As we're unlikely to see terraces again at football, this is the virtual equivalent where you can chat to your hearts content about all football matters and, obviously, Arsenal in particular. This forum encourages all Gooners to visit and contribute so please keep it respectful, clean and topical.
Had my doubts about Sol for Barca away (mainly because he played several games beforehand).
Immense performance from him last night. His desire to stay with Bale in the last five minutes down the touchline was iconic. Fair play Sol
Diaby? lol too slow on the ball last night. In his vision impaired?
The season is almost complete so we all know who's performed with gutso and desire all through (or parts of in many cases) the season.
Seriously disappointing but can we take some sort of heart from the fact we missed so many important players through the year? I don't know, I suppose so.
A list of things that we know that have nothing to do with certain problems that make it impossbile for us to challenge, and with certain individuals.
You can spin things like this, but which team ever has a fully fit squad? And our first choice goakeeper played tonight. Plus, who organises the defence, which was all over the place (which is in common with a fully fit defence).
It is reasonable to ask questions, to aslo note that with half those players fit we would probably have got something, but still to ask questions.
Maybe was a good thing...see who can really do it at this level, and see is hiding behind a more capable colleague.
Very teams have fully fit squads, but we have a large number of key players out, meaning the back up players have to play, who are off the pace and less positionally aware.
There are many reasons we will not be champions, amongst them tactical and coaching issues such as failure to attack in numbers, or to defend set pieces, but injuries have played a huge part, especially last night.
There is a lot of doom and gloom on here today, losing to those fuckers really hurts. It was however the first time on 11 years that we lost to them in the league, so it had to happen sooner or later - I'm just annoyed it was at this point of the season, and ours is now effectively over.
It would be easier to take had we lost at WHL early next season or something, plenty of time to recover from there, but it makes me sick that we have only four games left now.
On the bright side, all those *word censored* were still inside the ground, so we were all able to get away safely after the match - A consequence of getting a win down there over the last fifteen years is getting a chasing once you turn left at the Corner Pin.
Bendtners Drinking Buddy wrote:Im so bloody annoyed about last night, of course we were going to lose to them at some stage, but its not even the fact it was them really, it was the fact that every time we seem to have a big game we are at least two goals down by the hour mark, been razzed by chelsea twice, united a few times in a couple of seasons and now by that shower of sh/te.
Almunia worries the f/ck out of me know, why didnt he just catch the ball? Some will say he could have saved the shot as well, im not so sure with the ball moving a million miles an hour, but why the hell a) he is captain and b) he cant just catch a ball with nobody around him is shocking. He has been poor this year, I think it is time for him to take a spell out the team now - give Wookie the last few games, and if necessary, think about a new GK for next season.
Ive completely lost patience with Diaby now as well, the bloke cant play football consistently enough so shouldnt be in the team, you cant just walk around waiting for the ball to come to you, he showed no work rate, no desire and no effort - and that is not good enough for a central midfielder. He wastes so much posession, i just don't think he is good enough to play for Arsenal.
Those two apart, I thought Denilson had a great game, particularly in the first half, and Clichy attacked well. But they were happy to just defend and let us have the ball (which a lot of teams are happy to do now as they know we can't break them down with our lack of attacking players at the moment), and to be fair defended very well.
Yes we have injuries, but i find it shocking when Sol Campbell comes in at 35 and showed more heart and desire than anyone else to win the game, and after him it was only VP that showed any sort of real desire to make a difference. The injuries are massive to us, but they had players out as well, but as i say it was more the heart and commitment that was missing last night, as well as a few players not being up to standard for a few games now.
Eduardo, Rosicky, Diaby, Alimunia, Silvestere - these are the players that may go in the summer (id quite like the first two as squad players, but as long as a couple of new faces come in it wouldnt be a huge loss).
On the plus side, when they did the walk to camera at the beginning, they had pasted Sols face onto Gallas'! We loved that!!!
Sssshhhh, dont tell everybody but myself and BDB are finally singing from the same hymn sheet - I knew he would come around in time
Just how i felt about last night, overall im still pleased with how the season has gone given the circumstances.
We HAVE improved, massively in some areas, but we are still that little bit away from the top level - I think Wenger is realising this given his post match comments.
I still maintain a fit RVP and we would have won it this year.
Just how i felt about last night, overall im still pleased with how the season has gone given the circumstances.
We HAVE improved, massively in some areas, but we are still that little bit away from the top level - I think Wenger is realising this given his post match comments.
I still maintain a fit RVP and we would have won it this year.
I see it, but it just doesnt work that way. If we say that, then we have to give the same thing to every other team.
Chelsea had the best midfielder in his position in the world out for most of the season too.
