What an exciting and challenging game we can anticipate tonight. A return to the scene of the European recognition of Fabregas’s genius (sorry GM!). That night is etched in the memory alongside so many other astonishing and unexpected Arsenal victories – win this and we may get a repeat of the TH inspired win in the Bernabeu!
Having won our group we could have drawn an easier opponent because let us be clear, this is not going to be easy. Milan are a much better and younger side than the one vanquished by our heroes in 2008; they are top of Serie A. Unfortunately, their injury crisis (13 players out in their recent win at Udinese) is rapidly improving, Nesta, Pato, Flamini, Prince-Boateng and Van Bommel return to the squad. Style of play? Allegri has said this of AC Milan’s approach “You can’t always dine on lobster and caviar, sometimes you have to have a ham sandwich”. Cantona-esque!
I would like to concentrate on just two of Milan’s pantheon of superstars, Ibrahimovic and Van Bommel.
Van Bommel is one hard Dutchman. I remember a Highbury night watching him kick lumps out of our lads when playing for PSV (2004 1-0). He was without doubt the dirtiest player I had seen and it was a miracle he stayed on the pitch. After that night I followed his career with interest because I felt he would be a fine replacement for PV4. Sadly, he moved to Barca where he won a CL winners medal and later moved on to become the first non-German captain of Bayern Munich. At 32 he moved to Milan and has been an integral part of Max Allegri’s squad. 70 Dutch caps, a league winner in 4 countries, WC finalist, CL winner – one could say he has had a successful career. Should he play tonight I hope Aaron is wearing extra shin and ankle protection!
Zlatan Ibrahimovich is one of the world’s great players. A man who has never received the respect he deserves from the British press. Scorer of some of the most spectacular goals ever scored (check out Youtube) the Swede has a phenomenal record – at the moment, Ibra is on a run of 8 successive League title wins in 3 countries with 5 different clubs! I think it would be prudent to have a little wager on AC winning the Scudetto this season. During his time at Barca he was the world’s highest paid footballer on €28m a year. Barca paid €70m for him and sold him 18 months later for €24m – which makes the Torres deal look sweet.
“you’ll never play for Arsenal”
In 2001 Mr Wenger tried to sign Zlatan from Malmo but he chose Ajax for a then record Swedish transfer fee. It beggers the question – who would have been sacrificed for him? Not Henry, so it must have been Wiltord who was going to be shipped out. Ibra has attitude and may have clashed with Thierry but what a forward line that would have been.
My Team:
The loss of BFG is a major disappointment; he is made for games like tonight against a clever but not particularly pacy forward line. Fortunately, we have super replacements and TV is finally back in his natural position. It is ages since we have seen Gibbs get a run of games but he is a super player and a full International, he will not be embarrassed. I would start Arshavin ahead of the Ox, his experience and precision of passing will be important in what is likely to be a tight game. Expect a big game from Ramsey.
Inventor from Milan: Step forward Enrico Forlanini (if he were still alive). Born in 1847 he developed the world’s first helicopter (powered by steam!) and went on to pioneer the hydrofoil. Milan City Airport is dedicated to Forlanini.
Here’s Looking at You, Kid
Thierry Henry has scored in his final FA Cup game, his final PL home game, his final PL away game and tonight …… you would bet against it. Thierry, whatever happens tonight and in the future, You are The Man.
COYRRG
Written by Big Raddy
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
Great preview BR 🙂 I enjoyed it very much and the memory it evokes.
I did a preview myself on my site and this one is (as always) top draw.
Great job. Totally agree with you. I think we can get a result at the San Siro. I think that whilst their line-up is markedly younger than the last time we met they are slower than us across the turf and I think that will help us.
WG
Nice preview BR.
Ibrahimovich has been a quality player. Lets hope Kos and Vermaelen can have him in their pockets this evening.
Going to be a tough game for us (gutted I’m on nights so won’t be able to watch live).
I think your line up is spot on. Maybe bring the Ox and Thierry on for the last 20 minutes if we need them.
We have a busy and testing 26 days coming up =
AC Milan
Sunderland
Tottenham Hotspurs
Liverpool
AC Milan
Newcastle
It doesn’t come much harder than that. Will be interesting to see where we stand at the end of it.
COYG
Raddy – great preview, thank you. Ibramovitch was paid £28mil a year???? FFS, that is obsene, nobody is that good.
With van Bommel and Ibramovitch being 35 and 31 respectively, we should outpace them over 90mins. I noticed that unusually for AW he made substitutions 30mins before the end of the Sunderland game. I liked that, I think that last 10 or even 20mins are often too late and too little.
IF things don’t go too well tonight, I would like Tel on the pitch for at least half an hour, the final chapter closing with a goal, yes please.
I actually remember Theo’s run and pass to Ade more than c*sc from that game Raddy. I’ll read the rest of the post now. 🙂
Chas you monster. Na na na na na, miss, it was Evonne, she made me do it…. leave me alone you little grass! And stay away from my dogs 🙂
GM – it is only one 4 letter ‘C’ word you are not allowed to use. Cesc is allowed if not recommended here 🙂
Raddy,
Interesting, informative and amusing pre-match. So no change there then. Thanks.
I would start with Ox and Ros, with AA and Ramsey coming on in the 60th. I think we will need to really take the game to them and I feel my two options would give us more thrust.
Its also coming back in at the deep end for Gibbs, but on that one, Arsene will have seen him, so very happy with whoever he chooses to play at LB.
Don’t like to be a doomer but all over twitter last night were quotes from Wenger saying Djurou will replace BFGand TV will stay left back. He must be worried about playing Gibbs. There was also rumours that BFG is out for the season. His ankle was rebuilt in Germany in the past and it’s the same ankle that’s injured. If you look at the pic of it you can see the scar from a previous operation. Fantastic (as always) pre match BTW.
GM,
I call that “dooming” 🙂
I would play Coq at LB, but definately leave Verm and Kos together.
evonne the 2 c words are the same for me. nasri, cesc can’t really see any diference. don’t understand why people treat them so differently. Don’t want to start a debate. It’s been done to death and it’s only my opinion and I don’t know shit.
Good solid prematch BR, I hope we get a good solid performance to match.
I’ll take a score draw tonight.
As for the team, I think I would go with everyone in your line up except at left back I would play Coquelin.
Whilst it isn’t his natural position, he has had more football than Gibbs lately, Milan is a huge game to come back in for Gibbs too.
As for the BFG worries I think Chas said yesterday that the ankle surgery was back in 2009, according to wiki it was required after tearing ligaments in the 2009 UEFA Cup Semi Finals. Actually reading wiki he has impressive stats for a centre back, very few yellow cards and consistently high in his teams passing numbers and successful passing stats.
Losing 2-1 or 3-2 wouldn’t be that bad GIE. Wenger is quoted as saying Djourou will be replacing BFG. I haven’t seen the quotes though. I’ll look for them.
Super as always, BR.
I can’t stand van Bommel or Ibrahimovich.
Cmon you dark blue and pukey turquoise blue Gunners.
From what I’ve found, the BFG did his ankle in that semi (mid-April), as GIE said, and was out for the rest of the season (5 weeks?). The first link below suggests he made 33 appearances in the season following, so you would assume it was a full recovery.
Appearance history…
http://uk.soccerway.com/players/per-mertesacker/16/
Injury history…
http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/per-mertesacker/profil/spieler_6710.html
Evonne (slayer of innocent people’s reputations),
‘And stay away from my dogs’ hahahaha.
Ashburton Cannon @ashburtoncannon
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FavoritedFavorite · Close Open Details RT @Mosito_Ramaili: Don’t worry United & City fans, one more sleep and then you guys can talk about the Europa League.
If we are forced to play JD centrally and TV on the left we can cope. If we can keep it to a one goal difference either way we will win at home.
Rasp. Changed the vid. Original is better and amusing in a weird Italian sort of way!
JD will be fine with kozzer
BR
Great preview and a history lesson. It is a hard run but I feel the two Manc clubs and Liverpool are on much harder runs.
$ity – Sunderland, Liverpool, Man Utd, Liverpool, Tottenham, Liverpool.
ManU – Man C, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Liverpool, Ajax, Norwich, Ajax, Spurs.
Lpool, Manc, Man U, Bolton, Man C, Man C, Wolves, Man U
With those types of runs you raise your game, and to a certain extent that is what those 3 teams have done so they are playing as a team at a higher level, hopefully our hard run will have the same effect, but once again a great read today BR
Evonne, your 10:35. Excellent! 🙂
Sorry, it was VCC who mentioned the testing 26 days at 9.26 not BR
Very good pre-match Raddy — I am ready to go now!!!!! 🙂
Hopefully in deference to one of their Nottingham born founders, Herbert Kilpin, we can give them a good lacing! 🙂
Do they still play cricket?
Complete pleasure to read, from start to finish. Thank you BR.
Now to read the comments…
I’ve just watched the press conference and Arsene says “Djourou replaces BFG in the squad” So people have jumped the gun there. He also says about Jack “nature has it’s pace and we’ll respect that” what a quote. Could you imagine that drunken scotch front bottom saying anything as eloquent as that?
Anyone volunteered to do the match report?
If not then I will be quite happy to have a go, if no-one objects!
“drunken scotch front bottom”. 😀
Has anyone missed this interview (part) by DB10. Excellent!! 🙂
Arsenal legend Dennis Bergkamp believes that Robin van Persie is playing in the wrong position.
Despite scoring 22 goals in 24 Premier League starts this season, Bergkamp believes van Persie is better suited to playing in the ‘number 10’ position that the Dutchman played for Arsenal and Holland.
“To be honest, I would still prefer to see Robin play a bit deeper behind the main striker so that he could pick his moments the way I used to,” he said.
“I think he could be even better in that role, but the way he’s playing now you can hardly blame the coach for putting him there.”
The Dutch legend also has fond memories of his time with the Gunners.
“The more I look back, the more I realise what a special time it was.
“It was knowing you had a great team around you. It was knowing you could make the difference when you went on that pitch. ‘No one’s going to beat me today’.
“It’s not arrogance. It’s just how you felt.
“It was the same with Thierry Henry. You would just give him the ball and he would do the rest. I remember when a young Patrick Vieira came on at half-time to make his debut. He changed the game by himself.”
“Me and Patrick (Vieira) talked about the old days. It was kind of special.”
‘front bottom’ is definitely going to be allowed, love it gm – you’ve given me the giggles 😆
Mr Slimginger – we would love you to write the match report, thank you 😀
Rasp,
That noise vid you posted earlier is awful. My advice to anyone is avoid anything culturally Italian (or French for that matter) that is not at least 200 years old.
Glad I’ve got you giggling peaches 🙂
GM,
I’ll see that one a 🙂 as well!
Great pre match Raddy
ime very excited about tonight and finding it hard to concentrate. I really do believe this is our year for Champions League. There is something about this current team that we havn’t had for a few years, an ability to dig in. These qualities will take us all the way to the final were the ultimate glory beckons. For me, only Barca, Madrid and Munchen have more quality, but on the day we can beat any of them and me convinced we wil meet one of those in the final and come out of it as Champions of Europe.
On a longer term perspective, it will be the kick start the Club needs, and we will win the league next season and probably retain the Champions League, great times are ahead so hold on to your wigs.
COYRRG
Terrry 🙂 and your hair will probably grow back.
Hi Micky,
It was merely to make the connection with Raddy’s title, although he preferred a slightly more violent video to accompany it.
Raddy, superb pre-match as always. I would prefer to start with the Ox and bring AA on. They will be vulnerable to pace down the flanks and the Ox adds a bit more to the defence than AA.
Fine preview BR
I’m not worried about tonight, i have little expectation I just look forward to seeing my wonderful team play again.
If Gibbs is fit then he’s got to play in my opinion, TV & Koz in the middle is our best pairing and you don’t want to be farting about in a match of this importance.
I’d also start Ox, Arshavin may have been a flash in the pan, that one cross may have not been what was intended, who knows. I’d rather have an hour of the Ox and if it doesn’t work, then bring on AA if we need him, one cross in a bad AA period isn’t enough to be given a starting slot.
I’m not an AA critic but the Ox has shown more in a handful of games than AA has shown in the past season and a half.
Rosicky or Rambo, thats a toughy but for me we are on a roll at the moment and Rosicky has been the meat in that sandwich, bring Rambo on later.
ArseneWenger@ArsenalHQ
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FavouitedFavourite.Close Open Details Micky@DidItTowers: You’re bloody
right matey, we need to win this in the first leg. Attack, attack, attack we will.
Tommy,
Are you me in disguise. Every word so wise 🙂
Work calls.
Sheesh – Ibrahimovich has 8 successive League title wins in 3 countries with 5 different clubs?
That is fucking awesome! Totally fucking awesome.
And Wenger didn’t sign him …
micky – you are not in Africa, they are not lazy birds, they are Terry and Glic
sorry Micky89 missed your comment, great minds ey? 🙂
whats with your coded comments earlier or am i missing something
Hi Raddy, another beauty mate, top stuff.
My gut feeling says we will play Sagna- JD – Koz – Vermaelen at the back, the ARS in the middle and start with TH12-RvP-Theo upfront.
Cannot wait for the game. These nights are the proverbial icing on the cake. They dont come much sweeter than this.
Micky: ‘ My advice to anyone is avoid anything culturally Italian (or French for that matter) that is not at least 200 years old.’ 🙂 🙂
Black socks? GTFO!
GiE,
Start the “nobody buy” campaign this minute!
That is so shockingly awful.
On a wishful thinking note, do they really produce the new kit so early making that a wind up. Straw clutching from me again.
I have this strange habit of parading around the house with full replica kit, shirt, shorts(very tight on me) and socks……but this new kit could end my addiction, its terrible. The one on the far right looks like the Manure kit, what a joke.
Terry,
There used to be a bloke in Notting Hill who wandered around in schoolboy uniform, shorts and all. Ever lived in W11?
Micky, hahahahahaha, thats very strange, even for my standards. Wa he a bit simple?, or was he the kind who wanted you to go around to his house to play with his Rabbits?
Terry,
He was really spooky. About 6’4″, and I’m talking about the works. Cap, prefect badge, the lot.
hahahaha, sounds like he escaped from somewere Micky.
When i was about 13 some woman on day release jumped on my back at a bus stop. I was with about 5 other kids but they just stood about laughing. She was yelling ride me ride me ride me. Eventuly her weight forced me to my knees, and by this stage i was crying and begging for mercy. After what seemed liked an eternity with this women now sitting on me with my face in the dirt, some bloke spotted the action and grappled her off me. To this day i can only stand at bus stops at certain angles in order to observe everbody else waiting.
Micky…. I think it was GLiC
Terry – every man has dreams like that, some believe it has actually happened 🙂
He,s a bit strange, to say the least
Terry the one on the far right is the manc shirt. If that is the new shirt I hope we go to adidas next time we get a sponsor. that is shit.
Cornwalls not tall enough VCC…..Redders however? hahahahaha
Oh yeah, need to get my eyes tested GM, ime probably spending to much time with the Telescope.
Evonne, at the time it seemed liked a nightmare, but looking back i should have just gone with the flow and enjoyed it. hahahaha
Just put the telescope in front of you PC Terry
New kit Terry. Would prefer blue sleeve bands with blue socks.
Red White and Blue.
Terry – most men would 🙂
Are you nervous? If I wasn’t a lady I would poo my pants, I’m so nervous, cannot do anything, just sit here blogging
Ime only nervous at bus stops Evonne hahaha. Next time ime at the Tavern i will give you a guide to “Terry’s cure for nervousness”
VCC, i like the combination, would still prefer red socks though, tradition and all that.
Cracking write up and great mood setter.
JD and Koz isn’t the worst pairing ever, and we might just need JDs toughness to knock a bit of the swagger out of Ibra’s stride.
I fear this game is too soon for Gibbs, so if itys mnot JD in, then I’d prefer to see Sagna and Coq in the two FB positions
I am prepared to bet MerryT’s periscope that the new kit will be very similar to those shown, in that the shirt will have a neck and two armholes and the shorts will have a waist and two leg holes.
Other than that……………………nada! 🙄
Terry,
Is it true that when your Mrs T asked how many women had you slept with, you replied only you darling, with all the others I was awake?
Is it also true, that is how you lost your teeth? 🙂
Huddersfield sack Lee Clark. 3 losses in his last 55 League games, including a 43 game unbeaten run !!
As mad as it can ever get..??
RA 🙂
Redders, Mrs T wouldnt bother asking, shes the one doing all the sleeping. And i never had any teeth in the first place. hahahaha.
Some pretty funny stuff on here today….started with GM’s own brand of ‘eloquence’. Top top quality.
Followed by tales of 6’4 in schoolboys in shorts, and the recollection of a common teenage dream -being wrestled to the ground by Debbie Harry.
Then there’s Chas and Evonne ranting on about cats and dogs..which I assume is tonights Milanese weather report.
On days like today I’m a little thankful that videos are locked whilst I’m at ‘work’
Still standing sideways on at bus stops..lol
I must admit to checking who’s behind me every time a train pulls in at a station. I also keep my weight on my back foot.
Its not just about my own safety, its more about the gaping hole that I’d leave in the lives of so many….
GM,
Did I tell you about the personal politics that affect the EU political conferences?
Just in case I have not. 🙂
Coming back from a recent EC summit in Rome, various European leaders were forced to take the train due to a strike by Swiss air traffic controllers; sitting together in the same compartment, while travelling through the Swiss Alps, were Sarkozy, Cameron, Merkel and the young and very attractive female Irish foreign minister, who looked a lot like Irish Gooner.
The train went into a dark tunnel and a few seconds later there is the sound of a kiss followed by a loud slap.
When the train emerged from the tunnel, Sarkozy had a bright red, hand print on his cheek. No one spoke, but everyone was extremely shocked and embarrassed.
Angela Merkel thought:
Sarkozy, cannot control himself, he must have kissed the Irish girl in the dark, and she slapped his cheek. 🙄
The Irish girl thought:
Sarkozy, cannot control himself, he must have tried to kiss me in the dark, but missed and kissed Merkel and she slapped his cheek. 🙂
Sarkozy thought:
Why me ? Why did I get slapped? That perfidious Cameron must have groped and kissed the lovely Irish girl in the dark knowing that I’d get the blame for it and she slapped me…the English bastard. 😦
While Cameron thought:
I can’t wait for another tunnel, just so I can kiss the back of my hand again and smack that little French sod on the other cheek. 👿
RA. Another cracker
SS. gaping hole ….. very true. I am sure everyone would agree.
Sharkey – where is that picture of public disorder?
I am thinking of 26may, he’s been away for a long time now. If we win tonight, he’d be back tomorrow, guaranteed
Afternoon all,
By all accounts Le Boss is very unhappy at the state of the San Siro pitch. Taking into account of the quality of players they possess, I cannot think that preparing a poor pitch would give them an advantage so maybe tyhey’ve got a crap groundsman – but then again, since they share the ground it must host twice as many games as the Emirates.
ime not overly concerned about the pitch Rasp. This could be the game for swift counter attacks not involving more than 3 or 4 passes. The key for me is to get our wide men behind there defence. I can see it now, RVP splits there crap defence and Theo is through one on one with the keeper and puts it away.
Can you edit out the g***** h*** references before Tery and GLIC come back on….
Just a thought…
Oops too late….
No pics I’m afraid Evonne, I’m supposed to bear a cloak of respectability at all times…
Afternoon all
Sharkey – you just like to keep me busy don’t you – g***** h*** 😉
Forgot to tell you all that 26may is in New Zealand for a few weeks, he’ll be back for spuds I think. Hmmmmmmnnnn he could have come on and said hello though 😦
Lol RHWP – sometimes I just don’t ‘see them’ til I read them back.
Still its better to be busy than be sat in someone elses garden with your feet up all day…’visualising’..??!!
They pay you for that…??
Yes they do 😀
Sounds like it’s kicking off in Milan, so sad for travelling supporters. The AFC away tweeter is advising gooners to go straight to the stadium now 😦
Peaches – what’s kicking off?
Evening all
I’m on the beer already, I’m expecting a score draw.
Is there problems outside the ground Peaches? As people well know, I have a soft spot for the Rossoneri but their Ultras are complete dickheads, just out to cause trouble.
I was in the San Siro a few years ago (only for a tour) and it is quite intimidating.
Funny how the call it the English disease though isn’t it? Bloody foreigners
I went past the San siro on the way to hairshow once. Looks horrible from the outside.
I bought KFC last night. Did anyone else do anything romantic for Valentines?
Hi gm. Yes I did. I’m a big softie. I chose one of the M&S £20 deal.
Really good value.
GM,
In the morning Mrs Terry received 12 Red Roses and ‘i love you balloon’. In the Evening she was wined and dined with a 3 course meal and Champaigne. She was then treated to a night in of hot love making in some posh hotel……. Well, this is what the Private Investigator tells me.
GM – I did. I took my almost-ex-husband to the Hampstead theatre to see a play about euthenesia 🙂 I didn’t know what it was about, but it had brilliant reviews, whoops, I am such a romantic 🙂
Not very good reading
………………………………………………………………………………………
By Telegraph staff and agencies
4:44PM GMT 15 Feb 2012
Arsenal: fans clash with police in Italy ahead of Champions League clash at the San Siro
Clashes broke out between a group of Arsenal fans and police ahead of the Champions League match against AC Milan, according to reports in the Italian media.
English fans threw bottles and cans at police and Milan supporters on the central Piazza del Duomo in front of the 14th century cathedral that dominates the square.
Verbal clashes broke out between four Milan fans and a group of around 200 Arsenal supporters, who threw cans and chased their Italian counterparts into the landmark Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II arcade adjoining the square.
The English fans were stopped by police but started throwing bottles.
One Arsenal fan suffered a head injury in the subsequent clashes while another was arrested before calm was restored.
Look away gm and Irish …….. I know I shouldn’t but I had to
cesc4official Cesc Fàbregas Soler
I cant wait 4 the big game 2nite, 2 historic teams in europe. Hopefully AFC can repeat what we did thr 4 years ago. #1ofthebestmemoriesihave
Where is everybody?????
Peaches – I unfollowed him since he’s no longer connected to Arsenal, I wish people would stop retweeting him.
Anyway, on a far more important note, this is going around Twitter.
It seems they have relayed the wings, a ploy to stop Theo and Oxo? A coincidence? A fake? We’ll find out soon. Wenger has been complaining about the pitch and they suffer more injuries in recent seasons than we have.
Also rumours going around that Gibbs start, and Rosicky in with Oxo on the bench.
I knew you wouldn’t like it Irish, to be fair he obviously hasn’t been tweeting lately because I thought I’d unfollowed him too.
Loved that game, still have the newspapers from the following day, sad huh
If Arsenal away supporters were trouble, wouldn’t they be trouble over here too. Besides everyone knows that it’s not clever to mess with the Italian police …… chicken egg methinks
Just back from a Posh Hotel, Great 3 course meal, the Champaigne was flowing and my Hypnotic Love Antenna was working fine !
Yeah,the Italian and French police are not to be messed with from what I can tell. They’ve no problem in a bit of auld running battles.
GM, you little fantasist, you. 🙂
Umm in what way is KFC ‘romantic’? 🙂
I am so naive, I thought it was just a franchised chicken deal.
What have I been doing with my life? 🙂
Rasper, Peaches, 🙂
I love the Champions League banner at the top of the blog. Awesome, mes amis!! 🙂
Glic, you award winning gigolo!!
Leave poor old TerryM alone!
Well, I suppose you have done.
I was that Private Investigator and you were that Champagne bandit!!
Up periscope !!! 🙂
All seems good natured fun here
Pssssst, dont let the ball and chain see this. I went for a run yesterday with my puppy ( Max ) and after about 2 miles nature was calling, so I bent down in a gateway and proceeded with a “Richard”, after tidying up with the plentifull dockleaves my puppy darted In and grabbed a piece of ” richard “. 2 miles later we get home and mrs glic asks for her Valentines present, ” Go on Maxxie give mummy a kiss “, who said Romance Is dead ! 🙂
Milan sounds scary. Judging by twitter our boy Carlito flew out last night, hope he is ok.
I went to San Siro in summer 2010, must admit I thought it was a cleverly designed stadium for its time (20 years ago).
But have heard many bad stories about leaving it in coaches. Hope reports of Arsenal fans being at fault isn’t true, but I’ve been to a few General Sale away game’s where there has been a less desirable element in attendance.
Redders PI, Hope you weren`t in the hedge when I was making ” Richards ” ! 🙂
Arsenal lineup vs Milan: Szczesny – Sagna – Koscielny – Vermaelen – Gibbs ; Song – Arteta – Ramsey; Rosicky – Walcott – van Persie
Arsenal subs: Fabianski – Djourou – Benayoun – Coquelin – Henry – Oxlade-Chamberlain – Arshavin
Fine stuff as usual Puff Raddy !
Hmmmmm, I can only assume that Rosicky will be playing on the left in an attempt to give Gibbs a bit of cover, yep that makes sense, a cocktail umbrella gives more cover than either Arshavin or the Ox (at the moment)
Why are we starting Ramsey and Rosicky, how’s that going to work?
How clever LB, you answered my question before I even asked it 😛
Rosicky can play out wide and cut inside. He draws a lot of fouls as well, tire out their right back, get him a yellow, bring on the Oxo – SIMPLES! 😀
4-4-2?
I’m getting the pre match nerves now. I’ve got 2 tins of polish lager they’ll see me through. Win or lose the mancs would love to be in this.
So Kozzer, TV and 2 proper full back how weird is that. I’m going for 5-1 to us
Come on You Yellows!!!
Thank god we get to wear the 3rd kit tonight. Shame we have to wear the blue in the PL I have a feeling the players don’t like it.
I thought it was an 8pm kick off see you later
Be a bit more positive GM wouldn’t you?! 😆
Will be good to see Young legs run at 60minute tired ones.
Question though is would AW have done the same with Gerv?
We have options tho……
COYRRG!!
Just back…phew scary driving.
Team…mmmmmm
coyrrr or yellows
I had forgotten about Robinho.
COYRRG
Outstanding finish but what was Chesney doing with his kick out.
We need to slow the game down and settle on the ball
Quite right Raddy, but non posso without an AM. Our only one is on the left wing!!
Second one looked offside to me, but it was tight.
Kozzer is now off and Djourou is on, which can only spell even more trouble for us. We need a goal second half or it could well be beyond our reach before the 2nd leg.
We lack any cutting edge at all and have troubled their back four all game so far.
Too much shit-shovelling.
Bollix
Anyone else sick of all the back passes to the GK?
Chezzer then larrups it back to the Rossonri almost every time! Arrgh!
What a load of shit. If he doesn’t change something we are out tonight. We look like scared schoolgirls. TV isn’t having a good game. We’re missing BFG I think. Don’t have a good feeling about this.
Get Walcott off for any player who has an even miniscule pair of testicles. He is pathetic in games like this. He doesn’t challenge for first ball and is nowhere to be seen for second ball. Coquelin or the Ox would be a far better option.
If you want to compile a coaching DVD of how not to defend from midfield just replay that first half. The defence has been constantly exposed by failure to track runs and pressure the ball up the pitch.
I’m pretty pissed off with that.
Then if you want to compile a coaching DVD of how not to pass on a rough service show them that first half again. No positivity in our passes at all, the ball rolling into the receivers foot so he has nothing to work with if he wants to move it on again quickly.
I’m more pissed off.
And of course Kosser gets injured.
Nervy and overawed. Time to wake up and do something.
We have completely forgotten how to attack at pace. I’m sorry to say that Ramsey is one of the culprits for slowing things down. We’ve been reduced to trying to find RvP from 30 yards when he has 3 defenders on him.
We are being outplayed everywhere. Not one of our players is in the game, especially in midfield.
The defense have no outlet ball and are panicking .
This could become embarrass unless AW does something drastic tactically. Why play 4-4-2 for the first time in ages?
He injury to Kos is bad news indeed
Raddy, who were the 2? – as far as I can see RvP has been entirely on his own. Our midfield is simply not pressing high enough or working hard enough. Theo is just a passenger.
Keyboard failure! Sorry
How many times has Sagna been two on one? Too many with Theo standing nowhere of use.
We are definitely missing BFG tonight GliC, as you say TV having a bit of a mare which is what I feared given he and Koz haven’t played much together this year.
But this isn’t about individuals this is about the team as a whole. Milan have done nothing exceptional but they have done the basics well and are up by two.
Oh well, at least Van Persie hasn’t been stretchered off — yet.
Rasp.Agree. Theo has been anonymous
Our midfield is being dominated, being outpassed and outrun and it needs to be changed. Walcott once again is showing he has no bottle for a fight of any description and I reckon he never kept his sweets to himself at school? 😉
Song is going through motions again and has contributed very little so far. RVP is totally isolated and we are struggling to find him unless he drops deep, which is where we do not want him.
If we escape 2-0 or 2-1, I will be relieved.
Kos may miss the cup game at sunderland then it’s an international break so I don’t think it’s that bad. I’m more worried about the attack. If we don’t score we might as well conced 5 or 6 I don’t think it will make much difference. They better come out fighting.
Poor defensively maybe, but if you don’t create any chances its mighty hard to win a game.
I never blame Ramsey when Arsene plays him there. He may get away with it against lesser teams but not Milan. Rosicky central and Ox and maybe AA as well or Robin may as well not bother.
How much more thrust, drive and chances have we created recently with Ros central?
Rasp I take your point on Ramsey slowing the ball down but there is a reason, he has one yellow shirt ahead of him and 3 or 4 red and black ones.
No one bursting past or coming from deep. Look at Milan when they have the ball….different game!
Walcott? Ramsey?…………….Arteta has gone AWOL
Walcott is absolutely rubbish..a luxury player we cant afford to have!
he has no positional sense and leaves sagna open far to many times..
i wanted to give the boy a chance but this has gone on far too long..
if Affellay was bought for 8mil than walcott would be worth half that..absolutely no footballing brain..NONE whatsoever..
there are no excuses left for him!
in terms of getting a euro spot, there are so many more better players ahead of him at the moment..
Time to move on Theo..sorry
I am not actually pissed off as all my expectations had vanished in the car coming home when I heard the line up.
Change things, and of course we can get back into the tie.
Micky its boot poor defending by our defence tho, it’s poor defending by our midfield, if they could stop Milan having the ball and creating attacks then we can start thinking about attacking.
I concede that GiE which is why I phrased it ‘I’m sorry to say that Ramsey is one of the culprits’ because I just don’t think the lad gets enough support. Our movement in midfield has been non existent and the connection between the midfield and attack is way too far apart.
I think it is more of a collective criticism, why are other teams able to break quicky and we play as if we are wearing wellington boots filled with cement.
Agreed LB, Arteta has been absent as well as most of the team.
Thank God, wenger has seen the same thing..bye bye theo.
GIE, quite right. As usual Rambo is busting a gut with no other f*cker making any effort to support him.
Theo I am afraid is a Tin Man!
No-one is playing well, we have no balance and are panicking all over the pitch. I hope TH can inspire them at half time and players who have some real fight in them like Coquelin and the Ox will be given a chance in the second half.
I am not quite sure what people expect from Song. In my opinion his job is to try and break play up in the midfield — which he is doing.
Everyone bar Kozzer went AWOL that first half.
We’re out!
Not sure I even want to watch this shit anymore
Bollix part deux
bring on ox..time to score 2-3 or concede 10 and kiss it goodbye and concentrate on what we can still achieve.. this is bordering on embarrasment
I blame Margaret Thatcher.
At least we are playing with more energy this half even if we are creating nothing
The 6th richest club in the world is 19th out of 20 in the premiership in expenditure on players
We just don’t have the quality any more.
Not being tactically aware I cannot understand why we are getting so little control of the ball in midfield. ATM it is men against boys.
I blame the pitch
Funnily enough Raddy I was about to blame Gordon Brown. Politicians eh!
I dont know what Ramsey doing on the pitch, he didnt contribute anything at all. Get Ramsey off for any player who has an even miniscule pair of testicles.
Micky. We were much better under a Labour govt.
Best bit of play from us all evening which ends with a lovely flick by TH for RVP whose great volley is well saved by Abbiati.
Rob. I don’t think Ramsey is playing worse than the other 10.
The ref is wearing a new gold Rolex
Never a penalty
Since the 2nd goal went in the team and Arsene have looked dispirited and resigned to defeat.
The Ref and the cheating have not helped either.
My god how embarrassing.
Humiliating
ATM Ramsey is no better than Walcott. Poor, really really poor performance from him.
What a load of absolute fucking bollocks
Their keeper has made two saves, ours has made none
They are all poor
wenger is poor tonight
Bollix
What else can I say?
Bollix
4th goal was down to rosicky
It seems harsh to pick out any one player in what has been a terrible performance.
Only RvP has been near his normal form.
Plus AC have been very good all over the pitch and deserve the win
I cannot wait to hear what Wenger is going to say about this one. If he mentions mental strength, I swear I will throw something at him at the next home game!
Poor performance and bewilderingly poor tactics.
Nothing has worked, and the lack of a creative Cesc or Wilshire replacement has been made all too clear tonight.
Spot on there Red, absolutley spot on.
Szczesny made a save – hurrah
Thank god that’s over. I think Wenger will be gone at the end of this season. he’s losty too many fans. He’s getting murdered on twitter.
Thank god that is over.
Now we can concentrate on the FA Cup
GM 🙂
GM,
Arsene wasn’t poor tonight. He was awful.
On a brighter note, I really do think 4th is way more important than an extended CL run as I really don’t think we are good enough to win it.
Nite all.
I’m not watching the post match. I’ve just called piers morgan a front bottom on twitter. i wonder if he’ll read it. At least we can rest Robin in the return leg. that was awful from start to finish.
What would I like to hear from Wenger? I’d like to hear him blast the players for that sorry performance.
Wouldn’t have made any difference if Ox started or BFG when far too many players hid away or had rotten performances.
Any starting players deserve 6 or above? In my view RvP, Sagna and Gibbs.
No one else did the jobs they are capable of doing. Some aren’t capable of doing what we would like them to do.
Brigham, Goonermichael, how on earth is that Wengers fault, unless he is the lino, unless he personally checks everyones studs, unless he told Ibra to go down like a fairy. It’s the players who are at fault.
That match was an embarresment. I am completely ashamed. not one player can come out of this with any credit. we are now at best a mid table team in desperate need of investment. great players have left and average players have come in. it says it all that newcastle spend ten mil on a player in the transfer window. good luck to you newcastle; you are showing a hell of a lot more ambition than arsenal. im ashamed to call myself a fan!!!!
I thought Gibbs was ok actually.
david duffield @wainwrighthiker
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FavoritedFavorite · Close Open Details Well Arsenal as a big club looks like its gone forever. Poor
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I found that funny. What a drama queen
We are Arsenal Football Club, we fight, we never give up, the tie is alive, 2-0 up after 20 minutes at the Emirates in front of 60,000 and we win.
Tonight we learnt, we take it away but we never give up, some of the comments on this site and on Twitter are an embarrassment, 2 weeks ago against Blackburn we were all saying something different then.
All the goals tonight had an element of good fortune to Milan. Just one of them nights, we move on.
Kind of agree Andrew until you say u r ashamed to be a fan. Being a fan is a simple choice….take the bad with the good and support throughout or f***off. To a man we were poor tonight and soundly beaten but I still think it was a good team of players who went out on that pitch but they just didnt play well. I think the club is at a crossroads now where we either accept a mid-table slot or change the philosophy (manager) . Personally I think it will be the latter with Arsene falling on his sword for the greater good and possibly AVB coming to us when Roman sacks him. The only thing I am sure of is that I will be Arsenal til I die whether 1st or last and proud of it.
Arsedave. We hardly troubled thier keeper until very late on. I didn’t say it was Wengers fault although I think he was too cautious. I’m saying he’s lost too many fans to last much longer. If we get 4th maybe he’ll be ok. If we win the Fa cup maybe. If we don’t get 4th and don’t win the cup I can’t see RVP staying unless they pay him 200k + a week. I don’t want Wenger to go as I don’t think we’ll get anyone better. If he goes I think we’ll go on a slide for a couple of seasons at least.
Andrew Winchester. At best a mid table team? why are we 4th then? are there 7 teams in the prem?
Andrew. Perhaps you are not a fan if that if how you support your team. It is easy to support your team when they are winning but if you question your support when they lose then …..
As to the money spent by Newcastle – where are they in the table?
No doubt the site will be busy now we have suffered such a defeat.
We need RA to put up “If” by Kipling again
Tweet @onearsenewenger
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FavoritedFavorite · Close Open Details WOW WOW WOW – William Hills now EVEN money no Wenger next season.
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A lot of the players looked like they gave up after 5 minutes. i can’t really see us scoring 5 without reply against a team like that though. Stranger things have happened I suppose.
Look, there is absolutely no excuse for our lack of workrate. Our midfielders were getting in each others way. When we sent the ball out wide, they were left with no-one to pass to.
Don’t forget that Swansea outplayed us in a very similar fashion only a few weeks ago simply by working harder, pressing higher up the pitch and attacking at pace. The style of football we play would only be effective if we had players of Barca’s quality. We don’t and even they are being worked out by teams who have players who are prepared to press and press and press. We had 10 ball watchers at times tonight.
It’s the lack of effort and interest that hurts me. I can take getting beat, but only when we show heart.
Don’t put if on. It reminds me of my dad and gets me going.
i remember wenger saying after cesc left that it was time for the other players to step up..theyve tried and failed..and no one in midfield seems to know their role..
ramsey, song, arteta rosicky are all trying to be both creative players and defensive midfielders and are failing in both departments…
when cesc was with us, song seemed to know his role well and stuck to what he does best and that is breaking up play with his defensive duties..since he left we have too many gaps and holes in midfield in trying to cover each failed efforts of going forward..
Dennis Bergkamp put it straight when he said we are too predictable..too many players of the same nature..
i know im gonna piss off a few here when i say this but as good as ramsey is or will be…He is not an Arsenal player!! our style has changed and its costing us and will continue to cost us..our midfield is childs play at the moment..
i love wenger but tactically he got it so wrong tonight..Rosicky on the wing?? Are you serious, the only way we were to beat AC tonight was with width and he shot us in the foot..dont even start me on theo..that boy wouldnt know how to hug the line if it was painted on his arse..
ive backed wenger from day one and always believed that our board was at fault for transfers and the way our club has been heading, if that is the case then its time for wenger to stand up and say so..this was not a 1 or 2-0 defeat…this was embarassing and i believe has made robbins mind up to leave..
i feel hopeless right now and STAN CAN FOOK RIGHT OFF!!!!
Gunners Today @GunnersToday
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FavoritedFavorite · Close Open Details Nice to hear Bergkamp and Vieira talking us down. Right. Because we were so awesome in Europe back then.
@Arsedave Brigham, Goonermichael, how on earth is that Wengers fault, unless he is the lino, unless he personally checks everyones studs, unless he told Ibra to go down like a fairy. It’s the players who are at fault.
Please tell me where I said it was his fault? I only agreed with RA’s post regarding his poor tactics, which it was. We were totally overun once again in midfield, no cohesion going forward at all and apart from two RVP chances, we never troubled them all night. We were in disarray from minute 5 and Milan knew it. The loss of Kozzer and the introduction of Djourou just made it even worse.
Bad day at the office, next step, good day at the office. Love `em through thick and thin ! 🙂
Horrible game to watch. We seemed to start OK, keeeping the ball and knockng it around. Then Chesney has a mad couple of moments and Milan’s tails are up. After that we got nowhere near them.
As a team we looked afraid.
So glad I volunteered for the match report!
That was a really poor display.
Poor as a team, and particularly poor from Wenger, Walcott, Vermaelen, Arteta, Ransey and Gibbs.
BUT… let’s not go over the top.
For what ever reason, normally reliable performers like TV and MA had very poor games. They have not become bad players overnight. Gibbs can be cut some slack because he’s had four months out.
I thought AW got his team selection wrong from the start and handed the initiative to Milan, but even so we looked second best all night long.
We’ll regroup and refocus in time for the FA Cup on Saturday.
Brigham, you are an absolute gentleman, I do apologise, you didn’t blame Wenger, my emotions are running high and I’m only skimming the comments.
Same with you Goonermichael, i apologise, you usually make me laugh but I can’t crack a smile tonight.
Do we need all four Premier clubs in the CL as a show of strength? I think the CL is poorer without Liverpool and Man Utd albeit funny when they get knocked out.
I don’t think Kozzer going made much of a difference. Rosicky had the ball, runs around like a headless chicken and lose it then we end up giving away a (soft) penalty and it’s 4 nil. Why can’t we break at speed anymore? Most other teams can do it why can’t we? I’m so glad the the chavs and bindippers are shit otherwise we’d be in massive trouble. I can’t imagine Wenger being here much longer.
ManUre, Chelsea, Liverpool have all had equally bad nights in Europe over recent years.
(sh)it happens.
Wenger: “It wouldn’t be fair for me to blame the pitch, even if it was disastrous. Our performance was the same level as the pitch”
I was just going to paste that Irish
Most of our problems were in midfield as they were in the games against Fulham and Swansea. No connection between the midfield and the attack (= a lone RvP) Experienced players committing themselves to challenges they can’t win and then not making enough effort to get back. We were truly dreadful when not in possession tonight. Anyone could see where AC’s next pass was going to go but our midfielders just sat back and they walked through us.
Gabriele Marcotti @Marcotti
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FavoritedFavorite · Close Open Details Wenger on Sky Italia: “It’s possible to win 5-0, but Champions League isn’t played in Dreamland. I do promise a better perfromance.”
the Arsenal just dont know how to break any more..we release on a counter and wether its a failed pass or no movement off the ball it always ends up the same..
there have been too many occasions when we outnumber the opposition on the counter attack only to hold it up in the final third..Rosicky ramsey and theo are huge culprits of this and even vermaelen when he plays on the left going forward..
why do we hold it up and wait for the opposition players to get back into position..ITS CRIMINAL..our movement off the ball is non existent..
i dont like our midfield at the moment and we really lack wide players…i want a media ban on our players because if i hear theo or djourou admitting that weve been poor and need to improve collectively one more time im gonna hurl…stop talking, your sponsored by Nike- so JUST DO IT for f**ks sake…
@Arsedave – no worries mate and accepted. 🙂
It sounds like AW is very cross with his players.
Were we just intimidated by the occasion?
I’m back in my sell Walcott mode I’m afraid.
I do also feel that we missed the BFG in this game.
Sadly Verm had a poor game. In fact he has been a bit below par since returning from his injury.
Kozzer and BFG definitely our best CB starting pair (but we won’t see them playing together for quite some time, unfortunately).
I still have 100% faith in the direction the Club is on. We are not good enough at the moment to either compete with the better sides or to win things. When i look at our potential and the age of our special talents we probably wont be good enough next season either….but it will come.
The only thing that is important this season is to secure top four and keep building the house and maintain the bricks from outsiders, and this will now happen.
People, please understand the fundamental essence of this modern Arsenal. It is the only club in the top 10 of clubs in terms of size that has this fundamental ethos of building a team. This can not be successful if you lose your rising stars, which is what has happened in the last 5 years. The climate is now changing and we will build that special team but it will take time. Be paitent and you will witness an Arsenal team to rival and surpass any team that we have had in the past.
COYRRG
GM
For Walcott to be taken off at half time in a game where we’re chasing a goal is pretty damning.
But as Rasp said earlier, there seemed to be a massive gulf between out MF and attack.
RAsp. I understand your frustration but I think you undervalue how good AC were tonight, and in particular Ibra.
Yes we were poor, but they were very good
Just seen the Wenger interview – he spared no-one. To sum it all up, he said we were complete bollix from start to finish. No positives, no excuses, nothing.
daniel taylor @DTguardian
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FavoritedFavorite · Close Open Details Wenger: ‘We don’t play in dream world. We may have 2 per cent or 5 per cent chance. But realistically, we are out.”
Night All. Play nice
Night BR. You certainly called it with Ibra in your pre-match. He was immense.
Raddy, no. I totally agree with you. AC have at least 4 world class players, we have one. But that wouldn’t be a problem if we put out a balanced team where every player fought for each other and showed unified forward movement and unified defensive cohesion. Swansea have no world class players but they comprehensively outplayed us. The system is wrong. It is slow and predictable and we tolerate players who do not put in enough effort. We pass the ball back to the centrebacks when we should be splitting the opposition’s defence.
GM @10.33pm,
im afraid im with you on that one mate..with all the positives this site produces for our players when in poor form i just cant do the same for theo..
its not his age, or even lack of effort… hes been with us too long now to have not improved and had too many chances to learn from mistakes…
plain and simple, he hasnt got a footballing brain and i cant justify him in our first team let alone to be an international..
I am not and never have been one of the anti-Arsene brigade, I think he has done a fantastic job over the years and taken us to the level that unfortunately we all demand to see again. His previous success now sadly makes this acceptance of mediocrity all the more unbearable. Admittedly first Roman bought the league and now the arabs have, Man utd have maintained their position because whatever we think of him SAF is probably the greatest manager to have ever lived and seems to somehow get extraordinary achievments form very average players. Arsene is a very good manager and I dont feel we will get better but sometimes a change is as good as a rest and I think a change must surely be on the way.
TMHT I don’t think many of us mind that. And in fact we are not expecting the team to win every game as some f the twitter bods seem to.
But what we didn’t see from those players tonight was some character and thats what hurts. I think Sharkey at 10:19 is spot on.
“We looked afraid”
Raspers your spot on!!!
Ther were very good Raddy. We were poor though. Looked a massive (not being dramatic) gulf in desire and class really.
It reminds me of when the mancs went to barca and got done 4 nil for some reason.
Just saw the second goal agin on highlights. Theo fails to compete for an aerial ball, the ball goes to Bommel and is moved to Eulison and Theo doesn’t even try to get into the path of the ball, Sagna is committed to the full back who simply plays in Ibra
Lets be realistic, we are a little way off winning the CL for a while. Our main goal is 4th spot, by this time Saturday it may be the only goal we have. I shall stagger you now and say, I want Chavs to do well In CL and FA cup and Dippers to do well In FA cup so we will only have 13 league games to concentrate on and 4th spot will be ours. 4th Is vital but If that eludes us I can see our biggest ever summer TW dealings ever, which may be a blessing In disguise. Get your factor 2012, It could be a hot summer !
I’m off to bed … I will say this though, it could be worse, we could be Glasgow Rangers, they barely have a club.
Yeah, its all a bit shit at the moment but at least we have all the things in place to build – new stadium, academy, great facilities, squad to work with, and no crippling debt.
Ime not disputing that GiE. the team with cesc, flamini, adyabor etc looked scared and short of character at times to. For me this is a product of youth and we will see it again with this current bunch.
The point i am making is fundemental because our whole playing strategy is built on building a team. Did Arsene want to lose Flamini, cesc, Nasri, adeybyor etc? of course not. Were we would be if we had kept our players in the last 5 years?, very near the top for sure.
No change is needed, however frustrated people get. The only requirment is that we keep all our young talents from the predators and i believe we will, then we will have a team that will exceed all Arsenal teams of the past.
barumgooner I hate fergiescum and fortunately Maureen is a much better manager and will win far more trophies than him so I’d disaggree that he’s the best ever. I hate maureen too btw (unless he joins us)
I have to agree with those that have said that we just didn’t compete tonight. We mostly looked like a team that shouldn’t be in the Champions Lge but AC Milan were good. They worked hard to keep us off the ball and we didn’t work hard to keep them from playing.
Two nil down at half-time wasn’t a terrible place to be as in the Champions Lge one goal from us would have changed the game.
Very tough three weeks ahead of us now.
Team in transition as never before.
Terry is your hair growing back? I’m strangely not that bothered tonight. Weird.
Archie The Leper @ArchieTheLeper
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Got to agree with you TelescopeMan, but still want the couple of added ” Super Quality” as the missing bits to the Jigsaw. Then we will be flying. Still think the future looks great and I`m willing to wait ! ( nice rhyme glic baby ) 🙂
I hope some tickets become available for the home tie as I’m not missing out on a Champions Lge night at the Emirates. I want to be there to cheer the team.
No GM, its fallen out completely after tonight hahaha.
The good thing is though that in a couple of years when we are top of the league and thumping Milan in Europe i will have a barnet to rival Ken Barlow.
Who knows peaches, that return game could be one of the most memorable nights ever ! 🙂
its easy to say in hindsight but we missed AA23 on a game like tonight..
i acknowledge the teams lack of effort, but we had no footballing brain in midfield to connect with RVP or even TH12 (thanks for the memories sir)
he might be slow and look lazy but he can read a game and pick out a pass..the amount of times rosicky and ramsey have failed with a through ball only for it to bite us on the counter is all too often
wenger applauds vision in a player… what good is your vision when you cant pull off that incisive pass and then become reluctant to do so later because your lack of confidence..
Ramsey should have been bled through slowly with an established player ahead of him..Rosicky is only great as a squad player, and had we found an established replacement for the creative role, no-one would be mentioning Song in bad regard cos he wouldnt need to try the fancy flair…
i ask you PHW- can we really live without champions league?
what do you say when we lose more of our stars like Robbin, and cant even attract half decent stars anymore?
i know Arsenal will always live to see another day and more stars will emerge, but why do we have to wait for another generation when weve been so close on many occasions? is it so hard to release some funds for a few missing ingredients, yet your willing to accept losing 40mil if we dont qualify..
i hate our board, i really do! and one day i will know for sure wether wenger is was in on the act!!! it all stinks at the moment!!
Cornwall, we will keep all our players in future and will make the odd super qualiteeee signing that will compliment what we have….great times ahead without doubt.
Being part native American , I could scalp “one who walks with breeze through thick bear hair ” for you my mucker ! 🙂
as to my previous comment i have calmed down a lot and now feel that i was slightly ott. i am dissappinted and i feel that it was a shameful perfprmance. but you guys are right, we r 4th in the epl. i just hope we can hang in there. maybe we r in a transitional period. i dont know but something has to change in transfer dealings. i know ttthat its impossible to keep pace with the wealthy clubs but we need some investment in the team in the summer for sure.
anyway sorry for the over reaction
Great attitude Peaches. We should all follow your example and get behind the team. They need lifting by the crowd and will get it from me for sure.
hahaha, nice one Cornwall
Andrew – everyone is entitled to their ott feelings. The dust will settle and we’ll keep going back for more starting with Sunderland away in the FA cup.
Tomorrow is the anniversary of a great game at the Emirates and no-one can take that away from us.
I take these defeats quite good, but when we lost at home to the Spuds 3-2 and drew with them 4-4 that was so different, I was screaming, crying, swearing, kicking and punching on the floor like a child. Mrs glic has never been so embarrassed as that day In Tesco`s frozen Isle !.
Well done Andrew. It’s bad but not that bad. I think you’ll probably get a ticket easily enough on the ticket exchange peaches.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/9445378.stm
Just in case the scum think they are special
Right CL day, time to go give the Milan boys a thrashing.
😦 oh shit just checked the comments, it wasn’t a dream?
Ha ha GiE,
Me thinks we are going to need all the humour we can lay our hands on today. I think pretending it never happened is a really good idea. Although I blame Arsene for having the worst night, that doesn’t mean I think we would or could have beaten them. They’re very good. We are about the 4th best team in England, which is not bad, and they are better. Big Titties really.
Big Titties indeed, where’s Chas to provide a video for us?
https://twitter.com/positivegunner/status/170039949406633984
Must say I’m really looking forward to SGGs match report…..
I’m still trying to figure out why. And also work out what formation Milan played. Think it was 4-2-1-2 because don’t think they actually had traditional wingers it was their full backs getting forward wide most of the time. But what they did do was play the ball central rather than wide when entering the final third, and runs from deep were angled towards the goal not down the wing.
Mourning all 😉
Sorry that I am out of the inner circle at the moment, but nevertheless saw the game.
I am not going to analise every players’ performance as we were taken to the cleaners by a very very good Milan side on the night.
in fact it was embarrassing how they carved through our midfield and defence,time and time again.
The only positive was Wenger’s post match comments. he pulled no punches and said it like it is, so he obviously did see everything.
now i am concerned having lost Kos and Mert and Fab probably in goal on Saturday, our ever changing formation will come under the cosh .
The knee jerk reaction from so called supporters and most of the media, will increase after last night and I advise everyone who truly supports our club to concentrate on anything except football until Saturday teatime,be it knitting,cycling,walking,making love, having a new hair do or in my case playing bowls.
No Ticket Exchange for Milan yet 😦
Klsey,
Or into their dungeons for the seedier elements of this site 🙂
Kelsey well said sir. I am glad Wenger did not mince his words last night, I’m sure the players are told where they went wrong in the dressing room before AW comes out and defends them to the media and us. I think last nights performance was a bridge too far and it was comforting to hear he was as disappointed as us in the players and not going to give them any excuses.
GiE,
🙂
I’m off out for a while as I’m doing a GliC and moving huge amounts of stone on our cowpat strewn half mile pothole ridden lane. Well, watching someone else drive a machine doing it to be precise.
GIE/Micky,
can’t wait to read LG today 🙂
Dungeons= torture, kinky sex and The chamber of Horrors.
Ooo dear, Arsene blaming the players was he? He needs to take some blame himself. He’s the boss afterall.
Really out.
Kelsey,
Just an ordinary day in Cornwall!
You live in Cornwall,Micky ? i thought the east end boy lived there.
Rasp
10.42…….so true.
Peaches
11.07…….best comment of the evening.
One thing which really annoyed me last night and I don’t think anyone else has mentioned it. The fact that Wenger stayed rooted to the bench the whole game. Why was he not up and pacing his technical area? Why was he not screaming at the players or encouraging them to push on?
Same as on the pitch, no leadership at all last night. Not one player attempted to rally the troops, get them into position, get them moving and force the play. NOT ONE!
When I played at a decent level and things were going bad sometimes, then either the club captain would be screaming at us or I would look over to the bench and for sure our manager would be spitting pure venom.
Where was our leadership?
If Chelsea go out we may lose the automatic 4th place next year in the CL.
Brigham, it was noted on the radio commentary which i prefer when watching the game.
kelsey,
This year’s games affect qualification for CL several seasons in the future.
GIE, 4-2-1-2?
Here are the country coefficients and how they are calculated.
http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/uefarankings/country/index.html
Chas well spotted my Maths is off must have been 4-1-2-1-2 (aka diamond)
I’m really looking forward to going to the Stadium of Light on Saturday.
Which way will it go? Disintegration or pheasant from the flames?
Besides, being there means I don’t have to watch it on ITV. (not that I had the sound on last night anyway) 🙂
So they did us with the ol’ one-two.
Morning all, what can one say to the football gods, except “shadappa your face” as befits the oppostion who gave us a footballing lesson.
Thinking back to our trouncing of Blackburn I feel the spankers became the spankees last night.
Ouch…and double ouch.
Perhaps we can ask UEFA to award us the 4 goals as we were really the team playing in red last night and that bunch of imposters in the yellow were the Spuds reserves ?
We know Eye-tie football is as corrupt as you can get so surely it’s worth slipping a few lira their way, lol ?
Morning all,
I’m going to ban the phrase ‘knee jerk’ today 😕
My knees have jerked so often lately I’ve got arthritis
Morning Rasp,
You have a point.
It’s happened so often, it almost doesn’t hurt as much because at the back of your mind you know it could happen again at any time.
Hi chas,
I agree. Our inability to change things around is a concern. As I’ve said many times, we need a midfield enforcer – someone who can drive play, and a finisher up top to help RvP out.
Our midfield was in complete disarray last night, no-one seemed to know what their role was.
Morning all
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