Topic: Arsenal

[Daranoza]

Barca never strong at back, be it Puyol, Piquet or whoever play there, so the lost is minimal, but the worry for them is Ibrahimovic.

Re: Ibrahimovich - they often play better without him. Pedro's got a decent scoring record on him and slots in nicely. Creative little player. I like him. Often is the case that Ibra comes off and the game actually improves. I'm not saying he's a bad player but he's not as big a loss as the the likes of Puyol who, whilst not world class in himself has a Carra-like quality to him (i.e. thick-set and steady) and Pique who, whilst not rated by many is actually a pretty decent defender.

They have players who can step into those roles but to dismiss their absence as minimal isn't quite understanding their importance. The obvious choices for replacement would be Milito and Marquez, both of whom have struggled through injury. If not them, Yaya could do a job.

I'm actually hoping for Yaya ahead of Marquez...

[Jase]

As much as I want Arsenal to be rattled all over the shop like a filthy whore - something is telling me that it's going to be a bit closer than that. Fancy Barca to win it 2-1.

[BazC]

Barca, for example, showed in the first leg you can battle and play lovely football.

They've been showing it for the last couple of years. They always had the ability to play good football, but the season before last it only got them 3rd place in the league. Guardiola comes in, instils a proper fighting spirit; when the lose the ball, it isn't long before they get it back. It makes sense- you can't play good football if you haven't got the ball. From front to back, they close down, they're in your face, get the ball back and they're setting up another attack.

They're so good at that side of the game that I remember calling them a team of 'Dirk Kuyts'. Amazing balance.

[Daranoza]

Guardiola comes in, instils a proper fighting spirit; when the lose the ball, it isn't long before they get it back.

It's a training drill they do. They have seconds to win the ball back if they lose it. I think the limit is either 5 or 10 seconds.

[Roady]

Id be very very surprised if Arsenal didnt get absolutely battered tonight.

[DangerScouse]

I think this could go either way, will probably be close and I wouldn't be at all surprised to see a very George Graham-like performance from Arsenal leading to a 1-0 win 

No chance. I can see Arsenal losing 2 or 3 nil.

[lionel_messias]

The dismantling of Arsenal tonight will be so complete this thread will have to be locked.

[Daranoza]

The dismantling of Arsenal tonight will be so complete this thread will have to be locked.

The word 'jinx' springs to mind when I read stuff like this.

[whtwht]

The word 'jinx' springs to mind when I read stuff like this.

Same here

[Anwer]

The word 'jinx' springs to mind when I read stuff like this.

No need for such stupid superstitions. One stupid line uttered by a lad here wont affect the result, those 22 men on the pitch will.

Expect Arsenal to get a hiding tonight.

[Daranoza]

No need for such stupid superstitions. One stupid line uttered by a lad here wont affect the result, those 22 men on the pitch will.

Expect Arsenal to get a hiding tonight.

The 'stupid superstitions' didn't do Luis Garcia et al any harm in Istanbul. One has to wonder whether, given the chance, Gatusso would still touch that trophy.

[Anwer]

Yes I'm sure our performance in the 2nd half that night had nothing to do with the comeback and the eventual win   

[MagicHat]

If it were up to you, would you start with Walcott or try to bring him on later?

Sub. It is no coincidence we tightened up at the back when Eboue replaced Arshavin last week, we need to avoid conceding early. Going forward, Eboue and Diaby are more then capable of suddenly charging through gaps and turning defence into attack anyway. Then add in the quality of Nasri, Rosicky and Bendtner, would hope to get chances anyway.

Walcott is best against tiring legs, stretching the play when we either looking to get back into it or defending a lead. Yeah, he would be an annoyance if he started but not as damaging and it also gives us a tactical option. Which to be quite frank nothing else we have on the bench will have.

[Daranoza]

Yes I'm sure our performance in the 2nd half that night had nothing to do with the comeback and the eventual win   

Even some of the greatest, most intelligent players in the world have rituals and fear being jinxed if they don't carry out such rituals. No need for sarcasm, it was just a passing non-jinx comment.

[Neil D]

I think this could go either way, will probably be close and I wouldn't be at all surprised to see a very George Graham-like performance from Arsenal leading to a 1-0 win 

Is this a joke?

[RigBon1892]

The 'stupid superstitions' didn't do Luis Garcia et al any harm in Istanbul. One has to wonder whether, given the chance, Gatusso would still touch that trophy.

To be fair, one of the Barca players touched it the next year.

[Chivasino]

Is this a joke?

Was about to ask the same.

This game is only going one way for me.

[-Sad Fuck-]

So unless I'm mistaken, the only English club to have beaten Barca at the Nou Camp is still Liverpool

You're mistaken.

[Anwer]

You're mistaken.

how?

[-Sad Fuck-]

Because Liverpool aren't the only English club to beat Barcelona at their ground.

[RigBon1892]

Because Liverpool aren't the only English club to beat Barcelona at their ground.

Who's the other then? If every report today has said that no English club has beaten Barca at the Nou Camp since Liverpool did in 2007 and that their only other defeat at the Nou Camp to an English club prior to that also came against Liverpool then who else has beaten Barca at the Nou Camp?

I mean I can take me being mistaken but when what I've said is exactly the same as everything else on the planet are they all mistaken?


And DONT say Dundee Utd, they're not English.

[-Sad Fuck-]

Manchester City.

[Chakan]

Manchester City.

pre-season game... but correct

[Chakan]

Although to clarify they didn't half play their full squad...

[RigBon1892]

Well if Bruno Cheyrou looking good in pre season doesnt count as a good performance from Bruno Cheyrou, why should a pre season friendly count?

[-Sad Fuck-]

Do you make a queef out of yourself everytime you're wrong about something?

[MagicHat]

I don't think people really count preseason friendlies in that sort of thing. Else we will all start totting up our strikers scoring records in preseason

[Neil D]

Do you make a queef out of yourself everytime you're wrong about something?

How is he wrong if you quoted a pre-season friendly an the answer? Have City ever beat them in a real game at the Nou Camp?

[hoonin]

I think this could go either way, will probably be close and I wouldn't be at all surprised to see a very George Graham-like performance from Arsenal leading to a 1-0 win 

Can see them getting smashed if they make any mistakes at the back. Not sure they have the players will the right mentality or right qualities to soak up 90 mins of Barcelona?

Hoping for a close game though. An earlyish away goal would make it interesting!

[DangerScouse]

Do you make a queef out of yourself everytime you're wrong about something?

Pretty pathetic to include a pre-season friendly.

[freedom]

mission impossible i think

[Una cerveza, por favor]

mission impossible i think

Wanna bet on that?

[freedom]

Wanna bet on that?

sure!   

[Una cerveza, por favor]

sure!   

What do ya wanna wager then?

[-Sad Fuck-]

How is he wrong if you quoted a pre-season friendly an the answer?

She didn't specify. I'm right, she's wrong.

[youll never walk alone it]

its hardly mission impossible is it? mission unlikely maybe, come on barca.

[freedom]

What do ya wanna wager then?

Hmmm... 

 

[J_Kopite]

I like the fact you underestimate Barca, Rich from London

From Richard, London, via text to 81111: "Anyone else thinking that the Barca teamsheet looks ordinary? Barring Alves, the defenders are terrible, and barring Messi and Xavi, the attacking unit is less than good. Bojan is not good enough at all. I really think Arsenal could win this."

[freedom]

I like the fact you underestimate Barca, Rich from London

From Richard, London, via text to 81111: "Anyone else thinking that the Barca teamsheet looks ordinary? Barring Alves, the defenders are terrible, and barring Messi and Xavi, the attacking unit is less than good. Bojan is not good enough at all. I really think Arsenal could win this."

Arsenal could but won't.

edit: Vamos Barca

[hoonin]

From Richard, London, via text to 81111: "Anyone else thinking that the Barca teamsheet looks ordinary? Barring Alves, the defenders are terrible, and barring Messi and Xavi, the attacking unit is less than good. Bojan is not good enough at all. I really think Arsenal could win this."

Bojan scored two crackers at the weekend, didn't he?