Morning all.
Liverpool did it, Toots followed suit last night and as much as it pains me to say, one has to admire the attitude of both clubs. They looked certain to be beaten having both lost their first tie but neither accepted it. They fought from start to finish and the willingness to win saw them through. An all English club Champions League Final in June.
The Europa League Cup Final could follow suit, IF both ourselves and Chelsea get through tonight. We simply can’t be the ones to fail. We can’t.
It’s halftime and we’re 3-1 up. A hostile stadium which no doubt be full to capacity and Valencia know an early goal will raise the stadium roof. If there was one.
We can’t sit back for ninety minutes and defend as that would be catastrophic in my opinion, but we cannot go gung ho either in search of an away goal to level things up either because as we’ve shown this season and many before, we are so vulnerable to a counter attack. But I think we’ll need a goal and as Unai Emery said in his press conference, we’re going for the win. The best way to defend is by attacking he added. Where’ve we heard that before eh….
Valencia could have scored more than just the one away goal in the first tie, something which was rammed down our throats on the night by the BT commentators and since by the media but the bottom line is, they scored just the one. Missed opportunities don’t count, after all if they did, Aubameyang would have won the golden boot before Christmas and we’d have been crowned Premier League Champions a couple of months ago.
Conceding one goal is bad enough but it’s not the end of the world. Just as Valencia nicked an early one against us last week, we can do the same in Spain tonight, then it’ll be the perfect start to what’s likely to be a nervy evening for Arsenal fans. Our away form in the league has been awful for the last two seasons but in the last round of this competition we showed a bit more resilience against Napoli. Not the best side in Italy I know but they’re far from the worst too so I don’t want to play down what we achieved in Italy. A similar, if not better performance this evening might just be enough to see us through but if the chances come, we’ve simply got to take them.
Now is the time for Aubameyang to make amends for all his spurned chances. Lacazette too and anyone else who gets a chance.
Valencia are a big team, like The Watford’s in England. Big guys, strong guys who’ll be rubbing their hands together at the prospect of a set-piece against us. Anything and everything in the air in our own box they’ll fancy winning. They would have before the goal they scored, let alone now. It’s one of our biggest weaknesses and not just in our own penalty area. From back to front we’re hopeless in the air. Don’t give away free kicks and corners is the simple answer but that’s like trying to get someone to eat a doughnut without licking his or her lips. Tough task.
Emery needs to find a balance with his team selection which is obvious I know. The players themselves need to take some responsibility, not only for themselves but for their teammates too. Don’t play them into danger with a shoddy pass, don’t leave them isolated and vulnerable, give them support both on and off the ball. Work as a team instead of looking like a bunch of individuals who don’t appear to care what the guy next to him is doing or trying to do.
This is a huge game for the club. A chance to get to Baku, Azerbaijan for a Europa League Final. A chance to end the season with a trophy, the very thing footballers play the game for. Or at least that’s what they tell us.
Whether we can go on and win the competition I don’t know but let’s just get to the final first and worry about that another day.
Have a good day guys…
I feel sick and ‘we cant be the ones to fail’ resonates the most. If ‘they’ won CL and we dont win the EL , I’m done with football. I’ll deny I follow anybody and say I prefer egg chasing.
I posted this on yesterday’s post , but I feel it has relevence to this one.
It seems like there is a spate of games being decided in the last seconds of “added on time ” .Is it just me that has the impression or has it happened more frequently since the guy with the board comes out and announces the end of 90 minutes and how much longer is to go.
Most famously was McMahon’s famous 1 minute , did Liverpool switch off feeling that the job was done ? and lastly did Spurs redouble their efforts as they knew time was running out and Ajax just relexed feeling that it was virtually over ?
It just seems to be happening more often .
For one night only, I’ll be hoping for a Liverpool win.. Tough call though.
Potter, I’ll post my reply too.
Was an all English affair on the agenda from the beginning. When you think how close both clubs were to going out at the group stages…
Feel sorry for Ajax, I thought they played really well, but for the post a very different story would have been written.
Good morning Rico and all other Gooners, So our esteemed head coach is going all out for victory, lose tonight and he could be going out via Victoria Station instead.
Joking aside, We need to hope and pray that this isn’t Petr Cech’s last game of his Arsenal career, wouldn’t it be nice if he could keep a clean sheet and move on to Baku for his finale.
With apologies to Will Shakespeare, a few words for the squad:- In peace there’s nothing so becomes a man as modest stillness and humility; But when the whistle blows blows in our ears, Then imitate the action of the tiger: Stiffen the sinews, conjure up the blood, Disguise fair nature with hard-favoured rage: lend the eye a terrible aspect and go all out for a quick goal 😉
Morning all.
Well, I’ve absolutely hated the past two days of football and only one thing will remedy that-us going through!
If our players can’t lift for this one then sack the lot of them!
This is a massive game, made even more so after the Spuds “lucky” win.
Obviously there’s a few possible scenarios, but then winning their final and is losing (or not making it) is the most horrible of thoughts!!
Us winning and them losing, however, is pure ecstasy.
One step at a time but if we can’t get through from here, then we are in an even worse position than I thought.
Morning Cicero. My concern is us going all out attack. Great if we get early goals but we’re so vulnerable when we lose the ball..
Two cracking games though Scott, just not the results we wanted. Not sure where all the added time came from though..
Glad the BBC have sacked Danny Baker, what a ghastly bloke!
Morning Gooner’s
Morning Rico.
Arsenal’s record in Europe is appallingly bad, our record against Spanish teams is worse.
Arsenal have lost all three of their European finals (3) against Spanish teams.
Alternatively Arsenal won their only semi final against a a Spanish team.
What does this all mean?
In the grand scheme of things it means bugger all…
After last evenings media love in with it’s little darlings I feel flat.
I should be buzzing about the game at the Mestalla but you just have this horrible feeling at the back of your mind, after all, this is Arsenal in Europe….
Rico, the picture you picked for the post, Emery looks washed out…
Not an encouraging look at all…
Morning Kev, I have that same horrid feeling in me. Three English clubs in European finals and us not one of them. I can feel it in my bones, or is that just arthritis…..
Just why I picked it Kev, he looks done in..
Shame Gary Lineker doesn’t get the sack.
We must score at least one goal tonight imo. I can see Valencia getting two against our fragile defence.
I think Cicero should hop on a plane and give a pre match rousing speech to our troops. They certainly need some motivation after the past few away games.
Ditto there Vcc, can’t stand the bloke.
I reckon we’ll need two, safety net in case…
If we get two then we should get through. I think I will have to watch from behind my sofa tonight
If we score first, we will get through I reckon.
I hope we don’t concede 2 early because we will be stuffed lol
I’ll be joining you Vcc…
The possibility of Spurs winning is sickening,I can’t even think about it.
I have a trip to Australia in September to look forward to,I might have to bring it forward,hell if Spurs win I will have to make it one-way.
Watching both semi finals, Liverpool and Spurs seem to have so much energy.Our players seem permanently jaded.
I don’t know what to think about tonight, just get to the final.And come on Frankfurt !
I thought there was a lot riding on tonight’s game. Then the Liverpool and Spurs results came in.
These could be our most important games for the next decade. Problem is I don’t have faith in those that need to perform.
I hope, but I don’t expect.
You’ve hit the nail on the head Limey, energy. Our lot are so pedestrian in comparison. From start to finish both Liverpool and Toots gave 100%
All these goals in time added on , do you think it has anything to do with the announcement being made. I do believe that a team holding on relaxes when they know that they are nearly there. and I wonder if McMahon’s one minute had any effect on Liverpool’s players in 1989.
When I was playing refs wouldn’t tell you how long , just get on with it.
Thats how it should be imo but even so, when the added time is announced they should know by now to add on a couple more minutes in their head..
Afternoon all and thanks Rico, although if I`m honest I haven`t read anything as I`m completely depressed, I feel numb and it`s times like this how I really do not understand how any Arsenal supporters can hate clubs like Liverpool, Man U, Chavs more than The C##ts down the road .
If they win the CL I will give up blogging, I cant even be bothered about tonight, it`s unbelievably painfull to someone like me who was brought up to hate the scum and I really do I wish they were wiped off the face of this earth.
Ajax !……………..I used to like you, but for allowing a 3 goal lead to be overcome I now only hate The Spuds more !
I dont even feel like trying to make up a gag and that from someone who doesn`t take much seriousness to anything, like my wife say`s everything is a joke to me, but I feel unbelievably helpless and my only hope of getting out of this depression is supporting the fcuking Scousers for a night !………………..my sanity relies on some fcuking bindippers !……….fcukkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk this is some kind of nightmare I wish I could wake up from.
I`m not a bit religeous, but please God !
rico, you just know there’s gonna be more drama tonite, not a game for the emotionally fragile, if we go 1 nil down early on parental guidance should be advised I reckon.
Plenty of effort and guts for 90 minutes and we’ve got every chance, something we haven’t seen for a long time, we better be up for the fight, this team is doing my head in.
I’ll go for a boring 1-1 draw tonight.. these exciting come backs just can’t continue lol I hope… well that’s what I’m telling myself anyhow… 😁
good post rico…
0 – 0 will do me. A bore fest will be fantastic!
The Champions League Final of 2018/19, will be contested by;
Liverpool, who have not been Champions of England since 1990…
And
Tottenham who have not been Champions of England since 1961
Yeah, Champions League alright…
Emery should be sacked for selling Moura to Spuds !
Wenger should have been sacked for not buying him . When we played PSG hewashead and shoulders over everyone else on the pitch.
Cech, AMN, Sokratis, Koscielny, Monreal, Kolasinac, Xhaka, Torreira, Ozil, Aubameyang, Lacazette.
Leno, Mustafi, Iwobi, Mkhitaryan, Elneny, Guendouzi, Nketiah.
If the starting line-up can’t cut the mustard the bench is decidedly second rate, with the obvious exception of Leno. I don’t see any threat there.
Guaranteed Micko. Sofa is ready.
Thanks Kel.
That’s our strongest bar the injured. Best they prove it…
Be nice if Ozil put in a shift this evening, Torreira will most likely be our playmaker yet again.
I’m recording the match and won’t be able to start watching for about an hour after kick off, back later.
You’re asking a lot Micko…
Gordon Bennett……here we go again !
1-1, big big goal for us !
Such determination from Lacazette and great finish Aubameyang
Still haven’t heard Ozil name mentioned
Ah, there he is 😉
No BT, having kittens listening on 5 live!
rico, I wish you’d stop picking on him, he always gives us 15-20 minutes every game when selected !
Andrew, they need another 3 to beat us as things stand, we should be ok………famous last words !
Not sure which is worse Andrew..
Ha ha Micko.
Micko, I’m worried about 2 for extra-time, then ……
Chelsea 1 up.
rico, you know how excited all commentators get when teams attack Arsenal, especially corners or free-kicks!
Come on hot dogs, get an away goal….
Can’t we worse than Savage and Darke Andrew… lol
Slow out of the blocks but we definately got the better of them 1st half, the ref ain’t falling for any of their shite either.
Get in there !!! Back of the net.
Great from Lacazette
Warming up nicely at Stamford Bridge.
Awesome. Great from AMN and Auba….
Yesssss heart can relax now!
“Now is the time for Aubameyang to make amends for all his spurned chances. Lacazette too and anyone else who gets a chance.”
I think they have……
rico, 48 goals between them this season, Auba gets the match ball, yes it’s a semi final but you have to ask why we can’t do it away more often.
Champions League here we come lol.
Well done Emery and the boys. Excellent.
That’s what I don’t understand Micko. But then the Spaniards aren’t as physical I guess.
Gracias y buenos noches.
job done
Comments tomorrow
Nervy start but ultimately a great performance, Lacazette and Aubameyang were amazing tonight, Anyone wanting to drive to Baku? It’ll take you thirteen days. 😉
Excellent performance highlights how dreadful they’ve been lately. And I swear I saw Miki break into a brisk jog at one point.
Adam, don’t want to sound pedantic, but it was more of a saunter lol.
Bring on the Chav’s, nite Gooners.
Great result, fantastic by Aubameyang and Lacazette who were superb.
Xhaka is a liability, we really need to move him on, a game like this and he’s still zoning out.
The last hurrah for a few of our players, let’s hope that they can bring home the bacon from Baku, that’s if you can get any in Azerbaijan?
Well, I’ll settle for that bore fest! Just one more significant win to achieve……..in Baku.
( sod Burnley😊)
Morning all.
New post up now