We’re On A Mission From God
Mar 12th, 2013 by 'holic
It’s like something out of the alternative Blues Brothers. “It’s 600 miles to Munich, we got Fabianski and Arshavin, no Jack or Poldi, it’s cold… and we’re wearing lederhosen.” Perhaps even Airplane. “Looks like I picked a bad week to give up on Szczesny”. If you didn’t laugh you might get angry, but that wouldn’t alter or help anything.
Whilst considered opinion has the German towels already stretched out over the quarter-final sun loungers there remains the possibility, yes remote I’ll grant you, of the Champions League equivalent of a major lottery win. The absence of Jack Wilshere and Lukas Podolski through injury makes that scenario even more unlikely. That doesn’t mean, however, that those who are fit shouldn’t make a decent fist of a difficult tie.
The recall of Lukasz Fabianski in goal has raised some eyebrows. An error-free evening would possibly see him leapfrog his countryman in the pecking order. Let’s hope he and those in front of him have a resurgence of confidence as the match pans out. Kieran Gibbs is back in the squad, and hopefully will get a start purely for the added attacking threat he would bring as opposed to the skipper.
With the need for away goals, and lots of them, I would be somewhat surprised if Tomas Rosicky did not get the Wilshere role, although I ‘m far from certain that Le Boss shares that view. The likeliest alternatives, Abou Diaby and Aaron Ramsey, rarely display the same sense of attacking urgency. One of them may well get a start if Santi Cazorla starts on the left flank. Again I would be tempted, given the circumstances, to start Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the wings thus freeing up Santi to work in tandem with Rosicky, attempting to unlock a very disciplined German defence.
It’s an easy game from a spare room in the West Country when few would be abusive and critical of every last call I would make. Whilst the team itself has nothing to lose given the almost universal assumption that they are going out, Arsene knows that defeat will leave him facing a difficult end of season with a return to Europe’s top table far from likely, never mind certain. Let’s hope the players who are out there give everything for the badge and salvage a little pride, if nothing else.
The ‘holic pound, bolstered by a fourth place for Tullamore Dew at Cheltenham, can be placed quite simply on an Arsenal win. It doesn’t have to be the 0-3 or 2-4 or better we need to progress. A scabby 0-1 or 1-2 should get you at least seven times your stake back.
All that remains is to wish all those who intended travelling to Munich a successful trip. I know a number have suffered because of the Eurostar cancellations today and alternative arrangements have had to be made with undue haste. Enjoy the beer and the food for sure, and just maybe the football as well, and pray it isn’t the last time we take our seat at Europe’s top table for a year or more.
Here’s hoping by the end of Wednesday we have seen the light.
467 Responses to “We’re On A Mission From God”
THirst
I sure hope we aren’t singing The Blues tomorrow, Brother.
If we score first, even unintentionally, they we’ll destroy us.
Krautrock? Not now, some other time.
I was feeling quite positive about tomorrow until today’s injury news. Without Jack and Poldi a sense of foreboding has descended i’d have to say.
A measure of Szczesny’s recent performances is that I’m quite indifferent about Fabianski playing in goal. If only that was because they are equally good.
Sanchez just collected the ball, rounded the keeper and rolled the ball into the net – all after the whistle had gone for offside.
Was he carded as per RvP.
No chance.
UEFA should ask why, shouldn’t they ….?
Come on Trev, you should know the same rules don’t apply to them.
Game done.
That’s exactly why i wrote it H2H. π
I don’t do irony Trev……………
Unless it’s mixed with vodka. π
Its just a privilege to see the game being played like that..!
So much for the ‘crisis’ at Barcelona
I can’t fooking stand Barca. Not a Milan fan either, but better them then the barca-loanus.
Diving bunch of cheats. Cry babies. Poor sports. They make a mockery of the game – of the idea of sportmanship. Pima donas, showoffs, and a pack of arrogant arseholes. Pretentious as-all-get-out. Their fans are … pff. I saw a grown man crying in public after the no-call on in box between Ramos and the Barca-diver in the last derby.
I’m sick to death of this la maisa nonsense as well.
I still look forward to the day we knock their collective candy-asses OUT of the CL tourney.
Sorry, rant over.
I shall be eight miles high at kick off.
Time was I would be eating my heart out at the prospect of missing as much as the kick off.
Not so this time around – avoiding any further injuries will be the sum total of my hopes for this particular fixture.
What price the Holic pound on Fabianski making a ricketts….? π
I think they’re one of the greatest sides ever. I know that goes against the grain here, but just the way I feel. Plus I’d rather they won the CL than Mourinho or Bayern (haven’t forgiven them for their bottle job last May). Of course I’d rather Dortmund or someone won it most of all this season.
refs treat barca differently,shame on uefa
I shall be eight miles high at kick off.
Puff, puff pass, amigo.
Elmore Blues would know what to do in such a situation. Not sure about his brother though. Come on Arsenal!!
have you seen the *light*???
z, from the last drinks, i don’t even remember how i got back to munich. but i do remember the walk *there* π
so, will a comeback from 3-1 on the first leg be a better result than a comeback from 2-0 on the first leg?
i hope to hell we have cause to find out…
Frankly Milan played like they did at our place last season and its hard to evaluate Barca. Messi is brilliant but their defence is pedestrian and I think Real,Bayern and Juventus could all beat them.
Interesting what the scanty ITV analysis throws up. In the last minute Robinho couldn’t take a long free kick with all his defenders in the area because Iniesta was allowed to stand four yards away. So he took it short lost it and Barca scored. And the ITV jury lambasted Robinho.
Zico,
I bet the plane gets no more than 7 miles up in the air. The last mile is up to you. Something tells me it will be no problem.
I too have enjoyed some absolutely wonderful Beer made from Bavarian monks. They are true brewmasters. Centuries of crafting the finest.
Ah ….. memories.
Cheers
I am drunk as a skunk. Yes, that is the truth. I am in Municj anf I am off to bed. Sleep tight all you lovely people!
And yesss, drinksss are still on my tab!
Heh! Sleep tight Lars π
The spirits of Elwood and Jake Blues, plus Aretha, Ray and Cab calloway will fire us to glory tomorrow night….. By that I mean, we won’t get annihilated like most of the hacks and pundits are predicting. π
Heh Lars, drunk as a Robin. π
Dont know if anyone saw (and already mentioned) this, but Alan Smith called Arsenal a club in turmoil earlier today on SSN. I am far from overjoyed with most things happening on and off the pitch, but turmoil??? He has been taking the poisoned challice and sky’s filthy lucre too long judging by that hoary old bollocks.
His voice bores the tits off me too, so fuck off twice Smudger you miserbale caaaaaahnnnt….
Norris – some people were banging on about Barcelona being in crisis or in decline etc before tonight, Man Utd still get a lot of gloomy stuff written about them despite cruising to another league title this year. If you fail to win two games on the trot these days, in the eyes of the press you’re in turmoil!
Good stuff ‘H.
Still haven’t given up on it, even without Jackie boy. Early goal and who knows. Desperately hope Rosicky gets the nod. Arshavin to amble off the bench in injury time to score the winner with a bullet header!
Dr Z – I remember you saying something similar before the Milan game last year mate π
Joe from last drinks – Truly staggering numbers for Messi. He pretty much has me shaking my head in disbelief every time I see him.
Heh, Lars – Excellent work! π
True Charlie, sensationalist tabloid style hackery is rife. The BBC have fallen into the trap of pandering to the lowest common denominator over the last few years, probably following the barrell scraping lead of Talkspite.
On tonight’s game, I thought Milan were awful, terrible and rubbish! How the fuck they managed to beat Barca last time out is beyond me and even saying that, they should have scored at least one goal when it was 1 nil.
There IS hope for us! π
Hi everyone. Holic, I didn’t know Poldi was injured π I really feel for Arsene. Bad breaks all the way around… But I’m positive we’ll give it our best shot and they will make us all proud. I must say your last post was truly a treat to read and just imagine what you experienced, through your eyes. Good stuff, Sir π
Trev (#5) Exactly what I screamed at the screen as it didn’t happen! Barca at home of course…
Another awesome performance by Messi. But I have to question whether his legs/ankles are legal … I mean, the battering they get every game suggests at least teak, maybe even carbon fibre. Can we get Jack a pair?
Did you really mention Cardew Robinson in your previous, ‘holic?? Not so much a blast from the past as laugh from pre-history … never heard of again (by me) since I left UK in 1967!
Oskar
A special plea to ALL holics. But first, I’ll have what Norris is drinking π Tomorrow is special and nothing would cheer me up more if we were to set a record # of drinks here. So, lets hear from all the shy holics, the feisty holics (you know who you are π ) ! For old times sake, please π And to Lars, Ollie and all holics going to the game, hope you have the time of your lives π
I wish I was as optimistic as some as you guys, if it were up to me IΒ΄d send in the fringe players and keep the big guns wrapped in cotton wool, ready and raring to go against Swansea.
Mission Impossible it might not be, Mission Improbable it certainly is.
Still, it wonΒ΄t stop me screaming the lads on 2moro night.
[while standing at the entrance to the Ashburton Grove church watching the service with much dancing and Hallelujah choruses, a heavenly light shines down on Arsene and he has an epiphany]
Arsene: The team? The team.
Reverend Cleophus James: DO YOU SEE THE LIGHT?
Arsene: THE TEAM!
Reverend Cleophus James: DO YOU SEE THE LIGHT?
Ivan: What light?
Reverend Cleophus James: HAVE YOU SEEEEN THE LIGHT?
Arsene: YES! YES! JESUS H. TAP-DANCING CHRIST… I HAVE SEEN THE LIGHT!
Arsene: We’ll put the team back together, do a few matches, we get some bread. Bang! Five million bucks and some silverware.
Ivan: Yeah, well, getting the team back together might not that be that easy, Arsene.
Arsene: What are you talking about?
Ivan: They split, they all took other jobs.
Arsene: Yeah, so you know where they are. You said you were gonna keep in touch with them.
Ivan: Well… I got a couple of leads, a few phone numbers, but I mean, how many of them visited or even wrote you, huh?
Arsene: They’re not the kinda guys who write letters. You were outside, I was inside. You were supposed to keep in touch with the team, not fuck off to Vietnam. I kept asking you if we were gonna play again.
Ivan: Well, what was I gonna do? Take away your only hope? Take away the very thing that kept you and the fans going in there? I took the liberty of bullshitting you, okay?
Arsene: You lied to me.
Ivan: It wasn’t a lie, it was just bullshit.
Just saying like. π
You think Arsene knows the words to “Rawhide”?
Head ’em up and move ’em out….
I must say it would be one of the biggest porkies I have ever told if I said I felt confident about Wednesday night. If we went into the game level and with a full squad I would not feel confident. The news that Flappy is about to play his first game of the season hardly assisted with the inspiration issues I was clearly facing. The news then came that Jack was out for the bog standard 3 weeks did nothing to ease the fears which quickly turned to a form of anger when I heard AW say that he had overplayed him. I just hope that for the first time ever that 3 weeks is actually 3 weeks. The absence of Poldi is also a massive blow. I was sure that he was the one player who would have been chomping at the bit to get at Bayern.
I must say that I am with Zico. As long as we come home with no further injuries I will not be too disappointed. I am one of the most optimistic people around but at the moment I ma struggling to find too many other positives. I have not heard the Alan Smith comments but poor results on Wednesday and at the weekend and crisis may just be a tad more accurate than some are willing to admit.
I genuinely hope I am wrong about Wednesday. If we get anything out of the game I will be amazed. I hope Tommy R starts. Diaby slows everything down too much for me. If Gibbs is able to play then at least the side will have more shape. I can actually see him playing in front of Nacho in the games ahead in that wide left birth.
For those travelling, Pissed up Lars, Ollie, BtM and all I wish you happy and safe travels.
Nice write up holic. Enjoy boys and girls.
Fine preview H.
We thrive on adversity cos we are GOONERS.
HEH Trev @5. My thoughts precisely. We were done there mate. No question. Money changed hands. Buck Farca…..simples.
Heh Norcal @ 34……just……roll ’em. π
NorCal @20,
“Beer made from monks…..”
What, no hops ? π
Tabs,
I’m in the “desperate for Rosicky” camp too. Has to start if Jack is out.
Abb,
Talking of special occasions and feisty Holics –
GoonerTerry, about time you showed your feisty ass in here again – well, you know – seriously, hope you are ok mate.
Clive, you too sir. Very quiet of late.
Hey bath,
A late show, eh ?
Indeed, Arsenal of old need to turn up tomorrow.
Hey SteveT,
That’s some consortium we’ve got down in Munchen.
I propose a takeover. What with the Olliegarch, the petro-dolLARS and BtM to market the whole shebang – what could possibly go wrong ? π
Arsene: We once had a team powerful enough to turn goat piss into gasoline.
What could go wrong????? You would only be able to buy haddock on the concourse and BTM would turn half the toilets into tanning salons.
I just hope we don’t get thrashed like milan today..Useless fools who capitulated against an ordinary barca side despite having a 2 goal lead..Woj being rested shows arsene’s priorities.Not that he has had a great season but surely he’s much better than flappyanski?!
Andre Santos : No, 4 whole fried chickens, and a coke.
Poldi being injured doesn’t matter cos he’d av come as a sub with 20 mins remaining or something despite the fact that he should be starting the vast majority of the games as he’s our most lethal striker in front of goal.It baffles me as to why he hasn’t been in the first 11 for the past few months despite being injury free during that period. Jack n bac missing the game renders any miniscule chance of winning let alone going thru on aggregate.It truly is mission impossible.The odds of us goin through should be the same as qpr winning the league now..
Woolfie: Don’t you “Don’t get riled, sugar” me! You ain’t goin’ back to the Tollie no more, and you ain’t playin’ them ol’ two-bit sleazy dives. You’re livin’ with me now, and you not gonna go slidin’ around witcho ol’ white hoodlum friends.
Zico: But babes, this is Lars and Tabs, the Booze Brothers.
Woolfie: The Booze Brothers? Shit! They still owe you money, fool.
Lars: Ma’am, would it make you feel any better if you knew that what we’re asking
Zico here to do is a holy thing?
Tabs: You see, we’re on a mission from God.
Woolfie: Don’t you blaspheme in here! Don’t you blaspheme in here! This is my man, this is my restaurant, and you two are just gonna walk right out that door.
Oh the gang is trickling in…now to read! π
Wolfie: Yes.
Arshavin: I’ll have some toasted white bread please.
Wolfie: You want butter or jam on that toast, honey?
Arshavin: No ma’am, dry.
Wolfie gives him a look, then turns to Santos]
Santos: Got any fried chicken?
Wolfie: Best damn chicken in the state.
Santos: Bring me four fried chickens and a Coke.
Wolfie: You want chicken wings or chicken legs?
Santos: Four fried chickens and a Coke.
Arshavin: And some dry white toast please.
Wolfie: Y’all want anything to drink with that?
Arshavin: No ma’am.
Santos: A Coke.
So … Sir Ches, Bac, Jack, Poldi, Santi, Per and Theo all out for one reason or another. It’s becoming a farce.
I agree making top 4 is more achievable than winning the CL this year, but as a gooner I’m embarrassed. Resting players who have just had ten days rest? Say, what???
Oskar
@stevieT…the booze brothers. brilliance.
10 days of rest and we rest Wojtek and Poldi who has not played that much either he only came on late as a sub against the tiny totts. Now when I read that Diaby is not fit is like blessing I feel for the guy and I would never wish him an injury but we should have sold him and his problems years ago instead he collects his paycheck every week.
So did Podi get injured in training then? I know Jack needs a rest but that was clear few weeks ago now.
God help us tonight and let’s not be an embarrassment come 21:30 this evening.
Come on Arsenal1
Greatest film Ever made !!
May sling that back on rather than watch tonights bloodbath π
Whatever the odds we always have Hope. And that really is it.
You think Fabianski is going to put in a miraculous performance after being out of the 1st team for over a year? No. Way. On earth. Will that happen. I haven’t seen a single performance from him that suggests he can boss an area and make sound decisions, not one.
There’s slim possibilities and then there’s lottery-sized odds against. This one falls in the latter category.
Obviously I can’t back Arsenal to lose but I’m afraid this team just doesn’t have it in them. Still be hoping against hope though.
In the end, I don’t mind if we lose 10-0 tonight so long as we win on Saturday and keep the pressure on in the league. Of course, you would argue that getting thrashed won’t help our confidence for Saturday and will make a win all the harder, but let’s not bring logic into my hypothetical situations now!
I am with arseblogs today in that if you offered me a 0-0 now, I would bite your hand off.
This match is about regaining self respect and not about a gung-ho attempt at rectifying the score-line from the Ems simply to have our lack of quality demonstrated again in the quarter final. Sad but true.
I shiver at the thought of the potential psychological damage tonight may cause. I suspect that this may be the real reason for Szcz being rested. If we leak a barrow-load of goals, Fabianski’s confidence doesn’t matter too much as he will be off in the summer.
However we are never more dangerous than when we are written off – *last optimistic neurone fires*.
Whack all your money on Bayern. You’d be mad not to.
If he’s really not going to play the likes of Walcott and Cazorla, he’s already given up on the game so …
Holic
“It’s cold and we’re wearing lederhosen” – That cracks me up.
Bath:
Psychological damage?
Not so sure we can be anymore damaged than we were against Manu 8-2 or what we’ve had to endure against Bradford / Blackburn this season.
Even with a full squad playing well with momentum – Bayern were always going to be a very big ask.
For what its worth, it seems obvious to me that Wenger is putting a brave face on things and is going to ring in serious changes and focus on the PL fixtures. Finishing 4th is far more important now than getting to the quarter finals of a competition we’ve never won. That may sound like a defeatist attitude, but its just being realistic. If we couldn’t perform in the beer / FA cups – what realistic chance have we in the CL?
One things for sure – Wenger will get huge criticism one way or another and alot of it will be deserved but thats for another day as we have league points to win yet. But as Zico and H2H have mentioned earlier, lets just try to make sure we put in some performance and avoid injuries. I, for one, actually think he’s taking the right approach to this match and playing it for what is it – nothing more than a very long shot in the dark! Like others, I’d love to be proved wrong!
Fair comment Joe.
If you pick a team for a win or bust Champions League game and leave out your best players, effectively giving the game up before it kicks off, do you even deserve to be in the competition next season?
Afternoon all,
I want some of what SteveT is on!!! π π Great stuff.
I completely take on board what Joe and others have said about top 4 being the priority and Arsene being damned if he does or if he doesn’t, but I have to say that a full strength side going for it tonight would have been my personal preference.
As Charlie has already alluded to, winning begets winning, and any kind of result tonight would have augured well for the rest of the Season.I wouldn’t underestimate the galvanising effect the win over Milan had for the rest of the season last year.
It seems to me that resting players to try and qualify for a competition that you are resting players in is simply a confirmation that it is now all about the money. Inevitable perhaps, but no less sad for that.
To say nothing of the 4k or so travelling Gooners who have spent a lot of money to get out there in trying conditions just to watch a heavily rotated side which has seemingly given up the ghost.
Given the rotation I will now have to downgrade my 5-1 win prediction to 4-1. π
To say nothing of the 4k or so travelling Gooners who have spent a lot of money to get out there in trying conditions just to watch a heavily rotated side which has seemingly given up the ghost
Couldnt agree more and if the team news that is doing the rounds is True i hope the club realise it will probably cost them another load of non renewals for next season, Do we take any trophy seriously these days apart from the Virtual Top Four one. Sad days indeed.
TaBS knows @61.
Make you right Chippy. Carnage in the Summer re renewals if we surrender meekly tonight, and then fail to make top 4.
‘Thought for the day’, Tabs, Chippy,
While I was waiting to figure out how I really thought about tonight’s ‘situation’, you have all pretty much covered how I feel.
We have, every season, an increasingly difficult scramble to qualify for the Champions League.
This qualification has become the most important aspect of each season, and probably rightly so, in order to attract the super quality players we need to sign – no, really, we do – and to gather another wad of brownies to stuff into the bank accounts.
By now, we are supposed to be one of the top sides in Europe and the world. That’s what it said on the tin when we decided to buy a new stadium.
Tonight we play one of the other top sides in Europe and the world, in what should be the most exciting and eagerly awaited game of the season so far.
Instead, we are left dreading the consequences.
Apparantly we dare not play our best team tonight, in the match of our season, for fear that it will leave us too “short” to take on Swansea City at the weekend.
To that effect, we are seemingly sending out a makeshift team who will realise that they are only playing because the manager feels we have no chance of winning anyway, so why risk anyone who is important to the team.
In my book that does not sound like a top motivational technique.
Arsene Wenger said in his press conference yesterday that the reason you have a big squad is so that you can “rotate” your players.
What? All of your best players who are not injured already, in your biggest game of the season.
He is saying at the same time that he still believes the tie is not yet lost.
Please Arsene, just for once tell us the truth. Tell us how you honestly see it. This “mental strength – terrific attitude – fantastic players” mumbo jumbo is now insulting.
Our squad has so many fantastic players in it that one third of them are never used. Unless, of course, a game is considered already lost, in which case we will send them out to embarrass the name of the club a bit further.
If you don’t believe the ‘one third’, count them.
Fabianski, Mannone, Squillaci, Diaby, Miquel, Arshavin, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Rosicky –
I don’t agree that some of those should only be used when games are considered “gimmes” or dead but, in practice, they are.
Add to those the players on loan who are so bad that the manager doesn’t even want them at the club –
Denilson, Bendtner, Park, Chamakh and Santos.
I thought for a long time before writing this but I have had enough.
Our squad is in unbelievably awful shape. That hasn’t happened overnight. It is the consequence of a perfect storm of financial hardship, salary policy and long term injuries that are so long term that the players are effectively unusable. They cannot be relied on to make it through one single game.
I have hoped and hoped it is not the fault of the best, most decent, most innovative and intelligent manager I have ever known. Possibly that the club has ever had.
I cannot, however, stand any more defeatism. Any more square pegs in round holes. Any more tolerance of constantly repeated stupid mistakes.
Any more double speak about transfer intentions, dealings and finances.
Any more admonishments that now is not the time to be saying all this. Apparantly it never is.
Today’s papers – yes I know – are full of headlines like “Gunners give in”,
“Wenger throws in the towel”.
Why do we bother to scrap to qualify for a competition which the club management – insert your own culprit(s) – consider we have no chance of winning.
Oh yes Tabs, it’s all about the money.
I just cant imagine players not going for it, whoever is going to play today, not after we just lost to LWCs, not after all the shit which has been thrown on us from all sides.
The champions league is a pinnacle of contesting on top-level and every player should give his best. Even with rotated squad I cant see us rolling on our back to receive proper kicking from better side than us (which honestly Bayern is these days). Should it not be enough to win or progress, so be it but if the proper effort is given by every single player on the field, thats all I can ask. So keep the faith Gunners, I have feeling this will be night to remember..in a good way!
Good stuff Steve T.
Tabs, I get where you’re coming from, especialy with regards to the travelling faithful. But, with pain in my heart I have to say that I believe we lost this game at the Grove already. Mathmaticaly and statisticaly we are still in it, hope springs eternal, where there’s a will there’s a way and all those good never say die one liners, but realisticaly we are on a hiding to nothing whichever team we put out because (IMO) we are weak mentaly, the whole set up in the team is just wrong and our manager keeps hiding behind that mental strength excuse.
If you tell somebody something enough times then in the end they’ll start to believe it.
And yes it is all about the money, it has been since the dawn of the PL.
H2H,
You’re quite right. We were given a lesson at The Grove – that is the problem.
Hell of a rant there Trev, me ole mucker. Better out than in mate. π
Difficult to argue with much of what you say, although I’m not sure I’d include Diaby, Ox or Rosicky in the third that “are never used”.
As said above I completely agree with you re the extensive rotation, if that is what happens. One word of caution is that it does just seem to be press whispers at the mo so I shall hold fire until it is confirmed.
I cannot see any rationale for resting the keeper tonight and bringing in a less than confident replacement who hasn’t played since God knows when. None at all.
As I said above, I do think that in this instance Arsene is damned if he does and damned if he doesn’t, although I would much prefer that he played a full strength side.
Agree with you that AW makes a rod for his own back with some of his Press pronouncements. Either we’re going for it, or we’re resting players ahead of the weekend. He can’t have it both ways.
Good stuff Trev esp. picking up where H2H left off the other day re that defeatism thingy. That’s why i’m having difficulty getting AW’s squad selection for this match. OK, i understand doing what we can to get fourth and that. But this is the champs league for effs sake, and while we still have a best shot – however weak it clearly is at this point – i reckon we should give it. Still …
ComOnUWhiTes!
While typing I see that Trev has put his tupppence worth in.
I can’t disagree with any of that and it’s the sad position we find ourselves in today.
We can all plainly see, even here where we tend to look at things more rationaly and positively then other sites, that the mood is starting to change. None of us are asking for miracles, but the excuses, negativity and mixed messages coming out of the club are starting to alienate even the most staunchists of Wenger fans.
We are either being lied to (transfer kitty) or someone is not utilising said recources properly, unwilling or unable, both pretty unacceptable.
Three, even two years ago, we’d go into every game thinking we had a chance. We weren’t scared of the Barca’s even if they were better then us, we’d knew we could give them a game. Even last year when we were trailing 4th place by a much larger margin then this time around there was still a general belief that we would pull it off. There was a will to fight and none of this “fragility” bollox.
WTF happened????
Afternoon H2H,
Fair enough mate. Don’t think we’re disagreeing on much. Get what you’re saying and agree with most of it.
I still think that winning breeds winning and that most elusive of qualities, confidence, can only be recovered by good performances and good results. Hence why I’d play a full side.
And as you intimate, if the game is not for the travelling fans, then who is it for?
Totally take your point re the game already being lost. It is 99% certain that it is, but weren’t we all saying the same pre Milan last year? As it turned out,we came within an arrogant Dutchman’s chip of drawing level.
Trev,
Far better than i could have typed and agree with every word,
Up until around 2 seasons ago we were in relatively good health where an injection of 2 or 3 players of Top Top quality would have seen us kick on and properly challenge and that was the case for the previous four or 5 years, now tho we find ourselves in a situation where we need about 6 and that isnt going to come cheap, is Kroenke and his gang likely to stump up the cash to make as competitive again – Most know how i feel about that and just cannot see it happening
More worryingly tho what has happened to the fabled youth accademy weve had/Got fuck all coming through challenging for spots in the 1st team – Hence we keep going back to the Dross even in thowaway games like tonight,
Heh the Reverend is in. Hallelujah!
Alright AL, how goes it?
Are we wearing white? Shurely shome mishtake?
Purple or yellow no?
Trev @ 65
Great post and sums up my feelings exactly.
Earlier in the week I was anxious about a potential pummelling tonight mixed with a sense of “well let’s throw the kitchen sick at ’em” and see what happens.
This is football were anything can happen, right?
However, IF the rumours of wholesale changes to the starting XI are true, that’s the end of AW’s illustrious time at the helm.
To throw a Champions League last 16 tie is unforgiveable to most Fans.
Tonight could be the watershed moment were the majority of opinion swings against Arsene and there’s only one ending.
What a joke we have become.
Tabs,
your three – Diaby, Rosicky and Ox – are the ones I alluded to. I completely agree with you. The fact is Diaby is never fit, and for some reason AW never rotates the other two, other than in games he sees as dead – one way or the other.
A few substitute minutes here and there is hardly the way to breed form or confidence.
I take the point about tonight’s team news being speculation at the moment, but it does not alter the situation regarding the state of the squad or the mental attitude of the entire club.
The optimist in me will struggle to surface but he will. And he will hope to see Coquelin, Eisfeld – remember him – Ox, Jenks et al prove me wrong and surge to a fantastic victory, proving after all that “they’re by far the greatest team the world has ever seen”
NURSE !!!! π
Thanks for taking the trouble to read fellas.
Sad to see so many being forced to agree.
Praise be, Rev’.
Tabs, once again we are indeed on the same page (almost. π )
Regarding last years up hill task against AC, that’s kind of my point. Even though the odds were stacked against us, many of us believed we could make a real fist of it. We knew we had the strength to knuckle down and give it a real go. Can we honestly say that we have the same feeling about tonight? Sorry, but I can’t……
Plus we were at home, now we have to go away.
Afternoon Chippy.
If you manage to get one or two players through the system every few years then you are doing well. What was worrying though was the list that someone (Ollie I think) posted about how all our players out on loan were doing, none of them were really setting the world on fire.
As am sure you know the figures the club itself releases out into the public domain tell us there’s plenty of money there H2H – only nitwits and agenderists would have it otherwise. As you suggest though, how much the club/management is able/willing to spend on trannies is open to sensible debate – one that’ll no doubt start up once again in the summer.
Fine ta tabs.
And i’m sticking with UWhiTeS!
H2H,
Good to see you matey, Id agree with the strike rate of one or two players every couple of years but for the past 10 years at the very least weve had a very decent core of young players that could come in and do a job, And a couple that were considered to be real stars in the making
At this prsent moment i can only think of Apkom who big things are expected from and Yes the ones on loan are certainly not looking like they have a chance of making it
I do not disagree with most of above. It frustrates/ saddens/ pisses us all off. All I see is a big effing white flag being thrown up for tonight. That is pathetic.
I don’t pretend to know what AW is thinking. Maybe he fears that playing our best and getting routed would be worse than playing the fringe and getting routed? If they put 5 past flappy, at least szczy didn’t watch them go by.
We tried full squad against Bradford and Blackburn with devastating results. Maybe letting the out of favor put in a fighting shift will spark some of them out of the doldrums.
Shit. We need a leader. A player that is world class and is a motivator of the pitch and in the locker room. Jack ain’t there yet and he has had a stuttering career thus far.
There is no confidence, no real joy in the team/ supporters right now. Come on. Something major needs to go in our favor.
Trev @76 – Yep fair enough. All good points.
H2H – Can’t argue with any of that mate. And no, I can’t see us winning on the night, let alone progressing. I do plan on getting seriously seriously pissed though, so I’ll definitely be singing a different tune come kick off π
AL @79 – Racist! π
Chippy @80 – Akpom tweeted last night “what happened to Jimmy Saville? Why is he on the news?”
Hope to fuck he makes it as a footballer! π
Hahaha havent seen that – Worries you senseless does it not π
Mind you Akpom is a bloody Rocket Scientist compared to Tottenham MP David Lammy.
Last night, he took umbrage at a BBC report of the black smoke/white smoke thingy at the Vatican, as he thought the BBC were making some sort of joke about the race of the next Pope. I kid you not!
Perhaps Chuba can become a politician if the football doesn’t work out!
Rosicky will be motm IF Arsene actually lets him play for once. Mark my words.
Chippy, what about our two germans: Eisfeld and Gnabry? I’ve seen many people expecting alot from both of them. Or am I thinking way out of hand here?
Maybe he meant to tweet: what ever happened to Jimmy Somerville?
One can but hope Pip π
From Blues Brothers to Bronski Beat. Is the secret code reading Bayern Battered or Bayern Battering? So hard to tell.
Nice one tabs. I’m often right, like really, really right. BOOM!
Pip:
Last I heard he had left in the morning, with everything he owned in a little black case……..
Heh Joe.
Shouldn’t that be agendaistas, AL?
Swedish @ 85,
Eisfeld looked promising when he appeared early season but not sure whats hapened to him since ??
Gnarbry granted forgot him π
Eisfeld was injured. Just got back playing today. He will be a good player. Gnabry is still very raw. Akpom appears to be good at finding the back of the net. Hope it continues at a first team level.
Finding the back of the net is good, NorCal. We could often do with a bit more of that.
David Lammy.
Sounds like a cock. π
Ned i like what you did there – but sounds a tad too sexy and exciting for that bunch, for my liking. (Pardon, hang on, apologies – what am i thinking – given the chance everything SHOULD sound that sexy and exciting.)
Adidas Amigo (Copyright Goonerholic site March 2013)
UwHiTeS!
Tabs, I can forgive akpom not knowing who Jimmy Saville is, but I can’t forgive his common sense not telling him to ask Google instead of displaying his ignorance to the whole world. On that note, I think the main reason most our loanees fail is that our club protects/pampers them so much that when they go outside the club the culture-shock is too difficult for them to overcome.
Btw czech refree is refreeing our match today, Mr. KrΓ‘lovec. He just got 3 match “pause” for “missing” two obvious pens for Sparta in latest match of czech league..hopefully he wont cock up anything which should go in our favor today.
Penalties?
I think the Eisfield lack of first team opportunities has to do with his slender frame and that also explains the frequent injuries he picks up here and there.
Well in, AL!
Hey, see some name droppers here (smiling broadly) Rev Al and co., welcome back π I stopped @ 49 to express my shock! Now Theo, Santi and Per are no shows, what the blazes is going on here?! Arrgggh, back to the drinks π
NorCal,
We will soon Knock that horrid trait out of him π
Hey Al, like that copyright thingy! Clever chap π
Well in AL, and heh @89 π
H2H π
Cent – I completely agree. What’s been holding us back these last few years is the players’ complete lack of knowledge of what an absolute cunt Jimmy Saville was! Evening classes is the answer π
Chippy,
No worries. We will teach him that actually shooting decreases our possession numbers and should only be done as a last option. π
Tabs @ 84 He than tried to cover his tracks, but I didn’t buy his explanation.
Hello Darlings,
Jimmy Somerville? What a talent!
On the way to the Pub I’m gonna sing “Don’t leave me this way” at a pitch and frequency that can only be detected by small dogs and big fairies.
Up the Arse mes amis.
Goodbye Darlings.
Nope, nor me Abb.
Hello holics, been a busy few days and no time for checking the drinks
All I want to say to our boys is “Just go and play some football and try to win the game”
Come on the Arsenal!
Heh @106 and 107.
@67 – H2H
So they’re supposed to believe they’re mentally strong then π
Great posts up there gentlemen. Empathise with that heartfelt ‘thought of the day’ @65, Trev. And with the observation that accepting defeat and fielding a scratch team is both unacceptable and disrespectful to the travelling fans, Tabs and Chippy.
It is ludicrous to play a scratch side in the very competition we are saving players’ legs to qualify for next season.
But as H2H said, it is all about the money and has been for some time.
Rightio.
I think we’ve all made our points now, not all is well at our beloved club, but, for the next few hours we’ll just have to put that aside.
Who know’s? Maybe all the changes to the team will spark a revival of brogdignagian proportions. The planets may align and spark new life into our season.
The Less Likely Lads Β© may go out and completly dominate ze krauts leaving them crying in their Kulmbacher, Flappy of Handski may become Fab- ianski, our leaky defence unpenetrable and our attack may surprise us as they pierce their pantsered backline with ease. In days to come we may very well be telling our grandkids about the Miracle in Munich, the Beating of Bayern, The Balled of the Brave in Bavaria………
One can only dream, right……. π
A round for the bar on me to whet our whistles.
Cheers.
Come On You Mighty Gunners!!!
Cheers for a Bavarian delight. π
Passion desire energy. A truly Professional performance lads.
Trev, I’m nodding my head in your direction. Speaks to many of my frustrations. Tabs and Lester, so agree we should go for it 100%. H2H re ‘our fragility’, I’m fed up as well π The Wasp, Stinging comments but I can’t argue with anything you said, sadly. Eandy @ 66 ‘I have a feeling this will be an evening to remember’, how prophetic is that ;). Swedish, TR MOTM? That would be pretty darn cool! Hey to NBN, quietly unassuming, bit hit the nail on the head π
Anybody who disagrees with Trev won’t like tonight’s post. Be warned.
Great call to arms H2H.
Just went for my water bottle and picked up the Red Wine!
Is it a sign? Of course it’s a sign. The Miracle of Munich is ON. Jesus lives! Hallelujah, get that prayer mat out AL.
Come on you rip-roaring Gunners!
No worries ‘H, we all agree with Trev, ‘cept for Snir, and I’ve got his number on Twitter. π
You ruling out the 4-2 then? I’ve just followed Adam’s advice and stuck Β£3 on at 300-1 π
Tonight’s Post Title:
If You Disagree With Trev You Are a Doo Doo Head, π
Now, keep in mind, I’ve had 2 glasses of wine. But I enjoyed cameo appearances from Chippy, Charlie, Wolfgang , Swedish and Pip. Pip, just typing your name makes me π The rest of you lot know how I feel about you π
Chin chin Tabs and nursie.
I’m keeping it simple, beer, with a side of beer and a beer chaser.
Right, boys and girls, I’m done with all this navel-gazing. Off down the juicer to get seriously plastered and cheer the boys home.
See you on the other side, for better or worse. Good luck everybody.
Come on Wolfie, put your Jimmy Somerville mask down, we’re off to the juicer.
FORZA ARSENAL!
Oh fuck that’s Italian ain’t it? Don’t know any German. Bollocks.
I played Bayern vs Arsenal on Pro Evo against my brother. And it’s 4-2 to the Arsenal. Giroud to score the winner very very late. Come on now!
Hmmm..apparently czech tv is airing our game tonight …I am not sure if to opt for stream of that or some foreign one *ponders* depends on who will be doing the commentary. If mister Jaromir Bosak then I am all ears…that guy is just plain brilliant.
False alarm. Team stronger than rumoured.
Last one promise.
Fears of mass rotation unfounded.
Arsenal: Fabianski, Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Arteta, Ramsey, Rosicky, Walcott, Cazorla, Giroud
Arsene was just playing with us all. The Miracle is on.
COME ON ARSENAL!
Ta, Cent.
Right, was set to approach the big MATCH with a near unmanageable mix of emotions but have switched to a near unmanageable mix of drinks instead
CoMoNUreds/whites and other brews.
About best team possible from what was available. Looking for that bask 4 to play like they did as the begining of the season.
What the man with the tiger in his tank said.
HalleluYeah! We’s going for it.
COMEONARSENAL!
TR with a brace, Gibbo with the winner …3-0 for The Arsenal, you heard it here first!:P
Trev
Maybe a rant but a very valuable one for that matter. We’re in a spiral decent and have been for few seasons now and sadly we can’t deny any of it.
Wenger quotes make me sick “it’s not impossible” bla bla bla bla and then we rest players for such an important CL.
Poldi didn’t make it due to injury when did he get injured? 10 days rest and he didn’t recover from the game against Spu*rs.
Anyway I hate repeatedly writing same old just as those mistakes are happening.
come on you REDS. eandy, let’s have it, then.
Cannot argue with the team it’s the best we’ve got – maybe Gazidis put a quick phone call into Arsene warning it might not be such a good idea after reading some of our rants π
Mellowed a Tad now so come on you Arsenal,
so tr in jack’s, ramsey shuttle with santi left? or santi in jacks? god forbid it’s aaron…much better shuttler and second dm.
And the hacks, who have been going on about how Arsene was set to disrespect the fans by resting players, retreat into their shells. For now.
Come on you Gunners!
Lose with the best team we can put out and you just hold your hands up and say well done Bayern.
Glad the rumours were unfounded. It would have swung the tide…
Time for a couple of daft bets π
an argentinian pope. maybe *that* explains messi’s first goal, yesterday.
Now, can anyone tell me why the Daily Mail has an agenda against us?
They write a “gunners give in and bench TW and Cazorla” and then write a piece about fans being pissed off.
Why do they hate us so much?
My guess Snir would be that editor is some wankblaster (copyright Arseblog) full of complexes trying to stir stuff up to have something to write about. Drama sells..,,
Black smoke? White smoke? What is all this B*S*?? Give me some of that Turkish red smoke every time. Even if it means meeting Galatasaray and Eboue in the CL final game. Come on Arsenal!!!
Well now he’s picked a decent side, let’s cunt them in the bastard.
snir, we can only hope for the miracle, just to see the redtops be red-faced.
This new pope’s first speech is a bit crap. Have n’t heard him say ‘Fuck Off Tottenham!’ yet, and my Italian is passable. Hope he’s a quick learner.
I am having goosebubbles.
Good omen. Bayern have never won a European last 16 2nd leg qualifier when white smoke is blowing from the Vatican chimney. Fact.
Ohhh,more lovelies at the bar ;). See cast of characters above since I last dropped in. And, boy oh boy, did Arsene fool us or what!!! π
Esso , cheered me up no end. π
COME ON
YOU
PURPLE AND BLACKS
And apologies to AW, I’ve been overseas (isle of white’s lovely this time of year) and “gleaned” from the gooner blogosphere that santi, theo and others had been made unavailable. Glad it turned out AW agreed with me re team selection – in the end.
A big, big arsk this one – but at least we’re giving it a go
CoMoNUReDS!
Come ooon you gunneeeers!
Heh Esso
So excited!!! Good Luck, Lads. We love you π
here we go!
Pardon – purples.
OMG OG SCORES!!!!
yessssxssssssssssssawdfgw bnjk bqerjpaerwg jhi vfwq hijvewt;h kljvetw h ;ljkvw et h;klawr k hljawerth ;kljarwt h l;karwth l;jkarwt h ;kljtwe hl k; awhl;k art hl; aerg
FUCK ME!!
YEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSS
GIROOOOOOOUD!
i. am. GIROUD.
Get in there come on lads!
Good for Fabs, early touch under his belt!
Just back home in tine to see GIRROOUUUDDDD !
Good to see the team news.
My rant was supposed to be fairly considered, but fair enough.
And cheers for all the responses – it was a lot to read.
Now, Come on you Rip Roaring !!!!
You filthy beast Abb – touching Fabianski under his belt ?
Wolfie will want words. π
Fabs has had 2 saves (soft) but important.
Thanks all the same H2H but …….
Hey there Trevor π
It’s started to absolutly cunt it down with snow here, thunder lightning the whole shabang.
ACHTUNG ACHTUNG, Arsenal im Anmarsch.
Heh Trev.
My eyes are glued to the TV, but I’m reading drinks on the side π
you and me both, abb π
our passing seems just a bit off, nipping at our own heels.
Traction seems to be a bit of a problem out there for both sides.
Hey Scruz, glad you are here!
you too, dearie.
TTF making themselves heard. #proud
Thnx Scruz! Yes H2H, their wonderful!
#3good touch for Fabs, keeps him on his toes!
Argh hate having to work when the game is on.
If we win, I hope Arteta makes some statement about how easy we handled them. Ribery you ass.
This ref looks dodgy
fabs claiming his area nicely.
See my @99 Arthur regarding ref
Come on FabiaΕski
Very steady by Fabs so far!!!
Brilliant Jenks
whoa, jenks runs down that old bastard robben.
Brilliant by Jenks! Agree about this ref, btw π
Too much to ask for a second before halftime?
while i don’t like that so much activity is happening there, we look pretty stalwart in our box.
Nervy stuff there, I must confess!
Does Muller know what corners are for ?
OOooooooooo
lol Trev, he’s being a bit of a baby. And Robben thinks he is the entire team π
oooh, giroud. one touch was all that needed, couldn’t quite get there. great cross, theo.
win or lose the game or tie, i really appreciate the spirit and graft our gooners are showing on the pitch today.
muller is a diver.
Agree scruz. But maybe longer spikes are needed. Ground frozen solid!
Ref is stopping play what a div!
Boom
Muller happy this time π
play it out, don’t play those long balls from the box.
But maybe longer spikes are needed.
To stamp on Robben’s head.
@198,
With you there scruz
TV warming up?..why?
TV warming up…
Hey H2H!
TV warming up ?
Mine’s been on for 40 minutes. π
maybe gibbo can’t continue?
heh, trev@210.
how the fuck did the ref not see that?
Theo’s goung to smack van Butten. π
OUch that looked nasty.
OGs knee fucked up oh boy:(
Trev, OG needs you on the field!
thankfully he looks ok. OG!
Is Poldi on the bench ?
C’mon You Reds!!!
i don’t think so, trev. gervais.
I want to clarify that. C’mon Arsenal π
in fact, gervais is now running the sidelines in a bib.
in fact, he’s dribbling.
Ref blows on Atreta but van cock bouyten gets away with it
Can we get a new ref please?
come on Gibbo!
Booo, that’s not a yellow!
Robben is the biggest effin’ diver since Jacques Cousteau. Twat.
aarghhh.. i hate being at work right now!!
Please keep us posted here holics!
all my fingers n toes are corssed .. except one for pressing f5 continuosly.
π
cheers guys
COME ON YOU REDS!
atg, the ref blows, period.
Ref is a cock
Oh yeah, Robben looks really hurt. Tart.
1 minute to go!
that’d be auto-erotica then, atg.
KrΓ‘lovec really is a proper cunt as I said before, costed Sparta two points last week.
Good first half, we need another goal early in the second and its on!
halftime, two goals to go for the mighty gunners. one early in the second, then a dramatic stoppage-time third.
well played, lads. that was a half to be proud of.
Well played lads – tremendous spirit – great mental strength – oh. π
Eandy, he looks mean and he is favouring Bayern, thus far π
heh, eandy@237.
UWatUWatUWat!
Good half.
Shades of Anfield ’89.
Giroud to whack Dante second half.
That would be poetic justice. π
Half time and you can only be proud of the lads.
Bayern are a very good team, the way they’re closing us down is extreamly effective, they look like they have more players then us. (not including the ref. π )
AL, Bath, can you Adams and Eve it ? π
Very good first half. Bayern look nervous. Need to keep the ball better though. We are not going to get masses of possession so we can’t afford to waste it.
The next goal is vital. If we go two up they will poo their pants.
Sounds like the ref is a proper fucktard. Otherwise, the lads are giving it a go.
So frustrating not to be able to watch.
Giroud OK? Gibbs?
a little bit of the ol’lineker there, stevieT?
Hope you’re not treating anything serious while all this is hapoening NorCal. ? π
both look ok, norcal. precautionary warmups, perhaps. OG is going to have a nasty bruise, at any rate.
Remember the words of Corporal Jones:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhWlAKdlQp4
Tottenham will be pooing their pants too Steve T. π
Fox Soccer ‘Arsenal the only English Team left in the Champion’s League’ …just hearing that makes me proud!
jamie redknapp, grahme souness, alan smith, and some doughy blob…can you ever imagine a better foursome for analysis and discussion?
eek.
I’ll try the Dante / poetic justice line again later. π
hey NorCal .. i know how it feels.. cant work coz my minds not in it.. cant watch coz of the work.. boo hoo…
Proud to hear that the team is putting thier all. Lets hope for a quick goal early in teh second.. n yes.. a twisted ankle for the REF !! asshole
Are Malaga supposed to do this well without Santi and Nacho? Come to think of it, are Arsenal supposed to beat the crap out of Bayern at the Allianz Arena?
trev@256, *that* was the whooshing sound i heard overhead a few minutes back. i thought it was outgoing mail.
Trev…..
I’ve already started my nitro drip.
As for the patient…….well she should have known better than to schedule her surgery during CL football. π
Unfortunately, it makes it more stressful to be blind to the goings on and only able to “watch” here in the bar or on Arseblog.
Infernal innit, Trev @ 256?
Please don’t get me started on the ref he things this is a non contact sport what a prat!
Rosicky should have words with him!
Good first half you can’t ask for more apart from another two goals please!
It’s the hope that kills you!
The mission from GOD is still on!
Come on Arsenal!
I’d love to win this, but would strangely kind of take this result and performance now.
The Wasp knows.
NorCal,
A blind surgeon ?
Holy shit !
Heh bath, indeed. π
It’s funny Trev but all of their texts seem to have dried up.
Top post earlier by the way.
annnnd, here we go for the second half. come on you gooners!!!!!
COME
ON
ARSENAL
Well played Lars, Ollie and Austrian. π
COME ON ARSENAL COME ON ARSENAL COME ON ARSENAL!
come on arsenal
Can we clobber Robben now please.
Most surgeons are blind. I’m the ass on the other side of the blood-brain barrier. π
pop his head with a hatpin.
clearly, bayern were told to come out and get an early goal, they’re all over us. that was a bullet by kroos, just outside the post.
Son of a gun this ref!
COYG
are surgeons related to this ref then
Bath @ 266
All I know is we have to put away any chances we get.
Sounds simple really!
well played, kozzer.
“Koscielny is brilliant so far today” czech commentary
Great sliding save by Kos
Got to stop giving the ball away
Jesus this REF!
FU Robben!
Agree Arthur, it’s pretty blatant, too.
Ref is a total tosser
I am starting to swear really loud here in czech towards the ref. Tosser…
manduzic can go straight to hell.
FUCKING REF!!!!!!!!!!
Still a bit sloppy. Come on Arsenal.
Play the chuffing whistle Theo
Don’t think the ref is biased….. just incompetant.
or whatever his name is. i think it’s pronounced “cunt”.
OG..why?
come on, og, not like that.
Wtf OG
If we could keep the ball for longer then a minute we might be dangerous. π
tired of the dives after every contested header. and the fouls going to them, not to us.
Come OG wtf was that?
not offside on your life. the whole crew is whacked.
Never offside
Never Offside.
SNAP
I hate watching the game as a live text update!
Blind as well
Nice tidy save Fabs.
is theo still on the pitch?
But needs to straighten out his goal kicks.
who is singing goal for arsenal to tune of roll out the barrel
Either score or destroy Robbens bollocks
took one for the team TR…well done ..kick Robben up a bit
looks like tr7 is out for the latter, trev.
TR trying, Trev π
trev TR is trying his best
jesus, this ref is bent. how was that a foul on jenks?
Well done Rosicky
I f*cking hate Robben.
Ex Chav diving tosser.
does Kroos play for us
hopefully bayern will lose a little from their tank as the game wears on, and we’ll come on more.
This is one hard team to crack! Like Steve said, we must be deadly accurate on the break (that’s if we can get one) π
Love Gary Neville, oops.
“If we go 2 up too early …..”
COME ON YOU PURPLE BLACK STRIPEY GUNNERS
phew!!
OK FABBY
good save, fabs. keeps us in the game.
Great save by us, but scary, very scary!
Don’t panic !!!
millions of gooner bums squeaked at that moment.
“the bayern line-up just served very spicy bratwursts in last two mins” I love this commentator XD
come on, gunners, get one now. i mean, right now.
Ox and Gervs on
gervs on for aaron, ox on for theo.
Gerv on …. The game’s won !! π
Alrighty then….Subs on. Fingers crossed!
Flipper and Ox for Aaron and Theo..
heart pounding. COME ON.
Now Trev… π
Gervinho to score a hat trick π
Stupid by OG…really stupid!
Gervais with the winner π
Silly Giroud.
great tackle, kozzer.
ooooooohhhhhh….shit.
Corner… COME ON
How is that not a corner for us? O.o
Do UEFA have any straight refs ?
Fuck.. no corner. π
oooh almost
AAaaaoooooooooooooooooooooo
Nice try Flipper
ohhhhhhhhhhhhh Gervais….
oooooohh, almost gervais. nicely done, too. damn.
shaking here…
How can you ref like this
Everything but the shot !
definitely more lively without aaron and theo, whatever that means.
Bayern are tiring.
COME ON ARSENAL
OX an Gevais trying to put sometin together….Cmonlads!
FUCK YOU KRALOVEC ..FUCK YOU
Utter joke, Robben ran straight into him
robben runs into per purposefully and per gets yellow. cunt.
REF YOU CUNT
ten more minutes. let’s get the goal, then the next. come ONNNNNN.
Can’t really remember Theo on the pitch. Not being snarky, just honest.
Great save Fabs!!!
another great save by fabs.
tr7 lays out two. yellow to martinez, finally.
Dirty Germans!
This ref is making Mike Dean look competent. π
shit, half our team is on a yellow. how come no one is complaining about what a cunt the ref is? π
Santi misses the quarter final π
everytime we get the ball, the ref breaks up play!
Comedy dive.
There won’t be a player left in the QF – whoever wins.
Come on boys !! Lets do it! Aaaaaaaagh
See what I mean, jelly bean π
Is it the theme here Dive Diveby ze chermans
This game is awful ref made it this way FUCKING COCK
great work by the ox down the right. NOW, boys, NOW.
hapsefn;klasdfgn;ml,adsn;klasdfnvna;gnl;jkdnl;jkanl;jkadsfnl;jkdsafgn;kladsfg;klnasdf;nldfgnl;k
IT`S ON BITCHESSSS
We should dispute that card for Santi
YES!!!
WTF is going on!
YESSSSSSS
one more for the road win, come ONNNNNNNNNN.
Kos scored?! Yippee!!!!!!!!
All respect for Bayern gone here. Bunch of diving tarts
now, timewasting by the germans? that goal was the direct result of the ox’s great work down the right.
C’mon arsenal!!!!!
come ONNNNNNN.
WHAT THE FUCCCKKKKKK… comon… i cant take it no more..
serious diving cheats.
come on, an injury time winner to take the tie….come on you gunners, do it, do it, do it…
Bayern are shitting themselves now.
COME ONNNNNNNNN ARSENAAAAAAAAL
I am so proud of our defending today, very much so!
arrrrrrrsenal, arrrrrrrsenal fc, we’re by far the greatest team the world has ever seen…
Anyone not been booked yet ,
christ i hope arsene gets some SAF time added on.
and it’s arrrrrrrsenal, arrrrrrrsenal fc, weβre by far the greatest team the world has ever seenβ¦
three fucking minutes. you are kidding me.
Bang !!!
There has to be an inquiry about this fef, he is fucking awful.
3 friggin min to win this puppy!
Fef?
REF
FUCKING DIVERS!
out of it but with honour
Great performance. Ten more like that please.
Well played lads.
Well done boys.
Brave effort.
Did us proud.
Super proud of the lads.
They gave it their best and thatΒ΄s all we can ever ask.
PLEASE; PLEASE; PLEASE, take solice and confidence from this result.
damn. damn, damn, damn.
that’s it, but what a game. two goals against the cheating cunty bayern, if only we’d held out against that crap third goal at the ems.
proud of the lads, damn proud.
Proud of our effort!!! Damm diving and poor calls by ref, just too much to overcome.
anyone complaining about the team after watching that really has a different agenda. that was a performance.
I thought Bayern had class today they showed they have none!
Ref the worst I have ever seen!
Well played lads we are proud of you!
Football is a funny game!
Cant complain about that. Hope we can take that performance forward for last 10 games of the season.
That wasn’t even 3 minutes added on. And the linesman on the far side is a bald cunt. Theo wasn’t offside when through on goal.
Having said that, what a performance. As always, the refs in CL are utter cunts.
So close. Yet again, a little bit short.
If only they’d played like that in the first leg…
The official was a reffin’ disgrace.
Bang on Eandy.
Have to say Jenks is my first choice right back now.
Kos and Mert have to play together.
Superb from TTF.
So unlike Jake and Elwood we just fall short, but still, much, much better all round. If only we could do this over both legs in these ties!
and now, to work.
Performance and result we needed.
Hopefully a shot in the arm for the remaining league games.
The Kozzer was my MOTM
Shame shame ..great result though on its own, beating Bayern away is exactly that kind of game which should fill lads with confidence. Bugger that the third didnt go in…firstly we would be through and secondly I would be quite wealthy young man right now:P (but thats not that important)
Fucking hell, the Guardian MTM report sneeringly saying ‘why can’t Arsenal do it when it really matters?’ and calling us Almost Football Club in their summary at the end. Bog off, wankers.
Thanks for helping to calm my nerves Holics. π
Strange feeling to win 2-0 and not really care. Didn’t expect to go through, haven’t done so, haven’t been great, haven’t been shit either. Nice win, some very good performances (hello Jenks) and some dreadful ones (hello Theo).
Sort of gave hope but with the full knowledge it’s coming to nothing in the end.
Another game that confirms there’s the basis of a good side here but that it will always fall short of achieving because we won’t finish it off with quality. Like having a Victoria Sponge with no jam or cream.
I am amazed.
Too much, too late.
So, whose our MOTM?! We did win! π
Proud, proud, proud!
One negative was Arteta’s general performance.
He lost the head after the 2nd goal and should have had enough experience to not touch the dirty cheaty diving feckers.
Well…… Looks like I can watch it tonight with a proud smile on my face. We beat a 12 man Bayern in Munich. Well done lads.
Back to work. No worries Trev, she’s still looking alive.
Please don’t doubt yourselves anymore lads. 10 games left. One game at a time.
Im Quick enough to slate them but tonight I’ll salute them that was as hard a working performance for a long long time as the result showed – Fair play lads you gave it your all and wore the cannon with pride !!
Ps Jenks was superb as we’re the other 3 at the back, We lacked a bit going forward but thankfully lacked no heart.
Up Tge Arse
Ps the Ref was a Fucking wanker.
Btw, well played the Pole in the Goal.
Officially Confirmed:
We are king of second half,
and
We are king of second leg too.
Is this a trophy?
Ok, Theo got that beautiful assist, but after that, he was invisible. Fabs MOTM, Corporal Jenks shined.
Yeah Trev, who would bet on Flappy keeping clean sheet in Munich?:) He had few good saves in overall. MotM for me is Kos, he didnt put foot wrong and added a goal.
Proper Gooner, Jenks.
Yes Chippy agree. And Kos, mighty proud of him as well. But Fabs kept us in the game π
Jenks’ pace also allows him to cover Mertesacker better too.
Well played The Arse – Jenks immense again. Let’s go get the sc*m again.
I think Theo had a hard time using his pace on a pitch resembling a skating arena. He did give an assist and almost created another goal for HFB despite struggling, so fair play to him. Arteta was rather frustrating at times. Jenks did every Gooner proud. And Gervinho was OK! Bosscielny bossed the defense. Santi wasn’t at his best. But lots of positives to take!
Same level of concentration and commitment needed against Swansea!
If we are going to put this kind of performances in PL from now on, I am not worried about clinching 4th or even 3rd. And Rosicky has to play from now on.. even after Jacks return.
I donΒ΄t think itΒ΄s the time to point the finger of blame at any one of our boys tonight.
It was a dogged team performance.
The Germans may be through, but they know theyΒ΄ve been in a game. We beat then by two on their own patch, that doesnΒ΄t happen often.
Fabianski one on stop was awesome Jenks was running down that flank!
A tad disappointed with Arteta and Rosicky going forward was a bit vague but we won and we have done it the hard way!
Well done lads!
In hindsight the third goal we let in at home is even more painful, especially given the fact that it went in in combination of luck and defensive fuckup. Fair play to Bayern though..they are really good team and from the team left in the competition I am backing them and Dortmund to eventually go and win the thing.
I was branded as someone who doesn’t understand football in the first leg when I said that Gibbs’ absence was the reason for the loss.
He was brilliant tonight along with Kos.
Please Arsene, let Kos start. He is BY FAR our best CB.
I really liked our defensive structure and it seemed as if AW and Bouldie decided to go with a deeper defense which restricted Bayern to shots from distance only.
Also, fantastic work rate from the forward lines. I couldn’t even count the amount of times Dante was forced to hoof it up the field.
This would be the catalyst for a surge up the table. We will get CL.
Also, I am now certain we’re beating Swansea on Saturday.
I really like the tactical changes to our play.
Fair play to Bayern though…
But not from them. #divingcunts
heh H2H, cannot disagree with that hehe
So proud. So close. So do one, whinging doomers.
There is a reason why we so often play better away from home.
Well played Ollie, Lars and all the other Gooners there tonight. Can’t tell you how much I wish I was there too.
Safe travels guys.
As long as Kos is fit he should start every game from now on. The defense looks just so much better. My man of the match. Jenks was quite magnificent too, could become a superb player for us if learns a few more tricks going forward.
The understanding between Rosicky-Cazorla-Giroud was a bit off. Maybe because that combination has not played that often. But Rosicky’s drive and positional discipline and organization was great, even thoughthe final passes were bit hurried. Hopefully a significant part to play in the remaining ten matches.
Arteta lost nerve, as did much of the Bayern team especially with Schweinsteiger absent. He really makes the whole team tick ( last year’s nervy penalty miss was truly out of character).
Should be the springboard for the push for the top four. Haven’t lost hope for a 3rd position yet.
Snir,
I know it was not a regular who chastised you about your Gibbs comment. We play better with him in there. Nacho may give him a run for his money, but Gibbs gives us a full on motor on the left and sounds like Jenks gave us a drive on the right.
Kos has to play. We have given Vermaelen every opportunity to play out of his slump. Kos has scored more than him and more importantly gives us a good CB pairing with Mert.
No one expected that — a blinding performance from the whole team.
Thing is, Saturday’s game at Swansea is even bigger but should AW fail to select Kos and Fab, in favour of TV5 and SCZ, then, well, we’re f*cked.
Not just because the Captain and No. 1 have been shown to be inferior to their respective team-mates, but because AW will have demonstrated his lack of man-management skills. I’m so hoping that isn’t the case, but let’s wait and see…
When you see Arsenal play like that, it just makes you wonder what might have been this season.
But one thing’s for certain: we match that performance and we’ll be assured of at least 4th spot.
If Arsene really wants to play TV at all costs and as much as I know its probably not the best thing to do ..but still..might be worth a shot to play him as deep DM with Rosicky and Arteta in front of him. Absolutely agreed on Jenks and Kos ..they showed that they should start games. Jenks is going to be superb for us in a long run.
SG @ 444 — absolutely agree about Kos. There was never any reason for him to be dropped when fit this season. However I am afraid Arsene may continue to try his best to get TV5 out of his funk and Kos would be sacrificed again.
Gibbs became better as the game progressed, was tentative in the first half. But I agree that his attacking play was one of the building blocks of our rare dominating performances this season. He defended quite well today, which is not always his strong point.
Eandy – I don’t know, Bayern almost messed it up tonight when everyone was queueing up to say how they’d show us no mercy etc. They messed it up last season as well. I think they still get very nervous in the CL when it comes to the crunch. Despite the fact they’re twenty points behind them in the league, I think Dortmund are a better bet to make a challenge in the CL.
Incidentally Bayern have only conceded 10 goals so far this season in the league (though bizarrely 9 of those have been at home!). So to win 2-0 there isn’t bad going at all. So frustrating that we gave ourselves too much to do to start with!
Well a moral victory. I’m not upset with the loss. I was expecting a loss, so it was great to see us win and prove that we can play top teams and get the right results. It just comes down to consistency again. 10 games to go!! Lets do it!!
Leat we forget, we didn’t even have Jack on the field today! Have to say Fabianski also had a really good game. Well done lads. And Giroud can sure take a beating. When I saw the Van Buyten challenge on slow motion, I thought he’s done for the night.
Amazing effort tonight…. Not sure what was better, seeing the players dig out a hard fought oh so nearly victory, or listening to the back tracking from numerous wanky pundits??? π
Koscielny was back to his imperious best, alongside his most suited pratner and Gibbs and Jenks were excellent, and big up to Fabianski…. Considering he (and Gibbs to a lesser extent) have come straight into the team after such an absence and be as solid as that shows massive bollocks of titanium, so well done that man for having huge shiny hard testicles…
I know I should just ignore it, but the first words out of the sky commentator after the final whistle was something like…. “Well, thats 8 years and no trophy and with the league form so bad, it might be a long time before we see Arsenal in the CL again…”
Uncrudibale…
H2H at 446 – spot on.
I’ve always admired the Germans and their tough, fight thru tackles and play hard but fair attitude. No more. And is it me or is Arjen Robben the most loathesome little diving shit this side of Andres Iniesta/Xavi/Busquets combined in some unholy-trinity-of-divers! Good lord the man is a cheater! What a bunch of crybaby cheats BM were tonight. Down to a man. And I’m sorry but the referee had a shocker.
But onto the better team – Arsenal: where was tonight’s fight and drive at the Emirates???
For me, Rosicky has to play. Agree with the good Dr. F. – Kosser has to start every game for the run in. And FlappyHandski – take a fooking bow sir!
Well, we handed BM’s ass to them on their own ground. Well done Arsenal.
I actually think that FabiaΕski is a better keeper than Wojtek!
Norris
What a cunt! π
The press can carp and reel out their pre-prepared mantra of ‘8 years without a trophy’ but we are the Arsenal again and frankly they can go fuck themselves.
One half decent game doesn’t make him Gordon Banks. He is a liability.
bath knows π >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
@463
Being Polish and seeing the two of them play I stick to what I written above π
Mixed feelings here, as expected.
Glad for the win, proud of the team, but what matters is that we are out of the CL.
I was back-drinking this 20 minutes, and agree that
Kos needs to play every game.
Jenks will be legend at Arsenal.
Fabianski is more than decent backup to Szsezny, better shot stopper, better positioning, better crosses, only lacks presence.
Gibbs is one of our most important players.
Gervais will be one of our most important players, if he gets out support.
Walcott was invisible.
Funny that no one mentions Ramsey. He tried and never hides and all that, but every time the ball is in his feet I do not expect him to come with solution which benefits our team. As a matter of fact, I think that he does not expect that either. He either looses the ball, makes wrong pass, or passes safe or back to the keeper.
I was happiest when he and Walcott were subbed, although that was 10 minutes to late. Our game changed instantly and if there were 5-10 minutes and non stupid referee we would have scored the third.
Anyway, good result to build on. Proud of being a gooner tonight.
Pride restored.
I was pleased to see TR play the whole game, even though he was clearly lacking match fitness. If only he’d been given more chances in recent months … eh, Arsene?? Hopefully he’ll be sufficiently up to speed now to fill in for Jack for however long Jack’s ‘3 weeks’ proves to be.
Well played Fab, you can keep the jersey for Saturday.
Ridiculous ref. Apparently he believes tackling should be illegal.
What might have been… π
Oskar