We have qualified top of the group. Well done, lads.
Is this a reason to play a B team tonight? You bet it is.
Olympiakos would like to win this fixture and thus have the chance to progress, Marseilles would like us to win and allow them to go into the knockout rounds. Should we care? How would we feel in Marseilles place if AFC play a team that has no chance of winning?
| Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | For | Against | GD | PTS | ||
| 1 | Arsenal | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 11 |
| 2 | Marseille | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 7 |
| 3 | Olympiakos | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 6 |
| 4 | Borussia Dortmund | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 9 | -5 | 4 |
My guess is that the fans of the other 3 teams in the group will look at our travellers and think “this is wrong – no van Persie, no Walcott, no Worlds No 1”, but ….. and this is a huge but ….. our B team are more than capable of beating Olympiakos in Athens (unlike BD) and I fully expect them to do so.
Almost all of our side are Internationals or have future stars stamped across their foreheads. Rosicky is likely to play some part and he is his Nation’s Captain, as is Bennie, and TV, and so is Arshavin. Fabianski is an International, so are Park and Chamakh, so too are Squillaci and JD – this is not a sub-standard side, it is a team of top quality players who will be desperate to impress on the International stage.
I am surprised to see Santos travel with the squad – he is surely in “the red.” I know we are short at LB but Miquel did well against the Oil Slickers so why not give him another go?
My team:
Almost the same team that started in the CC but Olympiakos are no Man City.
One bad omen. Two years ago we lost to MC in the Carling and a week later travelled to Olympiakos where a young Arsenal team which included Tom Cruise, Merida, Vela, a 17 y.o. JW, and Kyle Bartley lost 1-0.
An inventor from Athens? How about Archimedes. For some reason I can find no photos of the great man so we will have to make do with the technology of the time which shows the lad to sport a top beard and moustache. Well played Archie!
COYRRG
Written by Big Raddy
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
I’d have rested TV5, and Santos too. No need to play them. Or even to make them travel.
Seems like a pointless exercise to me.
I agree Raddy young team that beat them in home game should be enough. Will be a tough environment for Youngsters to experience too.
I’m sure I won’t be the only one more interested by events in Spain than Greece this evening.
I know Wenger has suggested he wants all three domestic clubs in the balance to progress with us but has he considered the consequences.
Currently the three English teams are on course to finish second if they qualify. This then means as qualified top there will only be 4 teams that we can possibly meet in round of 16.
Presently those 4 are Tranzonspor, Ajax, Zenit or Milan. One from those four gives us higher odds of meeting Milan, whereas if Chelsea, ManUre and City do not progress we can add Valencia, Napoli and Basle to that list which becomes a little better in odds of avoiding bigger names.
EUREKA KA KA KA!
Eureka means ‘I’ve found it!, so basically, little old Archie fell into his bath, probably naked, shouting ‘I’ve found it’……the mind boggles!!!
2 each tonight I reckon. Olympiakos will be after a win but we have enough quality in the B team these days to get a result.
GiE, is it not just a straight draw after the group stages, apart from not being able to meet the other club in your group, or is it the case that you can’t be drawn against your fellow domestic clubs either?
I think AW believes that the other English clubs will put the lesser players out for the Europa League, this making the PL tougher for us. If these clubs are in the CL then their squads will be stretched further thus possibly making it easier to get top 4.
Morning Raddy, 🙂
A nice light Post for a sunny, freezingly cold day. Bet it’s warmer in Athens.
You have, perhaps inadvertently, highlighted, above, the distaff of a young footballer’s life; “a young Arsenal team which included Tom Cruise, Merida, Vela, a 17 y.o. JW, and Kyle Bartley lost 1-0.” Apart from our Jack, the others have either left Arsenal permanently, or are on loan and unlikely to return.
Not always so wonderful for those young ‘uns who come so close to playing for the best team in the world, only to have their hopes dashed.
It seems that AW, always thinking ahead, would be disappointed if the other three PL clubs did not get thru to the last 32, partly because they would then concentrate on the PL and the FA Cup, as FGG says, but also he is concerned that the EPL would lose its 4 club entry to the CL, making it even more difficult for us to qualify in the future.
Smart guy our boss! 🙂
i’d rest vermaelen, play squil and djourou at CB. Yennaris looked very promising at RB against Bolton, he deserves another shot.
How on earth did eastmond get in the squad?
I think Wenger’s main concern is the longer term effect on English clubs of only us going through: i.e., that it could end up reducing the PL’s coefficient to the extent that it loses its fourth CL spot at some point in the future. Given that we’ve become rather fond of fourth spot, you can see where he’s coming from, it’s a very rational judgment.
But sod it, I would love it (getting all Kevin Keegan here), absolutely love it if those bastards at United, Chelsea and especially Mansour City got relegated into the Europa League.
Am delighted that we’re irrelevant tonight. Of course, the pundits haven’t given respect where it’s due for that achievement, but what do we expect from them?
No-one wants to lose a game but I hope the side that starts has as few first teamers as possible – I’d hate to think we could endanger getting three points against Everton for the sake of a dead rubber.
I think the last meaningless CL game we played in Greece was back in 1999, when we went into the away game at Panathinaikos already eliminated from the CL. We played a team full of kids and reserves, and despite Pana still being able to qualify for the knock-out stage, and having typically intense Greek fans, our lads won 3-1. Would be fun to see that again tonight.
Oh and lovely intro as ever Raddy – love the headline!
Like you Panic, I also would have rested TV and Santos as there is no need at all for them to even travel and I see no point in taking them, when it will only tire them out.
I also think our boss has it spot on when he says about the other three English teams getting through, as it will give them more games to play and keep them focused on the CL as well as the EPL and other competitions. More chance of injuries, tiredness following any long trips away before a league game, which can only be better for us overall.
Mind you, it would still be very funny to see Chelsea not make it through tonight. 🙂
Brilliant, BR.
I’m hoping Santos has travelled because he’s meeting up with a few friends from that part of the world for a large doner. Hopefully Tommy on the bench, too.
GIE, the Chavs are at home.
Permutations for groups E and F. Complicated!
GROUP E
Bayer Leverkusen are through due to Chelsea and Valencia meeting on the final day, but top spot remains up for grabs. Leverkusen can secure this by winning away to Genk. If they do not beat Genk then any winner in the other tie would finish first with the German side runners-up.
Contrary to reports elsewhere, Chelsea are not guaranteed to qualify with a 0-0 draw. If Leverkusen lose in Belgium then Chelsea would be eliminated with any draw, including 0-0. This is because when three teams are level on points a mini-league is created without the games involving Genk. Leverkusen would finish top having secured one more point than their rivals. Valencia will finish above Chelsea by virtue of having scored one more goal than the London club, with both having five points and a goal difference of +1.
Chelsea can only finish second with a 0-0 draw if Leverkusen pick up points. A 1-1 draw would put Valencia through on goal difference and any other draw would put Valencia in the knockout rounds on head-to-head having scored more away goals.
Either Chelsea or Valencia can guarantee qualification with a victory, and will finish top if Leverkusen also fail to win. A loser at Stamford Bridge would enter the Europa League.
GROUP F
Arsenal are certain of topping the group with a four-point cushion over Marseille, but there are several permutations for second place and the Europa League berth.
Marseille will guarantee a knockout place with victory away at Borussia Dortmund. However, if they fail to pick up maximum points it could let in Olympiakos, who would move up to second with a home win over Arsenal.
For Dortmund, the outlook is bleak. As they lost 3-0 away to Marseille and because of their inferior goal difference, they must win by four goals to overhaul the Ligue 1 side. A win by a smaller margin would condemn them to the Europa League – but only if Olympiakos lose to Arsenal.
This is another group where three teams can finish level on points, which will happen should Olympiakos draw and Dortmund win – and even then all sides would be level on six points in the mini-league so it comes down to goal difference between them.
If the three teams finish level, there are several potential scenarios. If Dortmund win by one goal, Marseille will finish second, Olympiakos third and Dortmund fourth. If Dortmund win by two or three goals then Olympiakos will be second, Marseille third and Dortmund fourth. If Dortmund win by four goals it will be Olympiakos second, Dortmund third and Marseille fourth. Dortmund can only qualify for the knockout rounds via the three-team mini-league if they beat Marseille by five goals or more, which would push Olympiakos into the Europa League.
Pluck yew!
Luis Suarez, excellent player, but has a face one could cheerfully take to with a cricket bat.
That Jay Spearing tackle reminded me of the Shawcross on Ramsey one. Ouch.
26, 🙂
Excellent pre-match as ever – thanks Raddy.
Although I’m not his greatest fan, it would be nice if our own star with the greased up hair bagged a couple in Greece. Tonights B team which so narrowly lost to city and will most likely turn out against Leeds United deserve a victory – having said that, I think a draw is the most likely outcome.
Good stuff as always Raddy. This game will be a good run out for the fringe players…oh the joy of topping the group.
Why is that some players have a face that just screams “Cheat” ?
I agree with Bingham that it would be so so funny to see Chelsea knocked out tonight, but really like you say we could do with the other 3 playing more games and picking up injuries and fatigue. It’s now looking more and more like ManBillions, ManUre and Spurs finishing in the top 3 with one place between us and Chelsea for next years Champions League spot. I think we can all count the Bin Dippers out now after last night, they need a couple of forwards who can score.
Nicklas Bendtner
It says almost everything about the poverty of his contribution to the Sunderland cause since loaning north that it almost became an established line last week that Steve Bruce was a dead man walking once neither Darren Bent nor Asamoah Gyan were replaced. Which, if we’re being justifiably harsh about Bendtner’s missing contribution, they haven’t been.
I hope we are the only English team left in the CL after tomorrow night.
Long way to get yet Arsedave, plenty of scope for United and Spurs slipping ahead of us, and for Liverpool and Chelsea finding their feet. And our good form could of course come to an end. Personally, I’m looking at us getting into the top three before the season’s end. But then I’m always over-optimistic!
Greetings 26,
Forget the top 3, we can still win the league. Big game coming up at City soon, if we can win that, and were more than capable, then we will go and nick the title at the death. A little bit like “26May1989”
Thank you to everyone for the warm welcome I received a week or 2 ago (not that I expected anything different from such a classy bunch of Gooners)
I remember that match against Olympiakos a few seasons ago with all the youngsters was when I first realized just how good Ramsey was. In the matches leading up to it I think Cesc was injured & young Aaron was starting to get consistent playing time. In the match against a very experienced Olympiakos squad, where the atmosphere was intimidating to say the least, Ramsey completely bossed the match, looking like the elder statesman on the pitch. It was a meaningless match, but one that will always stand out for me b/c it was when he started to turn the corner from a talented young player to a real midfield general for us, shame “that injury” happened a month or 2 later. Glad to see this season he is getting back to the level he was at pre-injury. So here’s to another young Gunner standing out like Aaron did a few seasons back & running with it, the talent that most of them have means it is highly possible from any one of Frimp, Coq, Ozy, AOC, etc…. (I normally don’t slag off Gunners, especially youngsters, but Eastmond should be nowhere near an Arsenal 1st team. He is def not a Song-type situation a few years ago where he needs time to develop, he is just not AFC class)
I completely agree that players such as TV5, Santos, etc…. should be nowhere near the pitch today. Besides the risk of burnout & injuries, as Rasp stated earlier, the “B” squad is most likely the 1 that will take the pitch against good ol’ Leeds. So another solid performance like the one against Citeh last week from our youngsters/fringe players will do wonders for their confidence & help gel as a team.
Fantastic Terry, you’re even worse than me!
I have started dwelling on that game at the Wastelands that’s coming up – yes, I know, one game at a time, but I can’t resist. As you say, a big game, and winning would be a major achievement, but the solidity of our midfield and defence makes me think we could do it. It’ll depend on marshalling Yaya and Silva – deal with them and we can handle the rest.
Anyway, stop it 26, we’ve got tonight’s game and the Everton match to worry about before that…. 🙂
I’m with you TMHT and 1989, would love us to win it, but being realistic at the same time. It’s a strange season in that none of us are really dropping many points against the teams from 7th down. I keep waiting for the wheels to come off ManBillions a little bit but they keep scoring 5s. I fully expect ManUre to stay strong but we are going great as well. It will come down to the next round of matches; Man C v Man U, us v ManU, us v Man C twice and us v Spurs. Think we would need 9 out of 9pts against them 3.
Sorry, maybe 10 out of 12pts, (Man C H & A)
Afternoon all.
ArseDave go wash your mouth out….Spuds above Arsenal….no St Totteringhams day…….not happening 😉
I guess Santos is only there as left sided cover.
I’d prob go for JD and Squid….but how nice that in reality we are not risking too much playing first team CB/defenders as we have for a change other options. Unfortunately now it is up front we have all the risk from injury….which is why i’d like to see at least one purchase in Jamuary. A little bit of competition for RvP, Gerv and Theo would not be a bad thing.
@ 26, yes there is indeed a long way to go and I really think the Spuds will slip up at some point, just about always do around February time! 😉
Not sure if I erally share you optimisim of us finishing third, but I like it just the same.
Either way, there remains a huge amount of football to be played between now and the end of the season and who knows what may transpire?
G I Exile, you’re right, not happening, mouth all washed out, what do you think of their run though – a fluke.
Bingham, we’ve got to remain optimistic, positive thinking will filter through the the players, any negativity at all and the players on the pitch will sense it.
Hi Cory (NYC), 🙂
Good post, and, like you, I don’t like being rude about Arsenal youngsters, but your point about Eastmond is spot on.
I simply do not understand what is going on with him. If someone is rubbish at youth and reserve level how can he be included in a CL squad or —- (face wrinkling) — even in the team! Yikes.
Arsedive, Spurs’ good season isn’t a fluke, they’re good, no doubt about that (even if the dodgy Abu Dhabi money is subsidising them thanks to City still paying most of Adebayor’s salary). But they’ll hit a tougher period at some point. In late Jan-March, for example, they have a run of nine games in which they’ll face City, Liverpool, Newcastle, us, United, Everton, Stoke and Chelsea. Come through that lot still in the top three and they’ll deserve to be there.
Hi 26,
No need to be rude to poor old ArseDave — Arsediver indeed! 🙂
🙂 RA!
Hi Raddy – good prematch, thank you. I am surprised you have included Tommy in the squad. He is almost as important to the 1st team as Boy Wonder. I’d leave him on the bench
ArseDave as 26 says they are no doubt a better side than last year but scratch beneath the surface and I’m not sure they’re that strong in depth.
Also they have had quite a nice run of games. Lost embarrassingly to City and have been lucky to play against ten men on two occasions and 9 men once not once getting a man off themselves.
Not being paranoid but we’ve played against ten men once and been reduced to ten men three times.
26
Stoke and Everton?
26may – checked player ratings for last night’s Fulham squad. Some think that Sanderos was great, others that he was poor. There you are, same game, different opinions, there is a surprise
The line-up I’d like to see tonight:
……………Fabianski
Yennaris, Squillaci, Djourou, Miquel
………Frimpong, Coquelin
Ox-Chamb, Benayoun, Arshavin
……………Chamakh
Subs: Mannone, Vermaelen, Santos, Eastmond, Ozyakup, Park, Rosicky
@GM: Good enough to give any team a challenge, that’s my thinking anyway.
@evonne: Opinions are allowed. So long as everyone agrees with me. 😉
Chas @11:53 – FA are investigating the pluck yew gesture, eejits, have nothing better to do
Quote: goonermichael “26
Stoke and Everton?”
The Spuds often struggle against these two teams for some strange reason, especially away games.
Two very good home sides that’s why, look at Everton last 2 seasons against ManUre 3-1 and 3-3 after being 3-1 down on 90 mins. Look at Stokes home record v BinDippers and Chelsea as well, no mugs both of them. Funnily enough Stoke have just won at Everton having just said all that.
I thought Everton had already lost 4 home games. I’m off to check
10 Everton 13 2 1 4 7 9 3 0 3 8 8 -2 16
I agree it would be better to leave TV on the bench and play Yennaris at RB. We shall see.
Despite the satisfaction of qualifying early it does leave a feeling of a Dead rubber about tonight’s game.
Volunteer required for the match report!…….. cyber thumbscrews at the ready 👿
Rasp. Thanks for the jiggery pokery.
No worries Raddy, least I can do.
Great write-up (yet again!) Raddy. I am in Chicago, but won’t be making it to the bar for this one. Perhaps I’ll keep company with some AAers online…
Rasp, Peaches has already applied the thumbscrews to me (by text, she’s clever, that one). Being a coward, I caved very quickly and agreed to do a match report….
My Mother in Law is over so I am resorting to watching on SkyGo on my desktop.
Altho that will be after devouring Steak&kidney pudding do whether I’ll be able to sit upright to type is another matter.
Great stuff 26m, hopefully I’ll get to see the game and come up with candidates for our MotM poll – you can stipulate your choice on the end of the post if you wish and I’ll delete the comment and put the names in the vote.
GIE. Steak and kidney pie! Now you are talking. BR is deeply envious.
26may – you are full of beans today 🙂
This Gooner is looking forward to 26M’s post match report!
He is also intrigued as to whether or not the said Steak & Kidney pudding is home made by Mrs GIE or shop bought?
Altho’ it sounds very toothsome, either way, I have only had such a pudding or an occasional pie – quite different I think — when visiting Rules in Covent Garden.
What do you have with it? Mashed potatoes, gravy and broccoli? Something else?
This Gooner implores you to reveal all! 🙂
evonne, having recovered from whatever illness I had last week, I’m back! Right, off to get back on the bike to pedal home. See you later chums.
Thanks Evonne, I was wondering what that was – so now you have fingered full of beans 26M!! 🙂 Fragrant!
Finally on here. I`ve been looking after Mrs `lost (sometimes i wish i could have lost the Mrs ). She had a little slip in the Horse yard.
Raddy,
Just normal,normal quality! 🙂
Feels like a CC game, which i like, give some of them talented youngsters a run out.
RA,
Wouldn`t want to be near the 26 household if he`s full of beans !.
Tommy and Santos starting 😦
RA
A bit too much information on the fingering there.
Sharkey
Where did you get the starting line up?
Team,
Fab, JD, Squilli, TV, Santos, Coq, Frim, benny, Oxo, Cham, AA
GM,
If TA were here I am sure he could explain the intricacies of the ‘finger in the Dike’. Me? – I know nuzzing!! 🙂
GLIC,
I take it the ‘Mrs GLIC’ is not allowed anywhere near the website, otherwise you would be typing with a high pitched font!! 🙂
Tis a homemade steak and kidney pudding. Or should that be “twas”. Definitely a suet pudding not a pie. Served with swede mash, broccoli and cauli.
Stodge overload time for football.
Bloody ell that’s an impressive lineup. Now confused as to who starts Saturday against the Toffees.
One wonders whether Le Boss has been influenced by Marseille being the affected team if we lose.
Sounds yummy, GIE. 🙂
‘Tis if you have not partaken of this scrumptious dish – ‘Twas if it is ‘gorn’!
Either way it is probably not going to last long. You are a very lucky accountant GIE. From all accounts your ‘Mrs’ is a hottie, but a hottie who can cook? I did not know such a wifely paragon existed! 🙂
GM – BBC had an 18.52 ‘team news snap’, where they highlight one or two starters. They also said Chamakh, Oxo and Arshavin were starting.
Id have happily had a back four of Yennaris, Dj, Squid and Miquel. Jeez I’d have happily seen even Eastmond getting a run out…and thats saying a lot coming from me.
Imagine you’re a Millwall fan who’s seen Eastmond struggle to get a game in S.E.London, and you see him on the bench in the CL tonight, maybe even getting a few minutes. You’d be pretty stunned.
At least the natural order has resumed with CoqPong both a clear country mile ahead of him in the pecking order. It was quite worrying when he seemed to have overtaken those two.
Red Arse – Apologies for dissing one of your favourite players 😉
Spot on Redders, 🙂
GIE – Wouldn’t Le Boss be negative towards Marseille giving they were a big shower of cheating bastards and cheated him out of the League while he was with Monaco? If anything, he’d probably like to see them doomed.
I won’t get to see the game live, my internet is too slow tonight, must be the weather 😦 I’ll watch the Chavs versus Valencia on TV and then our extended highlights.
I thought you were in Ireland Irish (!() not the Irish sea !! What sort of package have you got that varies in speed like that..?? Its broadband not dial up right..??
When I worked at Standard Bank, we used to call one of the managers ‘Dial Up’ on the basis that he wasn’t exactly the sharpest tool in the box
Irish, I agree about Le Boss possibly having a long standing grudge against Marseille. I read a good article on it…possibly from one of GN5’s posts.
Having said that Bernard Tapie is long gone and Arsene and Deschamps looked cordial enough at both games this season
Bloody Karma…took 2-3 attempts to post my last comment. Broadband dropping in and out !! Lol
Can anyone confirm that Sky are very good..??
RA it is definitely twas then 😀 and such a thing clearly does exist. The kitchens of this house have run out of storage space for kitchen gadgets!
IG a fair point I had forgotten.
SS – I’m on a vodafone dongle – sometimes its quick, sometimes its not. Might be something else as well, and as much as I want to see the kids play, the stop-start buffering will only do my head in tonight. I’ll get to see extended highlights later anyway so its okay.
Plus, who doesn’t want to see the Chavs get knocked out at the group stages 😆
Guys and Irish – good evening!!
I subscribed to liveonlinefooty and bought all necessary cables. I can see the game on the screen, but the sound only form the laptop. Any ideas?
Darn it – Drogba scored, shocking, awful defending.
Evening Evonne – have you one of the cables in the wrong slot. Isn’t on of the coloured cables just for audio?
hiya Irish – the cable is fine on its own, when I chose a different input option on TV the sound works. Then I change the input source for the video cable and only the picture is working
Emmmh don’t know Evonne – maybe if you did a quick google search with your problem and the tv/laptop brand?
Fabianski practically gift wraps that for the striker. Ok the defending prior to that was not great….but Fabs positioning and flat footedness was truly awful.
The striker had only one option. Fab shoud havve cut it off, or at least make it harder…not simply wave him through
Thanks Irish, I was hoping that one of AAers would come across similar scenario
Poor Lukasz 😦
The usual dirty tricks and diving. That was a deliberate foul on Coquelin and the ref is taken in because the perpetrator is pretending to be injured.
I’m relieved Fabianski is off, he really looked rusty and nervous.
Terrible goalkeeping for both goals. Time for TV to have a word with Frimpong and Coq and tell them to release the ball faster
Who would be a Goalie ? 🙂
I fear we are going to pick up some injuries here the way Olympiakos are playing – please don’t let it be TV or Santos.
How many more times do we have to see graphic evidence that Chamakh is not a striker – none after January hopefully.
I guess that’s why they’re called second string goalkeepers. – Shocking.!
We love a comedy Goalkeeping mistake in the CL. Mannone must be gutted.
Coq & Frimpong are being taught a lesson in pressing football.
Is AA on the pitch? At least Chamakh is trying and working hard.
Santos getting rosted time and time again, JD looking shell shocke,. The CB’s are doing OK.
The OX is our youngest and best player but the Greeks have realised and are crowding him out.
Looking forward to a better 2nd half.
Thank God it`s a meaningless game for us !
Lets hope Santos doesn`t try that “shielding” of the ball in his own half, in the Premier league !
Unless he improves I would make Arshavin walk home. Terrible 1st half.
Rasp. I feel about AA like you do about Chamakh
It is those awful blue shirts
Ok first things first the goals are poor.
Mannone with a little more composure could have caught it twice (the first ball thru he chose to head could have been caught IMO). As unlucky as the pinball between Squid and JD Fab compounded it by coming rushing out. What does the striker do of he stays on his line? More than likely takes a touch to turn which would have given defenders a chance to recover. If he does what he did its an easy save.
Now the team has enough experience not to be playing like it is. Yes the midfield two are very young but all around them is a wealth of experience (except Ox) and none of them are helping them out or doing the right things. I’m including TV, JD, Benayoun, and Santos in that as well as the much persecuted Chamakh, Squillacci and Arshavin. They are experienced players and they are playing like rookies. So what its a partisan crowd with a big atmosphere and they are pressing us high. If that’s the case stop dilly dallying with it at the back there is a reason you have no option in midfield there are Olympiakos players in the way and tight….DON’T try and pass it through them..play over them……BASICS!
Hi Raddy, AA and Chamakh need to move on and with Gerv going to the ACN for a month, a striker like Podolski becomes a must. We are one injury to van Persie away from undoing all the recent hard work.
Big Raddy + Rasp = glic, I`d get rid of both of them ! 🙂
Rasp. Agree
One sentence.it’s a shocking performance and the more experienced players are just as much to blame as the inexperienced kids,and the keepers well what can one say.
I said Fabianski was shot at porto,he needs to go and whatever the result it isn’t a meaningless game,as AW will really get a first hand insight how fringe players perform in a hostile atmosphere .
AW will buy in january i am sure.
Completely and utterly ridiculous. What was AW thinking?
http://www.101greatgoals.com/gvideos/david-fuster-vito-mannone-horror-show-v-arsenal/
He didn’t know he was back in his box surely??
Santos and TV should not have been on the pitch. Losing Santos is very bad news indeed if he is not fit for Everton
Mannone has a similarly disastrous start last time when he started a run of 7 games with a CL qualifier. He made a ricket and we were 2 nil down. but we came back and won that game 3:2. We didn’t lose a single game with Manone in goal and he was MotM against Fulham with an incredible string of saves.
The lad has character and will be good if given the chance – his only chamnce at Arsenal would be if Sz and Fab2 both got injured as AW (wrongly in my view) thinks Fab2 is better than Mannone …. I don’t
Get TV off – this game is lost and he is too valuable
Ridiculous playing TV and Santos I agree, what’s the point? Miguel and Yennaris could easily have played
and then Benny scores 😛
Beautiful finish from Bennie.
Rassp keep rollicking Chamakh as he must have heard you…………………
Top strike by Benny.
PatRice got Frimpong carded there screaming at him to close down that space
Why don’t they give the ball to Chamberlain? He has the beating of his FB – or is that too obvious?
JD is doing my head in, what the hell is he playing at
Clearly it is!! Rosicky on the the Ox.
Its Rosicky on for Coq Raddy. I must agree that Coquelin and the Ox are fairly similar in build and looks.
Good save by Mannone.
Whatever happened to that 35 yard piledriver of a shot Rosicky used to possess?
One good thing is that if everything stays as it is, neither Dortmund or Marseilles qualify – both of them have looked quality and given us really hard games.
Kamikaze football, Unbelievable
On a positive note. We are winning the second half
squillacci is the worst signing in recent years, djourou is absolutely awful and i could go on.on the other hand miquel and benyahoun look at least arsenal players.
Why dont we frame the blooming ball and give it to them, we dont seem to want it
Its all Kelseys faul,t we have played well whilst he has been missing
Squillaci is having a nightmare. The players aren’t as bad as they appear tonight, but collectively they are very shaky from top to bottom.
I vote we don’t have a match report tomorrow and we just forget the game ever happened.
Game, what game?
I was going to say exactly the same chas.
diabolical performance and now it looks like we haven’t got any full backs.
No football tonight was there?
Awful display from most of the team.
JD, AA, Frimpong, Squill, Fabianski, Mannone, Santos, – terrible.
TV, Chamakh, Coquelin, Rosicky – poor
Ox, Bennie, Miquel – Average.
At least we drew the 2nd half
fish and chips dandan ? must have been better today.
😆 Marseille scored 2 in 2 minutes and it looks like Olympiakos are out.
How quick football can take that smirk of your face.
Olympiakos knocked out at the debt … get it? get it?
?
Real surprise that an excellent team like Borussia only got 4 points. which shows how important experience is.
Irish 🙂 Coming from where you are that is pot calling the kettle.
So the difference between that team and the one that lined up against Man City was Kozzer in for TV, Miquel in for Santos, Park in for AA23.
The team that played against City put in a much better display against a side littered with far better players than those that played for Olympiakos tonight.
So a simple question is how does that happen, In reality the three changes from that side should all have improved us given their experience/talent. But somehow they weakened us.
Such a flat and un Arsenal like performance. What pisses me off is that they are all capable of so much better.
BR – If only we could afford a pot of a kettle 😆
Ireland is gone to shit, Budget came out today. The government are going to charge ever household €100 for .. well … living in a house 🙄
GIE. Point well made.
Night All. Looking forward to the post match 😀
GIE,
I think it was simply that the group was won and that hideous complacency which breeds sloppiness took over.
Against Citeh it was winner takes all on the night, everyone fired up to go out and give a performance.
GIE
That was probably a rhetorical question but Olympiacos wanted tonight far more that City wanted to win at the Emirates and because of that the Greeks closed down so much quicker exposing Frimpong and Coqulin in the process. The person with the longest face after the CC game was Mancini as the fear he voiced before the game about his season becoming more clogged by games in the CC became a fact.
Well I would imagine that someone has volunteered for the post so I am going to say what I think:
The biggest disappointment for me was Benayoun, he was the experienced player I expected to stand up and be counted, yes he took his goal well but he failed completey to help link or create anything. I hoped for more as I would imagine that Wenger was readying him for Gervinho’s ACN absence.
I am still baffled by the choice of Santos, I am not worried about Saturday as Koscielny can play LB vey well.
Oh well, night night.
Rad, great pre match as usual…….
That my friends was totally disgraceful, lethargic and simply not acceptable, I dont care we had already qualified………
Arshavin was simpy woeful and I would give him 1/10, for a tackle back in the mid 2nd half, that summed his performance highlights….in 90mins.
Djourou – 2/10 was equally inept
Squillaci – 2/10 – awful
Mannone – 4/10 too many mistakes, brave but……
Fabianski – 4/10 slow, erratic and flappy once more……..
Chamakh – 2/10 – ineffective, ponderous and not good enough…..
The others did ok, but let their standards drop at times which is surprising, but they were playing against 11 men, with only 5 trying…………..
Not happy………
I agree with Chas (21.39) – sack the match report………..
Or use this:
Greek Tradegy:
Olympicaos 3 Arsenal 1
They scored 3, could have been more.
Hardly anyone tried.
We scored one, did little else of note.
Not acceptable. DIsgraceful.
Oh well, we won the group, Everton on Saturday.
Tonight neither goalkeeper played well, and both were punished for some errors and let off with others. Knowing that, I’m surprised that the defence didn’t start ‘taking charge’ and dealing with everything. Instead they continued to play as if the Worlds No.1 was behind them.
Main reason we were poor today, in a word, Arshavin.
It took me a while to realise he was supposed to be playing centrally, once I’d remembered he was actually playing. Our MF triumvirate is normally at the hub of everything that we do well. Think how often Song and Arteta swap passes before finding Ramsey, who then returns it to one of his two amigos as they move forward beyond him. Today it was Coq and Pong on their own trying to play thru the Olympiakos storm. Arshavin rarely showed for a pass, or dropped deep enough to allow for a bit of MF rotation. I felt sory esp for Pong as the deepest lying, having to show time and time again for balls when there was no outlet to pass it on to. At least Coq tried to help him.
Normally Coq would come towards a pass from Pong, and have a simple lay off to the third MF to alleviate pressure. When that third MF is playing hide and seek, you’re stuffed.
Radders almost called it right (respectfully) in suggesting that the Meerkat be made to walk home. He needs to walk home barefoot.
I very rarely feel such animosity to a player as I do towards Arshavin lately. Its not healthy for me, so the sooner he is gone the better. I dont care who’s away at the ANC or even the TPC*, just get him sold and put anyone else there. I mean anyone. We have enough options even without a new signing.
* Tory Party Conference 😉
I only saw the second half. Thought it was dire. Thank god for the ACN. Wenger will have to try someone other than Chamakh. Shame AA isn’t from the Ivory Coast,
Sharkey find it hard to disagree with much of that.
LB you may be right about the performance of the Greeks vs City.
Chas, you may also be right about the complacency, but thats what hurts, surely these lads want to be first in the Managers mind when an injury occurs, and tonight they had an opportunity to do just that and they limp along.
What we need to do (and soon) is putting some of those who played tonight in amongst the first team on more regular rotation. They need the experience of playing with others and they need to feel more than just players who it doesn’t matter whether they get injured or not.
Anyone know is James Shea is any good? I know we recalled him from loan last week but reckon he may be on the subs bench this weekend….or will it be our friend Manuel?
GM… the second half was actually an improvement 😀
I disagree wholeheartedly with the criticism of Chamakh this evening. Whilst I’ll happily accept the he is not of sufficient quality for The Arsenal, tonight I saw him put in a decent shift, winning header after header, and even chasing down his own flick on at one point.
He was brave and strong in the lead up to Benny The Goons goal, and chased and harried all night. I feel that in the set up tonight his role was to provide a focal point for our attack and he did that very well for the most part.
One shield and lay off for Benny in particular was outstanding, and we also saw him running in behind for chances as well.
On balance, I feel that he still needs to move on in Jan, but I just feel that he deserves a bit of credit for his efforts tonight.
Agree again Sharkey….he may not possess a goal threat but he works his ass off to bring others into the game, when the others are not working it makes him look bad.
Heres a thought Ramsey probably would feed better off a forward like Chamakh than he can off RvP
I’d feared that GiE.
GM-10.23 🙂
Black Russian from Cote D’Ivoire via St Petersburg. ..?? Works for me
Chamakh is awful. He doesn’t chase anything. he hardly ever stretches and his only pass is back to the nearest person. He is suppposed to be a striker. I’m beginning to miss bendy and he’s pants as well.
Sorry sharkey, disagree about chamakh tonight, I did stick up for him last week against city, where I thought he did try, but tonight for me he didnt bust a gut he was half hearted in all he did, he flattered to decieve and feel that if you watch it again, you will see, he was not putting in a proper shift……….just my humble opinion, but there again, steam is still coming out of my ears, perhaps, my eyes were misted up……
For me, I would sell or give away Chamakh, arshavin and Djourou.
Cheers GiE..I knew I’d missed a bit off my post when I was sending it.
It was no goal threat…yep, even when he’s rrunning in behind…still no goal threat. Lol. But he is tailor made for our attacking midfielders.
In his halcyon 2-3mths at thestart of his career (with RVP) inured, I actually used to say – there you go RVP thats how you play as a lone striker in a 4-3-3.
He’d scored a few with his head, and that mad one in the CL where he seemed to shoot under duress, having first looked across twice for an offside flag. Disappointed not to see one, he chanced his arm and scored, albeit with a bit of a shank of a shot. (over to you Chozzer)
So we knew he was a bit shot shy back then, but he was still playing very very well.
Is a ‘perfect hat trick’ against Leeds his only hope of staying.??
Andy Cole had a long spell at Man IOU where he hardly scored a goal, whilst being an almost constant goal threat with his movement and desire.
Footballs a funny old game.
Hey Sharkey and GiE, you are both in fine form tonight 😀
I didn’t watch the game tonight (no access to SkySp4) and am glad I didn’t. Olympiacos away was always going to be a big ask, even with our full strength team. I thought Marseille was the second strongest team of the group but that was quite some second half performance by them: from 2-0 behind to winning 2-3. They will surprise one or two more teams in the CL this season.
I am very much looking fwd to 26’s match report tomorrow. It is important that the game is analysed and relevant lessons are learnt. Wenger had a rare chance to see his second string team play two big matches within a week, and hopefully it will help him to make the right decision regarding our total squad.
Fair do’s Harry671…thats why we’re all here, to share our joys and sorrows and exchange opinions.
Djourou even when playing well, lacks the composure (and posture?) of an Arsenal player for me, I ask the good members of the jury to contrast him with exhibit one: Ushers, bring in Ignasi Miquel.
Later on in the proceeedings, judge dons black cap, before calling for our no.23 to be brought up.
Chamakhs case was adjourned for legal arguments to be heard.
NIght all
Cheers TA…and there’s me without a post in months, writing these long tomes tonight. Frankly its a bit shocking.
The Chelsea manager is a proper windbag … jebus they really do pick ’em. They lost 3/4 matches and he’s moaning that Chelsea were being criticized … le boring man.
I’m off to bed. Laters all.
Sharkey, your footie insights are really good and you should do this more. Your analysis of AA lack of interplay with the Coq and The Pong was really good and made total sense 🙂
Rosicky should have started. There’s no one that connect the backline with the midfield until he came on.
Initially I also want to started with a very negative comment, getting up 4 o’clock in the morning to watch a shambolic performance like that.
But hey ho, Oxo, LeCoq, and Frimpong have another game under their belt, and Miquel is really really an exciting prospect. I hope Miquel will get a loan move in January to a Premier League side to get more experience. I want him to replace Squillaci and Djourou as fast as he can.
I’m not sure we should be writing off players as quick as some are. You can’t judge everyone on a performance in that team tonight. Cham had little support or little ball apart from “there you go big fella drag that of the sky and hold on to it while fending off two or three and we might get close to you”.
As Sharkey points out Coq and Pong had little help in front of them to feed the ball to and were often given hospital balls with players tight and back to play.
Soon after their goal TV gave Fab a woeful pass to deal with.
JD looked comfortable against Fulham and Man City but looked woeful tonight….no idea why. Santos looked like he was coasting again no idea why.
We lacked shape and we didn’t get hold of the ball. As I said earlier no one on that pitch would do us a disservice mixed with 9/10 first team regulars. But too many changes bring about that kind of performance where players are getting to know each other.
TR7 linked up well when he came on with Benny. AA23 apparently in the hole did nothing to help the team.
Ox showed he has a lot of potential but also that he needs to learn when to release it. He is not at Southsmpton anymore and there are players that he can now pass to to get the job done.
The annoying thing is I’m annoyed about a dead rubber. Last Wednesday I was full of pride for the team that lost to City in a more meaningful game. That performance we witnessed tonight was a whimper in comparison.
Good morning,
I expect better result, but we qualified as group winner anyway. How serious is Santos injury? I have no idea why AW play Santos in the first place for a game that deemed as meaningless, now we have no “pure” first team fullback anymore.
Looking at the fringe striker & winger performance, the ACN in Jan, and the prospect of injury for both RvP & Walcott, I think AW really should sign a striker in Jan TW, though he already said that he won’t buy (I hope this just another tactic to divert other club & media attention so that his target price do not inflate)
I think Podolski would fit us perfectly since he could play both role as left winger & striker. His record in 2011-12: 11 goals & 4 assists from 13 games in Bundesliga, a very impressive stats.
I’m sorry for my bad English. :p
Morning all,
I didn’t miss much by the sounds of things!
The only things I know about last night are what I have read here. To throw in my rather worthless Euro’s worth, I think we were on a hiding to nothing. Comparisons with the City game I think are a little unfair as in that game there was alot to play for.
Silver linings with Chav’s going through, and fairly staggering that Dortmund came bottom of the group. How bad is the injury to Santos?
omaewachoaho,
Your English is good.
This is (apparently) what the manager said,
“Santos suffered a bad ankle injury. It looks like he will be out for a while.
“We have Gibbs coming back in two to three weeks.
“Hopefully Santos will not be too long but, for Saturday against Everton, he looks to be struggling.
“We have as well Vermaelen who can play in his position.”
It seems as though AW wanted to tempt the footballing gods to see if they had really swung in our favour. Well, he got his answer.
Hi Omaewachoaho,
Firstly, do you have a nickname? 🙂
I agree with what you say, and am convinced we are going to sign big in Jan. The other day I posted a sneaky rumour saying Tevez to Milan and Pato to Arsenal. Appears Phase 1 is about to come true!
Also, I have a feeling we need to big signings in jan as by the summer there is the remote possibility we finish outside the top four and become less attractive to the kind of quality we need.
Morning all,
it’s nearly all been said and Almunia will most probably be on the bench this weekend.
I can’t agree about Benyahoun at least he tried and scored a great goal.
Hard to really analyse the performance as we looked like a mish mash or miss match of players not a team.
I like Frimpong but he needs a loan period otherwise he will get more bookings and red cards than appearances.
As much as I might be wrong about Walcott a blind man could see that fabianski is shot since the Porto game and Mannone seems to have caught the twitch from him.
It’s not the end of the world but there are a few woeful players who need to be shipped out.
Arshavin,has had enough chances and Chamakh if classed as a striker is a failure.Squillacci is another Stepanov and Djourou can’t play at RB.
I said at the start of the season we should have bought an experienced keeper short term and gently let the worlds number one occasionally be number two..Unfortunately AW doesn’t do keepers.
IMO Miquel should be kept though there are strong rumours he wants to go back to Spain.
It is imperative we buy either a striker or a player like diaby who is not injury prone this january.
@Chas, Thanks, actually it took some time for me before I click the post button.
@MickyDidIt89, Nike is fine with me. I hope you’re right re the big signings in Jan. Where did you get the rumour about Pato anyway?
For me the questions about last night are:
Does playing the second stringers and getting beat for the 2nd time in a week harm their confidence?
Do the strikers who come in and don’t score feel hard done by that they’ve had their chance with a second rate midfield behind them?
Does AW look at the team collectively or look at players individually?
Morning all….
…. New post ……..
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