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.
IW8Goalmachine wrote:couldn't believe it when AW took Bobby off in CL final he was the sort of player we needed, could always pop out of nowhere to stroke the ball in
When lehman went off and almunia came on. It was either him or freddie who went off, and freddie ended up being most peoples man of the match...
He could have taken Hleb off!!! Robert Pires deserved to stay on, if only for his experience and longevity. He also was a proven goal-scorer and maker of goals, and he had the ability to change a game almost single-handed.
In my opinion, it is still one of the worst decisions Wenger has made in his 11 years in charge of Arsenal. Robert Pires deserved better than that.
IW8Goalmachine wrote:couldn't believe it when AW took Bobby off in CL final he was the sort of player we needed, could always pop out of nowhere to stroke the ball in
When lehman went off and almunia came on. It was either him or freddie who went off, and freddie ended up being most peoples man of the match...
He could have taken Hleb off!!! Robert Pires deserved to stay on, if only for his experience and longevity. He also was a proven goal-scorer and maker of goals, and he had the ability to change a game almost single-handed.
In my opinion, it is still one of the worst decisions Wenger has made in his 11 years in charge of Arsenal. Robert Pires deserved better than that.
Agree 100%. Bobby was probably the one player on that pitch that could have got that second goal when we were one up and that would have killed the barcawhores off. Shame.
The person who could have clinched it was Henry when clean thro in the second half! As soon as he fucked that up I thought the writing was on the wall!
Was not lucky enough to go so was watching on the box! Still irks me today Henry blaming all n sundry when it was him that blew it!
Yes when I saw him make that break I thought we had won it.
I sat in stunned silence when Valdes saved it. I mean, how often did Henry go one on one like that to win a game?
And most times he didn't miss.
I too was shocked when Pires went off though, I thought it would definitely have been Hleb as Freddie/Pires were both goalscoring midfielders. Playing with one striker goalscoring midfielders is what we needed.
Do you think that substitution made Pires decide to leave? Was it the final sign that proved to him the contracts after 30 would not be as easy to come by as he assumed?
gus ceasar is a legend wrote:The person who could have clinched it was Henry when clean thro in the second half! As soon as he fucked that up I thought the writing was on the wall!
Was not lucky enough to go so was watching on the box! Still irks me today Henry blaming all n sundry when it was him that blew it!
Yeah, but my point was that after Henry choked it you knew he was done for the game.
But with Bobby on the pitch you would always have a feeling that he could step up with a goal, coming in from the edge of the box or a "special" from 20+ yards. Once Henry stuck out the bottom lip and put the hands on the hips you knew he was f*cked.
RaM wrote:..Do you think that substitution made Pires decide to leave? Was it the final sign that proved to him the contracts after 30 would not be as easy to come by as he assumed?
Well, that's what Pires said afterwards. He was gutted!!
That was one of the worst things Wenger done
If Lehmann got booked insted & they scored a pen at that point i think we would of won it TBH
Helb didn't have a bad game but one of my fav players left so early in the match & DB never even came on
Paris was a derpressing night when the final whistle went
Me & my Dad were gutted & didn't even speak
But as i said before & i'll say it again
I was there for our first final & i'll be there when we win it
Wenger had to make a split second decision on who to take off when Jens got sent off. He could never have thought his keeper would be sent off in 15mins.I would always have kept Bobbie on as he always had the knack of nicking a goal.
Why the critisism of Henry for his miss? He played on his own upfront for 75mins. Why is no-one having a go at Cashley for his poor defending for Barca"s second goal? It seems now Henry has left us he is an easy target for our loss to the best team in Europe with just 10 men and a dodgy keeper.
Nope donaldo! This is not a reaction to him leaving!
I was so pissed off with him and a bit drunk that I even rang up Your On Sky Sports! I got on the show!
I was livid that he blamed everything and anyone but not once did he even mention his miss! He even blamed our own bad defending! Cheek! As my family and friends will tell you my real love affair with TH14 finished that night!
i'm with Gus there things changed after that night regarding Henry i'll never forgive him for missing that chance didnt even make the keeper work for it
hello B&Q Direct, I'd like to order some rope please, What length? ... oh i don't know, about noose length please, about strong enough to comfortably hold the weight of an adult male body.
jesus, way to open old wounds guys, and i woke up so happy this morning. i NEVER want to think about that terrible night again as long as i live.
In reply to EBD i still think wenger made the right decision.We were down to 10 men against arguably the most potent attacking team in europe, playing with 2 wide attacking midfield players would have been suicide. Had we held on or henry scored we would still be celebrating another great wenger tactical coup.
PS. Good forum guys everyones got an opion and a counter opion let the debate rage on.
I was so proud of Arsenal that night, we took on Barca and gave them a run for there money, yes i was extremly upset that night and for a few days after didnt really talk to no one but was still proud of them because no one gave us a chance. Also i think that night alot of te younger players benifited alot from that night i feel we will have a good champions league season, bring on Barca & Henry
Robert Pires deserved to stay on, if only for his experience and longevity. He also was a proven goal-scorer and maker of goals, and he had the ability to change a game almost single-handed.
