AWESOME
MESSI, messi, MeSsI, MessI
Well played Barca!! You are by far the best team on the planet!!
As predicted history was made, the final score 4-1 to Barcelona, historical for Messi, as he scored all 4 Barcelona goals!
His first ever four goal haul in a single game!!
Respect and Peace!
@dam
It’s looks like Arsenal will be without Fabregas, Song, Gallas, Arshavin, and possibly Sol Campbell for tonights game at the Camp Nou. So it would seem that an amazing feat is required if we are to make it through. Barca are without their goal machine Ibrahimovic and defenders Puyol and Pique for the game, but i’m concerned that Bojan is actually more talented than Ibrahimovic as he scored twice at the weekend, as Barca steamed 4 past Athletic Bilbao.
So it’s clear we have it all to do, but i’m looking forward to it for sure and there is potential for some history to be made!
COME ON ARSENAL!!!!
Respect and Peace
@dam
What a game ! A truly momentous night of European football we were treated to and i for one shant forget this game for a long time to come.
The imperious Barcelona came to the Emirates and demonstrated their skill and flare for the game, and in many ways played total football. Their desire to pass and score is matched by their feverish tenacity to win the ball back when it’s not in their possession. An awesome display from the best team on the planet, no doubt!
Tonight, Barcelona showed the world the strength and depth they have in their squad. Obviously, we think of Messi and Henry when we think of Barca, but the likes of Javi, Alves, Ibrahimovic, Maxwell and Pique all play with amazing skill and energy; that only an idiot would suggest that they are a one man team!
Cesc Fabregas and Lionel Messi
Most of the pre-match attention was on these fella’s, but in the game itself; i’m sure they didn’t have the games they would have hoped for.
Messi did nothing wrong and his ability on and off the ball is breathtaking to watch, but after the last few weeks he’s enjoyed, he had a quiet game.
Fabregas, in my opinion shouldn’t have played and the ‘will he, won’t he?’ before the game added to the nerves within the team. I think Wenger let the occasion get to him abit and he chanced his arm. However, he did score the equalizing pen late in the game, with the added bonus of a red card for Puyol.
Almunia, did well in the first half, keeping Arsenal in the tie with a string of good blocks in close succession, some of the game commentators got very excited by his performance; i have a different view. I think most keepers, at most levels can stop shots, that’s equivalent to most defenders being able to head a clearance or a midfielder making an incisive pass. That’s what they do! For me the big benchmark for a player and especially a keeper is how they think and what decisions they make that is something to get excited about.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic - Barcelona 2 goal hit man!
Almunia again showed us all he’s not the sharpest pin in the box, when it comes to positional awareness; he’s not a bad keeper, but i think we could do better.
Barca hit man, Ibrahimovic exposed his weaknesses and score two very well taken goals, he’s abit of an animal really and i think he’ll figure in the return leg. A Bigger pitch and his great pace will keep the defenders (Sol Campbell?) very busy indeed!
At 2 down it was looking like a road crash, but around the hour mark Theo was introduced and made an immediate impact. His blistering pace illuminated the Emirates and shortly after his arrival he scored a goal that had Barca in some disarray.
Buoyed by this goal, Arsenal then showed Barcelona what they were about and to be honest Barcelona looked average for the first time in the match. We battled for possession and pressed deep, Theo was the out ball and boy did he make the most of his pace! After some good work on the wing a ball was floated into Bendtner which he cushioned to Fab, who then got himself, professionally, entangled shall we say; with the Catalan stalwart Puyol. Puyol obliged Cesc’s invite to clash and gave a pen away.
Fabregas, who was yellow carded earlier in the game, and will miss the return leg, stepped up and crashed it into the net; his dodgy leg didn’t appreciate this approach and decided to express it’s anger in pain! Mucho Mucho Painio!! I predict some surgery for Fab and he’ll probably miss the world cup! You heard it hear first, i hope i’m wrong; but i fear the worst.
Fabregas - Knee injury
Henry came on later to a warm reception, he had no effect on the game and that was so sweet, he’s an Arsenal legend and if he’d have scored it would have been very painful indeed!
All in all an outstanding game, thoroughly entertaining and although i still think Barca will win through, we have a chance and i suggest Wengers gets his head out of his arsenal and plays Walcott through the middle next week, it’ll scare the bejeebers out of em and they won’t be expecting it.
Respect and Peace!
@dam
Generally in life i’m an optimist, but even with 7 or so games to go, i think 4 pts. behind Man Utd is just too much! I love Arsenal, i love what they stand for in the premier league, the way they play and i love their history, when it’s good it’s really good. But it isn’t getting us the results!! We’re consistent, which is great for the business model, but we are consistently ‘nearly- but not quite’.
David Dein -Former Arsenal Director
I don’t think it’s any coincidence either that we haven’t won anything since this fella left either. When he was at Arsenal we won things and i think that he provided the steel at the Arsenal football club. Just looking at him tells you he doesn’t accept second best, this fella’s a winner and if you mess with him, well see ya later!
Back then, Wenger provided the footballing brains and Dein the business brawn and the ruthless desire to win, a winning combination! It’s no coincidence that since he was ousted that Arsenal have failed to win anything, save the respect of the footballing world for the way we play.
What do i know? I’ve never met him so he could be completely different to how i imagine him, but i bet i’m close, lol.
Anyway it doesn’t change anything, we’ll probably nearly win the title and we’ll probably nearly win the Champions league too! And until Mr Wenger finds some brawn / nastiness, probably the only thing we’ll win is admiration for the way we play…………………… 1 nil to the Arsenal!!
Respect and Peace!
@dam
The Grape Vine