LucaAltieri Posted March 8, 2011 Share Posted March 8, 2011 Arsenal defended like champs. Had the same game plan as last time and were exercising it well. One foot in the the next round before the referee changed the game. Of course Barcelona dominated possession and shots. But that wasn't Arsenal's game tonight. Barca may be the better side going forward, but Arsenal were still robbed. There's no way they were robbed man, for one thing the referee missed at least two penalties they should have had. They defending bravely, but last-ditch defending for 90 minutes is never going to get you through. It isn't a game plan either. First leg they did the same thing. Contain Barcelona, let them have their fun, then strike in the second half when they lose interest. Definitely game plan there. Once again we saw Barcelona score first, then in the second half Arsenal were getting back into it. Must have missed the second penalty shout, only saw the Messi foul... which was right on the edge of the box. Even if the ref had called it a foul it would be a legitimate coin toss as to whether it was a penalty or not. Also Bendtner broke into the box and was sandwiched by 3 Barcelona players (they can't all have won the ball)... it's all ifs and buts when it comes to penalty decisions. However, regardless of whether or not you approve of, or recognise, Arsenal's tactics the fact remains they had their noses in front and a very bad refereeing decision changed the outcome entirely. Had RVP stayed on the pitch I would have fully expected Arsenal to go through. Just because they were playing negatively doesn't mean there's no injustice. Arsenal's attempted to contain, yes, but they didn't do it very well. Time and time again Barca opened them up and Arsenal were incredibly lucky not to have conceded more over the course of the 2 legs. Nah. Think about Arsenal playing in the Premier League. It's a constant complaint that they dominate games but struggle to finish most of their moves. Do they get any sympathy? Do they shite... and quite right. The aim is to put the ball in the net. Against Barcelona it's a role reversal. Barcelona get into the Arsenal box but get crowded out by a very well organised defence. Barcelona kept trying the same moves again and again, practically passing it into the net, and had little joy most of the time. Difference is, Barcelona get the sympathy there where Arsenal having the same trouble against Wolves simply wouldn't. I think there's an element of "but it's Barcelona" when you're evaluating this. No different to the Sky Sports wanking over the "big 4". But Barcelona get the goals eventually - surely this is the difference? Nothing to do with sympathy. Barcelona didn't draw 0-0 tonight, so I don't see where the relevance of your comparison here is. Point being that Arsenal looked competent in the main. Barcelona had more possession and got in behind a few times but Arsenal defended well. Lost count of how many times Messi & co had the ball stolen off their toes just when they thought they were in. Some of Arsenal's defending was just as great to watch as Barcelona's attacking. Just because Barcelona were dominant doesn't automatically mean goals were going to follow. You mention "over the two legs" but how many chances in the first leg did Barcelona really squander? That Messi one-on-one is about the only clear cut chance they had that you'd expect them to have buried. Negative though it was, Arsenal had a game plan for the these games and got 3/4 of the way to the next round. A piss poor sending off cost them the game. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest firetotheworks Posted March 8, 2011 Share Posted March 8, 2011 Can't believe some of the commentary saying the refereeing had any bearing on the game. Absolutely cringeworthy stuff and seems to be an obsession in english football at the moment. Like I said, they've got their ready-made excuse now. It'll forever be there to justify the inadeqacies of the English side in this case. In fact, this is exactly the same thing that happened after the WC (and every England exit from a major tournament in history). Spot on. The last time I've known anyone other than the FA/The Manager/The Players to be blamed is when England lost to Holland before the '94 WC. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cronky Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 Football's a strange game though. Despite being thoroughly outplayed, if it had been Van Persie rather than Bendtner on the end of that chance in the final few minutes, he'd have probably scored and Barca would have gone out. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ishmael Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 Inter put on a footballing masterclass across those two legs. Beautiful. Actually the best footballing side I've ever seen. Haddaway man, an incredible example of tactical dicipline, organisation and commitment. But Beautiful and an example 'footballing' greatness? Not for me like, and this coming from an Inter sympathiser. Only conflict here is between our interpretations of what is 'beautiful football'. No worries. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Snrub Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 Football's a strange game though. Despite being thoroughly outplayed, if it had been Van Persie rather than Bendtner on the end of that chance in the final few minutes, he'd have probably scored and Barca would have gone out. And if Messi's perfectly legal goal in the first leg would have stood it wouldn't have mattered if Arsenal scored that chance. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ishmael Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 Football's a strange game though. Despite being thoroughly outplayed, if it had been Van Persie rather than Bendtner on the end of that chance in the final few minutes, he'd have probably scored and Barca would have gone out. Indeed. This is one of the big issues I have from a purely competitive perspective with this Barcelona side. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ishmael Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 if, but, if, but, if, but... such a hypothetical outlook is utterly irrelevant Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
colinmk Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 Football's a strange game though. Despite being thoroughly outplayed, if it had been Van Persie rather than Bendtner on the end of that chance in the final few minutes, he'd have probably scored and Barca would have gone out. True. Also if Villa had a more decisive game it could of been 5 or 6 to Barca. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponsaelius Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 Iniesta's contribution to both open play goals...kinky as fuck. Amazing player. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hanshithispantz Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 Martin Tyler seemed to see it as it is. Alan Smith is useless, at 3-1 he said 'It's a huge mountain for Arsenal to climb now.' to which Tyler replied with silence and then '...but then of course if Arsenal score, they go through.' Later Alan Smith said that the decisions had a huge bearing on the match, to which again Tyler kind of sat guffawed to and then laughed before saying that Barca had been undoubtedly good value for the win, and that the decisions were probably irrelevant. how are the decisions irelevant Barca deserved the win, no doubt it was a fucking dommination, but as Luca has pointed out if Arsenak did this in the Premiership (dominated the game withought puting there chances away) and then eventualy win partly due to an awful decision, there would be uproar about how it's just the usual refs favouring the big team, and the little team was robbed. Again not taking anything away from Barcelona's performance, but you cannot discount the sending off just because of this dominance. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hanshithispantz Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 Iniesta's contribution to both open play goals...kinky as f***. Amazing player. his close control is absolutely fucking ridiculous tbh Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucaAltieri Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 Iniesta's contribution to both open play goals...kinky as fuck. Amazing player. Well, the first was all about the Fabregas fuck up. Give the ball away there and you're asking for trouble regardless of the opposition. The second was quality, though. They really needed to try something different after having played that fucking diagonal ball time and time again with precisely no success. Iniesta made the goal out of nothing essentially. Made Rosicky look like fucking a cart horse in the process. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponsaelius Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 Iniesta's contribution to both open play goals...kinky as fuck. Amazing player. Well, the first was all about the Fabregas fuck up. Give the ball away there and you're asking for trouble regardless of the opposition. The second was quality, though. They really needed to try something different after having played that fucking diagonal ball time and time again with precisely no success. Iniesta made the goal out of nothing essentially. Made Rosicky look like fucking a cart horse in the process. Well aye, ridiculous from Cesc, but Iniesta is on in a flash, shifts it in an instant and sets up the goal. It's as much genius opportunism and speed of thought as it is a blunder from Fabregas. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
themanupstairs Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 Does anyone think the most revolutionary football outfit in world football deserves its own thread round these parts? Complete 100% dominance over a more than half decent side. Didn't even get out of third gear tonight. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 Can't believe some of the commentary saying the refereeing had any bearing on the game. Absolutely cringeworthy stuff and seems to be an obsession in english football at the moment. Like I said, they've got their ready-made excuse now. It'll forever be there to justify the inadeqacies of the English side in this case. In fact, this is exactly the same thing that happened after the WC (and every England exit from a major tournament in history). Spot on. Eh? England were fucking wank in that World Cup and bummed by Germany. There was an appalling decision which could have changed things but I can't remember any of my friends of family not admitting we were absolutely atrocious. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaylorJ_01 Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 This thread is making me vomit. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 It does get nausiating at times. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest neesy111 Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 Shocking decision by the referee, it's decision's like those that cost managers jobs and when the referee has no defence whatsoever. Barca over 2 legs were the much better team again, having no shots on goal in a game is a shocking stat. Also saying the sending off had a huge impact would be credible if you actually put the team under any pressure when they had 11 men. 1 hopeful corner and a lucky OG is what they did in 50 mins before sending off. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ketsbaia Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 the media will do what they always do and blame the ref, the ball.....anything they can except the team itself. obviously the red card was shocking, but arsenal were completely outclassed by barcelona in every way. they were annihilated. looking at stats and the way barca played, they should be grateful that the score wasn't humiliating. zero shots, man but what a team barca are. tonight was total domination. some of their play was delicious, especially xavi's goal. they also should've had a penalty in the first half. arsenal can whinge all they want but deep down they know what we all know. FCB Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wormy Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 Let's remember, if RvP hadn't childishly reacted to Abidal, he wouldn't have been in the position for a stupid yellow to result in his sending off.. Obviously, the referee had a shocker, from both points of view. But surprised RvP hasn't had the slightest of mentions for his needless retaliation. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toon Hoser Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 Re: Barcelona I really don't understand why people have to be so bitter towards a team they have no connection to and have no reason to dislike. Yeah people can sometimes go OTT about their greatness, but that doesn't mean you have to try and even it out with childish bitterness. Just enjoy watching a team that plays the best football on earth, because it really is a treat and doesn't come along too often. I like their kits. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gash Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 Despite Almunia's fantastic performance tonight i do worry that he is now the only fit first team goalkeeper at the club, we have Mannone away at Hull and injured, James Shea has just gone to Southampton a couple of weeks back we have the unproven Martinez left who i know nothing about. Poom's still at the club coaching, sign him up Arsene Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wormy Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 Poom's not a bad shout, like. Retired only a couple of years ago. Better than us bringing back Srnicek Otherwise, you'll undoubtedly be allowed special dispensation for a loan if that's the case? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ginola Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 FWIW, Barca had a penalty decision turned down at 0-0, which was a penalty. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gash Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 They'll probably just make us recall Mannone if the injury is not too serious. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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