Morning all.
We didn’t need that to happen but it is what it is. Thankfully the first leg is at The Emirates and we need a top notch performance and a glut of goals. Seriously, the second leg in Moscow will be tough, the atmosphere hostile in front of thousands of fans who are known for being thugs and racists. It won’t be nice and even if I was given a ticket with a free flight thrown in, I wouldn’t go.
A statement from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office which is as follows:
“Due to heightened political tensions between the UK and Russia, you should be aware of the possibility of anti-British sentiment or harassment at this time; you’re advised to remain vigilant, avoid any protests or demonstrations and avoid commenting publicly on political developments.
While the British Embassy in Moscow is not aware of any increased difficulties for British people travelling in Russia at this time, you should follow the security and political situation closely and keep up to date with this travel advice.”
There’s no place for politics in sport, I think of that we’d all agree but with what’s going on right now between Russia and the rest of the world, well I just hope it’s mellowed somewhat before we go there on the 12th April. Similar could be said about the World Cup in the summer and I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see England pull out of the competition before then.
I know it’s a sweeiping statement to make but I’m sure UEFA had a input into us drawing CSKA Moscow, just as they probably did Manchester City drawing Liverpool in the Champions League after all, when was the last time Real Madrid we’re drawn against Barcelona at this stage of the competition? Has it ever happened before? I’m not sure Bayern Munich have ever face Dortmund either in the quarter finals but sure as heck, more often than not drew one of the above listed clubs but at the first knockout stage. Yep, just to make sure we’d go out and even when we did look like we’d upset the odds, up stepped one of the officials to intervene with a bad decision. Not in all I know because many a time we’ve been the authors of our own downfall, but a few that’s for sure.
Which is why I’m convinced we’ll need to head to Moscow with a hefty goal advantage because I bet Putin is already filling a brown envelope ready to slip into the pockets of the officials before kickoff.
Unless his mate and 30% Arsenal shareholder Alisher Usmanov can persuade him otherwise…..
Finally, Happy St Patrick’s Day to all you Irish Gooners out there, enjoy. ☘️☘️
Morning Rico, good post.
It’s gonna be mega boring for a couple of weeks, Interlull and all, before we play again vs Stoke @ home on April 1st.
Then we’ll have 7 or 8 games that month, how crazy is that?!
Let’s hope that Wenger uses these 8 remaining EPL games to give as much playing time as possible to Nketiah, Willock and Nelson.
I don’t know if the coaching staff have been doing more defensive work, but Xhaka has shown some improvement recently. Both Ramsey and Wilshere (new contracts pending?) have also shown more responsibility, and about time too.
Wenger’s squad building certainly gets more bizarre month by month.
Mustafi and Chambers, both surpluse to requirements in the summer, are now key members of the team. Meanwhile Holding is seemingly discarded.
Elneny, another made available in the summer, now on the cusp of a new contract offer?
Did Wenger and Mertesaker discuss his emotional problems in the summer?
If not, then it was poor on both sides, because we probably should have retained Gabriel.
Wenger spent all summer telling anyone who would listen, that the squad was too big and now it appears as if our squad is small.
Where is the bloody plan here?
It all seems as if it’s made up on the hoof.
Shad Forsyth thankfully, seems to be doing a good job.
Conspiricy theories are wonderful things and I would imagine that 90% of us could see the Moscow trip on the horizon. Whenever you see one you have to ask yourself exactly who and what is to gain from them.
For quite sometime our media and the forces that guide our information have been caught up in the maelstrom.of Brexit , it has dominated virtually every news story since 2016 and as we know facts , non facts , theories and downright lies have been bandied back and forth ever since.
So much is going on surrounding the political situation in Europe that no doubt a whole new string of theories will arise whilst the Brexit thing gets fudged and agreememts are made without every part being laid open to the general public now that the great Russian bogey bear has reared it’s head again and will dominate the headlines and talking head programmes for weeks.
Did the Russians go on a sudden killing spree of their ex employees or were the incidents inspired by George Soros ? , . Or was it Tony Blair ? , Merkel ?, Kalergi ?, Bilderberg ? who wants us to suddenly see the light that we are better off tied to a European Project to protect us as the Russians push to re assert themselves on Eastern Europe’s borders.?
One thing that I can promise you is that I for one will not be packing my bags for a trip on Aeroflot even though they do fly conveniently from Norwich as the TV is as close as I want to get to the action.
Do I think the draw was fixed ? Probably yes !
Do I know why and who is to gain ? NO !
Agree – draw was almost certainly rigged, especially the Citeh v Liverpool.Weird that, how Barca, Bayern and Real almost always avoid each other!
http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid=2246729.html#/
Up till Nov 2015.
Not many meeting there!
Must be UEFA Potter, I’m sure they are not as clean as they make out to be.
Morning all.
Russia, did Putin put the ‘fix’ in, or was it all Rico’s doing?
The inadvertent attempted murder of a former Russian spy, on English soil is a strange one. It must be a Putin inspired plot or an attempt to curry favour with his population to obtain more adulation that revenge is alaways a dish taken cold, Zzz’s being the chosen foody restaurant by the former spy as the place for his final meal!
Who knows what the truth is, not me! However, it seems that the government have seen the need for strong and stable retaliatory action. Wise or unwise we shall have to wait and see, but…..? Perhaps they see this scenario as a great opportunity to show just how strong and stable and determined to bring the great Russian beat to it knees. Mrs May’s ‘Falklands’ moment?
What effect it will have on our Moscow visit at this point it is impossible to say. If relations between the two countries seriously deteriorate, then I can envisage the game not taking place. Perhaps they’ll find a neutral country to stage the game. Perhaps they’ll toss a coin. Who can say?
One thing is for certain, sport and politics should never impact on each other, but given that this is Russia were talking about nothing is certain. The politburo do not play to any rules except their own, eg Sochi not to mention the salt mines!
If there is any suggestion that the team may be placed in danger by going to Moscow than, I believe the Arsenal should stay at home, even if it means conceding the match and tie. The Champions League is only a pipe dream anyway!
On and off snow here and very cold. Plunged back into a Siberian winter……another Russian plot!
Db, as Adam often says. There’s a big big story out there just waiting to break, if only someone had the time and balls to investigate the game…
Don’t you go blaming me Wavy, I’ve got to go out later… 😉
Seriously though, I’d rather both Arsenal and England pull out if there’s the slightest chance of problems. I do wonder if the FA will see how our match goes and go from there as far as any decision is made.
Thanks Rico and afternoon all.
Love a conspiracy theory, they make some of the best films, but if you love a conspiracy theories it probably means you are a paranoid person, lucky I`m not, although I was in Tesco`s earlier wearing a Boo Russia T-Shirt when I dropped a bag on the floor, suddenly this bear of a man wearing a Moscow Dynamo shirt with Lev Yashin on the back grabbed a Butternut Squash and looked like he was in penetration mode, but I got up quickly and he carried on as if nothing happened !
Keep a watchful eye open for men in Homburg hats carrying pointy umbrellas, who are obviously following you!
You’ve converted to a Dortmund fan then Lc?
Wavy, trouble is, it’s snowing, they’ll all have umbrellas…
if only someone had the time and balls to investigate the game… Get UNTOLD on the case they love a conspiricy or two.
Afternoon. Well , Merts confession was an eye opener. I can see how it may have that effect on some. A sensitive lad who just wanted to play local footie with his mates, with a pushy dad. He can’t be alone in this.
However, there are far more less sensitive, overconfident (Dele Ali?) lads out there imo.
How Merts must have loathed players like Nasri, full of their own piss and importance.
I’m happy that Merts has exited unscathed, unlike his German mate who topped himself. He must have been suffering the same as Merts. So sad, so much pressure on young men’s shoulders. All for big money.
Well Charlie Nicholas’ feeling, must have just been an itch that needed scratching. Still he made some media headlines and as a pundit thats all that matters. I bet he didn’t suffer the collywobbles when he was playing.
Think he was anticipating a disaster against Milan , his bet backfired. He should know by now that Arsene is teflon coated and will slip out of any difficult situation., More to the point how many of his carrying injury players will get league rested now at least until April is gone and will Lacazette get rushed back too early ?
Might be a step to far for them Potter although I’d be surprised if they’ve not thought about it..
Perhaps it’s been delayed until after the Stoke game, Moscow or Southampton… lol
Liverpool one up thanks to Mo Salah.
What I don’t understand, is why the pitch looks fine at Anfied, yet the Manure pitch is white with more snow to come.
Now if I were being cynical, I’d think Manure want the match postponed.
Morning all.
4” of snow here in the Shires. What with that and the blow, I’m stuck indoors for the day…
Morning Rico. Less snow here but still too cold to wander around outside for long, especially without the thermals on.
Morning Adam. You’re lucky, kind of. The weather here clearly caught the council out and even the proper land rovers are going at a snails pace..
New post up.