Arsenal v Montpellier

[Bradywasking]

First half was as poor as you could not hope to watch. Mind numbing comes to mind. Second half the fact that Arsenal are a better team with better players than Montpellier won the game for us. In first half the passing was dismal with Jack getting in on the act with at least five simple passes misplaced. The main threat came up our left with Pod needing more help . Thought it was a game for Gibbs to make his comeback., would have suited his pace. Jury still seems to be out on Giroud , I have always admired his honesty and willingness to show for the ball .He isn't RVP ., but he certainly isn't Bendtnar or Chamakh. His pass for Pod's goal was delightful and had DB10 done it 10 years ago we would be gone into overdrive about it.
Overall it was an ok performance, nothing to get carried away on. It summed up Champions League group stage, pedestrian games with poor atmosphere except from the away fans and a feeling of job done but no more.

[MK Gould]

In truth I thought Montpellier were English League Division 2 standard and that our passing in the 1st half was woefull. Good to see a slight improvement in the 2nd which pushed us over the line. It was almost like we had an agreement to go easy on them provided they let us win.

Maybe I was watching a different game, but Giroud looked totally disinterested last night - against his former team mates. He maybe did make some key contributions, but for me it was one of his worst performances.

Best moment of the night was the Montpellier fans celebrating "virtual" goals towards the end. On the last occasion the gooners in the clock end also joined in. Hilarious. They also did a passable Poznan at one stage.

Bigger crowd and better atmosphere than I thought it would be.....

[DB10GOONER]

In truth I thought Montpellier were English League Division 2 standard and that our passing in the 1st half was woefull. Good to see a slight improvement in the 2nd which pushed us over the line. It was almost like we had an agreement to go easy on them provided they let us win.

Maybe I was watching a different game, but Giroud looked totally disinterested last night - against his former team mates. He maybe did make some key contributions, but for me it was one of his worst performances.

Best moment of the night was the Montpellier fans celebrating "virtual" goals towards the end. On the last occasion the gooners in the clock end also joined in. Hilarious. They also did a passable Poznan at one stage.

Bigger crowd and better atmosphere than I thought it would be.....

Seriously?! Fuck, Mick - you must have been watching a different game, mate!

He never stopped working. He won almost everything in the air, and his assists for both goals were top notch. Thought he was excellent last night.

[MK Gould]

In truth I thought Montpellier were English League Division 2 standard and that our passing in the 1st half was woefull. Good to see a slight improvement in the 2nd which pushed us over the line. It was almost like we had an agreement to go easy on them provided they let us win.

Maybe I was watching a different game, but Giroud looked totally disinterested last night - against his former team mates. He maybe did make some key contributions, but for me it was one of his worst performances.

Best moment of the night was the Montpellier fans celebrating "virtual" goals towards the end. On the last occasion the gooners in the clock end also joined in. Hilarious. They also did a passable Poznan at one stage.

Bigger crowd and better atmosphere than I thought it would be.....

Seriously?! Fuck, Mick - you must have been watching a different game, mate!

He never stopped working. He won almost everything in the air, and his assists for both goals were top notch. Thought he was excellent last night.

My boys said much the same thing..... Maybe I was just distracted by the antics of the Montepellier fans !

[highburyJD]

SolCampbell

[highburyJD]

I think the overall point is that the fanbase generally are bored of the Champions League ; bimbling around in the group stage and then knocked out by the first decent team we meet has sucked the life out of most of us.

But there is a difference between being bored by a certain competition and actively wanting us to get eliminated ; they can be mutually exclusive.

That is exactly the point. No matter how much HighburyJD protests otherwise, fans are generally bored by the CL Group format and who can blame them. A Group stage strung over 3 months - fuck me its on a par with the Cricket World Cup. As far as I'm concerned playing Montpellier is a Category C game and judging by the gaping gaps in the crowd last night, many many others would tend to agree.

Its got nothing to do with wanting to see us knocked out - I have already been very critical of some other WUMs around here that take great pleasure when we lose, and I have already said that in a straight battle between winning a cup or Wenger out, I would take the cup every time.

HighburyJD - some of the stuff you post is very good mate, but this bollocks about people that don't travel away in Europe want us knocked out is exactly that - bollocks. I've done all of what you've done for years fella - travelled around Europe spending thousands of pounds every year watching Arsenal. You're obviously in a position where you a) can still do that and b) still want to do that. Not everyone is in that position - me included. If you somehow translate that into people that actually want us to lose then the debate is probably best left there, and I'll go and have a more grown up one with my 8 year old over I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here

No matter how great a volley we score - Podolski What. A. Banger
SteveO, you still shouldn't celebrate with hallucinogens

to clarify, in the spirit of Glenda Hoddle, I never said them things
defence of the group stage as opposed to a KO format, no
that never happened did it, maybe a dream

saying people who don't go want us knocked out - more fantasy
I prefer lesbians, but each to their own

this is THE ONLY place where people who claim to be fans say they want Arsenal to lose
I stated I've never met anybody, who actually goes to games, and wants us to lose them

once you want the team to lose it seems obvious to me you wouldnt pay to attend...

[DB10GOONER]

Just to clarify that JD, it has only ever been an absolute minority that have said on here they would want Arsenal to lose for whatever reason. If you could name 5 members that have said that I'd be amazed.

[SteveO 35]

No matter how great a volley we score - Podolski What. A. Banger
SteveO, you still shouldn't celebrate with hallucinogens

to clarify, in the spirit of Glenda Hoddle, I never said them things
defence of the group stage as opposed to a KO format, no
that never happened did it, maybe a dream

saying people who don't go want us knocked out - more fantasy
I prefer lesbians, but each to their own

this is THE ONLY place where people who claim to be fans say they want Arsenal to lose
I stated I've never met anybody, who actually goes to games, and wants us to lose them

once you want the team to lose it seems obvious to me you wouldnt pay to attend...

Mate, I watched the game, enjoyed the win and Podolski's cracking goal. In fact, I think the game was a lot better than many on here are suggesting. If were to play Montpellier I just wish it had been a two legged knockout and we were now through to play someone else in a 2 legged knockout, rather than clogging it over to Greece for a game where Olympiacos can't do anything other than finish 3rd in front of a half empty stadium. I think people are tired with the format now - not just our fans but when I look at the half empty stadia throughout Europe

On the last point, I have said that anyone who openly states they want us to lose should be banned from here. The guy posting pictures of Berbatov when we were playing Fulham would be a start (people have been banned for far less but that's another story). Of course there is a middle ground which is people like me that genuinely want the club to improve, hurt like fuck when we lose, would NEVER cheer against us in any circumstances (including 'special' ones ), but who don't go to games anymore

[flash gunner]

Who posted a pic of berbatov after he scored? I missed that

[SteveO 35]

Who posted a pic of berbatov after he scored? I missed that

Look at pages 7 and 8 of the Fulham thread, I think the comment

"Come on Berba, prove the AKB wankers wrong" and the picture on the next page should tell you all you need to know

[flash gunner]

Who posted a pic of berbatov after he scored? I missed that

Look at pages 7 and 8 of the Fulham thread, I think the comment

"Come on Berba, prove the AKB wankers wrong" and the picture on the next page should tell you all you need to know

Seen it cheers

[highburyJD]

13 in a row
great record

[green gooner]

Giroud is now showing what he has got to offer, and it's not bad.
Ridiculous those who wrote him off after three games.

We can only hope that time spent with Henry on the Colney pitches will benefit Giroud further

I was one of those that called for more patience with giroud but at the same time I wouldnt call writing the guy off as any more ridiculous than calling for the return of a 35 year old

Augie, I'm not asking for the return of Henry on the playing role, but as he is training with us now I think his influence on players like Giroud could be very good. I have no desire to water down the legend of Henry but if we keep bringing him back to play I fear that could/would happen.

[highburyJD]

my dad's prediction - we win the group but get RealMadrid
then win at the Bernabeu 1-0 Henry
(was a good, well lubricated dinner)

[SteveO 35]

13 in a row
great record

Shouldn't this be on your very own special Arsene tribute thread ?