the middle tonight:
http://www.20min.ch/dyim/2106e8/B.M600,1000/images/content/1/4/4/14466050/8/topelement.jpg
Chippy…
Let me help clear the fog a little…
“Do I say Wenger got it totally wrong with Rosicky and Diaby starting” – YES, you DO!
“do I say fair play to the back 5 and comical Al” – You COULD say that although, in reality, the midfield didn’t give them a hope in hell (aside from Jack).
“Do I say the Ref was a total Cunt” – That sort of language is a little uncalled for…CUNTS ARE USEFUL! Seriously, this fucker had NOTHING but Barca winning from before the first whistle…(Actually, I would like to know why Barca took more than a second to kick off after the CUNT blew his whistle to signal the start of play and there was no yellow card dished out!)
“Do I say Bendter yet again carnt live up to his Ego” – In his defence, Bendtner gets a lot of bad press regarding his ego after one terribly misunderstood piece of sarcasm on his part. However, this has only served to make him more sarcastic and thus give the press more to leap on. Really, you genuinely have no idea how often and how badly out of context he is quoted regarding his claims to his own ability. All of that aside, if that useless nonce is worth the ridiculous wage packet that he gets every week with his general lack of anything worth mentioning, I would like to officially claim about 5,000 per week for life from Arsenal for not being good enough to play for them too! Shite….I am a BARGAIN!!!
“Do I say young Jacks the future of this football club ” – Let’s fucking well hope so, we need some genuine spirit in this team.
“Do I say this side lack any bollocks” – Bendtner, Rocisky, Diaby, Denilson, Squillaci, Eboue…What on EARTH are you talking about…e have LOADS of BOLLOCKS!
Hope that helps…
Until Saturday then, when we will all hope, dream, pray, believe and cheer again…
Who knows, even ‘Holic might recover sufficiently to put a pound on the game!
Forever a Gooner, no matter how much it hurts.
Whilst I’m a little bit fed up with the constant daft ref’s decisions we seem to attract, we were masters of our own destruction.
Barca were sharper at winning the ball back once they had lost it.
RVP should have gone down after Abidal grabbed him round the throat… any of the Barca players would have. He then picks up a daft retaliation yellow a few moments later.
Cesc, trying to be too flash, undoes the good work of the defence so far.
RVP, having seen Sagna already get a yellow for time wasting of a whole second, proceeds to waste time by having a shot. Didn’t hear it? Do me a favour. He was on a yellow and should have been ultra cautious and not chanced his arm.
Barca’s 2nd goal, Almunia would have saved it had Sagna not got half a parry on it.
They get a soft pen.
AW fails to introduce changes soon enough once again. What on earth he thought we had to lose by now is beyond me.
Bendtner clear on goal, a goal that would have taken us through, fluffs it. Or it’s a back pass i suppose but we were never going to get any sort of decision like that. Smudger or Platty would have scored from there… we don’t have to compare with Wrighty or Thierry.
Almunia MotM for me. If Shez is out for the rest of the season I say get behind the bloke.
Ho hum. Probably done us a favour is the positive to take. If we end up *only* winning the league this year then life won’t be so bad đ
So the ref decisions ae ok?
CG,
Feel for you mate but our day will come đ That was like watching a cat toy with a half dead mouse, The cheating done them no favours but the football was from a different planet, Ill be honest I’m fuming but untill the beer wears off I’m not to sure who at, The players bar the back 4 and an 18 year old frooze the ref was straight out of the keystone cops and Alves is a diving cheating cunt but my wrath is still aimed at Wenger and the Board, We moved to compete by all accounts well if that was competing I’m Eric the Ell đ
No Arthur, but they’re not the reason we lost.
WM,
Thanks for clearing that up đ
It wasn’t just me then !!
Chippy. I have a nice bottle open…would you like a glass? Or three?
Shots:
On target FCB 13 AFC 0
Off target. FCB 6. AFC 0
Possession. 67%. 33%
That about sums it up.
Eric the ell? Is that that Spanish Eric the eel?
Before we hang the ref and blame him for our errors let us not forget the blatant pen they should have had. Ref was garbage. But our defeat was a lot more than that.
Yet again the conservative choice occurs in the big game. Why don’t we just keep playing in the same styke that got us there in the first place?
*Sigh*
Join us in a drink Steve T?
When Wenger chose Rosicky over AA you know he had a defensive mindset from the start. Arsene dropped the ball on that team selection blunder.
Jack Wilshire is a far better player at 19 than Cesc ever was..! Best young talent I have seen in the jersey and the only midfield player that stood up and was counted tonight. He played his heart out.
Theo – couldn’t agree with you more re Arshavin. Do you think he’ll still be at the club come the summer?
I hope Arshavin stays. But if I was AA, I would be pretty pissed off at Wenger. Rosicky has no right starting ahead of AA. None.
Plus, AA is what? 29? Wenger doesn’t like to keep old fellas at the club. I think AA’s agent is already sniffy around Europe on where his client will go next.
I hope he stays though. AA is pure class.
Busacca did the 2009 UCL Final between FCB & ManUre. How does such an esteemed referee give RVP a second yellow for that?
The RVP sending off did change the game. It was 1-1 at the time.
Most of their shots on target/off target came when it was 10 vs 11.
Come on! We would have had some shots at them if Van Persie had stayed on the pitch.
To defend 10 vs 11 at nou camp is very difficult, but in my opinion to say that we didn’t show fight in midfield is ignorance on our parts.
Cesc was awfully poor. He was not fit.
I will have white rum, please
Was a crazy match…… Unbelievably awful team selection…… Helpless Mid Field….. Barcelona had strung up more than 500 passes while Arsenal managed just abt 200. Rosciky, Diaby, Cesc …. u name the player.. all of dem had a pathetic game. Completely outplayed by Barcelona. If at all we had any chance of winning it was only by attacking Barca n all that went out the window with a pathetic team selection. Droppin AA was the worst Blunder.
If not for Almunia we would hav lost by almost 10 goals.
Barca had 19 attempts while we managed NONE. That is a Disgraceful performance that the team put up for every Arsenal Fan
Hopin to somehow recover from all these debacles n fight out the league.