According to reports, poor old Barcelona were so so tired after playing out a 1-1 draw at the weekend, manager Pep Guardiola cancelled their Sunday training session. They were snuffed out in the midfield against Sporting Dijon meaning ‘Andres Iniesta and Xavi could not play their football’.
Well, if they were that good they should have found a way around that shouldn’t they? After all, when we play side that set themselves up to do the same to us, we get slated for not having a ‘plan b’ – pffff…
Anyway, they did have a little run around yesterday so no doubt they’ll be fresh as daisies when they arrive in London. What we need now is the temperatures to plummet into the below zero degrees so they freeze and can’t play their game 😉
As usual a few players have had their say about the fixture –
Song says we need to approach the game the same as we did when we battered the chavs.
Walcott says we will do much better than last season
Fabregas says that Barca are beatable and Jack Wilshere reckons we need to get in the faces of Barca and be a bit nasty in order to win the game tomorrow….
Wenger has also taken a moment to give his views on tomorrow….
Personally I believe we go into the Barcelona game in better shape than last year and Robin is part of that.
We had many uncertainties last year; the team for me had less confidence. Now we have matured better and we can certainly compete technically better with them.
In the first game last season, Robin was injured, Gallas went off at half time, Arshavin went off after 15 minutes while Song and Fabregas didn’t play in the second game. We are in a better shape this time.
They are not just good at attacking, they also defend very well and for us it will be very important to get out of their pressure.
If we can get out of that pressure then I think we can be dangerous so for us we have to think about what we do and how we do it.
So it’s all getting very interesting and not long to go before we see the first part of this over-hyped game of football start to unfold…… Over-hyped by the media I mean, not by us fans……
Chelsea dropped two points last night which is great news and Ian Wright reckons it’s now a two-horse race to win the Premier League.
He believes the longer we are in all four competitions the harder the League will be to win as despite having a large squad, the depth in strength is not there. We have seen in the Leeds, Huddersfield and Ipswich cup matches that when Wenger makes the changes we struggle a bit. All along I have said that I would rather we win the Premier League and if one had to go it would be the Champions League, if it meant we cleaned up all three domestic trophies.
The Champions League is all about the luck of the draw and how you play on the day, where as the Premier League is about consistency over the season.
What would you rather in a ‘hypothetical world’?
Beat Barca over the two legs and go on in the Champions League and lose out on the league.
Or, get knocked out of the Champions League and go on to win all three domestic trophies.
Tough one isn’t and I know in the real world every Arsenal fan wants us to win all four but is that really possible with our not so large squad?
SING IT LOUD AND PROUD
Finally for those going to the game and in support of Le Grove’s ‘Cescs Campaign’ make your feelings known about Barca and their constant pursuit of our Captain…
“Hands off Cesc Fabregas” (to the regular tune of “we’ve got…”)
http://le-grove.co.uk/2011/02/15/the-cesc-campaign-gathers-momentum-come-on-arsenal/#comments
Have a good day all…..
Morning…
Morning win all four competitions
Is Sporting Gijon (from Asturias -spain). Dijon is in France.
This morning, I listem AW previews for the League Champions in Eurosport News. He believes in Tottenham to reach the next round…. I really hope not. Sport and financial reasons. Moreover, Milan is better than Inter this season.
I thought it was Sporting Heeehaawn
Only one way to do this.
One. Game. At. A. Time.
Mowning all….
Morning guys, all four for me too really, now that the game is near i want us to hammer them…..
JM, its sporting de dijon 😉
Erick – you are a hard man to please 😉
Agree Rocastle, one game at a time with the strongest squad for each… that’s the way 🙂
Rico not really am the easiest lol
Spot on Rico. Not worry about. The mancs or even the game at the weekend. Forget about the CC final. It’s all about Barcelona.
Oh and the spuds getting licked tonight.
Erick lol
You guys see ray Wilkins after the chav game, he is not a happy man, he reckons the chavs could win us the PL and he doesn’t want that one bit…
I can’t see the spuds winning in meeeelan either, i may have to watch that one.. maybe not though..
Morning all,
Set your heart on one competition above all others is negative thinking. One game at a time, prepare well for all games, we hate to lose any game, we have a large squad and players can come in when needed. To put more importance in any given match, results in not being focused. one game at a time and we can do well. The best team for every game. For all you fans that worried about cover in the centerback position answer me this JD and kosi have gelled well together Squilly has covered for either of them when he has been needed, Virmin is almost back playing, what do we do with him. and you wanted more!!
Way to beat Barca.
Get close to the ball carrier (make sure you are there as the ball arrives, not just after or they will bass around you)
Go with the runners (don’t be lazy)
Cut off the passing avenues (they like their one touch passing, if you cut the avenues, they have no one to pass to)
Stretch the play, we have pace they don’t. Walcott and AA can kill them.
And most importantly, don’t be over-awed.
Morning guys.
Hi Steve, thats a good point as if it then goes wrong in the preferred option you are doomed…..
Hi Will, did you see the article re messi? He reckons Theo is the our most dangerous player and his speed could destroy them – if Theo can getting his shooting on target tomorrow Messi could be right…
Barca’s defence is not the best is it?
Arsenal v Barcelona: Lionel Messi admits Spaniards are scared of Theo Walcott’s pace in Champions League
He is the best footballer in the world and the star player in arguably the finest club side of all time. Yet speak to Lionel Messi about Theo Walcott and it becomes obvious that even Barcelona are scared of pace.
“I can only speak from experience but he was one of the most dangerous players I have ever played against,” said Messi. “Barcelona players are not scared easily but I can tell you that when we played Arsenal last season he truly worried us.”
Some praise — and an assessment that was vindicated by the evidence of the two Champions League matches last season.
In the first leg at the Emirates, Arsenal had been overrun and were trailing 2-0 until the introduction after 67 minutes of Walcott, whose goal and cameo performance rescued a 2-2 draw.
Walcott was similarly influential at the beginning of the second leg, providing the assist for Nicklas Bendtner’s goal at the Nou Camp that briefly put Arsenal ahead before they succumbed to a display of authentic individual genius from Lionel Messi, losing 4-1 and 6-3 on aggregate.
It secured Barcelona’s place in the Champions League semi-finals for a third consecutive season, but the threat of Walcott has remained imprinted on their minds.
In my opinion we have the best team in the world at the moment, with Utd a close second. Its not about how we handle Barcelona, its how Barcelona can handle us. we will be missing one of the best in the game in Sagna, they will try and exploit that, but they are missing players as well, they will not be looking forward to visiting us, as we are the team in form. A Spainish sqeaky bum time at the Ems, i’m loving it
Do we have a game wednesday then..?
Blimey Riley, let me get back up on my seat 🙂
Hi WATH, how you doing, its just a little run around against some spanish tourists 😉
Steve – i would agree when we have our first eleven playing and firing we are one of the best, but i would put a few overseas sides ahead of manure to be second…
I don’t think barca will get anywhere near the amount of freedom the enjoyed last season but i do worry about our RB….
Don’t forget AA, he is pretty quick when he wants to be.
Me to rico
Will,
but its that ‘when he wants to be’ – it should be always…
maybe his well overdue top performance will take place tomorrow…
I have a feeling that if Nasri doesn’t start, Diaby will….
Thanx for that Rico means we can put all the rubbish out then as well, the waiter in goal etc etc….! I’ll have an early night then and catch the result in the papers thursday morning 😉
I hope Diaby doesn’t start.
You know Wenger WATH 😉
No Sagna is a huge problem ! Ebooie needs to take his clown outfit off and realise he’s playing football 2moro night not 90mins at the circus, the way he plays will be a big factor.
David Villa plays on his side doesn’t he, that really worries me….
I hope Diaby doesn’t start and I hope Denislon is at the cinema when the game kicks off ……
Wenger has certainly had patience with AA, had it been me i think he would have been on his way. Nows the time for Andre, to pay pay back that faith.
Not only with AA though Steve….
What are AA’s stats this season?
2010/11 Barclays Premier League
GAMES GOALS ASSISTS SHOTS
25 5 11 57
Arsene Wenger on his record signing.
“Arshavin likes the big stage. He can be quiet for 20 minutes, and then suddenly turn up with something decisive. That is what you want from the big players – the big players make you win the big games.”
Well, tomorrow is the big stage 😉
It’s really quiet here today……
So he has had a direct hand in 16 league goals?
thats about it Will, not the best stats in the PL…. but for assists i think he remains top.. not sure on the CL stats
In this CL campaign
4 Games
2 Assists
2 Goals
Abou Diaby has called on his Arsenal team-mates to put Lionel Messi out of their minds ahead of the Champions League Knockout Round first leg tie at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday and defend as a team.
The little Argentinean maestro proved to be the difference in last season’s Quarter-Final with four goals in the return game at the Nou Camp. It was just one example of why the 23-year-old is reckoned to be the best footballer on the planet right now.
Once again, Messi will command column inches in the build-up to the clash of arguably Europe’s most eye-catching teams. But according to Diaby, he must not draw the attention of all the Arsenal defenders.
“We need to be focused on the way we defend and not be focused on one man,” the Frenchman told Arsenal.com. “We know that individually he is really good but if we do the job together I think it will be difficult for him. For me, that is the best way to control him and control the game.
“When you focus on one man it is never a good idea because they have also got Iniesta, Xavi, Villa – so many players. The most important thing is to be well organised defensively and, when we have got the ball, play our game.
“I watch Barcelona play quite often because I like the way they play, the way they move and obviously they have got the best player in the world.
“We know that this is a great team but we have a very good side with very good players. We can beat anybody in the world. We just need to be conscious of our qualities and play our game.”
AA seems to do it but while looking shit and uninterested. Wish I had that skill level.
Certainly in the CL….
Diaby needs to focus on himself and stop waffling….!
He’s being nice about them, he wants to play for Barca 🙂
In his dreams…………….
Diaby does too much dreaming, usually thats when he’s playing……
Afternoon all.rico my post should be on its way.
Afternoon KT, i look forward to that, in fact i wish 8pm tomorrow would just get here now…….
rico have you got it?
Nasri trained with the team today and by the look of the photos he trained hard…
He’s back guys and i think he’ll start tomorrow 🙂
Just got it KT, thanks 🙂
Nasri will be an impact sub 2moro Rico, No need to risk him in such a big game when we got plenty coming up and if we three up why risk him anyway..? If it’s nil nil why risk him rather have him 100% for the return leg so we win 1-0 😉
What a surprise Diaby is injured…….! Talks cheap when your not playing eh..!
Boo!! Exciting times, rico! I. Can’t. Wait. That Sami’s back thrills me no end! I wan’t all four but would “settle” for the domestic treble. 😉
KT, I’m sure it’s a fantastic write.
Hey, WATH, young man. (snickers)
Hey AGAG how’s you ole gal……??
Watch you don’t fall off your Zimmer frame all that laughing !.
Oh, someone’s throwing his toys out of the pram, it seems… Must be a really young ‘un. 😛 😉
I’m in a play pen now I’ll have you know !!! 😛
WATH, if Nasri is fit you know wenger will take that risk….
Diaby injured, no surprise but its a shame as if wenger needs to tighten up with ten mins to go that means denilson will come on 🙁
Boo to you agag, this time tomorrow we will all be up to ‘fever pitch’ – I’ll be just like Colin Firth (swoons) 🙂
I’d rather Bendner came on to tighten things up than crabby least Bendtner will know how to clear the ball just tell him to shoot he’ll hoof it miles wide or over 😉
Rico you craddle snatcher….!
Here’s a fitting newsbit for you, kiddo:
“I was able to have a good break last summer and completely clear my head. It was the first time I managed to get away and have such a long break. I came back like a newborn baby!” Nasri told FourFourTwo Magazine. 😀
Fever Pitch, rico!! My favorite Colin Firth film… next only to Nanny McPhee. 😉
That sounds like you every sunday morning after a night out on the town AGAG 😉
😆 re Nikki hoofing high and wide WATH….
I know WATH 😉
Fever pitch just makes me laugh so much agag, especially at the end when the door bell goes…… mme, i think i may have behaved like that once or twice in my life….. 😉
I haven’t seen Nanny Mcphee agag – but I will do now….
Don’t you guys go giving Wenger ideas. He’s likely to put Bendy on defense and proclaim him a “new signing”. 😉
Never, WATH. 🙂 …Well, maybe, Saturday mornings. 😉
Don’t take my word for it, rico. 😉 I think I was with kids when I saw it, must be why I found it fun and funny. 🙂
Hi WATH and Agag.
I really like CF agag, super actor and good to see him winning everything for The Kings Speech which I am impatiently waiting for to come out on DVD…..
Haven’t seen The King’s Speech either, rico. I see bootleg copies sold on side streets here though. But I have issues on intellectual property rights and purchase my music, etc. legally, so I’m waiting for it to go on DVD, too.
Boo, KT!! Can’t wait for tomorrow. We’ll give the Catalans a run for their money, I’m sure. 😉
We’ve got a full squad bar diaby and vermy.
We’re going from strength to strength (excepting the occasional blip), KT. Love it!! That the Chavs dropped yet more points is a bonus. 😉
😉 agag, i won’t pay the prices at the cinema, nor would i risk losing my money on fakes… imagine getting half way through the film and it crashes….
it would be just like watching us v the barcodes 😉
Chavs should have lost, fulham missed a penalty in th 99th minute 😉
Torres was shocking ……
KT – what about Nasri??
I meant Sagna………
Samir Nasri is in the Arsenal squad for the Champions League tie with Barcelona on Wednesday – but he may not start.
The French midfielder has been missing since injuring his hamstring against Huddersfield a fortnight ago. He is back quicker than expected and trained on Tuesday afternoon. However, after the session, Arsène Wenger was still cautious about re-introducing one of his most influential players this season.
“Samir is in the squad,” said the manager. “But the starting line-up will be decided tomorrow.
“He’s recovered quicker than expected. I said it will be 21 days but it will be only 17 days. Everybody’s absolutely adamant that he’s completely medically available. It’s down to me to make the decision.
“I will take no medical risk but it’s good to have him in the squad.”
Elsewhere, Wenger has one midfielder out and one back.
“Rosicky is available,” said the Frenchman. “He’s in the squad. But there’s no Diaby. He has a calf problem. He did it with the French national squad against Brazil.”
Bacary Sagna is suspended after his sending off in Arsenal’s final Group H game against Partizan Belgrade. Emmanuel Eboue is expected to deputise at right back.
Cinemas here are cheap. It’s maybe 4.20 british sterling unlimited popcorn and drinks and you get to sit on a lazyboy. Haha. everywhere else costs half that.
Torres just needs time to adapt, rico. 😉
I forgot about sagna.i can feel it in my bones rico.something special will happen tomorrow.
that is cheap agag and all that popcorn, yum yum… bit worried about sitting on a ‘lazy boy’ though 😉 😉
we can only hope you are right KT, i feel a lot more confident than i did last time we played them – i still recall the game at the Nou Camp, 1-0 up and if only diaby had played the right ball – theo (i think) would have made it 2-0 and game on, instead messi stole the show…..
your post is all ‘done’ and ready to go…. 🙂
I think Alex Song read my post about England and France the other day 🙂 🙂
Alex Song believes Arsenal hold the future of English football.
Jack Wilshere impressed on his full England debut against Denmark last week with seemingly the whole nation lavishing praise on the 19-year-old. Theo Walcott is becoming a regular fixture following his World Cup disappointment with Kieran Gibbs making inroads into the squad since his debut against Hungary in August.
Song feels the future of the England team looks good – it looks Arsenal.
“It’s always good to see your team-mates doing well internationally and I think England has a good future with Jack, Theo and Kieran around.
“Jack is an unbelievable young player – it’s hard to think that he is just 19 years old because he’s playing like a guy with 200 Premier League appearances.
“I’m very happy to play alongside him – he always wants to listen and learn, and I’m not surprised to see him in the England team.”
You know, I’m sure our players read stuff written about them. Maybe, some of them even blog. Maybe, that guy on AR defending Denilson was, in fact, Denilson. 😉
😆 agag…..
Rico i remember that.it would’ve been completely different ball game.i hope my post wasn’t boring…
That lazyboy comment sounded naughty, rico. I meant La-Z-Boy, of course. 🙂
It sure would have been KT….
And trust me, your post is far from boring, it’s fab and i can’t wait to post it…..
😆 agag, i know, the cool chair, but i did laugh 😉
well, you have all gone so i am off to get some dinner… later peoples..
Flamini is playing for Meeeelan – that has to be a first….
All quiet so i’m off, meeeelan are rubbish, flamini is still rubbish and gattuso is scary 😉
Night all
morning…..
Alisher Usmanov has vowed to increase his stake in Arsenal after climbing above Roman Abramovich in Russia’s rich list, Goal.com UK can reveal.
The Uzbek-born billionaire, who is the club’s second largest shareholder, is continuing to plough some of his vast fortune into sweeping up small tranches of shares in Arsenal every week on the alternative PLUS market.
Sources close to Usmanov, who has a stake of just under 27 per cent, say he is targeting the 29.9% threshold already occupied by Arsenal’s largest stakeholder Stan Kroenke and that he has no interest in buying another club, either in the Premier League or overseas.
A holding of 30% or beyond would trigger a mandatory takeover bid for the remaining shares in Arsenal Holdings plc.
Usmanov’s continued interest in increasing his stake in Arsenal comes as Russia’s Finance magazine reports that he has become the third richest man in the country with an estimated personal fortune of $19.9 billion (£12.34bn), an annual rise of four places and $7.5bn (£4.59bn).
new post up