Arsenal vs Barcelona

[Kylo]

One comment, who actually noticed the Arsenal center backs? I didn't even see them!

Also, I don't think that was a penalty. Seen it from a few angles, and Puyol seemed like he couldn't do anything about it..

Amazing game though.

 

[ajw]

I don't think it was a penalty, to me it looked as if Fibreglass shaped to shoot and just got his leg tangled up in Puyols. And therefore I don't think it was a red card. Mind you I don't think Cesc should have been booked, thought it was harsh. Ref didn't look that good.

Good goals from Zlatan, although Almunia undid his amazing work in the first half by rushing out like that for the first. He kept Arsenal in it in the first 45, Arsenal looked overawed and Barca could have been 4-0 up at HT. Thought it might come back to bite them and it did. As for the Zlatan debate-finally he does it on the big stage. I don't like him personally-he's clearly talented but he's very egotistical and often disappears when it matters. Tonight he always looked a threat though.

Big task for Arsenal at the end of the day-they'll be happy-ish with the result, but bottom line is they have to win at the Nou Camp. That's no easy thing because having to go for it with Messi etc on the counter-attack thats gona be tough. I still think Barca will go thru.

 

[markodragojevic]

Fibreglass hahahahahah

 

[Shockhorror.]

I'm pleased with that result in the end.

 

[Andy]

SSN now saying Fabregas has a suspected broken leg.

 

[Zebedee]

It was also interesting that Walcott had such a massive effect on the game almost as soon as he came on, whether this was partly helped by Barca tiring after ~70mins of intense pressing or not. It'll be interesting to see whether he starts at the Nou Camp, his pace would really test the nerve of Gaurdiola as Barca's ridiculously high defensive line could be very costly with the extreme pace of Walcott coupled with Barca missing their 2 starting centre backs and that might really swing the game in the favour of Aresnal.

I don't think the use of Walcott was accidental. The big flaw in how Barca play (and teams like Brazil and Spain) is that the area behind the fullback is always vulnerable because their wing forwards tuck in so much and they play with only one holding midfield player. If (and it is a big if) you can exploit that area when the fullbacks are tired then you get results. The USA did it brilliantly in that summer tournament last year (they had Dempsey to do it who has a motor which is almost peerless as well as a bit of pace). Problem is of course that a team may have two fullbacks with the engine of Alves and so not have that problem and so you're reliant on that little bit of creativity to hit the winger at just the right moment which is very, very hard to do when the centre of the pitch is so congested. Was a good piece of management by Wenger but by the time he decided to do it for greatest impact Arsenal were already 2-0 down which is always the danger XD

 

[*Jones*]

oh oh. So am i the only one that gets slated for saying it wasn't a penalty and get called a bitter Liverpool fan. It looks like i am. About 5 or 6 people after my post have said it wasn't a penalty. Footballs about opinion and some fans just can't take other's opinion. My opinion is it wasn't a penalty and puyol couldn't do a lot about it.

 

[doylo]

Definate penalty, if any of you got your leg trapped between a cavemans i'm sure you would've lost your balance, if Puyol wouldn't of been coming from behind he wouldn't of got caught up and the inevitable red card. Real shame Fabregas will be missing the second leg when he won the ball fair and square in his yellow card.

I did like the combination of Nasri and Denilson, they both just kept running behind players, pulling them over and running off with the ball... Awesome.

 

[hamptonmanger]

oh oh. So am i the only one that gets slated for saying it wasn't a penalty and get called a bitter Liverpool fan. It looks like i am. About 5 or 6 people after my post have said it wasn't a penalty. Footballs about opinion and some fans just can't take other's opinion. My opinion is it wasn't a penalty and puyol couldn't do a lot about it.

sorry i would have slated the other people who said it wasn't a penalty but i had gone of my computer and watched tv, i agree that puyol couldn't do much to stop it but however it did stop fabergas from shooting and potenianly scoring i think the red card was harsh a yellow would have been fine.

 

[bcfc]

To be fair after the first half I thought it would be about 4-0 Barca. Fair play to Arsenal getting a result but I don't see how that's a penalty. Fabregas' leg went backwards when he shot and then he jumped on the floor as he felt contact.

 

[hamptonmanger]

To be fair after the first half I thought it would be about 4-0 Barca. Fair play to Arsenal getting a result but I don't see how that's a penalty. Fabregas' leg went backwards when he shot and then he jumped on the floor as he felt contact.

lool i know he made a meal about it but did you see one of barcs player i can't remeber who it was but he got fouled rolled on the floor got the free kick then stood up and shouted at bedtner straight away so i think we can let cecs of for making a meal out of it

 

[JoeBeton]

I don't think the use of Walcott was accidental. The big flaw in how Barca play (and teams like Brazil and Spain) is that the area behind the fullback is always vulnerable because their wing forwards tuck in so much and they play with only one holding midfield player. If (and it is a big if) you can exploit that area when the fullbacks are tired then you get results. The USA did it brilliantly in that summer tournament last year (they had Dempsey to do it who has a motor which is almost peerless as well as a bit of pace). Problem is of course that a team may have two fullbacks with the engine of Alves and so not have that problem and so you're reliant on that little bit of creativity to hit the winger at just the right moment which is very, very hard to do when the centre of the pitch is so congested. Was a good piece of management by Wenger but by the time he decided to do it for greatest impact Arsenal were already 2-0 down which is always the danger XD

Yeh, I read a similar thing in a Guardian article about how to beat barcalona, the idea being that because Iniesta and Xavi don't track back and Barca's full backs are very attack minded they leave quite alot of space, giving time to set up shots and space to exploit on the flanks. It'll be interesting to see if Aresnal set-up like that from the start in Spain, also think they'd benefit from starting Denilson as he's very industrious in possesion.

 

[Mike]

I haven't read any of the comments thus far (except those of page one where I posted), so pre-apologies if anything I said has been brought up or offends people.

What a ****** relief that is! Such hype about the game prior to the night, but I think the game itself lived up to that. Here is what I have selected to quote upon from the match:

1. Manuel Almunia - brilliant first half, dodgy second. I only hope Arsene Wenger can see the flaws in his game and gets rid of him in the summer and bringing in a more consistent keeper (for the right reasons). He thoroughly impressed me in the first 45 minutes with top quality saves from shots by Messi, Ibra and co. I was quite astonished to see the half time score still on 0-0. Though there was bound to be a turn in his performance, and this obviously showed in the first minute post-half time.

2. Zlatan Ibrahimovic - with positive statistics (from an Arsenal point of view) showing that he's never managed to score against English opposition, I was already thinking he was going to have a **** night at the Emirates. You cannot question Ibra's ability - he is a top-class striker, and that is that. He showed his intelligence with a quick look over his left shoulder to see where Almunia was and 'delicately lobbed' him. Then he showed his class again with an equally quality goal. Barca's night went downhill when he and Messi got taken off.

3. Theo Walcott, Nicklas Bendtner and Emmanuel Eboue - I have doubted Theo so much this season, and I am probably correct in saying he has nothing but pace - he has no end product, he arguably can't pass, but he's so explosive on the wing that other aspects of his game are ignored. Did well to finish the goal that he scored despite Valdes making a slight mistake.

Nicklas Bendtner... I really don't rate him (sorry Frankie ), but I want to congratulate him on such a perfect through-ball to Theo for his goal. The intent was there, and the defender (can't remember who it was) had no chance with Theo's legs.

Emmanuel Eboue - he has improved so much over the season, and I am beginning to like him more and more every week. He impressed me today - enough said.

4. Abou Diaby and Alex Song - sort it out, for God's sake!

 

[sgebenga]

song was top class mate. he just struggled in the centre back role when he had to fill in. bt he made lots of quality clearances... the let downs were sagna and diaby. diaby was shocking today.

 

[Mike]

song was top class mate. he just struggled in the centre back role when he had to fill in. bt he made lots of quality clearances... the let downs were sagna and diaby. diaby was shocking today.

Song was arguably at fault for both goals - he was too slow and wasn't tracking Ibra well (yes I know Ibra has pace, but Song was caught out too much) and he gave the ball away a lot. I'm a big fan of Song, but he disappointed me today.

As for Diaby.. well well

 

[sgebenga]

Lool yeh. i just think he found it difficult to adapt to the role. its nt natural to him anymore. ohh diaby man. shocking.. lol. oh well. when he does have a bad day its real bad ..( remember the own goal agenst man u)..and when he does have a good game he batters. he has scored lots of goals for us this season. almunia surprised me though Mike. lol.

 

[Mike]

Lool yeh. i just think he found it difficult to adapt to the role. its nt natural to him anymore. ohh diaby man. shocking.. lol. oh well. when he does have a bad day its real bad ..( remember the own goal agenst man u)..and when he does have a good game he batters. he has scored lots of goals for us this season. almunia surprised me though Mike. lol.

Alex Song is a fantastic player, don't get me wrong, but he had no excuse not to play well tonight - he's a solid, tall, strong lad and could have coped. I dunno, maybe I'm being a little harsh on him.

And I've lost it with Almunia. What is it with Arsenal and post-Seaman keepers? :S

 

[sgebenga]

Ohhhh mate I really dont know. I hope he is not here next season though. I just hope he isnt.

 

[Zebedee]

Yeh, I read a similar thing in a Guardian article about how to beat barcalona, the idea being that because Iniesta and Xavi don't track back and Barca's full backs are very attack minded they leave quite alot of space, giving time to set up shots and space to exploit on the flanks. It'll be interesting to see if Aresnal set-up like that from the start in Spain, also think they'd benefit from starting Denilson as he's very industrious in possesion.

Yeah, Liverpool (against Barca two seasons ago), USA (in the confed cup) and Chelsea (against Barca last season - they lost I know, but it was very tight and unlucky) have all shown how effective it is to do that. Problem for Arsenal is that they just aren't willing to hit it long often enough. Everything goes through the middle and it gives time for Barca to press the ball as well as doubling up on threats from the wing - Walcott scored the only time he got loose which is credit to him, although you've got to ask questions about Valdes letting that one through him. Compare that to Barca taking advantage of balls over the top for both goals they scored and how many chances they created.

Looking forward to the second leg, and genuinely hoping Arsenal pull off something spectacular.

 

[Alex]

Well it also looks like we now have a two horse title race with Fabregas out for the rest of the season.