Topic: Arsenal

[DelTrotter]

A couple of weeks ago they were calling radio stations saying going unbeaten is bigger than another CL win.

They were idiots then. The champions league is the pinnacle of club football, a buzz that can't be beaten. The points record is a better achievement than going unbeaten and there's not a chance in hell I'd pick that over a CL either.

[The North Bank]

Those Liverpool fans don't speak for all of us. I've been saying all season long that I'd rather win the EC than go unbeaten. In fact, had it not been 30 years since we won the league, the CL would be just as important this year or more so than the league. Defending it is very difficult in modern football, only Real have done it, and I've thought that us being able to do that [and also get to our 3rd EC final consecutively] would propel us further in the history books.

now, there are plenty of people on here who won't agree with me, but there's nothing like winning the EC. And that will never change in my mind.

Its hard to argue where you're coming from, its a very valid argument. Going unbeaten isn't even a trophy, and cant be compared to winning the European cup.
But its something that may never be repeated again so that historic value carries a lot of weight.

[J_Kopite]

Definitely Invincibles , no one else has ever done it.

But that's purely because I don't see us (or anyone else)ever going unbeaten a whole season again.
I think with a bit of luck we could fluke a CL one day.

Preston did it, and did it first too!

[4pool]

Preston did it, and did it first too!

Doesn't count.

Football was invented in 1992.

[deFacto please, you bastards]

Its hard to argue where you're coming from, its a very valid argument. Going unbeaten isn't even a trophy, and cant be compared to winning the European cup.
But its something that may never be repeated again so that historic value carries a lot of weight.

I don't blame you for cherishing it, as you're the only side to have done it in modern era. But given that you've never won the EC, imo it would have meant more for your club. Particularly as you would have been the first London club to do so at the time

[Ghost Town]

Its hard to argue where you're coming from, its a very valid argument. Going unbeaten isn't even a trophy, and cant be compared to winning the European cup.
But its something that may never be repeated again so that historic value carries a lot of weight.

I don't want to demean the Arsenal unbeaten season, as I think it was a fine achievement, but honestly it definitely will be repeated. We got three quarters of the way there this season and if perhaps we had no other irons in the fire or we hadn't had a winning record to chase as well (basically a fancy way of saying if we'd been happy to play for draws) then I reckon we'd have done it.

More pertinently, one reason why it almost never happens is that sides don't set out to go unbeaten; they chase victories and thus risk losses where a more conservative approach could mean fewer wins and more draws but no losses. It'd be interesting to see how a quality side with a quality manager might fare if they deliberately set out  to repeat the feat.

I also think at some point a side will win every single game. Hugely difficult, for sure, but if it's doable it will happen at some point.

[The North Bank]

Doesn't count.

Football was invented in 1992.

If football was invented in 1892, it would rule out Preston.

[Bullet500]

If football was invented in 1892, it would rule out Preston.

I also think at some point a side will win every single game. Hugely difficult, for sure, but if it's doable it will happen at some point.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infinite_monkey_theorem

> The infinite monkey theorem states that a monkey hitting keys at random on a typewriter keyboard for an infinite amount of time will almost surely type any given text, such as the complete works of William Shakespeare.

[killer-heels]

That's 100% true, but I am in the UK and that Arsenal team gets talked about a lot more than other English teams that won CL, because it stands alone with this unbeaten record.
I can only answer what feels better if we ever win the CL, and its only natural that Liverpool fans now say it doesn't matter to go unbeaten because its no longer possible. A couple of weeks ago they were calling radio stations saying going unbeaten is bigger than another CL win.

There is no way any real Liverpool fan wanted a unbeaten season over a CL.

European football is in our blood. Clearly these lot were not real fans.

[1892tillforever]

Had they lost a game, they wouldn't have made it into this thread. So it wasn't all for nothing.

My point is that the quality of a team isn't always defined by what they win. The reputation of the club is.
The Liverpool team under Rodgers that nearly won the league were better than the 05 team, that won CL, even though they won nothing.

Everyone knows that Steaua Bucuresti are the real invincibles; they are actually centurion invincibles because they went 104 games unbeaten in the Romanian league, and 112 unbeaten at home! Imagine not losing a home league game for over six and a half years or any league game for well over three years! Before anyone says they were in a shit league, they began their incredible run right after winning the European Cup in 1986, and lost the final in 89 and the semi-final in 88. They even won the Super Cup in 86 as well!

Incidentally, poor old Dinamo Bucuresti had a similar fate to us last season in the 88/89 season. They won 30, drew 2, lost 2 of 34 games, with a GD of +100 and still lost the fucking league to Steaua by three points when it was two points for a win!  The fact Steaua won all 17 home games by a score of 69-9 didn't help I suppose.

The previous season, Dinamo had 30 wins 3 draws and 1 loss, a GD of +82 and lost the league by a point. At least they went on to win the league in 89/90 by a point, which they definitely deserved!!!

[gregorio]

Those Liverpool fans don't speak for all of us. I've been saying all season long that I'd rather win the EC than go unbeaten. In fact, had it not been 30 years since we won the league, the CL would be just as important this year or more so than the league. Defending it is very difficult in modern football, only Real have done it, and I've thought that us being able to do that [and also get to our 3rd EC final consecutively] would propel us further in the history books.

now, there are plenty of people on here who won't agree with me, but there's nothing like winning the EC. And that will never change in my mind.

spot on

its possible to go unbeaten all season and win zilch, christ it's even possible to get relegated with 38 draws, but don't worry because you'd get a golden envelope for your parachute payment cheque

[Ghost Town]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infinite_monkey_theorem

> The infinite monkey theorem states that a monkey hitting keys at random on a typewriter keyboard for an infinite amount of time will almost surely type any given text, such as the complete works of William Shakespeare.

Richard Keys?

[OsirisMVZ]

Torreira with a broken ankle from Monday.

[Ghost Town]

Torreira with a broken ankle from Monday.

Has he booked it in for a break?

[Crosby Nick]

Has he booked it in for a break?

Getting it done first thing. Then he’s booked in for an argument at 11.

[The North Bank]

Good tackle, and no reason for him to stay down, according to that muppet Jenas

[Ghost Town]

Getting it done first thing. Then he’s booked in for an argument at 11.

Is that a five minute argument, or the full half hour?

[Crosby Nick]

Is that a five minute argument, or the full half hour?

Knowing Torreira it’s the full half hour.

[Medellin]

Must have his Grandad Ian Wright's boots on..

https://streamable.com/fgfo3

D'Margio Wright Phillips goal against Arsenal in the FA youth cup.

[mattD]

Must have his Grandad Ian Wright's boots on..

https://streamable.com/fgfo3

D'Margio Wright Phillips goal against Arsenal in the FA youth cup.

Please don’t tell me that’s Shaun’s son? If so, then christ I’m getting old.

[Lycan]

Please don’t tell me that’s Shaun’s son? If so, then christ I’m getting old.

It is.

[SamAteTheRedAcid]

Please don’t tell me that’s Shaun’s son? If so, then christ I’m getting old.

 

[Bullet500]

Richard Keys?

This used to get auto-corrected to "hairy handed half-wit" a long time ago.

[vivabobbygraham]

[The North Bank]

Game at city tomorrow postponed.

Apparently some arsenal players and staff came into contact with olympiakos owner in the EL 2 weeks ago, he has since caught corona, wonder if all our games will be postponed for 2 weeks....

[SP]

Surely that should be 2 weeks from the potential source of infection... if they test clear, they can play.

[Number 7]

Game at city tomorrow postponed.

Apparently some arsenal players and staff came into contact with olympiakos owner in the EL 2 weeks ago, he has since caught corona, wonder if all our games will be postponed for 2 weeks....

What about the West Ham game 4 days ago?
Arsenal say they’ve been quarantine for 12 days but just played Arsenal

[Armchair expert]

What about the West Ham game 4 days ago?
Arsenal say they’ve been quarantine for 12 days but just played Arsenal

It’s 14 days on Thursday since Arsenal played Olympiacos so if they are clear then the West Ham players should be too

[ScottishGoon]

What about the West Ham game 4 days ago?
Arsenal say they’ve been quarantine for 12 days but just played Arsenal

Don't forget they played Portsmouth, who then went on to play Peterborough & Fleetwood. You can see this soon starts to become a nightmare.

[Ciara (with a capital "C")]

How are Wolves allowed to play Olympiakos tomorrow night?

Will the PL then say they can’t play West Ham on Sunday? As they would have been in contact with players who maybe had contact with the owner?

They all need to get on the same page assp.

[rob1966]

How are Wolves allowed to play Olympiakos tomorrow night?

Will the PL then say they can’t play West Ham on Sunday? As they would have been in contact with players who maybe had contact with the owner?

They all need to get on the same page assp.

Depends on when the owner was last at the club - if he stayed in the UK after the Arsenal game, or if he just didn't go near the club since - he arrived back in Greece on Monday and as far as I know self isolated then - then they have had 14 days as of tomorrow night, so are clear as far as guidelines go. Arsenal players are all back at work Friday.

[Achilles Heel]

How are Wolves allowed to play Olympiakos tomorrow night?

Will the PL then say they can’t play West Ham on Sunday? As they would have been in contact with players who maybe had contact with the owner?

They all need to get on the same page assp.

Isolated Arsenal players and staff return to work on Friday. If they haven't got it (as seems highly likely) the West Ham game goes ahead at the weekend.

Wolves appealed to UEFA yesterday to postpone the OLympiakos game. UEFA said no.  It has been reported this morning that all Olympiakos  players/staff have been tested and are all clear.

The more worrying report is that Marinakis is also the owner of Nottingham Forest and was at the Forest v Millwall game at the weekend shaking hands with players/staff/supporters.

[Ciara (with a capital "C")]

.  It has been reported this morning that all Olympiakos  players/staff have been tested and are all clear.

The more worrying report is that Marinakis is also the owner of Nottingham Forest and was at the Forest v Millwall game at the weekend shaking hands with players/staff/supporters.

I hadn’t seen that Olympiakos players had been tested and cleared.

[paulrazor]

The more worrying report is that Marinakis is also the owner of Nottingham Forest and was at the Forest v Millwall game at the weekend shaking hands with players/staff/supporters.

getting rid of a few millwall fans wouldnt be a bad thing

[Lynx the saucy mynx]

I don't want to demean the Arsenal unbeaten season, as I think it was a fine achievement, but honestly it definitely will be repeated. We got three quarters of the way there this season and if perhaps we had no other irons in the fire or we hadn't had a winning record to chase as well (basically a fancy way of saying if we'd been happy to play for draws) then I reckon we'd have done it.

More pertinently, one reason why it almost never happens is that sides don't set out to go unbeaten; they chase victories and thus risk losses where a more conservative approach could mean fewer wins and more draws but no losses. It'd be interesting to see how a quality side with a quality manager might fare if they deliberately set out  to repeat the feat.

I also think at some point a side will win every single game. Hugely difficult, for sure, but if it's doable it will happen at some point.

It really is fine margins. Van Nistelrooy scores that penalty in September, then it doesn't happen.

[Statto Red]

It really is fine margins. Van Nistelrooy scores that penalty in September, then it doesn't happen.

The ref gives Arsenal a penalty that never was when 1-0 down at home to Portsmouth, that finished 1-1, that was the weekend before that United game.

[The North Bank]

The ref gives Arsenal a penalty that never was when 1-0 down at home to Portsmouth, that finished 1-1, that was the weekend before that United game.

The ref sends a few United players off for their assaults on arsenal players and then not give rooney a pen for diving and we easily would have got past 50 unbeaten.

There obviously will be fine margins, that's why its nearly impossible to go a whole season unbeaten. We had a lot of tough situations which we got through, never got outplayed.

[Lynx the saucy mynx]

The ref gives Arsenal a penalty that never was when 1-0 down at home to Portsmouth, that finished 1-1, that was the weekend before that United game.

Is this the one where Pires did that awful dive?

[lionel_messias]

Isolated Arsenal players and staff return to work on Friday. If they haven't got it (as seems highly likely) the West Ham game goes ahead at the weekend.

Wolves appealed to UEFA yesterday to postpone the OLympiakos game. UEFA said no.  It has been reported this morning that all Olympiakos  players/staff have been tested and are all clear.

The more worrying report is that Marinakis is also the owner of Nottingham Forest and was at the Forest v Millwall game at the weekend shaking hands with players/staff/supporters.

Quite unbelievably, I have just got off a call from work and my line manager has had contact (he's a friend) with the boss of Millwall - and this Marinakis so he (my line manager) is self-isolating this week.

I have not seen my boss face to face since and he's leaving my program but you start to see how this 6 degrees of infection works.

Crazy times.

[PoetryInMotion]

I don't want to demean the Arsenal unbeaten season, as I think it was a fine achievement, but honestly it definitely will be repeated. We got three quarters of the way there this season and if perhaps we had no other irons in the fire or we hadn't had a winning record to chase as well (basically a fancy way of saying if we'd been happy to play for draws) then I reckon we'd have done it.

More pertinently, one reason why it almost never happens is that sides don't set out to go unbeaten; they chase victories and thus risk losses where a more conservative approach could mean fewer wins and more draws but no losses. It'd be interesting to see how a quality side with a quality manager might fare if they deliberately set out  to repeat the feat.

I also think at some point a side will win every single game. Hugely difficult, for sure, but if it's doable it will happen at some point.

Exactly. Nobody sets out to be unbeaten. A season with 19 wins and 19 draws for example would only be a moderate Top 4 season for a Top club. But you're 'unbeaten'. How can anyone rate that over 95+ points with 1 or 2 losses?

Teams go out to get the maximum points they can, no team sets out to be 'unbeaten' at the start of any season.