Champions League returns for us tonight and we are up against AC Milan in the first leg of this knockout competition fixture.
Here is the squad that is ready for the tough test ahead in a hostile San Siro:
Wojciech Szczesny
Lukasz Fabianski
Thierry Henry
Robin van Persie
Yossi Benayoun
Andrey Arshavin
Theo Walcott
Aaron Ramsey
Tomas Rosicky
Alex Song
Mikel Arteta
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Laurent Koscielny
Francis Coquelin
Thomas Vermaelen
Johan Djourou
Kieran Gibbs
Bacary Sagna
Wenger has already voiced concerns over the state of the pitch:
It’s worrying. They relaid it on Monday and we’re playing on Wednesday. So it’s terrible. Out of respect for the supporters it should be a better pitch. I’m not suspicious that it is deliberate. I think they wanted to make the pitch better but they made it worse.
Arsenal go into this game having earned a couple of good results.
Wins against Blackburn and Sunderland should mean our confidence is high, we are away from home which will be tough but that is what the Champions League is all about, it’s never easy at this stage.
Sadly we still lack some of our players and have just lost Per Mertsacker to an ankle injury, Thomas Vermaelen should return to his favoured central position while Gibbs should replace him at left back. The latter has just returned from injury and a game like this is certainly throwing back in at the deep end, let’s hope he has a quiet night and this game turns out to be his first in a long run of games.
I doubt Wenger will spare too many tonight, if their fit they will probably play. The African Nations has finished but Wenger has confirmed that this fixture comes to early for him.
Chamberlain has made great strides in the last few games and has forced Wenger to consider him for tonight’s game.
Coquelin has travelled and will no doubt be ready and waiting should Gibbs suffer a breakdown.
Robin of course will be leading the line, Chamakh is back and I would expect him to be warming the bench. Theo has had a few patchy games but Wenger will still have him with the squad, his pace will cause problems and if he has a good game could be the difference between the two teams.
I would expect Arteta and Song to be in front of the back four with Ramsey or Rosicky just ahead of them.
Chesney will be in goal, it maybe a cup match, but not a cup match for Fabianski!
The back four picks itself but it has been a while since they have played together and in my opinion if they all stay fit, they are the ideal back four available.
This game will be very competitive, Milan are a very good side and playing at home swings the advantage over to them.
We must play our own game, as a team keeping possession and not giving the ball away which will make us a very tough outfit to overcome.
Our wing men will trouble Milan a lot, they won’t like Theo’s pace and they won’t know much about Chamberlain. If they get good support from our midfield and together keep giving our captain opportunities, he will eventually make the difference in this game.
Feed Robin and he will score but ease off and Robin and he will come looking for the ball, we need him where he hurts teams and that’s up front and in the thick of it.
If we get a sniff on goal, shoot, we saw what Ramsey did with his first shot on goal against Sunderland and tonight we need to carry on the same way..
It’s going to be tough, of course it is but if we stay disciplined and turn up wanting this result, we could just get it…
Henry to nick the winner??
Do that and it may just bring a bit of a smile our mates sad face, he could certainly do with a lift at this particular time.
COYG’s
Written by Steve Palmer
Morning folks,
Big day for the us….COYG
Morning all…
Howdy Erick, huge test ahead….
Howdy Rico, huge test indeed but we are the Arsenal….we can do it
COYG
I think we’ll get at least a draw Erick, high scoring one would be good, nice few away goals to take back to The Emirates 🙂
Excited already Rico, open game the way we like it no parking the bus……..Theo and OX must be licking their lips
Exactly Rico, any away goal is always great……..hope the team is up for it
How rude of me, good read Steve and thanks…
It certainly has the potential to be a cracker Erick, as long as we ‘turn up’ – i see Merts is out for the rest of the season….
The state of the pitch is a worry though, look how bad Wembley was after it was relayed, we can’t afford to pick up any injuries….
Howdy folks, really looking forward to the game tonight. Here’s hoping we hit them for 6. A robin hatrick,a brace for theo and one for titi. And don’t nobody tell me its not feasible. We ll thonk those italian punks. Hey erick,how are you fella.
What Per out of the season, typical for us
Rico off for a bit back later
COYG
Morning Goonster…
That would be something wouldn’t it but, 1-0 would do me 😉
Wenger hinted yesterday about Merts 🙁
Laters Erick
mornin/evening all
AW bitching about the pitch. Both teams have to play on it so he should STFU
https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTl0MPk9Zq1zj7kawGawUsdNZ6N5ly_Lx2KtV6gqnmhi7wIMXsK
Evening guys.
Not long to go now.
Feeling pretty confident about it,actually.
Hi alan, they do but for a club like Milan, it should be better surely….
Look at what the sunderland pitch did to Merts??
“Wins against Bolton and Sunderland should mean our confidence is high.”
I think you mean Blackburn and Sunderland.
Very exicted about tonight’s game, I reckon we can get a result over there.
Hi Rico
I don’t know. It must be difficult for team to know where the bad bits are, as they constantly change
Hi Scott, what time will it be on for you?
Thanks Breezy, all updated…
but to relay it on monday alan, when they know this game is 48 hours later, shouldn’t be allowed…
It has nothing to do with attempting to cause injuries to our players.
If anything,it will stifle our passing game.
all we need is 2 away goals but i think we can get 3 in a victory. COYYFFFGGGGGGGGG
Yeah Alan , one of the advantages of being inconsistent. The San Siro is a shared pitch and gets little rest . It shows the value of our stadium design. Sunderland did it and no doubt Milan will have produced a pitch to slow down our pace. It will be hard to pass through them, They have Van Bommel in the middle so expect a few iffy tackles and the passing will have to be sharp. We could come back with a win , probably a draw , a loss could also be there , it all depends which of our teams turns up.
Rico,6.30 am.
I will be catching updates on here though,as work will interfere!!!
I appreciate that Scott but it can cause injury too – the mancs used to rough up their pitch to stop us playing a few years ago….
Good morning Guys and Chicks of the Gunners’ faith.
Sir SP is already wetting the appetite for today’s game.
Regarding the pitch I beg to differ. Its not the first time that San Siro had a poor surface. A few months ago it was likened to a potato field….it was that bad. I think its more of a case of a poor groundsman other than anything else.
On the other hand they might have seen the Sunderland game and decided to copy them.
hi all, I’m looking forward to this game and can see a positive result; a positive draw.
Chamack is not included in the above traveling list how come he’d be warming the bench then?
Hi devil, Potter, bg27 and Osi
Tonight can’t come quick enough….
Good point about Chamakh Osi, that’s my fault, i added the squad to SSP’s post this morning – oops 😉
I have a feeling that if they did rumble the pitch than it is obvious that their standard has fallen quite a good level. It simply shows they are scared from us.
On the other hand if they are good at passing (which they are on their day) it will also be detriment to them.
The only snag is that they are slow while we can be fast and that pitch will hamper us more than them.
rico, so does that mean he’s in the list?
Rico,and the way our luck is going,it will be our lads copping injuries!!!!
Good point devil, let’s hope with give them something to fear, any half-hearted performance and we will be in the mire….
No Osi, he’s in london, best place for him 😉
That’s what worries me Scott 🙁
I’m gunning for Henry to sign off with some great stuff, his sharpness is improving and he’d be very motivated to leave with smile.
I’m still hoping he has one more game in him after tonight Osi, the next home league game, i know wenger has said he’s off but…..
but he may change his[wenger] mind and negotiate he’d [henry] stayed until Spurs game!!! that wouldn’t surprise me.
It all depends on the mental and physical state of Gervinho and Chamack. If they need more time to settle back then TH might stay.
However the emergence of the OX has given the team a fresh impetus. Personally I would like to see TH back with the team and play in the last 30 minutes of each game. He will help the team immensely. AW can pay around 1 or 2 million to get him back. Besides he can help the kids mature better.
Devil,the kids just need to look and learn from the King.
DG I really think that Henry has still a lot of skills and goals left in him and can help us next season if he improves his fitness level. I mean if he re-signs a year contract? I don’t know about his contractual arrangement with his current side.
Hi all!!! Rico, Devil, Goonster, SP e.t.c…… you guys sure sparkle my arsenal side of the day, thanks. great post SP!!!.
Devil, i think it’s more likely to be down to his club, TH wants to stay but they want him back 🙁
Morning all,
Potter, we nearly signed Van Bommel in 2002, wenger offered 7 mill for him, PSV wanted double that so wenger went out and bought a world cup winner in the form of Gilberto Silva for 4.5 million instead, what a great bit of business that was.
Can’t afford another injury to the defence for the rest of the season now otherwise we’re gonna see Squillachi rear his ugly head up again….gawd forbid.
I would rather he got Bartley back and offered them Squilli in return
Morning all,
Just read the post, and i must say its a bit diferent from the original, I think we will call this a double effort Rico.
Thank you Breezy for pointing out my mistake, not Bolton but Blackburn, But Bolton wasn’t a bad result was it. just a matter of a few goals eh.
Didn’t know about the relaying of the pitch, but at the end of the day i don’t suppose Milan are used to playing on a ploughed field either, same for both teams at the end of the day and good practice for Sunderland. COYG
Chamakh scored against Milan only a couple of seasons back in the Emirates Cup, went on to get a 1 all draw.
I often wonder what he’s up to today, anyone know ?
Steve, if ever you wanted proof that people pay attention to your posts, there you go.
Hi Micko,
i love van Bommel, not as a player but for telling the Totts their club was too small for him to join 😉
didn’t he clatter one of our players too and that put wenger off of him?
Morning Steve, sorry for the additions and mucking it around a bit 😉
Rico, he’s been done for GBH on more than one occasion !
The biggest put down had to be Zinedine Zidane was he was asked about a move to tottenham and he replied “who are tottenham” classic stuff.
He’s a nasty one but i bet some wouldn’t have minded seeing him in red and white Micko, classic to ZZ …. 🙂
Hi upgonners, didn’t see you in moderation, sorry for the delay…
devil – agree re Bartley, he could be one player that Rangers don’t want/cant afford to pay, hopefully he’ll come back…
rangers can have Squiili for nowt, that might help their finances 😉
You guys see the comments that Bergkamp is supposed to have made?
Sorry had to pop out for my drink for tonights game, and thanks for the comment Micko 🙂 hope i’m celebrating later. Bring back Bartley and let him learn here, he knows more than Squilly now.
I have to do that too later Steve, think we’ll be needing it 😉
Gonna be a tough one dodgy bounces and a few ups and downs but hopefully we’ll get the upper hand, in fact a few dodgy bounces may help us
bloomin hope we do …..
Micko, re Chamakh, no idea but he certainly won’t be playing tonight 😉
Bergkamps comments i disagree with, the lack of british talent has nothing to do with Arsenals lack of trophies, fighting spirit is born into all sportsmen why compete against one another if you dont want to win. The solution is to blend the right players together and train them to play as a team play with heart and play for one another even then its not always successful. but with all that and a few good breaks and of course your fair share of luck you may just win the Carling cup. 🙂
I’d still like a few more Englsih players in our side though, and over the next few years I can see that happening….
Off for a bit, catch up later….
good morning.
No chamack? Who can score today?
Catch you later
Afternoon Gooners
Afternoon Rico.
May i compliment you sir, on another fine journalist effort, Sir Steven of New North Road… 😉
My tip of the evening. A red card for Van Bommell.
The pitch at The Stadium of Shite should have been just the right preparation for this evenings fayre.
http://www.arsenalist.com/
@YoungGunsBlogJamie Sanderson
Good stat: #AFC have earned €298.8m from the Champions League; the highest of any club who has not won the competition.
@YoungGunsBlogJamie Sanderson
No plans as yet for Kyle Bartley to return to #AFC after #RFC went into administration. Loan fee paid at start of the summer.
Another financial trophy we can all celebrate kev, whens the bus parade !
My tip of the day would be to start with Coquelin at left back and defend like your lives depended on it.
Evening guys and gals…
Micko, i’d be happier with Coq at Lb than Gibbs….
😆 re the bus parade…
Hiya Mick/Ric, 😉
Yes, we’ll all be down Highbury Corner as the bus goes past on it’s way to Islington Town Hall while Gazides waves the bank statement in the air from up top.
I’d be tempted to start Gibbs and save Coquelin for Sunderland.
Think that Gerv will also be involved this weekend.
I guess what i’m saying rico is don’t be giving away any silly goals tonight, hit them on the break, get them back to the emirates and put them out of their misery.
Offski for a beef stew…. 😀
Hi AK, just goes to show where the priorites are eh….
Not sure it’s the right game to play Gibbs Micko, not for his first game back after injury….
I’d rather we put them out their misery tonight though 😉
Off for dinner, back shortly…..
@YoungGunsBlogJamie Sanderson
#AFC team: Gibbs in for injured Mertesacker. Ramsey in for Chamberlain, so Rosický keeps his place.
@YoungGunsBlogJamie Sanderson
A 4-3-3 for Milan. Boateng and Robinho supporting Ibrahimovic. Seedorf and van Bommel in the holding roles.
@YoungGunsBlogJamie Sanderson
Injured trio Jack Wilshere, André Santos and Carl Jenkinson have all traveled to the San Siro to support #AFC team-mates. Spirit.
@YoungGunsBlogJamie Sanderson
San Siro pitch, which has a history of injuries, looks in terrible condition. Few suggestions AW will rotate accordingly.
Team in full: Szczesny, Sagna, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Gibbs, Song, Arteta, Ramsey, Rosicky, Walcott, Van Persie.
Substitutes: Fabianski, Djourou, Coquelin, Arshavin, Benayoun, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Henry.
Just the two changes AK…
I really worry for the players tonight….
Dinner cooked, now off to eat it 😉
4 4 2….. 4 5 1….?
Hmmmmm….
That lineup smacks more of 4-4-1-1 than 4-3-3.
So maybe we will get to see Ramsey on the right. Or will it be a 4-3-3 with Rosicky up front on the right wing?? That I doubt though. I gather it will be a midfield of Rosicky on the left, Arteta and Song in the middle, and Ramsey on the right.
The game will show us better though.
Good evening guys and chicks
4 2 3 1…?
Where’s the coach when i need him…. 🙄
Sneaking up on the blind side… 😉
I can sneak up on the blind side mate…..and then bammmmmmm
how are you habib???
Very good habib.
Still cold down south?
What do you reckon?
I got a 2-2 feeling….
we had snow again today mate. Its still very cold but at least it did not rain that much today.
I think we will win today. ….that is, if we turn up. the ritch is bad but its the same for us both.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17033059
TH12
Goal number 230 for TH 12 tonight…..
Maybe 231..?
232 has a more nice sounding note about it mate. 😆
i’ll drink a bier to that amigo…
The pitch is a mess on the flanks…so it is a good move by AW to have the more central minded Rosicky playing today. So it could be more a case of 4-3-1-2 to suffocate midfield.
And another good move to leave the Ox for later in the game. He will come against tiring legs.
if AW gets TH on in the last 30 mins I have a feeling he will bust his gut to score with a good run. Maybe a header and a freekick later on to claim 232.
Sounds good to me mate.
Off to see game….
hello
I’m very busy tonight but I’m going to watch the match.
AW is worrying about the pitch…
has gibbs beefed up a bit??
If our defence holds up,we can beat this mob 3 or 4 nil.
we need to sort our passing out scott, keep gining the ball away….
F**K, and that boy Prince scores!!
Has RvP touched the ball???
I’m not enjoying this 🙁 🙁
Neither are the 5000 gooners that travelled.
The midfield is being over-run, walcotts decision making is terrible, he’s scared to put it in the box.
Gonzo is looking dangerous for them, we gotta watch him.
The game is a big fecking yawn.
we need more belief and more teamwork
the attack is inexistent as there is a hole in the middle of the park where they are over running us
Double Feck….
This is shocking!!
It’s all too easy for Milan and now Kos is going off injured!!
What happened with Kos???
We are fucked….
There’s nothing like an Arsenal game to take your mind off of things…FFS!
Hi Lee, we sure are….
Hi Lee, couldn’t have put it better myself.
The very fact that Walcott was given a chance to play professional football and I wasn’t is unbelievable, I have never hated an Arsenal player, but I can say I HATE Walcott.
We deserve to be 4 or 5 down, Wenger should have stepped down at the beginning of the season, saved himself even more blushes!
Are they too good or, and as I think, we are all over the place??
RvP isn’t in the game, the midfield are being totally over run, Ramsey and Rosicky are having shokers and wehn we do get the ball, we pass it right back to them….
We need changes before the 60 mins mark…..
What a piss poor performance from our lot.
Bill O’Herlihy – “a depressing first half for Arsenal”.
Sorry Bill its been a depressing 7 years for Arsenal.
Gee Paul,no sour grapes there.
We need a goal lively but I can’t see it happening… as for ibrahimovic & boateng a brace of wankers IMHO!!
The second goal was sloppy, just sloppy!
I can’t see where we will get one Lee, unless wenger makes a change soon..
TH or the Ox has to come on soon surely??
, just get Walcott off, cant pass cant cross won’t tackle
Esp, name one who has had a good first half for us??
Whats that scott?
No one rico, Arteta has been shocking.
The problem is the same: what is Ramsey doing in the pitch? He runs runs and theres isn’t anywhere.
He not defend well and is very confuse in attack.
Walcott with no space it’s awful.
Kos injury… now become the problems with the central backs.
thats my point Esp, we can’t single out just one tonight, well, we could if ‘one’ was having a good game – its a poor first half from each and everyone of them…..
It would be nice if one of them was to stand up and at least pretend like they care.
Exactly JM, no space for walcott….
Ramsey isn’t the only poor player tonight and yes, defence probs ahead now, hey ho, we have JD and Squilli…..
Walcott is like a rabbit caught in headlights……still we can strive for the 4th in the league cup! We are a fucking joke….constantly papering over crevaces we need better quality players not all these £1 shop bargains!!
Th12 on for the prick ……
Lee you are right. A couple of quality players rather than waste money on a few young duds. The board won’t learn
One joke after another
Maybe this is what we need Lee….
Tell you what, we critise the outfield players but real soon there needs those same questions to be asked of our goalkeeper!
Always said the Champions league was over-rated, the FA cup is a much bigger competition !!!!!……..and all we have left.
Exactly, it would be nice if he maybe could save one.
We’ll be out of that this weekend Micko, the players will be ‘jaded and a little bit lacking in physicality’…..
Esp, i think he’s gone downhill – he has no-one challenging him, he needs that being so young…..
Ripped apart at the back again!!
Micko, I have said there are too many competitions. English clubs should play in English competitions, not this nonsense. So the club gets a bit of money that goes into the board’s pocket and to pay for a dud adolescent
Big deal
Blimey, was that our first chance on goal?
Maybe we’re trying to do a comeback like spurs against Inter only we haven’t got a Gareth Bale in the team, just benny on the bench.
I’ve had enough…….laters gooners, catch you tomorrow.
TH on why? For what?
See ya Micko, i know how you feel ….
No is the time for Wenger and his little plan to be seen for what it is.Average players, overpaid, until the board see their little empire start to fall will they do anything , then its too late. Walcott is one of the most overated players I have ever seen.
JM, TH is lost tonight……
Ox on for Gibbs, TV to LB and Song drops back…..
it gets worse doesn’t it……
what will Arsene’s excuse be this time…the pitch?
He mentioned this before the gaem in case of a beating so he had a ready made excuse
Its not the pitch, not for one minute – we have been out played, out fought and and have been beaten fair and square…
However, had we actually turned up……
Anyone fancy Mick McCarthy ?
We are SHIT!!!!
Steve, NO!!
My God 😮 😮
Mrs McCarthy?
What was that Rosicky 😀
we’ve had 52% possession
🙂 Lee…
I take it you mean Heather….
Fucking disgusted
It can’t be much clearer how much investment is needed after today.no more pappering over the cracks.
That was pathetic by Djourou
This is worse than the 2-8 by Manure.
At least that day we were not with a good team
Today we were with our best possible 11 but no one turned up.
Were Milan that good??? No we were awful and a pathetic excuse of a team.
I wonder if the AKB’s are sheltering under the blanket.
I’d rather 20% and score a couple of goals alan….
rocky, not the best of nights eh!!
There is only one crack KT. There are no more cracks here and there. The team is all one big crack.
Do they deserve it.????? YES
Do we supporters deserve it???? NO
Sorry Paul,I assumed it was pretty clear lol.
Who has played well for us tonight? The ox?
Agree Kt
You know what Devil, i was just thinking exactly the same, it’s not about how good Milan have been, its about how shocking we have been – no fight, no passion, and no pride….
Makes me wonder why we all sit around each day and talk about the club we all love….
It’s very clear that many if not most of our players don’t give a flying one…..
This has to be one of the worst ‘team performaces’ we have seen in a while….
At least the Ox showed he has no fear….
A beatiful person may have many defects. But he is beautiful.
An ugly person has only one defect……..being ugly.
Sadly we are the ugly one at the moment.
Afraid not, wondering what you where trying to get at there scott. If its the walcott comment, I feel i am a better footballer than Walcott, end of.
Yes Lee, he can hold his head high…..
Its probably for the best anyway.Barça/madrid would’ve stuffed us 8 nil or worse…
Thank fuck for that the lesson is over….
Hope you are earning as much as he is then Esp 😉
When you going to sign on…..
Tonight is the perfect illustration of how backwards Wenger has taken us.
Get him out now !
It doesn’t end ther Lee, we have a home game soon! 🙁
Sad night for football fans as that was a poor nights viewing . Never mind Walcott will be back Sunday, its a shame that the others will be as well.
I am off mates.
That was a resounding whack.
Hope it makes AW think seriously.
gd night
As always its a pleasure being here. Even though the performance wasnt.
Looking at Lehman’s tweets, what a champion that guy is, more pride to play for Arsenal than any of todays team.
What about the board Steve??
And some of you wondered why i wrote that post about us securing Toral??
What we nedd is players for today, not ones that maybe ready in 2/3 years!!
Since when was our style of play to pass the ball sideways across the fucking park? No creativity whatsoever. Sagna was crap. Djourou again plays like a prize c@@t. Ox was again the only decent player. Woeful performance. Can’t wait for Wenger to blame everything other than us being shit.
Saturday Steve 😉
Night Devil, rest well…..
Shocking, just shocking from our boys.
Embarassing Rocky – when a 17 year old shows no fear, yet every other player was shocking says it all – that kid is something else and we need to make sure we keep him….
Embarrassing post match spiel from AW to rub a bit more salt in the wounds… he needs to take a good long hard look in the mirror, stubborn prick!!!!
Nte Devil sleep well mate
I turned off Lee, did he blame evrything apart from his tactics and his players??
Hi Highbury Housers,well what a gutless,embarassing display,we are representing the PL and play like a league 2 outfit.Wenger says we don’t need a new defensive coach what a joke.It would help if the midfield could actually retain possession for more than two passes as well.This season we have had our worst league defeat since god knows when, and now our worst ever european result.I cannot understand how Wenger keeps his job,especially when Lee Clark gets sacked losing just 3 games all season.Wenger must have lost 100 in the past 7 yrs!!! The best thing for this club would be a long spell out of the CL,to focus everyones mind on the team rather than the balance sheet.We don’t spend the revenue on the team as it is,and we have been selling our best players for years anyway.This will be the last CL tie Wenger will oversee for AFC;i think he will resign at the end of the season ;don’t be surprised if mr hypocrisy turns up at Madrid to manage one of the most expensively put together teams in history, leaving us with one of the worst Arsenal squads i have ever seen, and as a fan for 36 yrs believe me i have seen some s***e!!!!!!
We played all the game with 10 men. Then TH, 9 and a half. What’s Ramsey do in the pitch?
The others 9 and half were ok…
We had more ball possession, more corners… the normal, but whithout a link in the midfield-forward only a miracle is possible.
So, we are out of the CL and like I said before, we were not lucky with the challenge… Milan is strong and much better then last years.
Unfortunatelly Kos injury and also Seedorf … because the replace boy had a great game.
We had maybe a penalty and Milan guy will be sent off…
Sorry Rico – we always end up having the same debate, but I still can’t see that a new board will produce a winning team – it’s not what boards do.
Hi LJB – It was cack wasn’t it… don’t know what to add to what you ahve said really, other than AW won’t walk, not when he’s on £7Million a year….
We were nothing short of awful. I struggle to find words for just how bad we were…
Now lets face it gang, we took a whacking tonight but lets face it, we are up against the best sixteen in the world . Both Utd and City are both out already and they are miles in front of us in our league so what do you expect. we are not out yet and hopefully more players will be properly fit for the return at the Ems. We have not shown up tonight but but its not over till the fat lady sings.:)
Jesus,how quickly things and fans turn.
I haven’t seen the game…busy at work….but its given me a different perspective.
You ought to take the emotion of the game out,and sit back and watch how quickly fans turn when things go bad……..unbelievable.
Here and on facebook, I have just sat back and read people who,one week ago,were upbeat,turn on their players and clubs like hyenas.
We were never,ever going to win the CL anyway,so who cares if we go out????
Focus can be put to FA cup and the League………we can win one,and go top 4 in the other.
JM – the way so many played, it was like we turned up for a 5-a-side….
We do Steve, but a new owner, a new board may just TELL Wenger to sort this shower of s****e out – and if he wants to keep his job, he will sort it and do what he did when he joined….
Right now we have a board that deosn’t want to spend and a manager who is happy to go along with it, they are all as bad as eachother…..
BUT, i say board because they are ‘our club’ – they run in and they should make sure its run the right way, and they aren’t….
agag, we were just dreadful…. hope you ddin’t set your alarm for that game….
Ha ha. Are you accepting bets Stevepalmer ?
Scott – its not about ‘turning on players etc’ – its about reality and if you had actually watched the game you would realise that we were absolutely dreadful!!
We could not string a pass together
We did not defend
Chesney was shocking, as was most of the palyers…
We looked like a 2nd division side up against a PL side…
Watvh the game before you judge the comments, maybe then you will think different….
Anyway, i’m done…. Night all….
A number of chickens came home to roost tonight-with a vengeance. When you give players like Rosicky a new contract after a couple of years out, then give Djourou an extension. When you don’t buy another decent striker and rely almost 100% on Robin despite having the funds to do so, or when you give a player like Diaby over £50 grand a week for not playing more than the occassional game and do so for years. If you ask one of the world’s greatest midfielders in Fabregas to play alongside people like Denilson or persevere with someone like Bendtner when it is clear to everyone that he is not Arsenal quality. And when you laugh in the face of fans who complain that the team is not good enough despite them paying the highest season ticket prices and lecture them about mental strength and finance, then allow other clubs to dictate your transfer policy. Then you had better come up with the goods or be called Arsene Wenger. Just where are Wenger’s Arsenal going?
Dreadful display…I wish I would`t have watched the game….
I never give up untill were out Steve, Piss poor performance tonight but we have the team to fight back, A bad mentality tonight plus to many jaded players, but at home with Gerve on and the Ox on from the start, I feel we can’t play worse than we have tonight so i still have hope, we’ll beat this lot at home.
Nte Rico
Wenger and the board should be made to marry the Gunner’s daughter
Is you don’t know what that means. it’s old Naval parlance for being tied over a ship’s gun and flogged
HMS Victory is not far away. Grab the bastards!
It is sad as to how far we had slipped since the halycon days of 1996/97 to 2004/05.
it is sad that after Emirates was built and we moved in during 2006/07 season, it is downhill all the way, losing our marquee players; replacing them with limited players like Arteta, Ramsey, Walcott, Chamakh, Park CY, Santos..who I will not fault them for playing to theri fullest potential..and that is, fullest potential but not “marquee class” with a club of Arsenal stature.
Certainly, Milan had showed us up as a team of limited players that can barely string together 3 consecutive passes in the box; and the team never gelled whatsoever throughout this season. The sheer brilliance of Van Persie saved us this season……and I doubt van Persie will have the heart to gie us all in the coming months as certianly, such shameful exit from CL Cup will solidify his decision to follow Fabregas out of Arsenal FC comes this summer.
What is the point of playing for a deluded manager, still nuturing a young team that will need at least another 2 to 3 seasons to gell, who will not buy marquee players, and who still insist on following his Youth Policy to the bitter-end to 2013/14 season where he jolly well know that his trophy cabinet will be as empty as Mother Hubbard’s cupboard?
Good bye Robin van Persie. Thanks for the memories.
Get ready for another 17 years of wilderness like in the 60s and 70s till GG came along and won us the title.
When French Football Golden Era started declining in mid-2000s, so does Wenger’s Golden Era at Arsenal FC..starting at Emirates in 2006/07 season.
Whether I am proving right or wrong, Arsene Wenger has just got 3 more seasons – 2011/12, 2012/13 and 2013/14 – to prove his decades long Youth Policy is correct by 2013/14 season.
That is, his faith in all those 16 to 20 years old Young Gunners are the cusp of breaking into senior squad will be proven correct during 2013/14 season.
Other than that, all Arsenal fans can look forward to is:
– Securing Top-4 status is like “winning a trophy”;
– Celebrating St. Totteringham Day to console ourselves on yet another trophyless season.
we really can’t blame the players for taking an opportunity given them by idiots
Somehow, Wenger has to buck the trend of the last few season’s.
He has to shake up his dispirited players, with no TH12 to help him.Because Sunderland are going to be like a pack of rabid dogs this weekend. Desperate to gorge on the carcass of a humiliated and fragile Arsenal team.
I hope that Gervinho is up for it and that Kozzer recovers in time.
What worries me is the lack of height, again, in the Arsenal back-four, because O’Neill is just the man to exploit it….
Wenger needs to do a bit of intelligent rotating.
Oxlade-Chamberlain would start for me with Gervinho.
Coquelin would start for me, and in midfield, as i thought that Gibbs did ok.
Arshavin? Chamakh? Benayoun? Don’t fancy any of them up at The Stadium of Shite. But Wenger may have to use them if tonight’s players run out of steam…
The cupboard is looking worryingly bare.
Wenger’s lack of action in January is beginning to pay him back…
Of course, Kroneke and The Board don’t give a shit.
Why would they?
Are any of them Arsenal fans??
Or even football fans for that matter???
Rico,I,was reading bullshit,nasty comments after the first goal,so yes,that is turning in players.
I did not comment on the players one way or the other,so watching the game has nothing to do with my comments!!!
Some fans did turn,so don’t pretend otherwise.
Yawn Scott…. Being argumentative for the sake of it again. So what if people have a rant? Why does it bother you? It’s the only thing fans can do when things go wrong. And last night it went wrong. Massively wrong. It was atrocious. And frankly,, saying to take the emotion out of the game is one of the most ridiculous things I’ve heard.
Morning all…
Scott – You wonder why fans ‘turn on players’ – that lot last night didn’t turn up, gave away cheap posession and most of the time looked as if they didn’t care..
If you honestly think that is ok for our team to play like that then thats up to you, but the whole idea of having a place like HH and other blogs is to allow fans the freedom to rant…
The players/team get praise when it’s deserved, they get the flack too….
And after last nights humiliating show, they deserve it….
I almost always never get to watch Arsenal PL or CL games live, only on DVR, but I stayed away from the result and watch the games if they were live.
This season, I don’t know how many times I just fast forward through the games, including today’s. In fact, I stopped just to watch Milan’s goals.
It’s awful. There has not been a single game worth mentioning, even the 7-1 win a couple of weeks ago. They don’t know how to pass anymore. After watching Barcelona’s game yesterday, I came expecting the same type of passing from Arsenal today. But when they got the ball, they don’t know what to do. There was a few seconds in the first half when Milan totally gave Arsenal the chance to pass. Three players repeated passed between them when they stood in the same spot, none of them having a clue what to do next.
We were 8 players playing vs 14 in the first half. Ramsy, Rosicky and Walcott was causing more troubles than helping, effectively helping Milan.
TH came on, Milan lost one since Walcott wasn’t there anymore. 9 vs 13.
Chamberlain came on, and all of the sudden, Milan lost one player because now they put two players to follow him around. 9 vs 12.
Still we were out numbered , but if there were no Ramsy and Rosicky, we would be 11 vs 10, with Chamberlain, at least a little more chance to do something.
rocky, worst performance in europe says wenger, he’s bloody spot on there and i’m furious, no doubt you are too…..
i can take a loss if it’s deserved, but not when its gifted….
Welcome Ling, i don’t think it was just the players you highlight, think you can add a few more to that list..
Morning Rico. I know… Truly lamentable performance. I’ve never rated Zlatan. Ever. But last night he mugged us off time after time. They had a collective age of about 10,000 years old, but still whipped us. I’ve seen fossils dug up that were younger than their midfield. Were Song and Arteta actually on the field the whole match?!
That being said, I still think our away leg against Bayern Munich (not sure when but Cashley was playing for us) was still our worst performance.
morning rocky, i think it easy to list those who were on the field, we were simply awful, the way our players ran you would think they were the oldies, but i guess the milan oldies used their experience..
I bloody hate Boateng 😉
I’d forgotten the BM away game, my mind has a nack of forgetting results like that but it’s going to take a while to forget last night….
Just checked rocky, Cole was on the bench, he had a virus…
3-2 defeat on aggregate in the end – i fear this exit will be a bit of a higher margin, can’t see us not conceeding at home…
It was utter garbage. Boateng sue=re has come on leaps and bounds since leaving the Spuds. Looks a pretty decent player. And also looksl like what he was spouting in the press yesterday about us was all true! Who’d have thought it eh?!
As bleak as it was last night, I still think we caan do them at home. We won’t go through, but we’ll win at home. If we play Gerv and Ox, I think it’s possible. Maybe even Theo and RvP up front just to burn them with pace. The 4-5-1 doesn’t work when you have 3 of the “5” only able to slow the pace down, take it one way, check, turn the other way, play it sideways for the next player to do the same thing.
Mme – agree re Boateng…
That’s the heading of todays post rocky, which is up now…..
New Post
Thank you Rocky,hopefully I can learn from your obvious wisdom.