Arsenal

[Takizawa]

Senderos really isn't up to the standard is he? Can't see him being an Arsenal player next season.

[Steve007]

Senderos really isn't up to the standard is he? Can't see him being an Arsenal player next season.

Not his fault, he's not brilliant but the blame needs to be put on the guys who are meant to stick the ball in the net. But tonight we should have gone through if it wasn't for Babel conning the ref. It was never a pen and after our stonewall penalty at the Emirates wasn't given it makes this even harder to take.

[Macbar]

Senderos really isn't up to the standard is he? Can't see him being an Arsenal player next season.

He's hopefully on the hit list, but can't keep blaming him for our defensive incapabilities. Gallas aint much kop... pun intended

[dizogg]

Only kidding guys I was just a bit excited. Arsenal played the better football for a good while at the start. It could have gone either way, I and I think Arsenal thought they'd won it when Adebayor scored. Anyway.

Toure, Mission Complete.

Return to base.

[Shoes]

Did Van Persie even touch the ball when he came on?

Not that it matters.

Depressing. Eboue made some crisp passes, but he was shit in the end. But the 'selfish shot' was a scuffed cross, I thought. But that's no excuse. Theo's assist was immense, though.

[Mars]

He was turned far too easily yes but Torres is exceptional.

Hyypiä on the other hand...

[KRP]

I can't watch Arsenal anymore too frustrating... Don't think it was a pen, just looked like he stumbled.

Gutted, absolutely gutted. We must be the most unlucky (ref wise) team in the league.

Senderos is a fucking donut, no pace, always looks nervy.

[Art Vandelay]

Not his fault, he's not brilliant but the blame needs to be put on the guys who are meant to stick the ball in the net. But tonight we should have gone through if it wasn't for Babel conning the ref. It was never a pen and after our stonewall penalty at the Emirates wasn't given it makes this even harder to take.

Well two goals were his fault tonight. I like the bloke, but he was pony. They can say that Torres' goal was good, but anyone can smash it in from that range when you've got that much space. The header was just awful marking.

We scored 2 tonight which should have been more than enough. The penalty was soft, but a fit Arsenal would have totally buried this Liverpool side over 2 legs. There's only so much blame a referee can take when your best players are both physically and mentally exhausted.

[dizogg]

We must be the most unlucky (ref wise) team in the league.

I think everyone thinks that about their own team.

[Mars]

Only kidding guys I was just a bit excited. Arsenal played the better football for a good while at the start. It could have gone either way, I and I think Arsenal thought they'd won it when Adebayor scored. Anyway.

Toure, Mission Complete.

Return to base.

Not you as well. Has Mr. Do created a meme?

[Lost and Found]

I can't watch Arsenal anymore too frustrating... Don't think it was a pen, just looked like he stumbled.

Au contraire....it's much worse than that.

Toure's arm goes round Babel, but fails to grab at anything at all. Then Babel tries to grab Toure's shirt from the back, which contorts his back out, making it look like a more legit decision. The ref points, we all groan, Stevie G scores and we start the swearing.

[KRP]

I think everyone thinks that about their own team.

Probably. Apart from Man U.

Seriously though, I can't believe that the penalty decisiion first leg has come back to haunt us.

[dizogg]

The penalty was soft, but a fit Arsenal would have totally buried this Liverpool side over 2 legs. There's only so much blame a referee can take when your best players are both physically and mentally exhausted.

We've had to play the same amount of games though. Did anyone ever believe these players you've been playing in every game all season would be ok by the end? Arsene obviously thought they would, I don't know. And Arsene knows, apparently.

Anyway i'll leave now i'm being an annoying cunt. Well played.

[Macbar]

There's only so much blame a referee can take when your best players are both physically and mentally exhausted.

More of a fighting spirit and heart gets a team through, we lack this.

[hercules]

I don't believe our probs can be blamed on senderos. He played alright considering he was up against torres. Maybe if Walcott started upfront Hyypia and skrtyl or whatever his name is might have looked shaky aswell. Losing Flamini was a big blow aswell as Gilberto didn't track the runners half as good as flamini had. After looking at the replays i really don't see that as a pen so i'm mighty pissed off.

[Art Vandelay]

We've had to play the same amount of games though. Did anyone ever believe these players you've been playing in every game all season would be ok by the end? Arsene obviously thought they would, I don't know. And Arsene knows, apparently.

Anyway i'll leave now i'm being an annoying cunt. Well played.

Well yeah, that's sort of what I'm saying. It's our own fault.

[KRP]

As much as I hate Chelsea, I hope they roll over Liverpool in the semis...

[larrydavidsanger]

I thought Arsenal were very unlucky tonight, I've a lot of respect for your team and I was thinking the worst when that first goal went in. Things could have been very different if Adebayour had put a bit more of his foot through that chance he had and Walcott was frightening, reminded me of that Michael Owen goal against Argentina. I agree the penalty was dodgy too and had it been at the Emirates I doubt it would have been given but it's not too uncommon to see those kind of decisions. As I see it, you beat Man U and you're right back in the league and if that happens I really hope you win it.

[Steve007]

As much as I hate Chelsea, I hope they roll over Liverpool in the semis...

I hate Chelsea with passion, but I couldn't accept Liverpool as 'Champions of Europe' knowing they've conned their way through. How do Liverpool get these decisions all the time? Remember the 'goal' against Chelsea in the semi's that was judged to have crossed the line? It was nowhere near! How do Liverpool do it?? Why do they get all the fucking luck?

[ScouserInExile]

Good game tonight, chaps. You played well and I really thought you'd nicked it, but I guess it wasn't to be.

Never mnd, there's always next season, eh?

[Guest]

I hate Chelsea with passion, but I couldn't accept Liverpool as 'Champions of Europe' knowing they've conned their way through. How do Liverpool get these decisions all the time? Remember the 'goal' against Chelsea in the semi's that was judged to have crossed the line? It was nowhere near! How do Liverpool do it?? Why do they get all the fucking luck?

Yes, the UCL final a few years ago was a "lucky" win indeed.

[Beertiger]

I hate Chelsea with passion, but I couldn't accept Liverpool as 'Champions of Europe' knowing they've conned their way through. How do Liverpool get these decisions all the time? Remember the 'goal' against Chelsea in the semi's that was judged to have crossed the line? It was nowhere near! How do Liverpool do it?? Why do they get all the fucking luck?

It was a great game that decided the outcome of the tie, no dodgy reffing in this leg.

[Peter Hitchens]

It was an extremely dubious penalty. Yes Toure got the wrong side of Babel, and he did TOUCH him; but he very very clearly took his arms away and the contact was minimal. He never actually grabbed his shirt as far as I could see. I'm not sure it was a dive, but Babel just stumbled.

It would be annoying even if it had been a shirt tug because of the comparison with the first leg penalty. But its even worse because it genuinely wasn't a penalty; or at least certainly less of a clear cut one.

Yes, we looked tired towards the end, yes we made stupid defensive errors... but there's no way we deserved to lose. We didn't deserve to lose on the night, let alone over two legs.

[KRP]

It was a great game but given the controsvery around the first leg, I'm finding defeat pretty difficult to stomach right now.

[Peter Hitchens]

Yes, the UCL final a few years ago was a "lucky" win indeed.

Well... yes it was, very much so. Obviously you showed fantastic determination to fight for it, but still you were thoroughly outplayed for most of the game, had a twenty minute spurt when you played well, equalized from a penalty won by a dive, and then won on penalties.

[Guest]

Interesting post-match discussion on RTE in Ireland. Liam Brady was taking the loss really badly, he spoke with sense mostly, but this must be a very hard blow for Arsenal. A shame, in a perfect world Arsenal would be rewarded for how they play more than they are. Hope you nail Utd at the weekend.

[KRP]

Wenger has got to take some stick for this, I don't think the arsenal crowd have evr really got on his back (haven't had too much to complain about) but our squad is embarrassingly thin.

[Beertiger]

It was an extremely dubious penalty. Yes Toure got the wrong side of Babel, and he did TOUCH him; but he very very clearly took his arms away and the contact was minimal. He never actually grabbed his shirt as far as I could see. I'm not sure it was a dive, but Babel just stumbled.

It would be annoying even if it had been a shirt tug because of the comparison with the first leg penalty. But its even worse because it genuinely wasn't a penalty; or at least certainly less of a clear cut one.

Yes, we looked tired towards the end, yes we made stupid defensive errors... but there's no way we deserved to lose. We didn't deserve to lose on the night, let alone over two legs.

I think both sets of fans would feel hard done by to lose this game. It was bloody awesome to watch. Which was nice.

[KRP]

I think a draw would have been a 'fair' result. Alas!

[Steve007]

Wenger has got to take some stick for this, I don't think the arsenal crowd have evr really got on his back (haven't had too much to complain about) but our squad is embarrassingly thin.

The new stadium played a part in this. We'll reap the benefits financially sooner rather than later, but the bottom line is that he hasn't had the money Fergie, Rafa and Jose had to spend. Hopefully he'll get a blank chequebook this summer. If we don't sign a good 5-6 quality players we won't win anything next year either. It's a squad game these days and we haven't got one big enough to cope. We have a team, but the other players are just not good enough to step in and fill in for Cesc, Flamini, RVP, Toure etc.