Where'd all the Gooners go!?

It's a good point, that. The United and Inter defences that Barcelona came up against are two of the best assembled since the turn of the millenium.

To be honest, without being rude, Wenger's going to have to pull all sorts of shite out of several hats here. You don't have the players to restrict them in the manner that we did, nor do you have the talent to play them at their own game. Their defence is a weak point, but that's only relative to their quite ridiculous midfield and front line.



The KingEric7 Tactical Suggestion - Play Eboue in centre mid, get him to goad Busquets into fouling him, and then wait for him to roll about on the floor and subsequently mow down Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Villa and Pedro, seriously injuring them in the process.

See the 101 uses for Emmanuel Eboue thread in the classics for more details.
 
In all seriousness, Arshavin put in a good cross from a freekick in the last match.

These kinds of freekicks and corners is where you could score against Barcelona.

Most of their team are short arses and before Pique was around Barcelona used to conceed a lot in the air and from set pieces. Its Puyol's weak point. Alves and Maxwell arent good in the air either. Its perhaps the one area that Abidal is useful to Barcelona.

These set pieces are not exactly an Arsenal strong point, but you dont have to be one of the best set piece teams in the europe to get some joy out of it against Barcelona.
 
Well, every team is beatable, that much is for sure and football is a funny game. I wouldn't write the Gunners off, not at all.

What we do know is that Barcelona are favourites, but they were favourties last season as well & no big team (assuming Arsenal are) goes into ANY match conceding defeat. That is just very small time.

If United were going into this match (thank the lord were not, yet), I wouldn't be too confident but I wouldn't write us off either. All you need is 1 or 2 mistakes from Barca or just to keep the score 0-0 at home and score one away goal and suddenly the entire mood changes.

I am just looking forward to a fascinating tie/display of attacking football.
 
Haven't seen Good'ol PeterStorey or Jopub (or any other Gooners for that matter) posting over the last few days (actually since their capitulation against the Toon). Are they normally this quiet come the business end of the season?

Cheer up guys, we bottled it against Wolves aswell, just to keep it all interesting & stuff, you know, for the clash at the Emirates!

More seriously, kicking on from here on in, what is your minumum expectations for this season (can you handle another "bottling it big time")? (CC excluded).

you mean you're really interested? Is the weather channel off air? Has peace broken out in the middle east?
 
that's the spirit :rolleyes:

It IS the spirit - knowing your priorities

Right now at this moment for Arsenal football club it is important we get hold of a league title whilst we have a chance.

This is priority number one, for me at any rate and anything that detracts from that chance is simply getting in the way of it. The CL this season is getting in the way of it for me.

I would'nt often say that in any normal season but in our situation with the lack of silverware for 6 years Id say a title, if we have the chance (and with the way things are we do), is paramount.

Would be great to get the Carling Cup onboard before that though although it is a one off game and Brum are no mugs - it will be difficult

A huge game v Barca would almost certainly result in a loss of the tie and probably a few injuries to big players too which you'd all love to see us get
so a quick defeat to themat home and a 2nd string side at the Nou Camp is something I would not be frankly worried about. It would be nice to beat them but almost definitely counterproductive for the seasons aims as a whole

For me the title is priority number one for us
 
You make it out as if eliminating Barcelona would be the worst thing ever that happened to your club.
 
You make it out as if eliminating Barcelona would be the worst thing ever that happened to your club.

Okay put it this way

we beat them at home 2-1 after a massive effort

we get van Persie or Fabregas out for 2 months

We play Orient in the cup with a squad side knowing we've got Stoke next. Fabregas comes off the bench Tottenhan away with injuries etc etc

No for me i want van Persie and Fabreagas fit for the league games. The Cl for another year - right now we really should be trying to do everything we can to get our hands on the title.

If we progress in the CL I'd go out on a limb and say we'll fail at everything because of it so for this year specifically I'll not be concerned should we go out quick
 
Why would beating Barcelona at home mean injuries to Fabregas or van Persie? There's as much chance of either getting injured in a league game against random side.
 
I think some of them are sadistic, to say the least. For all the abuse they get on here and all the abuse and handed out by them, they just keep coming back to the Caf.

Fair play to them though. I kind of go through a patch where I felt sorry for them and wanted them to do well, but then the media shit storm started after defeating Barca @ Emirates & it was way OTT!

Some good posters on here though, especially on neutral topics - i.e. any non Gunner, Spurs & Fletcher topics :lol:
 
My 3-y-o nephew is Arsenal mad and has been to Barcelona on holiday, where his dad got him a shirt. After the match, he was crying on the phone to my da and shouted "throw that Barcelona top in the bin!" to his mum in the background :lol:
 
You mean masochistic.

Apologies & thank you for fixing my error.

My 3-y-o nephew is Arsenal mad and has been to Barcelona on holiday, where his dad got him a shirt. After the match, he was crying on the phone to my da and shouted "throw that Barcelona top in the bin!" to his mum in the background :lol:

:lol:

Shame, poor lad.
 
I have just got back home to Kent having stayed 'oop north last night after the game.

I was being entertained in the international suite (not bad food, Lancashire Gammon and roast spud pretty good) and had tickets in the Stretford End pretty much half way up behind the goal (better seats and leg room at the Emirates, mind you).

As to the game, well no complaints.We looked jaded and despite having possession never really looked convincing.

The only consolation (if you can call it that) is my ability to post today after the match.The last time we beat you I was banned for a week, heaven knows why.

Our only hope now is the Premiership but looking at us last night, that looks beyond us now. What with our injuries and confidence gone, you wouldn't put money on us.In fact, I can see us struggling to hold on to 2nd spot.

Well, at least there's Cheltenham festival next week and a summer of top class test cricket ( I've given up also on any chance for us in the Cricket World Cup) by which time the memories of another disappointing season will have faded sufficiently juiced up one hopes with some decent buys to look forward to the 2011-2012 season.

And, who knows, Fergie might retire and the evil empire will come crumbling down :)
 
I normally avoid this forum in the 24 hours after we lose, but overal i enjoy the forum and it´s not going to be a defeat that stops me returning.

By the way, congratulations, well done.
 
Genuine question Alastair, but where does your hate for stoke rank up in terms of spurs, rents, and so on?

Difficult one this.

I'm obliged to hate Spurs because they're our rivals, but if I were, say, a Newcastle fan or something, I'm sure I'd like them, because they play open and exciting football.

Chelsea aren't really a side I hate - it's their new found support which bothers me.

So I probably hate Stoke the most as a side - terrible football, BNP voting support, and obviously the whole Ramsey thing(the tackle was poor, but Pulis' reaction to the press was disgusting).

I'm sure I don't speak on behalf of most Gooners though here.
 
Difficult one this.

I'm obliged to hate Spurs because they're our rivals, but if I were, say, a Newcastle fan or something, I'm sure I'd like them, because they play open and exciting football.

Chelsea aren't really a side I hate - it's their new found support which bothers me.

So I probably hate Stoke the most as a side - terrible football, BNP voting support, and obviously the whole Ramsey thing(the tackle was poor, but Pulis' reaction to the press was disgusting).

I'm sure I don't speak on behalf of most Gooners though here.
ah ok thanks :)
 
I'm obliged to hate Spurs because they're our rivals, but if I were, say, a Newcastle fan or something, I'm sure I'd like them, because they play open and exciting football.

I'm sure I don't speak on behalf of most Gooners though here.
You obviously didn't grow up in north London. Though I understand that Spurs have been so inconsequential for 20 years it can be difficult to see them as the great Satan.
 
Don't cry into your sleep, pete. I know both Spurs and Stoke make it further than you in the cups, but you'll get over it.
 
We're gonna win the league and Spurs are gonna win feck all. Their Chimps League effort will be up the pictures as well.

You know, that is quite possibly the saddest thing I have read all day. I'm welling up here. It's like Tiny Tim telling everyone he'll be winning the marathon next year, bless him.
 
I'm obliged to hate Spurs because they're our rivals, but if I were, say, a Newcastle fan or something, I'm sure I'd like them, because they play open and exciting football.

Newcastle fans fecking hate Spurs, one of those random hatreds you're never quite sure the origins of.