An unbelievable performance by the Gunners, capped by masterful displays by Cesc Fabregas and Mathieu Flamini saw Arsenal defeat the defending champions AC Milan 2-0 in the second leg of their round of sixteen tie in Milan last night. It was the first time an English team had ever beaten Milan at the San Siro, and what a time to do it.
The opening minutes of the game were very cagey as both teams felt things out. Milan had the better of the play at that stage, and in the first twenty minutes, had two excellent chances to take an early lead.
However, for the rest of the match, it was all Arsenal. Wave after wave of sustained attack ended up with nothing to show for it apart from a good Adebayor chance that just went wide, and an excellent rising shot by Cesc that unluckily hit the cross bar. There was also a bit of controversy in the first half. In the 33rd minute, Alex Hleb was shown a yellow card for diving when it was quite clear (and the replays proved it) that he’d been brought down, if not in the box, then just on the edge. Thankfully it didn’t come to anything in the end, but it’s a silly yellow for Hleb to have to worry about going into the next round.
In the second half, Arsenal maintained the pressure. The midfield performance was incredible. Milan did get a few breaks on the counter, but it turned out that it was nothing the Gunners couldn’t handle. Still, the sustained pressure by Arsenal in the Milan half was coming to nothing as first Emmanuel Eboue, then Phillip Senderos, and then Theo Walcott all misplayed excellent opportunities to score.
Finally, when it seemed certain that the match would be going into extra time, Cesc Fabregas picked up the ball about 30 yards from goal. Instead of looking for the pass, he instead decided to test the keeper. It was a speculative effort to be sure. The ball skimmed along the pitch – a real daisy cutter – and somehow found it’s way past a diving keeper. Cue pandemonium on the Arsenal bench.
Cesc made his way over to the bench and hugged the boss. Arsene was beaming. However, there were still about five minutes left plus stoppage. It seemed unlikely that Milan would score twice, but that didn’t mean the Gunners could let up. Instead, playing like the Wenger team they are, Arsenal continued to attack. In the second minute of stoppage time, Theo Walcott raced into the box and placed a pin-point pass across the face of goal right into the path of an on-rushing Emmanuel Adebayor. 2-0 on the night, 2-0 on aggregate, and Arsenal on to the quarterfinals. Buona Sera indeed.
188 Responses to “AC Milan 0 – 2 Arsenal”
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March 5th, 2008 at 11:31 am
The real Miracle in Milan – here’s Tony Cascarino in the London Times:
It was such a great team effort that you couldn’t pick anyone out, but Philippe Senderos was a man mountain. Kaká is tremendous but he wasn’t given any time or space to cause any damage. Of all Wenger’s players, Senderos has more captain and leadership qualities than any. He makes the odd error but as a leader you cannot fault him and that is why Wenger thinks a lot of him. He was the one dictating things at the back. It is easy to criticise those who make the odd poor decision, but he’s more of a captain than William Gallas.
Sendy for Capt. I made this joke 6 months ago. Next year it will real! Toblerones and fondue all round.
March 5th, 2008 at 11:32 am
I told you all on last post. Arsenal did not have to fear Alexandre Pato… what he did? He is good but not espetacular…
Thanks Arsenal for let me happy yesterday lol
March 5th, 2008 at 11:35 am
I still cant believe Cesc’s shot went in. It just stopped at the back of the net. I was sure it had gone wide and was stuck between the back of the net and the boards. I was with three other people, we were all silent for a few seconds (though it seemed like an eternity), as were Derrick Rae and Tommy Smyth. Then all of a sudden Rae yells out “Cesc Fabreags for Arsenal… What a brilliant effort from the Spaniyard!” And then all hell broke loose as four Gooners crammed into one tiny dorm room lost all sense of moderation and celebrated for about five minutes straight!
March 5th, 2008 at 11:39 am
I’m convinced Senderos is a good leader and a great guy, but I’m not convinced he’s all that great at keeping his balance. There’s a reason Villa were targeting him all game, and he eventually rewarded them. He’s like that great, loyal dog who does so well and then one day sh*ts the bed at precisely the wrong time. His feet just aren’t quick enough.
In other news, I really miss Robin.
March 5th, 2008 at 11:47 am
He certainly didn’t have a great game, he had an adequate game. He made some mistakes, and we were lucky they didn’t cost us. You cannot expect perfection from a player, but I am reasonably happy having him as 4th choice centre-back as he has improved marginally this season.
March 5th, 2008 at 11:59 am
But u gotta give credit to the back 4 for holding the line so well. We played a dangerous game, very adventure. Took the game to Milan from the off, with the defence pushed so high up to half way line, in order for our game plan to work, the back 4 gotta worked their offside trap to perfection. Particular when u had an offside trap master Inzaghi on their side. In all honestly, I was worrying more about him than Kaka or Pato. Once he got subbed, i felt more confident.
overally speaking the back 4 worked their offside trap so well in the match that gave Milan no chance.
this was by far one of the most convincing victory for the Gunners in Europe. the result, performance, approach, and tactic, all got it spot on. Some rated it as probably the best Arsenal performance in Europe, I wouldn’t agrue with that. The 5-1 trashing of Inter was great, but it was more down to a Thierry Henry show. This Milan victory though was very much a collective team effort, and a daring yet calculative game plan from the manager. I find it very difficult for even the harshest critic to nitpicking any fault from the game.
March 5th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
I don’t think the team will get carried away by this result. But Wigan on the weekend will present a very different challenge. Cesc has had some trouble raising himself against the smaller teams. The pitch will be agricultural and so will some of the tackles. The coach is someone who recently sympathized with Martin Taylor, so expect some robust tackles. We need the win desperately. ManU are playing in the FA Cup and it will be good to build a lead.
March 5th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
I think that Cesc is the next captain for this team. He has the talent and the leadership skills for the position. It might seem crazy for a 20 year old to be captain, but he was doing a great job firing up the team last night before and after the goal. He is the future.
March 5th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
I agree, Andez. It was the best thing for the team right now and they executed brilliantly against a Milan side that were 50% beaten in their heads and legs before the whistle. I don’t know why I kept hearing that it was advantage Milan going into the tie, because only needing a score draw against a team that showed nothing at all at The Emirates has to be the best position to be in outside of a straight-up aggregate advantage.
Senderos has been fantastic stepping in lately. And there are things he used to do that he doesn’t do anymore, which is great. But he still has those goofy moments that cost us. Most defenders don’t peak until well into their late 20’s, and some later, so all hope is never lost. I’m convinced he will, however, make another “Bambi on ice” gaff before the season is out. I just hope it’s not at the worst possible time.
March 5th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Hello everyone. I’m new here. I found this site a few weeks ago and stop by everyday to see what everyone has to say. Great site.
And what a great game. The team and the fans really needed that win. Ever since the FA Cup loss to Man Utd. it’s been kind of bleak. I think everyone needed something big to lift our spirits. And what a way to do.
March 5th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
Senderos almost did another classic last night. When he launched himself like a scud missile at a ball and nearly headed it right into Inzaghi’s path. He is very clumsy but incredibly unlucky at times too. Recently, bar the Villa own goal, he’s has lady luck on his side, and hopefully that will continue and he will grow in confidence. He has most of the ingredients to be good defender and he just needs to cool down a bit be a bit more reactive rather than recklessly pro-active. It’s all about getting the balance right between dropping off and stepping forward.
That goal came at a great time last night. We really were flagging at that point and sinking deeper in our half. Milan were doing a great job of impersonating Chelsea with the long balls and attempting to get the second balls. It looked as if it was on the verge of paying dividends as well so it made Fabregas’ momentum-killer even more satisfying.
March 5th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Yes scotty (glad u r back!), I don’t noe if others would agree, I think Senderos has improved his game this season. Noticeably his reading of the game. He’s in the right place at the right time far more often than before. and most importantly, his ability to read the offside trap and step up on time.
when he and Gallas playing together, we did seem to less likely to allow the opponents breaking our offside traps than Gallas/Toure combo. and when we did, usually it’s the full backs didn’t step out on time (like Clichy did against Villa).
we just have to look at the number of times our central half needed to track back to recover an one on one situation, it seems that it happened more often when Toure was there than when Senderos’ there.
Senderos’ ability to clear everything in the air (by not letting the ball drop the the floor), it’s another plus side of his game to our defence. we all know if the central halfs let a high ball drops to the ground, then it would cause a chao for our defenders.
overall, i start to agree with folks suggested that a Gallas/Senderos combination look more clam and controlled than a Gallas/Toure combo.
of course, if you pair them one on one, I would still rate Toure as a better central half than Senderos. but i do feel that Gallas and Toure are too similiar a pair of defenders that may not be the best comination at the back. and if we look at our setpieces defending situation, we had conceded many goals at the past with Toure and Gallas as central halfs, yet we didn’t concede as much when Senderos was there. Height does make a difference for a central half.
Chelsea once had a great central defending pair in Gallas and Terry, i think they complmented each other well with their game. of cos Terry is better than Senderos. but my point is the “combination” of two different type of central halfs may work better than two similiar type of players.
Senderos’ physcial presence will always be his main handicapp, slow and clumsy. but there have been many central halfs who were slow and clumsy at the past yet be able to develop into top class central halfs with their reading of the game. if Senderos be able to keep imporving his reading of the game, i won’t rule out the possibility of him turning into a classy central half in the future.
March 5th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Senderos is a tricky one for me. Initially I was in love with the guy and thought he was ‘the next Tony Adams.’ But, as the Arsenal style evolved and matured, it became obvious that it was not going to be a style suited for him. I think he has real quality, but yes, he is slow (relatively speaking to the rest of the team) and that becomes a liability. Toure, Gallas, Clichy and Sagna can get beat or make a mistake and still get back, or cover for a teammate who gets beat. Senderos can’t.
But I take Cascarino’s meaning. Senderos is a natural leader. He’s passionate, speaks something like 4 or 5 languages and is a real gamer. But even I, a big supporter, see that he can be a liability. Not sure what to do with him. I could see him going to another team in the Prem and being an absolute star because that side plays a more traditional style.
March 5th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Senderos had a good game yesterday by his OWN standards, but was by no means good by an arsenal central defender’s standard. I think he got lucky quite a few times, especially with his effort in the first half when he headed the ball into Pato’s (I think) path and Clichy had to rush in at the last minute and put in a clearance. Had Clichy not been able to do that, it was looking like a sure goal for Milan.
Also, I have to disagree with Tony Cascarino on Sendy being captain material. I think a captain needs to be able to boss the game and the team, and the only person on Arsenal who can fit that mold would be Flamini. The guy already runs around bossing his team-mates even though he is not captain, and is a true leader on the pitch with a work rate that no one can complain about. A real captain has to have confidence, good work ethic and someone who can lead from the front. Unfortunately, who knows if Flamini will be here next season.
Lastly, does anyone else feel that Arsenal seem to perform at the level of their opposition ? Barring a few games which we lost (eg ManU, Tottenham and Sevilla) due to better organized opposition, which can be chalked up to lack of interest / heart and blips in performance, it seems like Arsenal just dont give their 100% every game. It seems like a lot of times with lower quality opposition, most of the arsenal players get complacent and go into the game with an entitlement attitude and dont give even 70% and end up with a draw or a loss. I guess this might be an artifact of inexperience.
March 5th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
A bit late ..but what a great game!!
@ChicagoGooner#3 ..It was almost the same for me as well…it took me a few seconds to realise that Fabregas had scored…i was absolutely sure that it had gone wide and was actually behind the net…i guess the commentator was fooled too…it took him a few seconds to announce the goal…and when it happened…i went absolutely crazy with joy…BRILLIANT feeling
There were a few of us who had said that finishing second in the league was not such a bad thing as people were making it out to be….the simple reason being…if you want to win the UCL you need to beat the best….and the earlier you beat the best….the more confidence you have to play out the rest of the tournament……I’m not saying that I had predicted this win..all i’m saying is that it has played out exactly as I wanted it to..here’s hoping it carries on
Couple of things I want to add to the discussion
Firstly..i think after the stick that Clichy got for that Birmingham game…i think he deserves a lot of praise….i thing that i’m sure kept us in the game….is that of Clichy charging down Inzaghi and taking the ball right as he was about to shoot….a split second late and it could have been a different game.
Next..Diaby…i’m sorry I don’t see why people keep criticizing him to such extremes…he’s still learning..and i didn’t see anything wrong in the way he played yesterday..yup a few misplaced passes here and there..but i can grant him that…especially because he’s being played in an unfamiliar role…but he does provide some strength down that side..he may appear to be a little too casual but it’s just the way he plays…just my opinion though
Finally a special mention for Cesc’s reaction after he scored that goal..any other team ..any other player..would have taken that opportunity to soak in the praise at that moment and gone into over the top celebrations..easily one of the highlights of any career…but no not Cesc..he just rushed straight to the man who had kept faith in him in the first place ….Arsene Wenger. This is exactly why i so love this team and have tons of respect for The Professor.
Cheers,
Wayne
March 5th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
senderos i think is good for relatively slower european games… but not for the fast paced english game
March 5th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
haven’t posted in a while but how can i not after such a great European night?! tend not to post after demoralising results since the irrationality of some usually leads us into meaningless arguments(e.g wenger as tactically niave,4-5-1 is not effective etc.).i think many of us here realise that arsenal are onto something massive.the development of the team is ahead of schedule.i predicted earlier in the year that arsenal were not consistent enought (yet!) to last the pace in the championship but was confident our style of play suits Europe.i think wenger has deliberately tweaked our playing style to suit the european stage after so many disappointing nights in the past(PSV, Valencia…all the way back to Fiorentina).
individual performances were crucial(fabregas is made for europe and he knows it,flamini is a tank,adebayor looks immense and the back 4 is playing like a unit) but the team as a whole was the key.everyone involved was looking out for eachother.space,movement,awareness…we have it all.finishing is our only weakness and it seems to be improving.leadership qualities from fabregas were great to see..the way he was geeing up everyone after his goal and we were hanging on(we werent really..we were already there)
proudest moment ever under this new generation.seen glimpses of what was to come v real and v juve but this was a decisive step towards domination of the PL and the CL.wenger has built a team that emulates anything he has done before because it is a TEAM not a collection of amazing individuals like the invincibles.every single one of those players out there has improved beyond belief(ade-touch,flamini-intelligence,clichy-defensively,senderos-confidence etc.).things are looking rosy and any slip ups from now until the end of the season will be mere blips in what is to be a great future.even the players we love to hate/criticise showed promise last night.thought diaby was deadly but tired towards the end.i also think eboue is being gradually filtered out of his position and he will not be a long-term solution but a stop gap.
great to be a gunner
March 5th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
related:the patience of wenger is perhaps the most admirable feature of a great man.any of us in his position would get rid of underperforming players like eboue,senderos,flamini,diaby and even rosicky in an instant.instead wenger is concerned not about individual parts but rather the sum of the parts.even fergie would banish a few of these players and whip up a tevez,hargreaves or anderson.if anything we will only get stronger because not only are these players getting better but we have some great quality to add over the next few seasons..vela for one.so there will be endless discussions over the summer about potential additions but wenger’s stubborness and fiscal conservatism seem to be working well.he knows that,even if we had lost yesterday,we will be a force in Europe in the next few years.any one individual is not more important than the team and our playing style will trump all others
March 5th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
I saw a huge amount to like about the way Senderos played. He made us competitive in the air, cleared the ball, put in some wonderfully timed tackles, looked really focused, there were even moments when his distribution and passing looked fantastic. Of course, some dislike him so much that they struggle to acknowledge what they see.
However I agree that at times in the EPL he looks timid. It’s this timidity thing that he needs to resolve if he wants to thrieve in the EPL. He’s a big boy, and he needs to impose himself a bit more. It’s a bit like the animals that smell fear – you need to exude confidence, if the EPL strikers think your scared they’ll target you and push you around. So for me it’s in his head, if he can prove to himself that he can compete physically in the EPL the head-thing will come right and the other issues (balance, pace, clumsiness….) will become manageable – just ask our Tony.
March 5th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Adams and Senderos have totally different body types. There is this myth that Adams was slow and ponderous, a bit like Senderos. However, I’ve seen a few games from the late 80’s, particularly the Liverpool 89 game, and Adams was a great athlete and looked quick and lean. Clumsiness and uncordination are things he has in common with Senderos though.
March 5th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
well, am not a big sendy fan, but no doubt he is third choice CB for next season – probably to be competed for with Song and Djorou when they come back. There is no point arguing about him – whether you like him or not he will be here for at least the next 2 seasons, because he never complains when he is on the bench.
we are pretty much not going to buy any defender for the next 2 years.
as for yesterday’s performances, i think sendy wasnt that spectacular BUT i am quite sure toure would have MESSED up one of those high balls in spectacular fashion. once the ball is in the air toure is 50/50 disaster.
the only real negative player for me is eboue. he is probably the thickest player i have ever seen – and not just at arsenal. he was lazy, he didnt cover ground despite having 2 weeks of rest, he ALWAYS goes for power over the remotest possibility of accuracy. and that hasnt even gone into the fact that he is a diving cheat. he needs to go.
March 5th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
yeah, but in 89 the average player was much slower! so in reality they might actually be of the about the same speed.
not to mention the fact that the arsenal backline is probably the fastest in the league, so sendy will look much slower …
March 5th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
I was think the same thing about the pace of the game being slower but that Anfield game was 100 mph. As quick as anything I’ve seen in today’s game.
March 5th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
good point Fred. not only slower, we are talking about Ian Rush, Gary Lineker, Grame Sharp, Mark Hughes the likes Vs Drogba, Anelka, Tevez, Ronaldo, Torres, Santa Cruz.
March 5th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Did Ian Wright look off the pace playing in 1996 when the the epitome of modern football, Patrick Vieira, was making a name for himself? He was also 34 then so he wasn’t even as quick as he would been when he made his name in 1991 for Crystal Palace.
Players like Paul Ince, Roy Keane, Michael Thomas were more imposing physically than Fabregas, Flamini, Lampard, Mascherano, Carrick etc
In general the game is quicker, but not by much, and not to the extent where it would distort perceptions of a player’s pace.
March 5th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
Is there a point to all this Mazza?
March 5th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
Real Madrid are out – isn’t that nice.
March 5th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
Yes, Kiwi, discussing whether the pace of the game is faster today than yesteryear, and by how much. Thought that was fairly obvious.
March 5th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Roma would be a good match up for us. According to Gabrielle Marcotti, they are the team in Europe that plays a similar style to us. From what i’ve seen I wouldn’t go that far but they have good players like Aquilani, Taddei, and Mancini that can put some good stuff together.
March 5th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
i want Roma in the QFs!!!
March 5th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
what about the skills then? Do u know what kind of football the majority of English sides played during the 80s Mazza? it’s LONG ball, LONG ball, LONG ball. it didn’t matter how quick and fast the forwards back then, the FACT was life was never that difficult for the big tall central halfs.
Put Toure back in the 80s, his pace would be relatively irrelevant. cos there weren’t that many forwards who could run with the ball with pace back then. if you couldn’t deal with a high ball, you couldn’t be a central half. There weren’t any Torres, Drogba, Santa Cruz, Ronaldo, Tevez, those international class players back in the 80s in the English top flight.
Likewise, if you put Adams (when he’s still learning the game) into this current Arsenal side facing the current Premiership strikers, I am pretty sure a lot of fans would be jumping on his back just like they did on Senderos. And guess who those fans would be?
My point here is not to down play Adams’ quality as a central half. I am just saying with today fans’ menality, how difficult a young player is allowed to develop. What young players need most is support and time, and they are a luxury today.
back then, even Adams got destroyed by van Basten, and being wildy taunt as a donkey by the media, the Arsenal fans still firmly behind him.
today? he would have got torn into pieces. i can bet my house on it.
March 5th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Comparing generations of footballers may be interesting but at the end of the day it is 100% subjective and of little relevance.
I agree with your line of thinking Andez. The point some are missing is that if George Graham listened to the sagely wisdom of the masses Adams would have been flogged off to another team and who knows what would have happened. Thankfully he didn’t, he backed Adams and modern Arsenal enjoyed a renaissance that Wenger then used to build further upon.
What do I take from this?
Firstly, beware the herd mentality. Often the masses (fans and media) talk absolute crap.
Secondly, development is just that – development – going from what you aren’t to what you will become.
Thirdly, armchair player evaluation is a limited exercise.
March 5th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
Andez, I’m not disagreeing with you over the amount of mistakes Adams made back in the day. As I said, he was clumsy and looked a little ungainly at times. However the advantage he has over Senderos is that he was lean, lithe, and had a decent amount of pace. Not exactly Kolo Toure but was quick enough.
Senderos isn’t blessed with the same physical attributes and that’s the reason why I think he will struggle to emulate Adams and why I also think these constant comparisons with Adams are a bit tedious and irrelevant. I can see why people compare them in terms of leadership but as players I don’t see it.
March 5th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
exactly kiwi. imagine had AW listened to the fans….. Flamini would have gone, Adebayor too. and we ended up with Papa Diop, Jenas, Zokora (to name just a few)…. all those players who were previously in fans’ “wish list”.
March 5th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
mazza, that i agree. yes Adams was leaner than Sendros, while at the same time, stronger. even when he was young.
March 5th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
btw, anyone got a clue why Liverpool isn’t playing tonight? if they goes through too, the CL would look more like an expensive version of FA Cup. i’d hate it if we draw against an English side the next round. i don’t care if it’s Barcelona or Roma, i would fancy our chance against them than Chelsea, Man Utd.
Fred mentioned he got a hunch we ‘d be drawing Barcelona. Mine even worse, i have a gut feeling we may draw against Man Utd.
March 5th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
We made Milan an offer they can’t refuse……………superb performance, Senderos was almost Adams like, we may need revive the Tony Adams Donkey chant for him!
March 5th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
Italian Police didn’t think they would be able to cope with back-to-back games being played at the San Siro over two nights. Probably alot of stuff other than the police which were just as big a reason for the week delay.
March 5th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
There is no comparison between the two. At the same age, Adams was twice the player is Senderos is now – Adams was captain material the day he walked out on the Highbury pitch, he was born it. Sure he had some tough times at the start, but it just made his character even stronger. Imagine how Senderos would play after a late night out on the piss? Adams was so good, no-one knew.
March 5th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
Mazza, did you follow Arsenal during Adams early years?
March 5th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
I was born in the early eighties so I was a bit too young to critique his game. However I’ve seen enough on video to know he was a natural athlete despite his gaffes. You would have to be to sink 15 pints of guiness on occasion and still play a game a couple of days later without a discernible
March 5th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
I feckin hate laptops.
……..deterioration in his physical condition.
March 5th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
getting Man U would be a DISASTER draw.
i want roma or barca……….roma are just a weak version of milan with less euro experience than us, and less talent too. boo!
barca wont have messi, who to me is their main danger man. our midfield and attack can handle their midfield and defense. the question will be how our defense handles the triumvire of etoo, henry and ronaldinho. henry will play poorly against us, while ronaldinho can be shackled!
i am not really in favor of fenerbache till the semifinals. i am afraid they will PSV us!
my ideal CL draw:
Liverpool – Chelsea
Arsenal – Roma
Man U – Barca
Schalke – Fenerbache
the winner of ours get the winners of schalke/fener…….that would just be PERFECT – not only for our CL run but also for our PL run, as it will keep all our EPL rivals occupied.
but barca just seems inevitable to me.
March 5th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Sendy is a more than capable CB, but is certainly not in the class of Ferdinand, Vidic, Terry, Hargreaves, Alex, Etc., He is a tremendous backup to have in case of injury and is also well suited to the CL style of play and against certain EPL teams but will never be considered as a top player.
Sendy is a better complement to Gallas than Toure in most cases because he provides better aerial capabilities against set pieces and the long, high ball being pumped up front. However, he is a liability against teams like Manu, Villa, Chelsea, Tottenham and Liverpool who have two or more quick paced forwards who play mostly on the rug. Against these top EPL teams we have seen that Toure and Gallas is more formidable even with their weakness with aeial set pieces. Toure should not carry all the blame however as Gallas has been beaten in the air many times this season with goals being a resultant.
What that basically means is that we need to get a tall, sturdy, quick, athletic CB in the mold of a Terry or Ferdinand to partner either Gallas or Toure. I don’t think Song or Dhojurou fits the bill but Arsene will probably remain true to them and wait for a Norvedt to arrive in a couple of years.
Until then, we probably will continue to play with the hand we have been dealt.
March 5th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
I thought Senderos played well yesterday. He seems to play much better in Europe, and was a major part of the run to the CL finals we had. He was a big part of all those shut-outs we posted that year.
He has a lot of difficulty against certain styles of play. Thats very apparent.
I don’t think he is Tony Adams. But you simply can’t start comparing players from different a era, in ANY sport. There are players that could have / would have been stars in any time of their sport. You can’t say so and so isn’t as good or is better than … how can you compare?
Bird/Magic or Kobe/LeBron?
Howe/Orr/Bourque/Gretzky/Lemiuex?
Unitas/Starr/Montana/Brady?
Great players could compete in any time period… they would have adapted/adjusted their game… to the game of the day.
Senderos compared to Adams, I never understood. Swiss Tony, ummm no. Its an unfair comparison.
But I think if he can improve his game in some areas, he can be a very serviceable center back for the Arsenal. Thats all I hope for him. He’s not a bad 3rd or 4th choice… unless he’s playing Drogba!
Then again, we had Cygan, Stepanovs and Luhzny… he’s far better than that lot.
The CL draw?
When is that… after Liverpool play at Milan?
I would like the easiest possible route to the next round. Fenerbache would be my first choice… then Schalke… let the big teams beat each other silly for a couple of games… just get me to the Semi’s please!
March 5th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Your right Stag, Adams v Senderos isn’t a fair comparison and if you check back on the train of this thread a like for like comparison was never being suggested – that is until the Senderos haters climbed in. Then all reasoned thought & discussion flys out the window.
I won’t spend a moment worrying about the draw – what will be will be. And if we’re good enough we’ll respond to whatever challenge we get served. Part of me would ‘just love it’ if we could eliminate ManU…….the reverse isn’t a pretty thought!!
maybe……eliminate Chelsea in the qtrs, eliminate ManU in the semi’s…..and then just to cap it off, vengence on Barcelona in the final. Sweet.
March 5th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
I see Tony Cascarino is following in that great tradition of even-handed British journalism with another article carping at Gallas. Like, isn’t one article enough? He already gave his views, but in this article after the joy of this victory he has to regurgitate his bile against Gallas. The amusing part of this is the heading – Tony Cascarino: Analysis – nothing personal aye Tony? Just good analysis.
March 5th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
TC article:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/arsenal/article3492354.ece
March 5th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Kiwi, I didn’t even mention their disparity in terms of quality. It was purely body-type. Adams was faster and more athletic than Senderos. It was the pro-Sendy’s that construed it as an ability comparison.
March 5th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
Did you construe that I was referring to you Mazza?
March 5th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
Touche ;^)
March 5th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
Indeed
The lovely thing is that game by game this emerging Arsenal side are setting a new standard for themselves and our club. The greatest of European names – Real Madrid, Juventus and now AC Milan lay vanquished. Arsenal Mk II never quite lived up to their collective reputation in Europe…..Arsenal Mk III are forging a European reputation as they develop.
There’s a hint of steel about this team that it’s predecessors didn’t have. Like winning in the last 6 minutes against Milan, drawing in the extra time against Villa. Time after time this season we have responded late.
The sumptuous football is still there, just a new version, but it is complimented with variety. We now play with a centre-forward, we score goals with our heads, we cross balls, we score tap-in’s, we out-wait teams, we demonstrate patience, we counter, we pressure, it’s hard to think what we don’t do.
But a trophy is needed to seal our emergence. I wanted the CC (it was within touching distance). But if we get the EPL or CL I’ll be happy!!
March 5th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
Well, there’s a 3/7 chance (43%) of us drawing English opposition in the quarters, assuming Liverpool advance. However, the chances of an all-English semifinals is comparatively low, as the chance of at least 1 all-English tie in the quarters is 6/7 (86%). I don’t want to be drawn against an English team next round, but an all-English semis would be exciting (though probably detrimental to the European game as a whole).
March 5th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
#42 buy a Mac Mazza they run smooth.
I don’t know about all of you but I’m still walking on a cloud more than 27 hours later. Reading the accolades sent to the team today in the Fleet Street Press helped me to relive the game.
Definitely a keeper as a DVD. Something to watch on those cold nights up here in Canada when my partner is putting the Bone back in Zamboni. It’s a Canadian thing.
To beat a team that also plays such beautiful football, all master players everyone is such a great honour for the Arsenal lads and well deserved.
As for captain, I wouldn’t care if they made that damn Barney Dinosaur knock-off that walks the pitch in pregame the captain, if they keep playing like yesterday. As that’s never going to happen I think Gallas is great. The fact he showed his humanity only made him stronger in my mind and I never agreed with the criticism levied against him for venting.
This win feels as good as the Juventus and Real Madrid wins in the past but because it comes after these last few difficult weeks all the more reassuring.
Kudos’ to the lads.
I believe so I’m kissing that crest in faith.
March 5th, 2008 at 11:11 pm
ChiGooner
Yes – if I remember correctly last year in the semis, watching ‘Pool play Chelsea was like watching paint dry.
March 5th, 2008 at 11:51 pm
The CL games come right in the middle of a hectic and tough schedule of league games
23 Mar – Chelsea (A)
29 Mar – Bolton (A)
1/2 Apr – CL Q/F 1st leg
5 Apr – Liverpool (H)
8/9 Apr – CL Q/F 2nd leg
13 Apr – ManU (A)
Playing English opposition will seriously complicate matters a lot. I don’t mind any of Barca, Roma, Schalke or Fener.
March 5th, 2008 at 11:55 pm
Cesc on Arsenal.com -
“It was one of the best moments of my career and I went straight to the boss because without him I would never have had the chance to play in a game like this,” he said.
“Maybe I have not been at my best since my injury, but now I feel great once again. This performance has been very important for my confidence. After I had started the season so well and then had an injury, I was not playing the way I used to and I was a bit upset. I needed a performance like this.”
Let’s hope there are more goals in his tank.
March 6th, 2008 at 12:01 am
When is the CL quarterfinals draw going to be? Anybody knows?
March 6th, 2008 at 12:18 am
the draw is on friday.
March 6th, 2008 at 12:45 am
Not this friday, though. It’s on the 14th (probably because of the Liverpool-Inter game).
http://www.uefa.com/uefa/keytopics/kind=64/newsid=551134.html
March 6th, 2008 at 12:49 am
Is anyone worried that we’ll be a bit drained for Wigan?
Milan was a hard, hard game right to the final minute. Mentally too – requiring a massive level of focus and concentration.
Conversely, the team could be on such a high still, that they sweep Wigan aside.
The problem with this Arsenal team is they often take some time to get up to speed. Some times it even takes conceeding a goal to wake them up.
Anyone care to call it? Obviously, we’re going to win. We f***ing have to. Even a draw is essentially a defeat heading into the final 10 games.
We’re shown we can come back from the dead in a few games, but can anyone see ManUre slipping up with nerves once they’re in the box seat? All I can see is ManUre coming back to demolish Everton last year.
Come on, boys. No slow starts.
March 6th, 2008 at 12:54 am
@ Kiwi… I’m not concerned about the draw… merely VERY interested!
Its going to be enjoyable regardless of who we play!
@ Gerard… err.. SEH… Arsenal America MET that Barney Look-Alike!!! when we toured Highbury in its last season!!! One of the guys giving the tour was the Gunnersauras!!!!!! Top notch bloke! LOL!
Not sure he’d make the best captain though, he can’t shoot accurately with those big feet the costume has, and its hard to communicate. I don’t think the players would take him seriously!!!!!!!
March 6th, 2008 at 4:37 am
http://arseblog.com/columns/2008/03/05/eduardos-first-interview-with-croatian-tv/
Eduardo claims that Taylor did *NOT* visit him in the hospital.
March 6th, 2008 at 8:09 am
Actually, the claim is that Taylor did not visit to apologise, not that he didn’t visit Eduardo at all. Even if Taylor did apologise Eduardo would not have understood as he can hardly speak a word of English. Yet again Arsenal fans taking things out of context – very boring.
March 6th, 2008 at 8:18 am
I talked about Senderos after he came on for Toure in the first leg and gave him praise for a professional performance. I mentioned he looked eager, not anxious, to play in that game. He was confident and sure of himself. That’s always good.
He did well on Tuesday, also. I don’t see how anyone could have the audacity to blame him for the header that went into Pato’s path. Anyone with a footballing brain knows you can’t allow a ball like that to bounce in your defensive third, never mind the 18-yard box. If he hadn’t attempt to clear the ball it would have still fell to Pato anyway.
I don’t have too much of a problem with someone doing something that makes sense. Even with the red card against Portsmouth, he had to do something or Kanu scores. I’m sure he didn’t mean to get himself sent off but to take on responsibility, even when someone else screwed up the offsides trap, is the quality of a guy you want to have in the team.
Clearing Martins ball of the line in the Carling Cup and chasing down McFadden when he was clear on goal the other day are other examples of how he takes responsibility when others have screwed up. Gallas stood there with his hand in the air like the referee was going to blow the whistle, believing that the Arsenal captain was really the referee assistant.
I dogged Senderos last year. I even posted a thread about a year ago questioning his ability to play in this team. But I haven’t had a single bad thing to say about Senderos this season. Sure, he had an own goal trying to clear the ball with the wrong foot and has done some other mistakes. But he’s shown progress and my concern now is hoping we can keep him after this season.
He is 3rd choice at Arsenal now but he can be a starter somewhere else. I mentioned after the first leg that if he continues to have a good season and has a good Euro’s this summer, some Spanish or Italian team could bid for him. If they offer a descent fee, first-team football, and a little pay raise, it could be difficult for us to keep him. As much as I’ve dogged “little Cindy Ross” in the past, I think it would be less than good if we lost him.
Not so sure about him being Arsenal captain, though. However, I do think that in about twenty years he’d be a damn good Arsenal manager. There’s got to be a reason Wenger likes him so much that we can’t see on TV. Time always tells.
March 6th, 2008 at 8:27 am
Can you believe this hater? Just because he wasn’t good enough.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/sport/football.html?in_article_id=527670&in_page_id=1779&ct=5
March 6th, 2008 at 8:58 am
Stop overreacting. He probably is good enough, wouldn’t mind him at Arsenal now – on the bench at least. If he’s bitter that’s his problem, why make it your problem?
March 6th, 2008 at 9:00 am
@65… I totally agree.
I think even Arsene came to say he considered giving Sendy the captain’s band at one stage. The way I see it is that every player at the team has SERIOUS potential . Sometimes it never materializes, sometimes it blooms late, sometimes it just blows up fast (read Cesc). Which ever way as long as the player is wearing an Arsenal shirt I wont down grade him or discourage him. Football is a mental game as much as physical. Big Phil has given enuf proof that there’s good stuff in him… I’ll say it’s just a matter of time
March 6th, 2008 at 9:13 am
Danny, I’m pretty sure you could be surrounded by native Martians and understand an apology when you see it. But that’s neither here nor there, really. Don’t care about Taylor further than the fact that he’s another Baby-Huey footballer with limited talent that strapped managers employ to kick players with real talent in a hamfisted attempt to level the playing field. It will always be that way in The Premiership as long as those tactics are seen as good old-fashioned British graft and a “man’s game”. The fallout, besides dropping points, just might be more difficulty in getting excellent prospects from less bumbling footballing countries to have a punt on the Premiership. Bloody Scots. I used to be okay with Brum. Now I hope they go down.
And does anyone else thing that Senderos is really just a few drinks away from reaching his full potential? Five languages is great, but I think he should give the language of liquor a shot and loosen the f*ck up a bit.
As for Wigan, I think mentally we’ll be more up for it, which should help the legs. If Wenger’s doing his job, he’s got them ready to prove a point. Villa may have been a little about having one eye on the Milan tie. But now that that monkey’s gone, we could see a thrashing. I’m hoping for a comfortable 2 nil. My nerves can’t handle anything else.
March 6th, 2008 at 10:01 am
Awesome win for our Gunners, but can I say just one thing about former Arsenal players…..Would David Bentley learn to STFU!!! Anyone else see the article on Soccernet this morning with him basically goading Theo into trying to leave like he did? Just because David couldn’t cut it with the 1st team at the Emirates, doesn’t mean that Theo won’t be able to eventually. Wenger is bringing him along as he sees fit, and I honestly think he would be stupid to leave. What is it about former Arsenal players (see one Vieira, Patrick) feeling the need to run their mouths to the press about the current Arsenal squad?
March 6th, 2008 at 10:03 am
Oh, and I am reregistered under a new UN, my former handle was GoonerJay, but for some reason I can’t get the PW reset thing to work, so I registered again. I like this handle better anyways, as I use it for email, AIM, and Yahoo messenger too.
March 6th, 2008 at 10:21 am
“And does anyone else thing that Senderos is really just a few drinks away from reaching his full potential? Five languages is great, but I think he should give the language of liquor a shot and loosen the f*ck up a bit”
Now that’s some wonderful insight Scotty!! spot on mate! wasn’t his problem is too tense and tight up at times?! yup, i too feel a few pints may in fact work the magic for him!
As for Bentley, the boy is sour, so sour. Why he can’t help but keep talking about his former club? Why would he think Theo wants to leave now he has a chance winning some real medals? and the kid just set up a wonderful winner in a Champions League tie Vs the CL champs AC Milan in front of the whole world? besides, Theo didn’t seem have any problem getting along with the foreigners, and didn’t seem to mind the lack of banter in the dressing room.
March 6th, 2008 at 10:26 am
“On leaving Arsenal himself to further his playing career, Bentley said: “It was hard to leave. I was there from when I was 12 years old and I had a lot of friends. It becomes like a home. It became comfortable. But I didn’t want to accept not playing and thinking ‘these players are better than me.’ Every week I wanted a game.” ”
The fucking funny thing is – HOW MANY TIMES he had explained the REASON on WHY he left Arsenal?
I bet anyone above the age of 3 would have already known it crystal clear that why David Bentley left Arsenal.
And honestly, who fuckcing cares?
boy, I really hope Theo makes it, and win a few medals on the way, then it would be interesting to see what Mr. Bentley got to say.
March 6th, 2008 at 10:31 am
DannyT, I’m not overreacting and why are you antagonizing everyone? Stop being such a fucking idiot. I’m just calling out a hater. Bentley wasn’t good enough to do what Walcott’s done.
Bentley, saw Reyes, Pires, Ljunberg, Aliadiere, and van Persie in front of him. Then he saw the skills on this new Belarussian guy in training and decided to quit instead of fight for his place. Theo decided to fight. Now Theo’s form has seen him become a regular in the team (something Bentley never was) and he’s getting goals and assists in the Champions League for the team that’s been top of the BPL all season. What’s Bentley doing?
Bentley had the same chance that Walcott has and decided to trade it for mediocrity. He’s trying to convince an improving Walcott to quit Arsenal like he did. If Walcott stays and is successful at Arsenal then what will the English media say when they, inevitibly, compare the two? That’s what Bentley’s afraid of. Not only that but guess who’s already got more fans than Bentley at the tender age of 18?
Bentley’s a motherfucking hater!
March 6th, 2008 at 10:33 am
Scotty, you’re a funny guy.
March 6th, 2008 at 10:43 am
Exactly josh. the most funny thing is, of his statement – Theo will have to leave Arsenal if he wants to MAKE IT BIG.
So does Bentley considered he has already MADE IT BIG??!! hahahhaha!
just because now he has represented England? guess what? i bet the way things going, and with Theo keeps improving, I will place my money on Theo to become an England national before the age of 20.
March 6th, 2008 at 10:58 am
It is funny how Bentley seems to reiterate his reasons fro leaving every month and a half or so. I wonder if he gets some kind of email alert from his agent, something like: “David…Cruz ‘ent exactly setting your assist stats on fire so why not give one of your non-clubbing English mates a ribbin’ and keep your profile on the back pages for Capello to see, innit? Make sumfin’ up about how he’s just willin’ to sit the bench. Cheers, mate. Oh…we still on for Zebra’s on Sunday?”
Though to be honest, Theo could use a little piss and vinegar. When he’s up for it, he’s deadly. I was at the Slavia Praha game at home and he just murdered them.
March 6th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
I think I’ll write.
You folks have short memories.
Not sure why some feel the need to express their reasons for leaving Arsenal, but the MEDIA definitely asks them the questions. They get baited most of the time.
How anybody can watch Eduardo’s career possibly end, and NOT UNDERSTAND why a player would leave Arsenal to get playing time is beyond me.
One injury. One Fluke tackle. One idiotic opponent coming in with menace. And your career can go in the BLINK OF AN EYE.
I bet there are a lot more players trying to make a name for themselves in the reserves as well… crappy pitches… poor conditions… etc.
You have a chance to play somewhere else… as opposed to sitting on the bench and mostly watching at Arsenal or United or wherever… I TOTALLY understand the player leaving EVERY SINGLE TIME.
If you get injured, and don’t get your chance to play or your pay day… its your OWN FAULT in some respects… if you waited around too long.
Mark Fidrych in baseball comes to mind… he said… no don’t worry about the big contract right now… I love playing the game… blew out his arm, never got paid… is a truck driver now.
I think TAYLOR should pay Eduardo a portion of his wages, if he can’t come back and play… thats my opinion.
As a player in any sport, you get all the money you can up front… because tomorrow holds no promises… one injury, in the blink of an eye… and your career can be OVER.
If I am Theo… if I can’t break into the team by say next season, I’d consider leaving… he’s still very young… and he’s made a bit of money too… but if he can get a big contract somewhere else… you take it.
March 6th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
@ danny, why on earth do you feel the need to shut up everybody? and why do you feel the need to defend bentley – who never did anything for us?
this is an arsenal fan site, we are PARTISANS and most importantly we have NOTHING ELSE to talk about.
if we cant “respond” when some dunce tries to UNSETTLE one of our young players – then what should we do?
remember, this is an arsenal FAN site, writing about arsenal and sniping at perceived opponents is all we are good for! get over yourself.
March 6th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Stag, then the media must be very sad – they could actually ask the SAME question for 2 and 3 years? I find it difficult to believe, on March 2008, when a reporter approaching Bentley, he would ask “hey, Dave, tell us WHY u left Arsenal?’ Despite the same old thing we had probably read 126 times for the past few years.
And notice here – NOBODY says he’s wrong to leave Arsenal. Plenty of former youngsters left the club, WHY didn’t we have a go on them? Cos they had just get on with it and move on in their life. The reason we are having a go on him again here is David Bentley himself, out of nowhere, suddenly came up with the same old crap once again.
March 6th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
@ stag, why dont u shut the feck up about the media always asking him……..is he the ONLY ex-arsenal player? how come others dont mouth off every month as well? and how come others DONT try to unsettle our own young players.
walcott is 18………and the excuse that he could get an injury is bollocks. eduardo was a freak injury. and the stats show vividly that players in lower league teams and in the championship actually get far MORE career threatening injuries and breaks.
that stands to reason because they play “harder”. lower league players get career threatening injuries a lot also because they have poorer physios and methods and poor pitches and facilities. if an arsenal player gets injured its news, but if a wigan player gets long-termed nobody knows or cares.
i cant see where support for a only english player leaving at age 19 can come from – except ofcourse u still have a disguised dislike for wenger’s youth policy.
either way, bentley is way out of line trying to unsettle our player. as andez said, if walcott as a super sub scores some crucial goals in the title run-in and in the CL guess whose position will be under threat for england??????
yup, its that same bentley c-nt.
March 6th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
and the sucker talks like an agent. why he cares about Theo? does he want to be Walcott’s agent?
March 6th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Heh, I see the love is still rampant in this place. STAG!!! How’s it going, buddy.
I also see that no one has bothered to point out that Bentley is a rat-faced tw*t. I don’t think a serious discussion about him can be had without this vital piece of information.
March 6th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
Bentley is so transparent. He’s cut cause he didn’t make it at Arsenal and never felt Wenger’s favour. So expect his periodic bleating to continue.
It really is incredibly funny, is there a single ex-Arsenal player who has gone on to greater things? And now with this team emerging in such a tasty fashion, and with the Emirates, ahhh sigh, the Diarra’s of this world just look like dim dims.
March 6th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
Its going BRILLIANTLY Scotty!
We just beat AC Milan!!!!!!!
but thanks for asking…
Freddy doesn’t like anyone disagreeing with him. He throws his toys!!!
Yes, Andez… with around 168 newspapers in England… they are ALWAYS looking for a story and to stir the pot. So Arsenal has a big win in Europe… hey David Bentley, what do you think of Arsenal’s big win… and Theo Walcott coming on in the last 10 minutes…
And Bentley responds…
Its pretty feasible.
Bentley has done well. He made the right move for his career. Thats my 2 cents. And I am not bothered or offended by his comments at all.
March 6th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
“hey David Bentley, what do you think of Arsenal’s big win… and Theo Walcott coming on in the last 10 minutes…”
If that’s the case it’s even worse. Proved what i had always suspected – Mr. Bentley is Mr. “I and Me”.
when being asked “what do u think of Arsenal’s win” (as u suggested), before you know it, he started to talk about himself? and WHY he decided to leave Arsenal? the man is hopless than i thought.
March 6th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
You see the difference of class and intelligence of some players from others.
Take Thierry Henry, imagine someone comes up and ask him how he feels of Arsenal’s win, I bet his answer would be like :
“I always knew this team got talent, they did very well against AC Milan, to go to San Siro and got a result is never easy. I believe there will be more to come from this young team”. (inside of Titi’s head: fcuk, they should have struggled without me)
If the reporter pressed “do u regret leaving Arsenal?”
Henry (inside of Titi’s head: damn i should never have left) “No, I enjoy my time here at Barcelona, the fans been treating me very well, and we play good football. When I left Arsenal, I had reached a stage that I wanted some new challenge in my career. I still love the club, and I will always remain to be an Arsenal fan.”
Ok, I made it up. But you would’ve bet Henry would say something like that. Whether he means it or not is another matter. but one thing for sure, the next time he comes back to Emirates, even with Barcelona, fans would not jump on his back (which the fans had every right to because he had jumped ship when we needed him most) .
i bet Titi must be a smooth lover, cos the man knows all the right words to say, all the right buttons to press. No bridge being burnt. The Arsenal-Henry love affair continues. If he scores a few goals in Euro 2008, Arsenal fans will cheer for him.
It’s not only about CLASS, it’s INTELLIGENCE. as you never know, perhaps one day Titi will come back and become a coach. the earth is round, only fool would burn the bridge and put himself in a situation that there is no way back.
March 6th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
Okay, the gloves come off on Bentley. What he’s a big time international star / player now? Not bloody likely, he plays for Blackburn he’s no Henry. I ask any of my Dutch friends or family and they might but probably don’t even know who Bentley is.
So he made it into the English squad, whoop dee f’n doo, we might see him in South Africa then – if the English even make it that far. I you ask me the English team could of used Gunnersauras (ty Stag) and they might of made it to Europe this summer.
I just watched Theo play at the San Siro against AC Milan and make a pivotal play to assist in a fantastic goal and I’m sure some of those goals will be his soon enough. I watched him come on and change the composition of the game; thus unlike Bentley he’s playing games for Arsenal.
I’m with Wenger on this but somewhat harsher; STFU Bentley no one cares why you left Arsenal. We all read this interview before and it’s starting to feel like Cashley’s book and that raced from the bottom of the charts to 2nd last from the bottom because his wife, family and Jose bought a copy.
Hey ScottyUS I thought maybe the single-malt got the better of you. It’s good to read your thoughtful and learned words: ” … see that no one has bothered to point out that Bentley is a rat-faced tw*t.”
Ya so put a lid on it Bentley! What a tw*t.
March 6th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
Oh yes and Stag133. Sure Bentley might of, or could off, or may be injured, but that’s still no reason to diss Wenger and sow seeds of contention with his old club and players.
For Pete’s sake he might of been killed in roadside accident, by a car driven by a drunken Jermaine Lloyd Pennant to. So by my calculation he should stay home and lock the f’n door, hoping it hits him in his arse on the way in.
Bentley’s just a twat
March 6th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Have you guys not twigged yet. Danny defends Taylor, Bentley and the biased English media which If I remember rightly he said “there is none better” (BS!!) because they are English, simple.
Danny I would rather have a cheating, diving, fouling Eboue on the Arsenal bench than a b*tch like Bentley.
March 6th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
I don’t wish to interrupt the discourse on whether David Bentley has the right every month or two to publicly state that his departure from Arsenal was the right move for his career but, more importantly from my perspective, Wenger has announced that neither Walcott or Diaby is available for the Wigan game. Given that Eboue is still suspended, this makes Sunday’s game a much bigger challenge.
March 6th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
@88, that’s why i love following Scotty’s posts – cos he often brought up something i never thought of before, while at the same time nail it right on the head.
I used to think the best nick name for player ever was Kevin Keegan’s “Micky Mouse” or “Mighty Mouse” back in his playing day. damn, whoever came up with that it was brilliant. King Kev did look like Micky didn’t he?! and he sure hell as quick, and as trickey as a mighty mouse (by watching the old video clips).
as for the David “I have Made it Big” Bentley, while i never noticed it before, after Scotty brought up, well, he does have a face resemble to a rat. Ok, football is football, it doesn’t matter how he looks. So i am going to give him a new nick name based on his “character” – Stuart “LITTLE”.
March 6th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
WOOOHOOO!!!
Tottenham Hotsupur 0-1 PSV Eindhoven
March 6th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
Ahh I love this website. We spend hours debating Senderos and ex-Arsenal mugs like Bentley. Hahaha! We live a charmed fan’s life, my friends.
I haven’t posted in a while…so here we go.
We are still at the forefront of the title race, we are in the final 8 in the CL, and we are YOUNG. Life is pretty damn good.
Okay, quick notes:
For all the complaining about the lack of English talent on the whole, I think Theo is AHEAD of any of his peers in talent and number of games he gets. Sure, he will never be a saviour of English football, but he will be a serviceable pro for a long time with good finishing when he hits his mid-20s.
I compare it to golf – golfers hit their prime in their mid-30’s and are done competing for majors by their mid-40’s. Football players hit their prime in their mid-20’s and are on the slide by their early 30s.
Sendy is a good 3rd choice at CB. Nothing more, nothing less.
We beat AC Milan. Again, we beat AC Milan on their turf. Brilliant.
Cesc is young. Remember? Let’s not expect him to be so perfect like we always do. and yet I think his ears did tingle to all our bitching though…he stepped it up when half of us were ready to give up on him as of late.
Ade is going to be selfish for goals. He’s friends with Henry, remember.
Finally, Bentley. He’s is like all ex-arsenal players who go to a lesser, more boring, more typically english kick-the-crap out of the opposition club. One, he is jealous. Two, he has been infected by the tough guy mentality of those clubs. It is both laughable and sickening, because he is slightly talented.
Okay, I’m done.
KISS THE CREST. BELIEVE.
~Bo
March 6th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
F**k David Bentley, Dan Smith, Martin Taylor, his wife and his dog, Alex McLeish, the British Media, Seb Larsson and the claim that Eduardo
“can hardly speak a word of English”. #67 WTF do you know about how much English Eduardo can or cannot speak or understand. Mighty presumptuous of you and it misses the point. The British media were trying to deflect the rage against Taylor with lie about a visit and an apology that was false. Indefensible on so many levels but its what Arsenal can expect from the British media. Today we are the media darlings for beating AC Milan but tomorrow we’ll go back to being the foreign club that masquerades as an “English’” football club. We’ll never be a “proper” English football club though if we keep drunken footballers out. Eh?
March 6th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
Top football is a bit like property – location location location.
Leaving Arsenal to join Blackburn et al is like moving from a good suburb and buying a flasher house in a poor one. Nice house just a shame about the neighbours. And your stuck! If playing for a rank average sweat team like Blackburn is the height of your ambition them fine, but even then, just wait a wee while and Hughes will be gone and even your infrequent daliances with UEFA competition will be history.
Truth is, Bentley like Diarra talk big but their actions reveal they didn’t back themselves to crack it at Arsenal. Even an emerging Arsenal devoid of heavy-duty reputations to compete with – that kinda says it all.
Like Wenger said, down is down. Ya gotta love how he puts it.
March 6th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
Even if Eduardo doesn’t understand much of English, I find it hard to believe he doesn’t understand the simple word “SORRY”.
March 6th, 2008 at 10:08 pm
Most of you are talking fucking crap. You fall for this media shit every single time. And you are mostly full of hatred. You cannot enjoy an Arsenal victory unless you have someone’s face you can rub in it. Every time you perceive something as a criticism, anti-Arsenal, you blow it out of all proportion and spew hatred against ex players, newspapers or any other target you can find. You are just doing exactly what you criticise other clubs and fans of doing, but are too stupid to see your own hypocrisy.
Bentley is gone now, he was a very good young player, probably would have made it in the first team – but like Diarra he was impatient so he left. Big deal, that’s his choice and he’s entitled to it. Now every time he is asked a question, which he is obliged to answer, just because you don’t like the answer or perceive it as an attack on the club you mangle what he says and rip him apart.
Same with Eduardo – you want the guy who committed the tackle hung, drawn and quartered for what was a pure accident. When I say it was an accident, you accuse me of protecting Taylor and being anti-Eduardo, when the incident nearly brought me to tears with pity. At the time I was angry and bitter, but in the cold light of day can see it for what it was – whilst you are still talking vengeful bollocks.
I have said this before, but many of you – certainly not all of you – are just dumb, thoughtless sheep and so predictable and biased in your stance. You are like a pack of wolves sometimes and it’s pretty ugly to watch. Still, that’s your mental problem, not mine. I was like that once – when I was standing high in the North Bank terraces as a young man. I look back at myself then and see something stupid and ugly – something I see in many of you, but something I have now eradicated from my being.
I can still support the team with just as much passion but with much purer intentions, you should try it some time.
March 6th, 2008 at 10:50 pm
Wenger puts Bentley in his place.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/7282512.stm
“When you are in one of the biggest clubs in the world you have to accept competition,” said Wenger.
“If you accept it, it makes you better, if you move down you are down, not at the top.”
Ouch, that must sting.
More worrying is the fact that Diaby and Walcott are out for the Wigan game. Time for Denilson to start?
March 6th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
Looks like we are not the only one here to fall for the “media shit”……….
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is unhappy with Blackburn Rovers midfielder David Bentley after he urged Theo Walcott to consider his future at Emirates stadium.
Wenger said: “Bentley is entitled to his opinion but it does not mean he is right.
“I don’t know why one player should incite another player to leave a club. It is not his job.
“What is important is what the player really wants. When you are in one of the biggest clubs in the world you have to accept competition and if you accept it, it makes you better. If you move down you are down, not at the top.
“I believe Theo can establish himself here. He is 18 and at that age to play in one of the biggest clubs in the world in a regular position is very difficult.
“As a striker he has one big quality. When he comes on he makes a big impact. He’s not there completely yet when he starts a game but that is transitional.
“Very soon he will have the same impact when he starts. You cannot interrupt that kind of progression and development of a player. You can get lost by moving.
“Between 18 and 20 a player develops. When I took Nicolas Anelka at 17 for the first few months he looked completely behind the team and then in three months he became in front of Ian Wright.”
March 6th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
@98 : ur kidding rite?
March 6th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
!!!!!!!!!!!
This site is pure comical genius!!
After all most of us are “dumb”, “stupid”, “thoughtless”, “sheep”… and “predictably” “biased” “hypocrites”!!!!!!!!!!
I’m sure we are biased. Most supporters are.
The rest of this diatribe… mostly rubbish.
March 6th, 2008 at 11:15 pm
kidding? No, I don’t think he is.
March 6th, 2008 at 11:50 pm
#98 DannyT did you forget your meds today?
#98 “but many of you – certainly not all of you – are just dumb, thoughtless sheep and so predictable and biased in your stance. You are like a pack of wolves sometimes and it’s pretty ugly to watch. Still, that’s your mental problem, not mine.”
#98 “I can still support the team with just as much passion but with much purer intentions, you should try it some time.”
Those certainly seem like “purer intentions”. Humility certainly doesn’t factor into your purer intentions.
Thanks for that.
March 7th, 2008 at 1:06 am
@ danny 98: you are a bloody joker arent u? arsenal FANS responding on a website is called “hatred”- and attacked by u. the media is CLEARLY biased against us in england, so if WE on our OWN personal FAN site wish to “attack” bentley for it, we are totally in our right.
if you are looking for an example of real HATRED, how about those thugs at stadiums that actually BEAT opposition fans at british stadiums!????
barbaric sh-t you would expect in a third world country.
now compare that to our brand of so-called “hatred” for bentley in the safety of our OWN website.
u seem to be far out of it man.
March 7th, 2008 at 1:22 am
the thing that annoys me the most is when danny tries to feel like some “higher” or “purer” egalitarian, hippie sorta fan – trying to act all non-partisan and all. that is so full of crap its incredible.
there is a reason u frequent an american site, we are definitely FAR more civil than any british site you can find. we definitely wont apologise for being partisans though.
March 7th, 2008 at 1:26 am
@ kiwi: moving from arsenal in london to blackburn isnt like moving to a flasher house in a poorer hood!!! its like moving to poorer house in a poorer district!!!
if he moved to liverpool, everton, Man U or city, then that would be a flash house in a poor neighborhood!
am not a big walcott fan, but i cant wait till he nicks bentley’s england place – the twat!
March 7th, 2008 at 2:11 am
While we are talking about negativity and hatred, Jose has plenty towards Chelsea. Phew. “If I play them in the Champions League, I want to go there and kill them – that’s my message,” he said
But ofcourse, he only meant the comment in a harmless way: “I still feel Chelsea is a part of me, I’ll have Chelsea in my heart forever,” added the Portuguese. “I left and for five months you couldn’t get a bad word from me in relation to the club and you cannot do it in the future too.” Aww, so much love.
Maybe someone mistranslated the portuguese word for ‘heavy defeat’ into ‘kill’.
It is amazing that he has only been out of job for a limited time but has made sure he is in the news all the time. One day he is headed to Barca, then to Milan or even Bayern. He certainly knows how to work the media. Not like he needs to keep himself in the limelight. I think Bentley subscribes to Jose’s model of ensuring that every so often, an ‘interview’ is necessary.
Even though there is plenty of football played, such ‘interviews’ like Jose’s and Bentley’s are common place. Maybe more talk of tactics and proper analysis of football should be reported instead. But what is more sensational? talk of what a holding midfielder can bring as opposed to having headlines which say “KILL”.
March 7th, 2008 at 2:23 am
I am worried about Sat’s game.
No Walcott, Eboue, Diaby and Rosicky. That’s all our wide options exhausted. Leaving Hleb and Denilson to play on the wings and Bendter + Ade up front. Definitely not a bad combination. On a bad pitch, we may be playing long ball a lot more. May help the tall centre forwards. Let’s hope they pass to each other whenever possible. I am also hoping the Cesc can be at least half as good as he was in Milan. That should be enough for Wigan.
March 7th, 2008 at 2:50 am
Eboue is still serving a suspension and Rosicky is injured, but why aren’t Diaby and Walcott travelling up to the JJB Stadium?
March 7th, 2008 at 2:55 am
CG, both are injured. Diaby in the Milan game and Walcott playing against Colorado Rapids in a closed doors game on Thu. Not sure why he had to play that game.
March 7th, 2008 at 3:09 am
Fred, yeah the analagy only goes so far, but you know what I’m driving at
Sachin, I saw that JoseM article. Wenger’s really got under that guys skin. Still I guess if you had won 2 titles and people still reserved praise due to the lack of style with which you won and the financial doping that underpined it……you’d probably be a bit bent as well. He really is a horrid little man. My worst nightmare is that he manages AC Milan. They are such a classy club, probably the club I most admire outside Arsenal – in a platonic kinda way! To think of the self appointed ’special one’ tainting them with his uniquely ugly persona is almost too much to bare. He was such a good fit for Chelsea – maybe he could manage ManU.
March 7th, 2008 at 3:45 am
Danny@98 you is so full of shite it is immeasurable. I cannot ignore you! You are a HYPOCRITE twice over. Someone who accuses someone else of being an hypocrite for the things they are guilty of themselves has got to be a super hypocrite, I’ll give that title to you, you deserve it.
“just dumb, thoughtless sheep and so predictable and biased in your stance”, That is “my honest impression of you. You say some dumb crap like your regular and “predictable” criticism of Senderos even when he has a blinder you claim “he did nothing for me”, that’s biased. You seem to defend things English on a regular basis, i.e the indefensible English media even when even the most “dumb” Arsenal fan can see the anti-Arsenal trend however you put your blinkers of bias on. I have accused you of being a band wagonist previously, why? because you seem to follow and repeat much of the hype of the trashy British media regardless of the facts, hypocrite, you are the “thoughtless sheep”.
“You are like a pack of wolves sometimes and it’s pretty ugly to watch”, HYPOCRITE, when you and your posse was doing your Chris Stag’ hunt the other day did you even think how ugly that was to watch. even when Stag resurfaced you were still making jibes at him.
If you wanna talk about bias and predictable hatred, we only need to look at your love for Eboue, one of our own. The Englishman John Terry’s follow through smashes against the bottom Eboues boot, you call it a stamp. Yet the Englishman Taylor delivers a studs up tackle half way up Eduardos shin, not once do you even criticise it as being at least an extremely reckless, to you it is “a pure accident” (BS!!) You pro English “bias” is so “predictable”, “hypocrite”.
“The thing that annoys me the most is when danny tries to feel like some “higher” or “purer” egalitarian”. Couldn’t have put it better myself Fred, he is so full of shite. He rants and raves against one of our own players down to calling the guy a “shit head” and then pretends he is a puritan. Your rants against Eboue were always way over the top, you are the one full of hatred.
“When I was standing high in the North Bank terraces as a young man. I look back at myself then and see something stupid and ugly – something I see in many of you, but something I have now eradicated from my being.” LOL!! no seriously LOL!! that is so funny! but full of BS!! Danny if people knew a bitch like you was standing “high” in the North Bank you would have got kicked out, you are still stupid and ugly nothing has changed, just that you are such a “dumb”, “hypocrite” you cannot see it.
March 7th, 2008 at 4:20 am
ok, lets calm proceedings down a notch …or few!
we have got some injuries and we are down to the bare bones —- diaby, walcott, denilson and eboue are all unavailable……..so we dont even have enough bodies to complete the midfield……..without bringing in the dreaded gilberto and moving fabregas to the right where he is totally invinsible.
it would also mean bendtner will have to start up front with no bench whatsoever….infact our bench will be hoyte, traore, gavin hoyte, and ??? barazite or landsbury??
hmmm!
maybe traore can come in and play LM or hoyte can come in and sagna is pushed forward a bit while hleb is kept on the left.
March 7th, 2008 at 5:29 am
A word here, a chat there, a judicious media clip and……….
“Dangerous tackling is one of the most important issues in football at the moment,” Blatter was quoted as saying in The Telegraph.
“Players who do this kind of thing intentionally should be banned from the game.
“This is a matter we will discuss this weekend.
“We will not only make recommendations to the referees we will instruct them to be stronger against this violence.”
……….Smith, Taylor, et al, sharpen up the CV, life’s not so bad in the lower leagues, or there’s always McDonalds.
March 7th, 2008 at 6:38 am
Hey Sachin, I saw that Mourinho interview on TV last night. He was speaking in English. Nothing was lost in translation. Say what you like about Mourinho but I miss his charisma. The league misses it.
It is essential that they eliminate dangerous tackles from football. I’m glad they’re going to address it. Wenger’s been calling for this “violence” to be addressed for years.
Graham Poll had an article on a site (can’t recall which one) talking about the pros and cons of referees making certain calls. I replied to it and said that despite the lack of intent of Taylor to injure Eduardo, there was still intent to go in high with a straight leg and studs showing. That sort of challenge has been outlawed by most of the footballing world, but in England you see it in every single game. It’s because the referees allow it to happen.
We all love the pace of the Premiere League games and the foreign talent that has blessed it and made it even more entertaining. The allure of the league isn’t going to suffer if officials ban these violent challenges. In fact, if you consider the best English CB’s in the game over the past ten years, they didn’t make those kinds of challenges. The likes of John Terry, Tony Adams, Rio Ferdinand, Martin Keown, Sol Campbell, etc. have all won league championships while making good legal challenges. If the officials don’t do something then it’s only a matter of time before another Abou Diaby, Alan Smith, or Eduardo da Silva incident happens again.
March 7th, 2008 at 6:45 am
@Folks..i think we need to relax a bit.
I remember when I used to post on another football forum earlier…there was this one passionate Man Utd supporter who used to always love inciting responses from Arsenal fans..there was no doubt about his knowledge or love for football..but everytime there was some talk about Arsenal..he used to go into a a stream of abuses…criticizing everyone from the manager to the playing style to stars like Henry…..when i first saw his posts..i was so upset..i really went for him…..responding to everything that he was saying…this continued for some time…and then i realised that my (and many others) responses to his inciting was precisely what he wanted..in short he just wanted to see how we respond to allegations and criticisms ..some of which he himselft knew were not true.
The day i realised this ..i just cut out responding to his name calling and abuses…and responses to his posts revolved around pure football….and i would like to think that our subsequent discussions went to another level.The same guys is one my best friends when we now discuss about football….he was one of the first one’s to send me a congratulatory message on Arsenal’s win against Milan. He was also the same guy who told me that Arsenal and Man Utd would be in the top two this season….and this on a day when Henry left and alarm bells were ringing.
Cheers
Wayne
March 7th, 2008 at 7:09 am
Josh, if I am not mistaken, Alan Smith’s injury came when he tried to block a shot by Riise. Not from a studs up challenge. Fergie called it as “one of the worst I’ve seen”. Imagine his outburst if it was from a tackle.
Or are you referring to something else?
March 7th, 2008 at 7:32 am
Sorry, Nip. What I meant is dangerous challenges lead to those types of injuries. We all know how Smith got hurt but an injury like that is still un-good.
March 7th, 2008 at 7:40 am
I’ve been wanting to ask this for a long time but never got around to it.
Why is playing the second leg at home considered an advantage?
Those who top their groups play the first leg away. I think the opposite is true. As shown by Arsenal and PSV last season, not conceding at home is the most important thing in the first leg. Even if you concede at home (like Roma did), you know that you have to score away. I think that’s easier than having to keep a clean sheet in the second leg at home (like Milan).
Why then is playing away first considered an “advantage”?
March 7th, 2008 at 7:46 am
http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,13320_3243140,00.html
An interesting view on Arsenal fans.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:36 am
I prefer an away second leg, myself. Clean sheet at home with the possibility of an insurance goal, followed by only needing a score draw is much better in my book.
And what is Mourinho on, exactly? I think they need to adjust his Grecian Formula. Saying the Wenger lives in a comfort zone is debatable to accurate. He hasn’t one anything in a while, but he has gotten the side to a couple finals while moving houses and losing a very big player in a very young team, so that’s not small order. However, failing to mention that he created that comfort zone to start with shows that The Special Ed. One is possibly a bit of a thicko. Also failing to mention the comfort zone created by having a few billion in the bank to buy up all the stars in Europe makes his comments smack of limelight desperation. The guy was a very “effective” coach, not an overall manager like Wenger. He didn’t build shit at Chelsea outside of boring, negative football with a long and deep squad list loaded to the bejebus with internationals. It’s like being able to afford Filet Mignon when your neighbor can only afford raw chuck, and then putting ketchup all over it. Whatever.
On the Arsenal front, I will say I’m worried now with all of our injuries. Gilberto in the side just about guarantees FAIL. Someone in the side who always looks like they’re about to cry cannot be a good thing. I can only hope Wigan are woeful on the day, Robin starts, Ade has a blinder, Cesc can make something happen on the right, and no one gets gently brushed causing yet another serious injury.
And can anyone explain to me the rash of “thigh” injuries this season? Or are they the same thing we always used to get but are now being called something different. That’s not the same as a pulled hammy, right?
March 7th, 2008 at 10:31 am
@nipuna, I think playing at home 2nd is considered advantageous because you get to be at home if there is extra time. I don’t agree with that rationale, but I’ve pondered this myself, and it’s the best I could come up with. I personally like being at home 1st (though its just a personal preference), and if it does go to extra time, then hey, that’s just more time to get an away goal! Anyways, it shouldn’t matter too much. If a team has to worry about which leg they get at home in order to go through, what the hell are they doing in Europe’s premier club competition to begin with?
March 7th, 2008 at 10:54 am
Most teams believe playing at home in the 2nd leg is better because you are in front of your home crowd and in your stadium which to them makes it easier to overcome whatever deficit the team might have suffered in the away fixture.
March 7th, 2008 at 11:18 am
I remember a couple of years ago arguing-when the Arsenal-being-bullied mantra was at it’s peak-that alongside that physical aspect was a large dollop of human error in our deflating defeats to Bolton away and Everton etc. Gilberto Silva was the guy that was often the protaganist of this human error. Remember when he got dispossessed in the corner flag allowing Stelios Baldy-Kopolous to cushion home after five minutes? There were numerous other hospital passes which undermined our fragile side early doors in those 2005-2006 games.
Flamini’s resurgence has brought those thoughts back into sharp focus, and although Gilberto has been a great servant to Arsenal, I can’t help thinking that his removal from the side is an important reason for our league position this season. I would even go as far to say that Gilberto hasn’t declined this season as much as everyone thinks. It’s only now we are realising the extent of his short-comings and the handbrake effect they had on the team.
March 7th, 2008 at 11:52 am
i agree. I don’t think Gilberto’s game has declined neither. He’s never a good passer, and we discussed that year ago any pass longer than 5 yards (from him) would land to the opposing players.
With Flamini there, we became a far more fluent passing team. but of course, it helps that Flamini, seemingly out of nowhere, suddenly raised the defensive side of his game as well.
i don’t know if anyone can argue that Flamster is probably one of the best midfielders (in terms of performance) in the Premiership this season, certainly the best defensive midfielder (in terms of performance) this season. Amazing thing is, he’s still the 3rd or 4th choice central midfielder in the France team?!
and there u got Clichy, probably the 2nd best LB in the league behind Evra, and he’s still yet to win a single cap for France.
Fabregas, arguably one of the best CMs in the world right now, and he’s not even established himself in Spain national team as a regular starter.
now we can understand why the media has been (arguably at least) a bit anti-Arsenal (and i don’t think i m being biased here) of late. deep on the back of their mind, they probably don’t really want to see Arsenal doing well.
As Arsenal’s game is virtually the complete opposite of England national team. the more matches Arsenal win with our passing football, the more the English would feel inferior of their own brand of football.
the way i see it, they just don’t want to face the fact – this is how football should be playing, and it WILL be the common trend in the future. you either start waking up and catch up, or you can forget about football will ever be “coming home”. I saw a report in a Malaysia futsal tournament, 10 teams participated, England finished last, and got trashed on the way by teams like Malaysia, Indonesia.
if they still want to dig their head into the sand, and blame this and that, without taking a serious look on where the problem really is, I fear for England’s future. looking at the young generation, when the Terry, Gerrard, Lampard generation retire, what will happen next?
among the next generation, players who’s under 22 or so, how many are playing in the big 4 clubs at the moment? if you are not playing in a big 4 club, it means you are not good enough. cos if you are, you can bet your money that Sir Alex would not have missed the chance to grab you up.
March 7th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
I’ve never been a fan of Gilberto. When Vieira was sold, I mourned that Gilberto should have been sold and Vieira asked to play the DM role giving us a chance to see the dream Vieira + Cesc partnership. However, it was not to be. The season that followed was one of Gilberto’s worst. Yes, I vividly remember that Bolton goal Mazza is referring to.
BUT, Gilberto did improve a lot last season. Maybe not in terms of 5+ yard passes, but in the way he lead the team, in the way he scored goals and in the way he took penalties. It’s not easy to stroke home from 12 yards under pressure when you are not used to getting 5+ yard passes correctly.
This season, he has gone to being the same old self. So I DO think he has game has declined but it’s highlighted a lot more because of his improvement of last season. In any case, we are better off without him and he will (hopefully) leave in the summer. Till then, let’s hope he doesn’t do something which hurts our title hopes.
March 7th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
yeah, well his stats from last season showed just this (yeah stats are not the end all or be all) but his were awful.
his interceptions, shortpassing success rates, tackling and pretty much every single defensive index were worse than anybody else in our midfield including diaby, denilson and flamini….
but a lot of u guys kept on saying he is an “invisible” wall who harries! in retrospect it is clear that he actually wasnt doing any solid harrying as flamini is showing us what that word actually means.
so even in last season when he scored double digits in goals he was still our worst performing outfield player – the goals just masked it all.
March 7th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
you know the funny thing is that fabregas in his older years will make a PERFECT pirlo type defensive midfielder!
in the same stats that i posted in the summer he had the highest interception rate in the team, the highest tackling success rate in our midfield (which is quite amazing), and combine that with his heavenly short and long passing ranges, its easy to see why he slotted in so easily at blackburn away last season when gilberto was sent off.
if cesc could improve his freekicks/corners and long shots he will pretty much be perfect.
March 7th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Andez, personally I love that Domenech is a horse’s ass. The less our players are called up to flog their wares in useless friendlies and come back with unattended injuries the better. The last thing we need is Sagna getting injured. I still have nightmares about THAT game when he was out.
Same goes for that asshat Arragones. He really needs to be shot. But as long as he doesn’t see Cesc as a player he can work into the ground, I’m glad he’s around picking Deco, Xavi, Crybaby Reyes and whomever else he wants to feature in his underachieving international side.
In other news, after reading Gilberto’s name a few times in the preceding paragraphs, I now have an annoying tic in the corner of my eye.
March 7th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Scotty, but problem is at France, they got the B, C national side. Like the injury Flamini picked up last time around playing for France B or C side, that really made you gutted.
@Fred, Cesc – I was so impressed the way Cesc tracking back to help defending Kaka on the AC match. A “playmaker” normally doesnt bother to do things like that. Cesc may not be the hardest worker, but more than hardworking enough for supposingly a playmaker.
as for the area he can improve – I think it’s his ability to “bend” the ball. His shot usually goes for power. that’s why he didn’t take a direct freekick much. not that he doesn’t want to take the responsibility like some suggested.
perhaps someone should send him a copy of “Really Bend it like Beckham”, it may help! I am pretty sure Beckham did not born with the ability to bend a shot. He must have put in hours of hours’ partice to perfect it.
March 7th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
GIlberto has never been a harrier of the ball; he is a defensive midfielder who soaks pressure up by taking up positions. He never was that kind of a player. FLamini plays the same position – that is where the similarity ends. Their playing styles couldn’t be different. Gilberto cannot go from captain and arguably one of our best players last year to utter rubbish in a season. It is all in the mind.
Comparing Gilberto to Flamini is hardly accurate. It is comparing apples to oranges as I so often say. If you want to compare him ; compare him to others who play the same style as him – Makelele, Carrick, Mascherano to an extent, Emerson, Pirlo – creativity, Fat Ivan Campo if you will but not to Flamini. The simple fact is not that Flamini > Gilberto but that the Flamster’s fast moving style and tireless running suits our style much better than the slower posession keepng style of Gilberto.
Just a thought though…Flamini in the invincibles might have been a bit of a disaster or not needed anyway because half the team always broke forward at such pace that the opposing team hardly attacked. So when they did Gilberto was always there back in the 3 man central defense along with Campbell and Keown to protect a counter if we lost the ball due to trying something too too fast. Right now we aren’t that fast anyway so Gilberto does not fit in because we don’t need further slowing down at all — we need a Duracell battery that lasts long — really long = Flamini.
March 7th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
LDE: no doubt they are totally different players….but the point is that gilberto was NOT “one of our best players last year”. that is an illusion formed because of the increased goals and the fact he stepped in as captain when henry was sulking.
March 7th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
He was actually…for those very reasons you pointed out. Its not easy for a “non-leader” to actually fit into a totally different role in the later stages of his career; take up penalty responsibilities he never had and score crucial goals many times. Sure he made a fe wmistakes and we didn’t do anything last year but I’m thinking if you take Gilberto’s goals out of the equation last year…with Hleb,Cesc and Rosicky scoring a massive 7 goals between them and RVP being injured and Adebayor shooting poorly against everyone except Spurs
… would we have even qualified for the CL last year?? Probably coz Spurs were poorer.
Right now though Bert doe not fit in. Disrespecting what he has done for us though is not what I’m going to do irresepctive of what anyone says. Last season without Bert stepping up would have been disastrous.
March 7th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
well, ofcourse he has NOT always been a mini-disaster, he was quite good in 2004.
but if he had done his primary duty properly last season he wont have needed to score to make up for it.
anyway, lets just hope he can hold his own for the rest of the season.
March 7th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Gilberto.
He has gone from misfit to appreciated to misfit again.
He’s the whipping boy this year… along with Eboue.
OK.
Well… He was very good at times last year. He was a leader last year on the team… and as LDE pointed out… he is a good positional player, always has been. The style of play for Arsenal has changed some, and he doesn’t fit in right now… or any more. But he hasn’t played regularly. He hasn’t even had a run of games… so its not fair to say, he has lost it. I doubt he has.
He still factors in regularly for one of the best national teams in the world. He’s the captain of Brazil. You can say that means nothing, but it means something in my opinion. There are extremely talented Brazilians that can’t get a sniff of the national team. He’s captain. On that team, he’s asked to be … what he is best at… a shield of the back 4… the defensive midfielder… that plays positionally.
I hope he plays this weekend v. Wigan. I like seeing him in the team… I respect what he brings and has brought to the squad… and in a team with so much youth and lacking experience, I think he can be influential.
Hope that gets your eye-tick tocking Scotty… just drink a few more pints, it will be just fine!!!
Oh. And if you don’t like what I just typed… too bad, because most of you lot are idiotic brainless moronic sheep… who are hypocrites… and that kinda stuff.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think we’ll hit 4 or 5 goals against Wigan!!!
March 7th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
i think it will be a tight game, probably even harder than playing against AC Milan. Apparently Wigan has prepared a muddy pitch for us, and you know what it’s like, “get in their face boys”. When comes to play against us, I can’t really seperated at least 13 or 14 of those Premiership clubs, their style and game plan all look the same to me.
we may start with a twin tower – Ade and Bendtner up front. don’t think AW will risk either van Persie or Rosicky on a muddy pitch. so Hleb pushed to right, Diaby left. Cesc and Flmaster in the middle, shaping up in a 442.
March 7th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Stag, I think Gilberto’s long stint with Brazil has actually contributed to his being out of pace with the English game. He fits beautifully into their attack, and can often be seen delivering a perfectly weighted pass to one of Brazil’s many brilliant attacking players.
But when he got back and sat for awhile, he got to see Gallas get the armband and a guy named Flamini take his position and the game into a new, hardcore direction. He couldn’t have been more out of step if he’d taken up the cricket.
I love Bert. He’s a consummate professional, and never slags the club in the press (well, very rarely) and I think he tries to contribute but I also think his head’s still in the Brazilian sun. I can see him heading back home for the remainder of his career where he can play the kind of football he really loves and while away the nights with a banjo on his knee.
But Gilberto + Arsenal/Wigan ? 3 Points. I really hope I’m wrong.
March 7th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Stag, I think Gilberto’s long stint with Brazil has actually contributed to his being out of pace with the English game. He fits beautifully into their attack, and can often be seen delivering a perfectly weighted pass to one of Brazil’s many brilliant attacking players.
But when he got back and sat for awhile, he got to see Gallas get the armband and a guy named Flamini take his position and the game into a new, hardcore direction. He couldn’t have been more out of step if he’d taken up the cricket.
I love Bert. He’s a consummate professional, and never slags the club in the press (well, very rarely) and I think he tries to contribute but I also think his head’s still in the Brazilian sun. I can see him heading back home for the remainder of his career where he can play the kind of football he really loves and while away the nights with a banjo on his knee.
But Gilberto + Arsenal/Wigan = Loss of Points. I really hope I’m wrong.
March 7th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
Ooops. Sorry.
March 7th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
see, when you slag off Bert… unjustly, thats what happens, you double speak… you double speak… and your computer burps up the same reply twice!!!
Gilberto playing against Wigan = 3 points for Arsenal, and probably a goal for Gilberto.
4-1 Arsenal against Wigan.
Andez, I BET they make the pitch a mud patch.
Its not going to stop us… we’re going to ride Big Mo on Sunday (mo-mentum).
March 7th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
It does make me laugh when media pundits and pro invisible-wallers point out that Gilberto is captain of Brazil and he is World Cup Winner ad nauseum. It’s almost as if your allowed to keep giving the ball away every five passes if you’ve won the world cup. Similar to people being given keys to city after achieving a feat of note.
During Gilberto’s career with Brazil he has had Kaka, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Ronaldo, Adriano, and Ze Roberto playing in front of him at one stage or another. In other words, you could put David Hillier in the sitting role for Brazil and he would blag his way through a few games.
Look at the players who played with Gilberto for Brazil in their defensive shield. Roque Junior and Kleberson. Two absolute disasters in the premier league.
I wouldn’t go as far as to call Gilberto a fraud but I still wonder how a player who does so little on a football pitch has managed to achieve what he has in his career. He cuts off passing lanes but apart from that his contribtion his neglible.
Having said all that, I feel he has alot more talent than he lets on. In little cameos throughout his career he has shown greats bits of skill, offering tantalising glimpses of what have been if he didn’t taper his game back so much
for what he perceives as the good of the team. At times during his stay at Arsenal, he has had storming periods during games. I remember vividly the first half against Man United last year. Gilberto was like a panther in that half, sweeping up in front of Toure and Djourou. If only he could have sustained it that intensity for longer periods of time.
March 7th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
Gilberto was a valuable player, the onus being on “was”. He lost his place and his reaction has been hideously unprofessional – if everyone played like he did after they were dropped football would be farce. And I’ve never seen someone talk up the team and themselves so much only to walk out on the pitch and not even bother to make an effort like he has. I’m still annoyed we get rid of Diarra for him. All Wenger had to do was call Diarra into his office and say to him, be patient, you’re a great player and you will be a first team regular, nudge, nudge, wink wink. Instead he said nothing and had Gilberto on the bench and Diarra sitting at home twiddling his thumbs. Horrible.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
come on Danny, u really think AW said “nothing” to Diarra and just let him go like that? would that make any sense at all? that I bought you so that I could sell you off within the same season in order to make some fast cash?
according to report, AW had been tracking Diarra for years. i bet he must have said everything he could say to Diarra hoping to keep him. But the man wanted to go, and AW is never the one who would keep hold of an unhappy player.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
Andez, what you just said about Wenger and Diarra makes 100% sense. Wenger does NOT keep players that want to “go” or aren’t commited to the cause in his mind.
You are on the money with this one.
Mazza, he’s not just playing with great players for Brazil, he’s the captain of the team. He’s a leader in some respect, or he wouldn’t be captain.
He doesn’t fit for the Arsenal any more. OK. But I don’t think his accomplishments can be belittled. He’s played on a LOT of trophy winning teams… its not luck… and its not an accident. He was part of the reason the teams were successful.
I’d rather have Diarra right now, as he has played well when I have seen him for Portsmouth. So its not blind love for “Bert”… but I respect what he’s done.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
looking back now, i think there is NO WAY we could have kept hold of Diarra.
The man wanted to be the FIRST CHOICE, not the backup. So even if we sell Gilberto in the summer, it wouldn’t change anything.
Diarra would not want to be Flamini’s back up. So IF AW promised Diarra he’s going to be the first choice, that means we would have to let Flamini goes. And if AW wanted to keep hold of Flamini, there was no way Diarra would stay.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
Yeah, but if you try and remember – or read the press stories in-depth at the time, all Diarra said was “I was promised competition”. It’s obviously true, otherwise why would he sign knowing full well Flamini and Gilberto were in front of him?
What’s competitive about sitting at home watching Arsenal every week with Gilberto playing like shit sitting on the bench? When Diarra did play he was twice as good, and yet the next game he was completely left out the squad. It went on for 4 months, who wouldn’t be fucked off?
Someone lied to him – or misled him. It wasn’t Wenger, it was Friar I reckon.
March 7th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
Yeah, like you were there when Friar “lied” to Diarra? Your insinuation makes zero sense.
Apart from in some matches in September and half of October, Diarra was on the bench AHEAD of Gilberto.
Gilberto only got his bench place back for the Chelsea game when Diarra said he definitely wanted to leave because he wasnt starting against his former team. After that Wenger pretty much gave up on him.
March 7th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
I wouldn’t expect someone with such a small brain to figure out what when wrong – it’s bloody obvious.
March 8th, 2008 at 1:16 am
“that is an illusion formed because of the increased goals and the fact he stepped in as captain when henry was sulking.”
Fred, do you think stepping in as captain of Arsenal and scoring goals from midfield is kids play? How many goals have Makelele and Mascherano scored? Would that be a big ZERO? Of all people, I expected you to know how difficult it is for Arsenal midfielders to score. I know many of them were from penalties, but how many of the current lot would you bet on scoring from the spot? Let’s not belittle his contributions last season.
March 8th, 2008 at 1:22 am
Boy, do we spend a lot of time discussing players who are not at Arsenal anymore? First it was Bentley, now it is Diarra.
Even though I was one of those who expressed concern when Diarra left that the situation could well explode in Wenger’s face if Gilberto leaves and Flamini doesn’t sign a new contract (that could STILL happen), I will side with him on this one. Wenger always thinks long term, never short term. Even if Diarra was there to play now, in the long term, he would have wanted to start ahead of Flamini. Can Wenger assure him of that? I doubt it. By the way, it’s easy for us to say Diarra should play ahead of Gilberto. But spare a thought for Gilberto. If you were in his shoes – captain last season and third choice now – how would you react? It’s not easy. As for Flamini, enough of talking, if you want to sign, sign, don’t talk.
March 8th, 2008 at 1:24 am
The Wigan game is going to be a very tough one for multiple reasons
- from Milan to Wigan
- from San Siro to JJB
- from a neat pitch to a mud field
- from a strict ref to a weak one
- from soft tackles to agricultural ones
- from an already weak team to a weaker one due to more injuries
Cesc and Hleb will struggle to put together their passes on a muddy pitch. Still we need to find a way. The Villa draw was not a bad result, but a draw at Wign would be disastrous. I think we’ll scrape through 1-0.
March 8th, 2008 at 1:32 am
Nip, we didn’t want to sign Flamini… remember?!
He was not that good… people on this site said he was average at best, not good enough for Arsenal… etc.
Now he has proved he is a valuable player, and he’s earned his right to see what the market will bear.
It can’t be both ways…
He’s playing very well… as long as he keeps performing like this, I don’t care what he says and to whom!!!!!!
No, it can’t be easy for Gilberto. I totally agree. I think he’s been pretty admirable. I don’t see a lot of griping from him, and he can’t really get his form, if he can’t get in a run of matches.
So he’s between a rock and a hard place.
He plays out the season, and will likely go.
As you said… if he goes AND Flamini gets a deal somewhere else… then it appears we’d be short at that spot!
Lets win a trophy this year!!!!! and we can worry about comings and goings in June!
Lets rock&roll Wigan on Sunday… and the rest will take care of itself!
March 8th, 2008 at 1:38 am
Stag, Flamini is well within his rights not to sign. It’s up to him. I respect that. But if he IS going to sign, then do it, don’t bleat around saying that I WILL sign. That’s all I am saying. Anyway, it’s not a problem, just my view of things. Just like he let the football do the talking, same way, let the contract do the talking. How would it look if he doesn’t sign after coming out on Arsenal.com and saying that he will stay? Not good, in my opinion.
March 8th, 2008 at 2:31 am
@ danny 149: yeah and you my little english friend have a HUGE brain and can tell by magic what happened? your head must be massive!
March 8th, 2008 at 2:43 am
@ nipuna: i see no reason to further a rather straightforward argument. a DMs must do his FIRST job well…..then he can worry about scoring goals. last season we were all over the place defensively.
which would you rather have? mascherano or makelele doing his basic job well OR scoring 10 goals. most managers will prefer they did their primary job well FIRST and foremost.
as for stepping up as captain – he was a passive captain – though better than a sulking henry.
March 8th, 2008 at 3:16 am
“last season we were all over the place defensively.”
I disagree. We didn’t score enough goals last season and the season before that. Defensively, we have improved no doubt but offensively we have improved a lot more.
05-06 P 38 GF 68 (1.79) GA 31 (0.82)
06-07 P 38 GF 63 (1.66) GA 34 (0.89)
07-08 P 28 GF 57 (2.04) GA 21 (0.75)
0.38 more goals scored and 0.14 less goals conceded per game. Don’t just brush it away because it is statistics.
By your definition (during the Rosicky argument), without Gilberto’s goals, we would have been at least 8 points short last season. That’s the difference between Arsenal in 4th and Spurs in 5th.
I would like players performing their basic job and I don’t think Gilberto did a bad job last year. Our main problem was always scoring goals. Ade was struggling, Henry and RvP were injured, Bap and Ali couldn’t score for their lives. The midfield couldn’t hit a cow’s arse with a bango. In the midst of all this, it was Gilberto’s goals that kept us going.
Look, I don’t rate Gilberto much, but I don’t want to belittle his contributions of last season. I think they were massive.
March 8th, 2008 at 6:48 am
I mentioned in my earlier post on this thread..that one of the things that really impressed me about the Fabregas goal was the sight of him running straight to Arsene Wenger soon after he scored…..
Today Arseblog linked to this pic….
http://d.yimg.com/eur.yimg.com/ng/sp/p5/20080304/22/1414289417.jpg
B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L
Cheers,
Wayne
March 8th, 2008 at 7:31 am
It is a thing of beauty Wayne. I loved the way Lehmann interacted with the celebrations. I bet you even Friar was smiling in between devising another way to trick the next new recruit.
March 8th, 2008 at 7:42 am
Not a lot of point in bagging Bert. Looks like he is on the way out. I have never been a fan of his play, too passive, altho I thought he put in a big effort as stand-in skipper. I have been shocked by his feeble play this season – woeful. I thought he would be more professional – but his performances have been – on average – appalling. Sun and sambas may await.
March 8th, 2008 at 7:50 am
I am always a bit worried when ANR tips Arsenal to win big.
March 8th, 2008 at 10:43 am
wonder how losing 0-1 feel compare to losing 1-4 in the FA Cup?!
March 8th, 2008 at 10:44 am
Good and bad news.
Good: ManU out of the FA Cup. No more treble talk.
Bad: No extra games for them anymore. Same number as us.
March 8th, 2008 at 10:45 am
A confidence-shuddering loss for the Mancs at OT. I’ll take it!
March 8th, 2008 at 10:46 am
1-4?
March 8th, 2008 at 10:47 am
Chelsea would seem to have a straightforward path now in the FA Cup…. unless they choke @ Barnsley, that is. ~L~
March 8th, 2008 at 10:52 am
1-4. 1-5, 0-4 whatever. I cant even recall how many goals Man U beat us in FA Cup last round. It doesn’t make any difference to me anyway. Especially now they are out too!
March 8th, 2008 at 10:57 am
The weather forecast for Wigan is showers overnight, rain mixed with snow Sunday. I’m praying we don’t get another Sheffield match….
March 8th, 2008 at 11:41 am
@nip: Couldn’t agree more. ANT gets so horribly wrong whenever he chooses to bet big on Arsenal. He’s yet another pundit who ride along with the tide. I quite like ANR though…he does talk some sense at times.
March 8th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Look what a defeat can do to ManU.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/7285393.stm
Fergie agrees with Wenger and Blatter and Ronaldo says that players should get more protection after Eduardo’s injury.
What a surprise these things didn’t come out two weeks back.
March 8th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
i bet fergie is secretly not so sad about the result………LOL.
March 8th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
nipuna, remember i said the Eduardo incident would not gone unnoticed among the skillful players like Ronado? For those players, particularly attacking players, that incident will inevitably play into their mind – “hell, it could have happen to me”.
since the FA decided to do nothing, let’s just give them the rope and let them hang themselves.
March 8th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Typical Fergie. The same thing with Bolton. Till he got kicked he was all for the kicking and said Arsenal had a soft centre. Once he got kicked it was ..ManU have no protection. He’s right about the protection but he’s a hypocrite as well.
March 8th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Fergie’s hardly sad. Like AW. Now he can prioritize..still its nice to see ManU get beat.
March 8th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Wow. United cough up a fur-ball in the FA Cup!
Now if we can just get Chelsea to choke along the way… !!!
Maybe Mourinho can be assistant coach for a few weeks against their next opponent, so he can KILL CHELSEA!!!!!!!
LOL
We can not slip up now… United will have just the league and CL to concentrate on … and I doubt they will slip in the league.
We will have to WIN the league… by playing better than United / Chelsea down the stretch. I would not expect either of them to gift is the league title.
March 8th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Barnsley have knocked out Chelsea. It’s anybody’s cup now.
March 8th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
@MarylandGooner#166
Choke they did!
March 8th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
I can’t believe people think Senderos is playing well, let alone approaching Captain material– my only take on this game (other than people are making too much of a win based on one speculative shot finding the corner of the net against a second-choice goaltender) is that Wenger has got to finally spend some of his money on defense– we can’t have a team where one injury to Toure means we have to depend on someone who simply isn’t good enough, like Senderos. It’s bad enough that we are playing Diaby at wing, where he is totally lost, and virtually useless– can’t Wenger see how well spent the investment in Sagna was last year? Imagine if Wenger would only spend half the money that Ferguson has spent on central defenders, to get a really good, young, quick center fullback– Toure would be relegated to third choice, Djourou (if he ever plays again) would be fourth choice (he’s got far more potential than Senderos), and we could sell Senderos for whatever we could get for him.
Didn’t any of you notice that it was Senderos’ cockup that should have cost us the Milan game– the errant header to Inzaghi was only the appetizer– it was Senderos failure to track Pato on the play where Pato stupidly tried to lob the keeper from close range (and should have scored instead), that should have cost us the game. On that play, Clichy was tracking one of the other Milan players back into the box, when Pato cut diagonally behind the Milan player that Clichy was defending to head for the right side of the goal (our left defensive side), and Senderos was trailing him… instead of staying with him, Senderos motioned to Clichy (who was busy defending the other Milan player, and didn’t see Senderos’ hand motion) to go out on Pato, leaving Senderos in the middle; instead, we ended up with Clichy defending the other Milan player, and Senderos defending no one, while Pato was left wide open on our left, to receive the pass for what should have been the go-ahead goal– but what should have happened is that Senderos stayed with Pato, while Clichy stayed with his man– you don’t switch defenders off of opponents in the box, in the middle of a developing play… Senderos screwed up (again) and we’re lucky we didn’t pay with a goal (which I’m willing to bet would have meant a loss).
Senderos has no ball skills (I thought Wenger valued technique in players above all else), no pace (I thought Wenger valued pace second most after technique), he doesn’t pass well, and he has no self-assurance, confidence on the ball, or even the simple ability to settle the ball, and pass it out rationally, when under any kind of pressure at the back. Somehow Senderos managed to score an own goal for Aston Villa when it was harder to put it in the net than it was to kick it out of bounds (somehow placing the ball in the only place our goalie couldn’t/wouldn’t get it), and then he manages to screw up the single best scoring opportunity of the Milan game by kicking the ball back across the goal mouth straight into the goalie’s hands, when it would have been easier to just bump the ball into the gaping, wide-open end of the goal nearest him– how does he manage to get it exactly wrong both times?
March 8th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
@Nipuna#170
Gawd, Fergie is Captain Hypocracy……what a toad
March 8th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
Wow. Both ManU and Chelsea out of the F.A Cup. I was secretly hoping for both of them to draw, have a replay and then go out. I thought my wishing for a draw was a ridiculous idea but didn’t expect this. Great for the F.A Cup. Great to see someone other than the big 4 have a shot to win this, because the gap between the big 4 and the others has been wide. But yeah, no more talk about treble. And a few weeks ago, Chelsea were still hoping for the quad
Now, Arsenal have to make their game in hand count. 3 points tomorrow will be a nice boost and complete a great weekend.
Torres is now tied with Ade for 19 goals. Amazing goal scoring run he has had. I can’t remember if there was someone on this site who pegged Torres to get 20 goals back in August? If so, amazing call. Although I had not expected Ade to get these many goals at this stage. I was hoping Van Persie to bag plenty but I have forgotten what he can do on the ball. It seems like ages since he last played. Hopefully he can stay fit for the rest of the season.
March 8th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Barnsley in the dream land!!! Amazing, beaten Liverpool, Chelsea on route to the final 4!! For the first time in years, there will not be any big 4 sides in the semi! I am going to tune in for the final for sure! Now this is the FA Cup!
March 8th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
yeah bah bah bah Sendy is crap!!
Now looks like Tony has a chance to land his hand on FA Cup again! Now it’d be nice Cardiff and Bristol Rovers would join up in the semi!
March 8th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
I just loved the FA Cup today. Let’s stick to those arrogant farts. John Terry – complaining, what a shock. Fergie – complaining, what a shock.
Where’s your treble gone?
Now let’s stick the league and CL to them too!
March 8th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
To those who saw the ManU game. How was Diarra? Fergie complained about him having too many fouls, but were they sinister? The thing with Fergie is that he is fine with kicking Arsenal but anyone touches his players, he cries blood.
Nice to see Lauren and Campbell on the field when the final whistle went. They must have relished a win over ManU. Kanu also played his part.
yeah Andez, it will be nice to see the F.A Cup final this year. Ofcourse, once Arsenal went out, I was hoping for the other big teams to go out as well and even out the playing field. I can’t imagine how pumped up Boro, Bristol, Cardiff and West Brom will be in tomorrow’s quarter finals will be knowing that they have no one to fear anymore.
March 8th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
I dont’ think Diarra was promised anything by anyone. He believed that he would be the starter because his only competition was an old man and a headless chicken. He had to believe, surely, that the spot along side Fabregas was his for the taking. I’m sure every fan thought he had a reasonable chance to become the starter.
If he’d read the back of the book, then he would know that the headless chicken would finally find his head and play good football.
As for Flamini, I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t sign a new contract. If you ever wonder about the character of that player, just remember his controversial move to Arsenal from Marseille. He betrayed them and he could betray Arsenal as well. Don’t hold your breath on that guy.
March 9th, 2008 at 4:01 am
#178 no we obviously didn’t notice what you did and we won’t take too much notice of your slant on Senderos. The guy played a good game but for whatever you don’t want to acknowledge it, preferring instead to look for errors. Hardly that clever, analyse any defender in any game and you can find an ‘error’ to highlight.
JD I’m pretty calm about Flamini. Unfortunately at Arsenal there has grown a bit of a culture about leaving contract signing to a late stage. Big names like Vieira and Henry did it, Wenger himself does it….. Not what I like but that seems to be the practise that has evolved.
But with Flamini, where else would he want to be with this team coming into bloom and him cementing a place in it? He has his mates Fabregas and Hleb, lotsa French boys, and a French manager. Hard to think where else would offer such a good looking future.
March 9th, 2008 at 9:55 am
Kiwi:
So you didn’t notice Senderos’ biggest screwup– you’re obliviousness to the obvious is noted by more careful observers than yourself– meanwhile, there are plenty of others with more insight (such as blogwriters like GoodPlaya and Yogi’s Warrior) who attend the games in person, and who have long since made up their mind that Senderos isn’t good enough. So you just go on ignoring the obvious– ignorance is bliss.
March 9th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
#187 it’s about calling what you see not looking for what you want. Some folks roundly criticised and wrote-off Adebayor – funny how they’ve changed.