Apr 25
Arsenal fought dearly to preserve their one goal advantage and thanks to a great save, and horrible penalty from JR Riquelme, Arsenal advance to their first Champions League final.
Well done to everybody, but once again praise must go to the defense and Jens who kept another clean sheet. Couple of terrific saves from Jens.
Up the Arse, and…
Believe.
89 Responses to “Villarreal 0 - 0 Arsenal”
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April 25th, 2006 at 4:57 pm
Lehmann, we?re not worthy! Man of the match, man of the year with no doubt he has saved this club?s arse so many times but today?s was the sweetest. We?re not worthy!
We won!!!!!!
What a rollercoaster, I?m not in anyway used to seeing the gunners play this style of football. I don?t like it because instead of getting the jitters from missed attacks in the opponents end, they?re happening in Arsenal?s. Kudos? to them as they did the job and as they say ?they we?re stuck in?. Marvelous job!!!!
Hleb, was not enjoying his game today and man oh man was Freddie getting roughed up all game. What a game! Sol showed up for the game to. Everyone played so well. Gilberto, Clichy, all of them.
I think I?ve come to hate Tommy Smyth, this announcer only true colour comments are ?brown? as all he does is ?take a verbal dump? on Arsenal all game long. Even in victory he said ?Only Arsenal fans will have enjoyed this game.? Tommy, your damn right you wanker, I?m enjoying it all the way to Paris.
Lehmann, for man of the year!
Thank you Arsenal, thank you?
I?ve kissed the crest so many times this afternoon my lips are parched and cracked.
___________________________
On a side note: I wonder what Villa or whom ever paid that guy to come out on the pitch and give Henry a Barca jersey with his name on it? Just because I?m paranoid doesn?t mean they?re not out to get him!
Up the Arsenal!!!!!!!!!
April 25th, 2006 at 5:06 pm
Arsenal were dire all game long. If it weren’t for Lehmann and some poor poor finishing from Villareal, we would have lost by 2 at least.
It looked like the lads were dead tired. They played give away all night. Once they would get the ball they would almost immediately pass it to the opposition and it wasn’t the usual suspects either.
But that being said, I don’t care - we won!! YAHOOO mutha fukka!!!
April 25th, 2006 at 5:12 pm
Good ol’ Lehmann, We’re Proud to You Say Your Name, While We Sing This Song YOU”LL Make That Save…
April 25th, 2006 at 5:12 pm
It has been a long year. A very long year indeed. I never did expect this. But Arsenal have a date in Paris on May 17.
It had to be. It really did. Even when a non-existent penalty was given, I was sure that Lehmann would save it (it has been a
long time since I have had this positive feeling with anything Arsenal). Amazing effort from everyone involved.
Want to give a shout out to Kelvin and gang who were singing about Arsenal in Paris back in November.
At the start of the year (August 2005), my dream fantasy final would have been Arsenal vs Barca in Paris.
Arsenal vs Lyon would have been the second option. Arsenal are there. Who they meet, I don’t care.
WE ARE GOING TO PARIS!!! Sing it enough times. Say it enough times. It is true. Seriously. It is true!!
In other news:
today’s squirrel award goes to the man who ran onto the pitch at the start of the second half. He threw a Barca shirt
with Henry’s name and number onto the shoulders of the great man himself.
Well that was as close as that man will see Henry in a Barca shirt.
April 25th, 2006 at 5:13 pm
GET IN!!!!
You play 3 games a week for two months, you fly to spain, it’s warm and humid - no wonder they were tired. The first thing you do when you’re tired is lose the ball. Flamini is knackered, that’s why he did his hamstring.
Thank god we got past this hurdle. 6 days off now, the players can rest a little.
Performance was rotten, but I don’t think you can coach a team in a semi-final when you are 1-0 up from the first leg, it’s inevitable that you will try hold on to what you’ve got - and if you let a goal in, then you have to fight like dogs.
We got a bit lucky, but it was not a penalty - the divers got what they deserved, f*ck all!!
So pleased for Wenger, just because he has deserved this final for everything he has put into the club.
I just hope we don’t play 4-5-1 in the final, I would rather lose than play negative, crap football like we did today. And we’ll lose anyway if we allow Milan or Barcelona that much possession, we’ll get sliced to pieces.
A great day for all GUNNERS!! Glad to share it with you all.
April 25th, 2006 at 5:17 pm
Frankly, i think this was probably one of our poor performances in CL this season. The boys just couldn’t link a pass together.
And it really showed Pires still got a big role to play at Arsenal. The thing he does best is not that eye-catching, but extremely useful. One of it - to KEEP THE BALL.
Reyes still never learned his lesson, attempt to take on defenders everytime will NOT work. As a result he kept losing possession cheaply.
when AW put Pires in with 20 mins to go, we started to get hold of the possession a bit.
No doubt Goal is the most important thing in a game, but POSSESSION is the key to create a goal/or conceding a goal. When we handed Villreal so much control of the ball, we were kinda lucky to get away from losing.
But again, in CL LUCK always plays a bit of factor. Tonight was our lucky night.
One last thing is i’m really SICKED of the play-acting of Villreal players. I know no team is a siant these days, but some teams just worse than others. Villreal are one of them. The penalty we conceded, i thought the ref was trying to book the diver. he gotta be kidding.
I don’t know how IMPORTANT it is for us not to be beaten by some unsportsmanship act two games in a row. But surely, this will give the team’s morale a hugh boost.
April 25th, 2006 at 5:17 pm
we WON………the boys caused us panic attacks all game……but it matters no more we WON !
we didn’t have a single shot on goal and the boys looked so TIRED but they still had that little extra reserve to hold on…. we were lucky with the poor penalty…and the great save by Mad Jens….
but i wonder: you know apart from Gilberto and Toure everyone else that ended this game was rested or didn’t play against Tottenham……..i wonder if this gave us that tiny, little extra energy to hold on……..
anyways, this is after the fact….the important thing is that WE ARE GOING TO PARIS !!!!!
April 25th, 2006 at 5:20 pm
Again… Believe!
April 25th, 2006 at 5:20 pm
Danny, i definitely agree with ur point. Remember last World Cup, many star players broke down before the World Cup. Beckham, Zidane, Pires etc..
Because when a player physically feel tired, they are more phroned to be injury. I guess that’s why they have designed a 4 weeks break before the World Cup for the involving teams at the first place.
I feel so sorry for Flamini and Senderos. Having worked so hard, and played so well to carry us that far into the final of the CL, looks like both of them are going to miss it.
Particular Sendy, he may go on to miss out on the World Cup as well. A hugh blow for the pair.
April 25th, 2006 at 5:21 pm
My pre-match keys to the game were pretty much spot on. Freddie and Hleb worked hard all game, Sol was solid enough and Jens came up big.
He can’t take all the credit (and he doesn’t deserve all the blame), but Wenger has led this club to two European Finals now.
What a difference Clichy makes as well. With him and Eboue running up the lines the Arsenal are very quick.
April 25th, 2006 at 5:21 pm
its not the formation that caused us to play badly or negatively………its the un-willingness for any of our players to go forward at all……..we were playing for 0-0 from the very first minute……
besides 4-4-2 doesn’t guarantee us goals either … and it would not help gilberto or cesc….. i think gilberto was HUGE today….
April 25th, 2006 at 5:29 pm
INCREDIBLE!!! Jens the hero.
Come on you GUNNERS!
April 25th, 2006 at 5:58 pm
First of all, HUGS to you all. And jump, jump, jump!
F*ckn’ell it feels good. The beginning and end to the tale of this tie was “tired”. Dog tired. Thank god we had some fresh legs where we did because they had to shoulder a mountain of pressure. We did just enough, and a little extra thanks to a last minute bit of hometown, Spanish magic. But we’ve got Jens Lehmann, we’ve got jens Lehmann!
Shame about Flamster and Sendy. They will go down in history nonetheless. What a story that back four. Deserving of its own DVD. Just fantastic and a bit of history we’ve all shared here.
Now…what to do about the remainder of the league season. I say make sure everyone is healthy for the final, no matter the cost. Sendy is out, probably the unsung hero award winner Flamster, too. How many more do we want to lose? Those warriors went down in battle, but we’ve got to have everything left for the final. EVERYTHING. And rest assured, Titi isn’t going to leave his hometown without a goal.
Too excited and proud to be critical enough of our performance, but I’ll say this - I’m thrilled of the heart we’ve shown to get this far, thrilled with the courage of our baby-faced stars, thrilled we have Jens Lehmann and the one who believed in him, Arsene Wenger, and thrilled my ticker is still beating.
Up the Arse, Kiss the Crest, KEEP THE FAITH!
April 25th, 2006 at 5:58 pm
I know we played like **AYE CARUMBA**(censored) tonight but it doesn’t really matter now. One of the greatest moments in Arsenal history.
Unbelievable.
What a save by Lehmann.
It’s our year.
April 25th, 2006 at 6:01 pm
Sometimes you just don’t care about the cosmetics.
It was not a pretty match, and we played cautiously and not very well. What a dire match.
But the outcome, is the only important thing.
Much like the FA Cup Finals last year, we won.
(although United dominated us, Villareal didn’t do much. True to form, they didn’t deviate from their plan, and they have NO PLAN B.
We got it done.
Absolutely amazing that we find ourselves in the Finals of the Champions League. That would have been LAUGHABLE at the start of the season.
But football is a strange and funny game.
One thing for sure, as noted above… no matter who the opponent, we will have to raise our game far far above tonite’s level of play.
But right now, WHO CARES?
Enjoy the fact that our team is in the Finals.
Well done to every freaking one of them.
April 25th, 2006 at 6:04 pm
“thrilled my ticker is still beating”
I know what your saying, much more of this and I’ll be watching the next game on a ventilator with a nurse taking my blood pressure throughout.
April 25th, 2006 at 6:05 pm
If you see a replay of the penalty kick, watch Riquelme’s eyes. He is looking at the ball the entire time and doesn’t even look up to see that Lehman was starting to his left the entire time. A little more awareness and Lehmann wouldn’t have stood a chance. Good karma for a poorly awarded PK.
April 25th, 2006 at 6:10 pm
What a nerve-racking game, but what an incredible end result. I have to give props to Lehman and Gilberto. Lehman is easily this season’s team MVP. I know he sometimes goes through his histrionics, but no one can doubt his effort and desire, nor can anyone ignore the many great saves he has made this year. As for Gilberto, I have had a pretty thorough go at him at times this year, but he did an admirable job neutralizing Riquelme in both legs of the semi-final. Now, he just needs to shutdown his old pal Ronaldinho (assuming Barca go through).
This result certainly sets a dramatic stage, especially if Barca do go through. I think there are several underlying subplots: (1) It?s a chance for Wenger to exorcise his European demons and solidify his rank as one of the best managers of this era. (2) Despite all of our recent success, AFC has always been a team that ?never won the European Cup.? Well, now is our chance to end that stigma and make the statement that AFC is quickly becoming a destination on par with any other club in the world, that we can compete with anyone and win anything. (3) If Barcelona go through it would create a showdown between the two best players in the world, Henry and Ronaldinho. Of course, you would also have the whole Henry to Barca in the off season drama hanging over the game.
Regardless, let?s get some rest, get everybody healthy and win this thing! Viera can watch from home.
P.S. I was very sorry to see Flamini go out. It will certainly be unfair if injury ends his and/or Senderos?s fabulous run.
April 25th, 2006 at 6:21 pm
Geez what a tense game. However, when you can count on goaltending like that…and, even though we almost never moved forward, the threat of Henry must have been lurking…..
Happy to take on whichever opponent makes its way to Paris. We can score on either one! It shall make no difference!
April 25th, 2006 at 6:22 pm
Stag, remember I told u before football is a FUNNY game?!
If someone told me at the start we were going to have virtually the entire back 4 missing at one stage or other of the season… and we were going to play with SEVEN different left back… but we were going to keep a record-breaking 9 successive CLEAN SHEET, and break into the Champions League Final!!
I would say get lost and get a life, how could it POSSIBLE?!
A back 4 made up of a set of players in average of age 22? Keeping a better defensive record that our lengendary Arsenal old back 4?
And a team basically in a transition stage would do better in the CL than our unbeaten 2004 side?
I think, LOGICALLY speaking, nobody would have believed that would happen at the start of the season, I bet not even Arsene Wenger could have expected that.
But I guess that’s the beauty of the game, to BELIEVE THE UNBELIEVABLE!! ‘Cos with football, there is NO LOGIC. It was something I learned on the night of Anfield 1989.
And I guess that’s why under everyone of Rick’s post, there is a word BELIEVE.
April 25th, 2006 at 6:25 pm
Nerve-racking is definitely the word! My heart couldn’t stop beating for the entire 90 minutes! Damn, football is bad to our health!
April 25th, 2006 at 6:28 pm
Scotty, the worst part is they aren’t going to get a medal if we really go on and win it. I think the medals will only hand to those in the final match’s teamsheet (including the reserves).
April 25th, 2006 at 6:45 pm
0-0. A year ago I would never have associated this score-line with Wenger’s Arsenal. Yes there were the GG days of grinding out results but Wenger brought beautiful football and under him 0-0 was a rare sight. Which other team can better Arsenal’s 55 league scoring streak?
Now another record can be added to Wenger’s Arsenal, a clean sheet in 10 CL games. And that too with a make-shift defense. How times change. The starting 4 today might have seemed make-shift a few months ago. But when Campbell and then Clichy came on, my reaction, was I don’t want any make shift players. I want Senderos and Flamini
Clichy did quite well today but I have gotten so used to seeing Flamini there. Can you believe I was sad to see him leave? In Jan I thought he was one of the weak ones. I was so bloody wrong.
0-0 is something one associates with Liverpool or Chelsea. Those teams can’t play beautiful football. Well Arsenal can play the game the way it should be and even manage to grind out a few 0-0 when needed.
Did Arsenal have any shots on net? I don’t care. They didn’t need today. There were a few occassions Villarreal made me nervous. But then again, I watched the game in a pub with the volume turned off. Maybe watching the game with the volume turned off helps in lessening the nervous factor? You can’t hear the annoying commentators making stupid suggestions or screaming when there is no real danger. Who knows. Either way. Damn happy.
PARIS. PARIS. Arsenal are going to PARIS.
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 2 hours after the game and I still can’t shake this good feeling. And I have not even had any drinks yet.
April 25th, 2006 at 6:49 pm
I am speechless?more tension that I could have ever imagined given how dominant we looked against the Yellow Submarine at Highbury. Then more injuries to our defenders–how is that mathematically possible?and finally a gut gnawing penalty to save against a man with a rocket shot.
In the end ANOTHER CLEAN SHEET. Amazing.
The Boss said it best: ?If it is our year, Jens will save it.?
Man of the Season.
Well done lads! Try to find some rest and then on to Paris. Oh my.
April 25th, 2006 at 6:49 pm
Yup. I hate that rule. I remember Jean Pierre Papin (when he was with Milan) never got a medal because of this rule as well. The medals should be given out to all players who have played atleast a few games during the entire year’s campaign.
April 25th, 2006 at 6:50 pm
It was certainly the best game I have ever seen him play. For once he took responsibity and took a grip on the midfield.
April 25th, 2006 at 6:52 pm
Man, how?s a guy supposed to do any work! Isn?t this sweet after such a hard season. Not pretty but we?re through to the THE FINAL. To all you contributors who make this a great site?enjoy.
Tommy Smyth?.I?m with you Gerrard, what?s with this guy? Just goes to reaffirm that people often don?t get roles because of their talent. Shame we have to endure his drivel during our games.
Toure?.no yellow card!! Next to the result, this is perhaps the most important outcome from today?s game for me.
Fab?.one particular move was pure class. He got the ball in midfield controlled and chipped it over a V player and surged upfield.
D-mode?.for whatever reason Arsenal never got out of a defensive frame of mind. But the resilience this team is showing is sooooo good. Previous Arsenal euro-teams may have had 20 strikes on goal and lost 2-0.
Henry?.if he?d got the great chance he did on the left instead of the right I?d back a goal every time. But on the right it?s much more a 50/50 proposition.
Flamster & Senderos?.we will remember them. What these guys have contributed is immense not just in their play but with their ATTITUDE.
April 25th, 2006 at 6:53 pm
Although both have done a fantastic job of late, I always wanted Cole and Campbell to play in the final - I think with those two behind them certain players will be able to relax and go forward uninhibited.
Senderos doesn’t have a bad injury, 3 weeks out, can’t see him missing out on the World Cup.
April 25th, 2006 at 6:54 pm
NL11, in the PFA Footballer of the Year award, Lehmann wasn’t even in the shortlist. Goalkeeper just never get the credit they deserved.
April 25th, 2006 at 6:56 pm
Medals during the CL Final:
You know I never thought of this but a few of you have talked about it above: Senderos and Flamini won’t get medals if they are not starting or not on the bench. Sucks.
These guys have worked themselves into the ground. With no disrespect to Campbell, I rather Senderos get a medal. Same goes to whoever replaces Flamini, which will be Clichy.
But such is the flip side of this game. Isn’t it Costacorta (Milan and Italy) who has been unlucky in the past to have missed a few Finals (CL and World Cup) due to two yellow cards despite being a pillar for this team throughout the previous games. I am sure there are many such unfortunate examples.
April 25th, 2006 at 6:59 pm
For some reason I wasn’t that tense tonight. Villareal just did not frighten me.
This was a weird game, you know if it was a first round group stage tie we would have attacked and won 2-0/2-1 tonight, I’m sure of it.
I got the feeling that if Arsenal committed themselves to attack we would have caused them bigger problems than they could cause us. The few times we got in their box they panicked like crazy, we made them look good.
Even when the penalty was given I thought we could go into extra time and beat them because we would have had to.
Even the chances they did have were not clear cut chances, just the one save from Lehmann from a header. Forlan is rubbish.
The penalty was a joke - but at least you can’t say we had all the luck!
April 25th, 2006 at 7:01 pm
I have wondered about our goalkeeper in the past and I hold up my hand and say I was wrong. Tonight, he was amazing. Not just for the penalty. When the ball fell to Forlan on the edge of the box, he spread himself and made an easy score an easy miss. Apologies to him.
I have also doubted Gilberto’s and Campbell’s commitment too. Guess I got that wrong as well.
Goes to show, Arsene knows. Without doubt, he is now the greatest manager the club has known. He has matched and equalled previous achievements domestically but this European achievement brings him above Chapman and Graham.
April 25th, 2006 at 7:01 pm
“Flamster & Senderos?.we will remember them. What these guys have contributed is immense not just in their play but with their ATTITUDE.”
kiwi, can’t agree more!
Also agree with u on Kolo. Overall, I think it’s time FIFA starts to consider wipe out the 2 yellow cards one match ban ruling once the team get into final in a major tournament.
People want to see the two final sides play their best XI. And it’s rather unfair for players who done so much to help their team into the final yet can’t play because getting 2 yellow cards previously. Particular when u consider today even a celebration would result to a yellow card.
I can never forget Ian Wright’s disappointment.. Gazza’s tear when they learned that they wouldn’t have played in a major tournament final because of the booking. Not to mention Roy Keane, Nevad, Blanc…
April 25th, 2006 at 7:06 pm
SachinG, i remember it happened to Wrighty in 94 Cup Winners’ Cup. Back then our young reserve forward Paul Dickov, who never played a game in that campaign, but was on the bench in the final, offered Ian his medal, which Wrighty declined. a decent young lad, Dickov.
but deep inside u can imagine Wrighty’s disappointment. I think he scored in every round on the course to the final, and was our main reason in the final at the first place.
April 25th, 2006 at 7:09 pm
I kinda disagree with that Andez. If you give immunity to those Spanish divers they will really start taking the p*ss. It’s bad enough all the cynical fouls they give away time and time again.
Some players get yellows when they don’t deserve it, but usually you get what you deserve - and you’d have to be pretty unlucky to get two dodgy yellows spread over to semis if you’ve done nothing wrong at all.
April 25th, 2006 at 7:12 pm
I think two-three seasons ago Buffon was Player of the Year, but in the Champions League. Maybe this time Lehmann can win it if we win in the Final, but I would go for Kolo Toure. The guy has been the leader of the back four and has been most consistent from all of them. KOLO for MVP!!!
April 25th, 2006 at 7:14 pm
Cole, Pires, Henry - I want to see those three weaving their magic up the left wing in the final - just like the good old days.
Had enough of Reyes now, let’s face it - he’s just not up to it.
April 25th, 2006 at 7:23 pm
If I see Reyes run straight at a defender and fall over one more time, I think I might just go mad. There is no questioning his effort, but his intelligence is another matter all together.
April 25th, 2006 at 7:32 pm
Andez, I was thinking the same myself. FIFA can explore different options to address the problem. It seems to me to be inequitable and simply not in the best interests of the game to have a guy miss a final due to an accumulation of yellows that may well have accrued some time ago?.particularly as you say when some ref?s give yellows quite liberally. Take Toure as an example?.he has been walking on a knife edge for both legs of the semi?.seems silly.
Irishgunner, agree with you re Jens. When I think of him now I think BRAVE. Sure he still acts like a silly goose at times, but the way he took that ball in the face is inspiring stuff to the team and his young defence.
April 25th, 2006 at 7:38 pm
Yeah…..what was up with that? It sounded as ifTommy’s commentry tone towards Arsenal was way off line, especially his comments on Wenger. Wenger might have been wrong to complain against the Spurs on Saturday and the incident where two Arsenal players went down, but seeing Wenger animated and defiant is what Arsenal needs in a manager to push the boys on.
Again, I think you are right. It sounded as if Tommy was against Arsenal from the start. His tone and the condescending statements in the first half , I thought were way out of line.
I am happy to see the Gunners go through.
David, the Arsenal fan
April 25th, 2006 at 7:44 pm
For most games announced by Tommy Smyth I have started to listen to them in another language via the SAP. I’d rather hear it in Spanish. No SAP I put on my IPOD. He insults the team at every option. He really is a “Red Devil” I’m sure of it, he loves them.
So you didn’t miss much.
I wanted the whole feeling of the crowd so today I listened and grounnd my teeth alot when he was busy taking a piss on the team.
April 25th, 2006 at 7:48 pm
As I have said many times this season on this forum, Wenger needs to give a final ultimatum to Reyes to perform or otherwise he is up for sale. Hard running alone is not enough for a 17m pound striker. He needs to be a match winner or someone who can influence the game in favour of Arsenal. Bcos for 17m pounds, Arsenal can buy TWO decent players. Going by his performance for the last 2 seasons, his game is better suited for La Liga.
April 25th, 2006 at 7:54 pm
of the Spanish divers part, i didn’t think of that before, but u did have a point there.
April 25th, 2006 at 8:03 pm
I’m serious, I think old onion bag Tommy Smyth is a “Red Devil” supporter and therefore lacks an objective opinion of Arsenal. When I’ve heard him announce a ManUre game it’s as though they were the greatest team in Europe - well today we know that’s not true.
I can kinda understand the off colour Sp*rs joke but that only gets ya because he’s been busy taking a piss on the team the whole match.
His closing remarks where completely insulting and his digs about Sol being the only English player just show how ignorant he really is. Maybe he makes those comments because he’s trolling membership for the BNP, I just don’t get it.
I hope he doesn’t work the Arsenal vs. Barca/Milan match and that ESPN puts that Yank on he’s much more objective, whats his name Derek Rae, anyone but Tommy.
April 25th, 2006 at 9:07 pm
Didn’t know that. Horrible rule.
But as is our way, they’ll get the clean sheet record trophy to be displayed alongside the unbeaten trophy. Same old Arsenal, always beating.
Yeah!
April 25th, 2006 at 9:09 pm
You know you just want to praise Wenger. Go ahead, buddy. Its okay.
April 25th, 2006 at 9:10 pm
Rick said it. Believe.
I think I read somewhere that the left back position was played by 6 different players this season. Six!
April 25th, 2006 at 10:32 pm
Bonjour Paris!!!!
Whenever Arsenal decides to play defending soccer it is always a nervy affair…We are not very comfortable with it…It confuses some of the players as to when to go forward…So, you get this look of bewilderment from the ones going forward when they look up and see no one to pass to…
I hope they go for it in Paris and leave it all on the pitch….Like someone mentioned Kolo escaping without a yellow was key considering we were under constant pressure.
When people talk about our stingy defense in the CL, I rarely saw anyone mention Lehman before…Finally, he got the recognition he deserved like the FA cup penalty he saved.
When we are talking about trades for next season, we need to land Marcos Senna.
April 25th, 2006 at 11:17 pm
All praise goes to the PLAYERS… and Arsene Wenger!
I still do not agree with the decisions of team selection, but what the hell does it matter what I think, when the Arsenal are in the FINALS of the CL?
I don’t think he’ll be consulting me any time soon.
I’ll be coming out with post soon about the remaining games. Wenger still has some decisions to make. We’ve won nothing. But it sure is great to be there waiting for Barca or Milan.
Cap tip and a bow to Arsene “I didn’t see it” Wenger!
All HAIL.
(and they Lehmann guy who most folks wanted to run out of town too!)
April 25th, 2006 at 11:28 pm
In sports, anything can happen.
The games are not played on paper… but on the field.
Liverpool won the CL last year, and had no business doing so.
Porto won it the year before, again … not the best team in the world by far…
Greece won the European Cup.
Its the biggest CLUB Knockout Competition in Europe and THE BIGGEST CLUB TROPHY to win, and we are one match away.
It defies logic with what is a make shift defense.
But we have defended as a TEAM and played a different style for most of the CL games.
Everybody tracks back and its defense and playing safe first. As the commentator said, this is not the Invincible team of a few years back that played free-flowing football of beauty. That won the league but not the CL.
There were many folks that said Wenger was tactically deficient… and couldn’t win in Europe. He has obvioulsy adapted the style we play in Europe with great success.
Sol was very good, Clichy very good… just the latest 2 to slot into the back 4…. and Jens is the rock.
ENJOY.
April 26th, 2006 at 1:46 am
Photos here:
http://tinyurl.com/kznky
April 26th, 2006 at 1:47 am
A poor performance but it did not matter in the end.
ALL HAIL KING LEHMANN.
When Henry’s main contribution to the game was his defensive work, you know that Arsenal have had a bad game. It didn’t look like many of them were rested for the Sat game, did it? Lehmann and Gilberto were huge. Clichy, Eboue and Hleb were decent. Rest were quite poor.
There are 21 days to go to the final and 10 days between the last league match and the final. Wenger must ensure that all players are PROPERLY RESTED and FULLY FIT for the final.
I feel terribly sorry for Senderos and Flamini. We must win the cup for them.
April 26th, 2006 at 2:42 am
Indeed it is a horrible rule…
If I were Henry, Wenger, Dein or Hill-Wood, if Arsenal go on to win it, I get a metallurgist to make a replica of the medal to give to Senderos & Flamster.
April 26th, 2006 at 3:11 am
The smile and celebration on AW’s face made this result worth it for me - this guy deserves everything good coming his way….
Arsenal looked very tired and some of the players jaded…Flamini has run himself into the ground so this was expected and so too for Senderos…
Arsenal in the CL final - unbelievable at the start of the year but now whoever it is get ready coz Arsenal and AW will make sure that for one time just one time they will play on pure desire pure heart pure drive and give it every last ounce and inch of their bodies to get this done…
Believe is the word - and Arsene Knows!!!!!!!
April 26th, 2006 at 5:00 am
The injuries to Senderos and Flamini illustrate what happens when you push players bodies too far, especially Flamini.
April 26th, 2006 at 5:45 am
We played rank and went through.Though I do note that Villareal were knackered from about 75 mins on and we came into the game a bit more then. What is it about soft penalties being saved?
Anyone else think Pires seems to do a better job than Freddie in the 4-5-1? Ljungberg does work his socks off, but for me Pires just has a bit more about his play in there.
Today, I am mostly reading and lapping up how lucky and/or unconvincing we have been in Europe this season - it seems we scraped 1-0s here and there and then played out dour, defensive return legs, as such we have no chance in the final and will be duly ripped apart by Barcelona or Milan. Keep making us underdogs.
“Howard Cosell, you told everybody I don’t have a chance.
Told ‘em I don’t have nothing but a prayer.
Well, chump, all I need is a prayer because if that reaches the right man
not only will George Foreman fall but mountains will fall!”
April 26th, 2006 at 7:12 am
Totally agree Danny why do you think the big sides of the league have big squad of players - you cannot possibly play 70 games a season from 5 different competition and niggles and injuries happen and hope that Flamini and Senderos recover before the Paris final…
April 26th, 2006 at 8:22 am
Thats why squad rotation is the way to go for the top teams who compete in every competition out there. U do not need two squads like Chel$ki if sensible and effective player rotation is employed. It is important to give the ‘fringe’ players starting appearances so that when there are injuries and fatigue in the team, those players can step in without the fear of not being ready. Rather than loan them out to gain experience. But for some reason, Wenger does not seem to agree with the concept of player rotation across the entire season - preferring to do so when there is match congestion.
April 26th, 2006 at 9:39 am
Pinch me I must be dreaming!
April 26th, 2006 at 10:24 am
An injury can happen at any time, to anyone.
It is not directly tied to fatigue.
April 26th, 2006 at 10:36 am
I think Freddie did fine pirate, personally I’m disappointed by Reyes. Pires’ ability to keep possession makes him more useful than Reyes IMO.
April 26th, 2006 at 10:39 am
Indeed. Particular when u noticed that both Senderos and Flamini were injuried by themselves (not from a physical challenge by opposition). Senderos done his knee when trying to clear a ball out of touch, Flamini pulled his hamstring.
April 26th, 2006 at 11:08 am
“Well, chump, all I need is a prayer because if that reaches the right man not only will George Foreman fall but mountains will fall!” Howard Cosell
Jens saves a penalty taken by Riquelme in the closing minutes of a 0-0 game where Arsenal had no shots on goal, played a ugly defensive game throughout and reaches the final in Paris - sounds like a small mountain falling to me.
Thank you! Thank you, thank you, thank you was my exasperated call of relief on seeing that PK ball cleared.
April 26th, 2006 at 11:14 am
I would say we played negative coz we were tired and we had the lead. Now we have players who didn’t run their socks off fresh for the last 3 epl games and we made it to the finals. perfect. Now for spuds to draw/lose to bolton
April 26th, 2006 at 11:38 am
Reyes certainly didn’t perform well last night, I’d be happy to see Freddie play on the left in his place. I just think that Pires adds a bit to the middle with his passing, shoulder drops and 10-15 yard surges…but then my vision is majorly affected by the first leg vs Juventus.
If it is Barca in the final - certainly can’t discount any team with Kaka and Shevchenko, then Gio and Oleguer (currently injured) appear to be the weak spots. Reyes is the kind of minnow-basher who can destroy poor full-backs, whereas Pires kind of relies on Cole overlapping so that he can cut inside - I suspect Cole may be tied up with Messi, which would leave Pires isolated.
Who knows it could be 442 with Cole, Pires and Henry weaving the magic on the left hand side, with Freddie providing the runs into the box. At the moment, I’m not sure how good our 442 can be with Adebayor cup tied, Bergkamp past his best of even last year, Van Persie trying too hard to impress and Reyes and Henry both thinking the other one is wrong..oh yeah and Vieira gone! 451 on the other hand might leave us light up top like last night….I’m sure we’ll see some in depth analysis in weeks to come.
April 26th, 2006 at 4:58 pm
Barca it is then.
April 26th, 2006 at 6:50 pm
When I first saw th Forlan attempt, I thought he had just choked big time. Only after the replay did I see that Lehman had a lot do with the poor shot. Man of the match.
April 26th, 2006 at 6:54 pm
I did not know that about Dickov. He is definitely one of my least favorite players in the prem.
April 26th, 2006 at 6:57 pm
Totally agree. I hope he is gone in the summer. Even when he has a “good game”, is it really that good, or just not as bad as usual? Except for a few games, he has been a big disapointment.
April 26th, 2006 at 7:06 pm
FL had a great game in that position during the first leg against Real, but I would agree that he did not play as well yesterday.
April 26th, 2006 at 7:19 pm
I wonder what Martin “Arsene dosn’t know how strong I am” Jol thought of the match? I can’t decide if I would rather win the CL and finish 5th in the prem, thus denying Spurs a CL place, or win the CL and finsh above them in the prem.
April 26th, 2006 at 9:06 pm
How about having them kicked out of the Premiership for being too ugly? No one ever talks about that possiblity.
April 27th, 2006 at 8:03 am
Remember people remember the result not the performace.
So what if we were not that great, we won the tie and we are through to the final.
Yes our passing was a bit off but better to play like that and win a semi than to do that in the final and lose.
I am looking forward to Barca but all of the players need to be on top form if we are to win.
Shame it is three weeks away, I would love it next week.
April 27th, 2006 at 8:12 am
How we get there, I don’t know
How we get there, I don’t care
All I know is we are on our way.
We’re on our way, we’re on our way
We’re going to Paris, we’re on our way.
BELIEVE, KEEP THE FAITH.
p.s. why did the squirrel swim on its back? It wanted to keep his nuts dry.
April 27th, 2006 at 9:25 am
Anyone noticed that although Roma drew with Juve beforehand, since the defeat at Arsenal, Juventus have drawn the last 5 games and thrown away their 11pt lead.
Now it’s just 3pts. Wonder how Vieira is feeling about that?
April 27th, 2006 at 11:23 am
He left the club to win it, now he needs a ticket.
And they’re c*cking up the league. In fact, there was an article in the guardian about Paddy and Ibram going at it in training. Sound familiar?
Not trying to start a riot here, but it makes me smile. Are you watching, Titi?
April 27th, 2006 at 1:29 pm
“Wonder how Vieira is feeling about that?”
Damn, glass here ain’t that much greener than Highbury!
April 27th, 2006 at 8:12 pm
I would rather the players get a good rest b4 facing Barca and also for players like Sendoros and Flamini to recover in time to be in the starting lineup. 3 weeks away is good.
April 27th, 2006 at 8:46 pm
I see Cole has played 90 mins of a reserve team game.
That being the case and all sentimentality aside?.I quickly penned Wenger?s possible starting lineup for the final (in 1-4-1-4 formation)?
Henry
Reyes-Ljungberg-Fabregas-Hleb
Gilberto
Cole-Campbell-Toure-Eboue
Lehmann
It made me think, assuming that was the team?
1. I hope what we gain in proven skill and experience from Cole/Campbell is not diluted by the absence of attitude exhibited by Flamini/Senderos
2. On paper that?s not a bad lineup. On paper at least, that?s a quality side. Lotsa pace, threat, attacking vigor, and a nice mix of experience and youthful enthusiasm.
Caveat. The above is full of assumptions, not least that fitness issues may well force further changes.
April 28th, 2006 at 1:44 am
I am sick of the media or non Arsenal fans saying that Arsenal were lucky in the second leg against Vallreal.
Kiss my A**. Vallreal were lucky not to lose 4-0 in London. We were too nice not to finish them there. When you play a game every 2 or 3 days you will only need the Butter of every game. 0-0 boring tie did it for us … whoever thinks we were lucky ..please shut up. Val are the luckiest to be here and they were lucky not to get humilated by Arsenal.
Every winner need luck. Great teams also need luck to reach here. In 1998 Hiddink said we only need the luck that Brazil had against Scotland and we can win the world cup. They played great, but realy needed luck ..they lost by Shootouts against Brazil in the semi. But you didn’t see the Saudi Arabia’s Coach saying this, cause he knows that Luck cant do it by it self.
We desereve to be here. And I dont mind if we win the CL the way we won the FA Cup last season against Man U.
April 28th, 2006 at 2:50 am
People who say that Arsenal were just lucky to reach the finals are plain jealous. We have controlled every game except the semi-final second leg. Everyone needs a little bit of luck and we got it (deservedly) in that game.
April 28th, 2006 at 6:09 am
let them keep talking, it takes the pressure off a little. Barca will be under a huge expectation, whereas we are supposedly lucky to be there…our side is well equipped. I’m almost hopiing Spurs bag 4th so that poetic justice really kicks in.
April 28th, 2006 at 7:24 am
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/4945812.stm
April 28th, 2006 at 8:33 am
As a supporter capable of seeing things for what they really are, I would be the first to admit if Arsenal were lucky - but it’s simply not the case.
Villareal only created 2 or 3 clear cut chances the other night, one (the header) was offside by a mile and the penalty wasn’t even a penalty.
Arsenal were always going to come and protect their lead, so if you want to beat Arsenal you’ll have to create more chances and finish better when you get the chance.
I see big mouth Eto’o has gone off on another tirade, very rich considering Milan had a perfectly good goal chalked off, and if it wasn’t for that maybe Barcelona wouldn’t even be in the final.
April 28th, 2006 at 9:32 am
Yup, I can’t help but think that Eto’o is an idiot.
Let them keep talking, it’s pressure on them.
April 28th, 2006 at 11:27 am
Well, there is one thing we can be sure of, if Alexander Hleb ends up missing the final due to his troublesome knee, then we can forget about winning the trophy. Same goes for Fabregas and Toure. I actually think we could do it without Henry, as Reyes is better up-front roaming around, and Van Persie can do anything.
April 28th, 2006 at 4:43 pm
Without Henry? U must be kidding, right? I will be a very happy Barca supporter if I know Henry is not playing. In any event, I think Wenger will continue with the 4-5-1 formation which means no starting place for RVP.
April 28th, 2006 at 4:50 pm
If Sendoros and Flamini are fit, they should start. They deserve it for getting the team this far and have delivered to date. Not sentimental. Just being logical. Why break up a winning combination - unless there are injuries or loss of form?! Campbell and Cole can focus on the WC in Germany.
April 28th, 2006 at 7:00 pm
“If Sendoros and Flamini are fit, they should start. They deserve it for getting the team this far and have delivered to date. Not sentimental. Just being logical. Why break up a winning combination….”
Hmmm…fair position to take gunner4life. Altho going on his decisions in the past I think Wenger will opt for experience unless he thinks their (C&C) fitness isn’t up to it. The next 3 EPL games may hold the key.