Morning all.
Jeeze, that was awful. Painful, lacklustre, disorganised, sloppy and any other derogatory word you and I can think of. I thought the challenge we faced would be somewhat more tricky than the home leg but gracious me, didn’t the team and Wenger make it more difficult than it should have been. Cech was poor, the defence weak, the midfield non existent and going forward, well we offered very little. The only player who looked busy and trying desperately to make something happen was Mohamed Elneny. That’s how it seemed to me anyway although you may disagree.
By luck or fine judgement, the official site have ‘highlights’ of last night’s match in a ‘one minute clip’ which is about right as far as Arsenal go.
After CSKA Moscow went 2-0 up, I thought our run in the Europa Cup was soon to be over because sure as heck, the home side looked more likely to score than Arsenal did. They nearly did too from a free kick which Cech did really well to push around the post. Elneny did have the ball in the back of the net with a really good header but up went the offside flag. Rightly so I hasten to add.
Then came our best move of the night. Started by Danny Welbeck, fnished by Danny Welbeck with a lovely strike into the top right hand side of the goal. Elneny provided the pass through to the Englishman which was weighted perfectly. Exhale!
That pretty much did for CSKA as they needed two goals just to take the tie into extra time and with their heads having dropped a little, it was us who’d go on to get another goal. Another perfectly place ball through from Elneny and another fine finish too, this time from Aaron Ramsey.
There’s not much to say which hasn’t been said about this Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal, certainly when playing away from home but with the teams left now in the competition, if we perform like that again, the Frenchman and his players will end the season trophy less.
One of RB Salzburg, Atlético Madrid and Marseille await us in the semifinals. We’ll find out later this morning who’ll be gifted that pleasure.
Guys and gals, if you’re reading, HH is experiencing a number of problems. Please bear with me as I try and rectify them. Could take a while as I’ve no idea what I’m doing… 🙂
You and Arsene, Rico ?
I could post a bit easier today Rico, in case you’ve removed something?
Very good post btw
Wasn’t it reported somewhere that Wenger complained that the team didn’t do what he told then to do? You don’t say???
Ha ha Kev, I nearly wrote that at the end…
Agree regarding Elneny, he was our stand out performer, although I thought that Welbeck did ok, in fact, I thought that our attack looked better with him leading it, Lacazette seemed sluggish to me, maybe he was carrying an injury?
And Ramsey had a good game, no one of his best, but he took a bit of a battering and was still charging through the midfield at the end.
Uh ho, it’s playing up again… ☹️
Thanks re the post Kev. I’m sick of writing the same old thing though..
Think Bob was spot on last night when he said Elneny embarrassed so called better players last night. I really like the Egyptian, his engine is incredible and he never stops trying regardless of what others are doing.
Hi Rico, had to hit the send button a dozen times before that last comment went, it’s being a right git.
I’m banking on Atletico in the semi-finals Rico, it’s written in the stars…. ?
Lacazette has been out for a while so perhaps his fitness levels aren’t up to top level yet..
Re the site, I’m trying, honest… 😉
Yep, agree totally about Elneny, his two passes for the goals were inch perfect, both Welbeck and Ramsey didn’t have to break stride and their finishes were quality.
I reckon Uefa want them to beat us in the final Kev…
I hope we get them in the draw today too, let Simeone teach Wenger a footballing lesson…
Salzburg (spelling) I bet will be our semi..
Morning to you by the way…
Your spelling was spot on Rico ?
Thank God for spellchecker as I haven’t a clue how to spell Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan.
And Adam would come down on me like a tons of bricks if I cocked up my punctuation…
Home first to Atletico
Ha ha, Atletico… 🙂
Kev, I was keeping that quiet about spell checker, I’d be wearing a dunce hat without it… 😉
Potter, may I nick it please for tomorrow’s post?
By all means
Morning rico, all. Good summing up. Wenger said ‘I was surprised at the intensity’. Really, after all these years, he is surprised when other teams make fast starts.
Surprise surprise. Costa.
I don’t know if was the best or the worst.
I think in two games we have more chances to win then in a final
Thanks Potter.
Morning Andrew, thanks. He does talk rubbish doesn’t he. We all expected it, but he didn’t. Sums him up eh..
Jm, but still little chance I’d say.
No Costa but, no Gabriel either, more’s the pity!
Morning all what a famous draw……..last night! What a well prepared team we watched last night. Full of subtlety and guile thanks to our genius manager/coach who must have given each player a really well prepared dossier on each player of the opposition and a truly masterful game plan! Who the fcuk am I kidding. We are lucky to even be in the draw let alone anything else.
Cack begats cack and good ol’Arsene talks lots of cack, in fact he’s full of it. Ah well, if we lose to Atleti we should be able to wave bye bye to our current coach and wave hello to a new dynasty! ( I’m dreaming again, aren’t I?)
Another Stavangar day here, again. Damp, dank and overcast. No wonder the Norwegians are so depressed most of the time!
Ever onward.
Wavy, if not winning the Europa Cup really would be the difference between Wenger staying or going then I’d take a battering over two legs against Atletico..
It shouldn’t be that way of course. The results and performance levels over the last few years should be enough for his tenure to come to an end…
Well said Rico. But there are still things to be said. Arsene’s inability to demand commitment from his players, in my opinion is the real problem of the team. I wonder how Wilshere, on this his present horrible form gets in to the team. Bellerin for a while has been very poor and Mustafi, despite being a world cup winner defends like a school boy. When a team plays and almost three to four players in that team are poor, what do you get? These players, unfortunately do not have people who will bench them. After watching the athleticism of Liverpool versus ManC or the sheer commitment and pressing of the Tottenham and ManU, teams you will begin to understand why the lazy players choose Arsenal. Also you begin to understand why the good ones who come to arsenal decline. Despite their quality, when they go to other teams, it takes them time to fit in example – Sanchez, Chamberlain. We have such a talented side, unfortunately we do not have a manager to make them play to their potential.
Well it’s Friday the 13th. .it has to be Atletico.
Good post rico. .I am with you it’s a win win situation. If we fail to win the cup then the silver lining is AW has no place to hide .
Very true Daniel, there’s plenty to be said and plenty more to be asked of Wenger but is anyone asking him?
Thanks Kk, I’m quite looking forward to the battle against Atletico…
So the cat is amongst the pigeons after Roma sent out an email to Liverpool about obtaining tickets before the draw was made…
Evening all and another fine post Rico.
I wonder if A Madrid fans were moaning about their teams result last night………..losing and only just making the semi final !………hope they were and plan some Simeone Out banners in our games with them !
😆
I was reading the topical news on Page 3 of The Sun today whilst listening to talkSPORT radio when they announced the semi final draws for the Champions League and Europa League and it dawned on me that I had something in common with both Liverpool and Arsenal……………we all had hard semis !……………………yes I know ……….an oxymoron !
Really looking forward to the games against A Madrid, more so to check out how Simeone works and how he sets up, dont think there`s an Argentine word for shambolic defending, probably one in Spanish though !.
🙂
PS
I have have had no problems in posting !………………………cant beat Cornish Super Fibre !………………..made from Pasty`s !
Thanks Lc.
I doubt it re Atlético Madrid fans, they’ve not had to watch dross served up for the last ten years…
Evening Rico and the House.
I have just watched our u23’s beat Swansea 1-0 and go 3points clear on top
of the league. I must say that after watching that load of Dross last night
I found it a real breath of fresh air. Most of the team played the full 120mins
on tues night but never gave a inch all .
But saying this I think Ramsey should be given a pat on the back for playing the full90 mins
He was injured just before H/T went off and returned in 5 mins.
During that time they put 5 Staples in a shocking gash in his ankle .
I cannot see him playing on Sunday.
Morning Rick, all.
That’s incredible re Ramsey, I didn’t know his injury had been so bad. Good on him and at least he can rest now before we face Atlético, as can a few others I guess. At least Newcastle aren’t in a relegation battle so they’ll be no moaning if Wenger plays a much weakened team which if I was him, would be tempted to do.
Under 23’s have done well, hope they keep their place at the top of the table. At least one of our teams are doing well.
New post up now.