Arsenal

[exwhyzed]

Missing CBs won't matter that much. Last years final they had a makeshift defence but the way the kept possession made it irrelevant and it's not like their replacement CBs are mugs.

[toythatkills]

Never a foul, let alone a red card.

Course it was. Puyol's legs were all over Fabregas' and stopped him getting any kind of shot off. What is that if not a penalty? Red card seems a bit harsh but again, it was a pretty blatant goal were it not for Puyol. Not really intentional and just clumsy is all, but still a foul and still the right decision.

What a brilliant game though.

[Liamness]

Toure will come into defence for them, probably and he will do a good job there. If they get Iniesta back by then, and Messi raises his game back to the unplayable level he was at last week, it's still going to be extremely tough.

[hercules]

so much to say about this match, we can do it at barca, personally i thought denilson played really well when he came on, he was everywhere and intercepted near enough everthing

[dogsout]

Course it was. Puyol's legs were all over Fabregas' and stopped him getting any kind of shot off. What is that if not a penalty? Red card seems a bit harsh but again, it was a pretty blatant goal were it not for Puyol. Not really intentional and just clumsy is all, but still a foul and still the right decision.

No way. Puyol was standing with his legs apart and Fabregas swings in between them. It was not a penalty. What did you think of the challenge by Clichy on Messi in the first half, then? Two red cards, three? I'm not trying to piss on your chips here, Arsenal fans, because it's a great result for you and it makes the second leg interesting.

[Art Vandelay]

Eboue should be playing every minute of every game until he retires. He's my hero.

[Rev]

Song was great when he was in midfield, good when he was in defence. Bendtner did well, our only chance of getting a goal before Walcott came on, and it was a great pass to set Walcott free. Walcott was great - we didn't use him enough when he was on. Almunia played in net for 45 minutes, which is 45 more than usual.

Definite penalty to me, but not a red. Goal scoring chance, but it wasn't malicious. But a deserved yellow and that would have put him out of next match anyway.

Great game.

[hercules]

not so sure if it was a pen, but we need that sorta luck as alot has gone against us recently. Lets just hope its worth it and we win the 2nd leg

[toythatkills]

No way. Puyol was standing with his legs apart and Fabregas swings in between them. It was not a penalty. What did you think of the challenge by Clichy on Messi in the first half, then? Two red cards, three? I'm not trying to piss on your chips here, Arsenal fans, because it's a great result for you and it makes the second leg interesting.

It was a clumsy challenge. He wasn't just standing there perfectly still while Fabregas got himself all tangled up in his legs.

[dogsout]

It was a clumsy challenge. He wasn't just standing there perfectly still while Fabregas got himself all tangled up in his legs.

They were both running on to the ball and Fabregas swings his leg (through Puyol's legs) to shoot. He doesn't even make a challenge. Just gets his leg kicked mid-stride and pulls a stupid face.

Edit: I don't want it to seem like I'm trolling the thread so I'll reply to any further replies that the above post generates to the football thread.

[hercules]

bendtner played really well for me, he kept going and had a good work rate, he also got into alot of good positions but wasn't found often enough, diaby didn't play great which was very disappointing, though like i said i thought denilson played really well, one of our best players personally. Theo, well i am a theo fan and always have been so once again, that's what he can do and that is talent.

[Mars]

I love Arsenal.

That is all.

.......

[Petrousgyre]

Eboue should be playing every minute of every game until he retires. He's my hero.

You're so fucking right.

[Rev]

You're so fucking right.

He's no Bendtner, but he'd be in most of my starting line-ups too. The most useful Arsenal player of the moment, certainly.

[Petrousgyre]

Clichy kept Messi quiet, I thought. Also, Puyol knew exactly what he was doing, watch in real-time. Right decision.

[Dude Ranch]

I think every player is OK, we just need to nail the line up and tactics. Not our strong point but if we get it right over there, why not?

Clichy kept Messi quiet, I thought. Also, Puyol knew exactly what he was doing, watch in real-time. Right decision.

Yes and yes.

[The Fox]

I fucking love Eboue. That ridiculous tackle at the end where he got nowhere near the ball, then instantly tried to claim he'd done nothing wrong, then collapsed in anguish when the ref quite rightly booked him.

Milito and either Marquez or Jesus at centre back for the second leg, surely?

[Dude Ranch]

I fucking love Eboue. That ridiculous tackle at the end where he got nowhere near the ball, then instantly tried to claim he'd done nothing wrong, then collapsed in anguish when the ref quite rightly booked him.

Milito and either Marquez or Jesus at centre back for the second leg, surely?

Jesus at CB? Good God.

*spectacles testicles wallet and watch*

[Petrousgyre]

Diaby, however, was shocking tonight. Just awful. And I like Diaby.

[The Fox]

Jesus at CB? Good God.

*spectacles testicles wallet and watch*

Chygrynskiy.

[mop]

Yeah, Diaby had a 5 second delay on every action he made. Far to slow in midfield tonight.

[hercules]

Diaby, however, was shocking tonight. Just awful. And I like Diaby.

agreed! he needs to up his game

[Lucas]

Diaby seemed to be having one of those games where he couldn't be arsed and gave away possession far too often.

[BlinkyBear]

That ref was an utter fucking shambles. What a useless, cunting piece of tripe for a fucking official. A fucking blind chicken could've done better than that parasitic fuck-tard. Cunt.

Still, mental match eh?

(Note, proper, lucid opinions to follow at some stage.)

[Dude Ranch]

Diaby, however, was shocking tonight. Just awful. And I like Diaby.

Agreed, Wholeheartedly.

[Dude Ranch]

That ref was an utter fucking shambles. What a useless, cunting piece of tripe for a fucking official. A fucking blind chicken could've done better than that parasitic fuck-tard. Cunt.

Also agreed, mostly. Cesc's yellow was a Platiniesc crap fuck.

[Silent Runner]

All credits to Arsenal for fighting back like that. Walcott is a plague for the Barcelona defense.

For sure. Theo and Eboue to start in 2nd leg. Alves is amazing going forward but he's well suspect with guys charging at him.

[BlinkyBear]

For sure. Theo and Eboue to start in 2nd leg. Alves is amazing going forward but he's well suspect with guys charging at him.

He's not, he just plays high and can leave a lot of space behind him. But I'd have Rosicky on from the start, hounding him and hunting him down, keeping him shackled and kicked to fuck, before unleashing The Theo on him when he's knackered.

[The Fox]

Dani Alves can't get knackered fyi. It's a physical impossibility.

[The Grand Pursuivant]

My god. What an awesome match. It was like "FFS ALMUNIA!" then it was like "OH FFS GUYS!" and then it was like "GO THEO" and then it was like "PUYLOL" and then it was like "FUCKING CCCCCCCCCYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

We'll lose the next game, but I don't care. That was one of the most enjoyable football matches I've watched in ages.