Guest howyousawtheworld Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 All of this. I dislike the fact that Tottenham think they have made it. Not that I don't mind them taunting Arsenal as that is fair enough, but just the way they have behaved this season, particularly with the Olympic Stadium. I hope they come crashing down soon. Yeah I agree. I thought their conduct over the Olympic Stadium was unbelievably arrogant and a complete disrespect to the legacy and the work the likes of Seb Coe and company did in getting the 2012 games. And yeah Spurs fans can taunt Arsenal fans but we all know that they'd rather be in Arsenal's position. Arsenal for one are at least certainties to appear in the Champions League next season unlike Tottenham who look unlikely of reaching it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deaths_friend Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 And yeah Spurs fans can taunt Arsenal fans but we all know that they'd rather be in Arsenal's position. Arsenal for one are at least certainties to appear in the Champions League next season unlike Tottenham who look unlikely of reaching it. well its only natural for rivals to taunt each other at every given opportunity. but i think tottenhams fate is in their hands. their run home includes visits to chelsea, liverpool and man city which can't be easy but if they play those games the way they played at the san siro i wouldn't be surprised to see them leap frog into 3rd or 4th. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a_face_of_light Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 Not a convincing win but the desired result, hopefully this will demoralize them domestically too, well done Tottenham you've made me happy this evening:D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh42 Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 For anyone who might still agree with Wenger that the officiating cost Arsenal the match: (Full article here) http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/3457036/Arsenal-v-Barcelona-stats-are-grim-reading-for-Arsene-Wenger.html Barcelona had 12 shots on target and five off target (one of them when Adriano hit the post). Arsenal had ZERO shots on target, ZERO shots off target. Leo Messi & Co touched the ball almost SEVEN times more than Arsenal inside the opposition's half (685 to 105). They had 47 touches inside Arsenal's box while the Gunners had TWO in Barca's. Barcelona also had SIX times more passes in their rivals half (600 to Arsenal's 104) and a much higher success percentage (88 to Arsenal's 56). In terms of possession, Barca kept the ball for 27 minutes more than Arsenal (49 to 22). Another whopping fact for Wenger was that the top 10 successful passers inside the opposition half in the game were ALL Barcelona players. In other words, the man who passed the ball least for Barca (David Villa) had more passes inside Arsenal's half (27) than Jack Wilshere who passed most for the visitors (15) inside the Catalans half. With Arsenal offering ZERO football it was no wonder it took a Barcelona player to score for the Gunners. Busquets headed into his own net to cancel out Messi's opener and give Arsenal brief hope of an upset. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tnspieler1012 Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 For anyone who might still agree with Wenger that the officiating cost Arsenal the match: (Full article here) http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/3457036/Arsenal-v-Barcelona-stats-are-grim-reading-for-Arsene-Wenger.html I don't think anyone is disputing who was the better team, or whether Arsenal could've won or scored in that particular match. The controversy is whether Arsenal w/c-ould have advanced in the tournament had they not gone down to 10 men. Despite being on the defensive the whole time, they seemed they like had succeeded in shutting out Barca in the first half until Fabregas' stupid back-pass right at the end of the half. They looked better to me at the beginning of the second half (though not getting shots, they were keeping more posession across the midfield), and with 30 minutes to go arsenal were in position to win the aggregate with a 1-1 draw. Of course I agree that Barcelona is the better team, that they controlled play the whole game, that the own goal was a fluke, and that between both legs Barcelona clearly deserved to advance more...but it is very plausible (if not probable) that Arsenal would have advanced had Van Persie not been given that ridiculous red card seeing how Barcelona had a much easier time on the attack after the sending off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prince Myshkin Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 I personally think he did it on purpose. Firstly, as he was picking up the ball he'd notice the flag up (which was in his eye line). It's the first thing a striker looks for. Secondly, the way he struck it was very un-Persie-like. Looked like he was trying to miss. Thirdly, and most importantly in my eyes, his reaction just after he missed and before he knew he had been booked was not one of 'I've just missed one of the most important shots of my life, a goal there would have been massive'. He looked like he just didn't care. Until the referee got his card out of course. It was harsh of course, since the above is all guessed and just my opinion. Had I been the referee I'd have given him the benefit of the doubt, however I don't think the referee in charge did anything explicitly wrong. If anything, I felt he had been lenient up to then, particularly when Arsenal scored and Koscielny, who was on a booking, picked the ball out of the net and booted it into the crowd. I thought he was going to go for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh42 Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 I don't think anyone is disputing who was the better team, or whether Arsenal could've won or scored in that particular match. The controversy is whether Arsenal w/c-ould have advanced in the tournament had they not gone down to 10 men. Despite being on the defensive the whole time, they seemed they like had succeeded in shutting out Barca in the first half until Fabregas' stupid back-pass right at the end of the half. They looked better to me at the beginning of the second half (though not getting shots, they were keeping more posession across the midfield), and with 30 minutes to go arsenal were in position to win the aggregate with a 1-1 draw. Of course I agree that Barcelona is the better team, that they controlled play the whole game, that the own goal was a fluke, and that between both legs Barcelona clearly deserved to advance more...but it is very plausible (if not probable) that Arsenal would have advanced had Van Persie not been given that ridiculous red card seeing how Barcelona had a much easier time on the attack after the sending off. No no, read up. People were saying that the officials 'cost Arsenal the match', as if Barcelona didn't do anything to deserve a win. I'm not desputing that Arsenal could have one, I'm just saying the refs didn't hand Barcelona the game on a silver platter, as some seem to believe. I personally think he did it on purpose. Firstly, as he was picking up the ball he'd notice the flag up (which was in his eye line). It's the first thing a striker looks for. Secondly, the way he struck it was very un-Persie-like. Looked like he was trying to miss. Thirdly, and most importantly in my eyes, his reaction just after he missed and before he knew he had been booked was not one of 'I've just missed one of the most important shots of my life, a goal there would have been massive'. He looked like he just didn't care. Until the referee got his card out of course. It was harsh of course, since the above is all guessed and just my opinion. Had I been the referee I'd have given him the benefit of the doubt, however I don't think the referee in charge did anything explicitly wrong. If anything, I felt he had been lenient up to then, particularly when Arsenal scored and Koscielny, who was on a booking, picked the ball out of the net and booted it into the crowd. I thought he was going to go for that. Agreed with this. Would he really have taken such a poor shot from such a poor location had he been onside (and known he was onside)? With some speed, he would have been pretty much alone to dribble up for a 1 on 1 with the keeper. But yea, I still wouldn't have carded him for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest howyousawtheworld Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 As Tnspieler said, no one is disputing the result or who deserved to win. It was the refereeing decision that was just horrific. And no matter how slim a chance Arsenal had, the fact is they were still at 1-1 when the incident happened with 11 men. All Wenger wanted was a chance no matter how small it was and the referee's incompetence denied them that. Who knows - with Van Persie they may have got ONE shot on target...and it could have been a goal for all we know. Everything counts in football and it doesn't matter one bit whether Barcelona were dominant or not at that point. And I really don't get why Van Persie would time waste at such an early stage in the second half? And is VP not allowed to hit a ball poorly? Players, no matter how good they are are capable of doing such things you know as we saw here a few years back against Bolton in the FA Cup! [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0IGvPzu7no]YouTube - Van Persie Miskick[/ame] It was a terrible decision from a referee who quite frankly couldn't handle the big, intimidating atmosphere and appeared well out of his depth. That is what it comes down to at the end of the day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh42 Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 As Tnspieler said, no one is disputing the result or who deserved to win. Again, scroll up and read the comments. I agree with both of you, but people earlier were saying it 'cost Arsenal the match'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prince Myshkin Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 It didn't look like a miskick to me. That's the point. He hit it perfetly for where he wanted it to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest howyousawtheworld Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 Again, scroll up and read the comments. I agree with both of you, but people earlier were saying it 'cost Arsenal the match'. Arsenal had held out in defence up until the last few minutes of the 1st half when Fabregas chose to be a fool. And plus the sending off was moments after the Arsenal goal so we will never know the reaction of the Arsenal team following that boost. Take one man away from facing a team like Barcelona and it may as well be 2 or3 men. It would have been a backs to the wall effort but if you ever saw the CL Semi Final 2005 at Anfield between Liverpool and Chelsea then you'll see that it can be done. And Chelsea that season were simply immense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh42 Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 Bad calls can go both ways. This was inside the box. Technically it should have been a penalty kick. The ref was standing right there too. To me, the Van Persie call was a mistake, but this call (and various others throughout the night) were mistakes as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest howyousawtheworld Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 Bad calls can go both ways. This was inside the box. Technically it should have been a penalty kick. The ref was standing right there too. To me, the Van Persie call was a mistake, but this call (and various others throughout the night) were mistakes as well. That should have been a penalty/free kick but from that evidence it should have only been a free kick as you can see Djourou's foot was just outside the penalty box. But that only enhances the fact that the referee Massimo Busacca was totally out of his depth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh42 Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 That should have been a penalty/free kick but from that evidence it should have only been a free kick as you can see Djourou's foot was just outside the penalty box. But that only enhances the fact that the referee Massimo Busacca was totally out of his depth. I thought the rule was that the location of the player being fouled is the location of the free kick, right? I'm not positive, but if that's the case, then the location of Djourou's foot doesn't matter. However, even though Messi was inside the penalty box, I still would have just called a free kick from right outside, since Messi probably wasn't going to score on that run (and thus doesn't deserve a free goal from a PK). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest howyousawtheworld Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 I thought the rule was that the location of the player being fouled is the location of the free kick, right? I'm not positive, but if that's the case, then the location of Djourou's foot doesn't matter. However, even though Messi was inside the penalty box, I still would have just called a free kick from right outside, since Messi probably wasn't going to score on that run (and thus doesn't deserve a free goal from a PK). Well Josh,I would have said the tackle was made outside the box since that's where his foot was but it is a tough one to call. Either way the referee should have given something for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest howyousawtheworld Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 Braga 1 - 0 Liverpool Big effort required from fans and the players next Thursday at Anfield. Andy Carroll has to play next Thursday as he drastically improved Liverpool's threat up front when he came on for Poulsen (dreadful in midfield) in the second half. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Rose Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 Not a good night for British teams in the europa league, only Rangers holding the flag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tnspieler1012 Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 No no, read up. People were saying that the officials 'cost Arsenal the match', as if Barcelona didn't do anything to deserve a win. I'm not desputing that Arsenal could have one, I'm just saying the refs didn't hand Barcelona the game on a silver platter, as some seem to believe. Right, in which case I'd say those people are idiots. In regard to the foul on Messi, if he was in the box, it would seem like a reason not to give the foul. Since he had already passed the ball and they were in no immediate position to score, the punishment of a PK just didn't fit the crime imo. If the referee saw Messi was a foot outside the box (in reality I think he just missed it altogether), the free kick may well have been given. It's an age old debate where no one is fully in the right...on one hand you could say a foul is a foul and nothing else should matter, on the other hand some would say that, ideally, PK's should be reserved for scenarios where the defending team is clearly and illegally preventing an obvious scoring chance near the goal, and its up the refs disgression to determine where the line is drawn. Then there are cases where a ref sees a clear foul and decides not to award it, but looks for opportunities later in the game to punish the perp. Is this fair? Not entirely sure, might depend on who you're rooting for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest howyousawtheworld Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 Wow! What a win for Dynamo Kiev! Delighted to see Andriy Schevchenko being the striker he was at AC Milan. A great player. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deaths_friend Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 classic new ep of S1TV [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gn7m97KXnNk&feature=feedu]YouTube - SPECIAL1 TV (S2 EP18) An Audience With Wenger[/ame] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Navegador Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 If United manages to win today, Arsenal will be knocked off the third competition in less than 20 days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Rose Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 Bolton are the first club in the bowl for the semi-final draw. Should be a nice trip down to Wembley for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest howyousawtheworld Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 2-0 Man Utd so far. This has not been good for Arsenal. How many times must it be stressed that the Arsenal defence is very sub standard. As a Liverpool fan I've seen some shocking central defending this season but at the end of the day I still wouldn't take the likes of Koscielny, Djourou in my team. When will Wenger realise that he really does need a world class central defender as well as a world class goalkeeper. They've been crying out for one for years now and still Wenger won't budge. If they want to win trophies he will have to budge. Very disappointing two weeks for Arsenal. They've shown absolutely no clincial edge going forward or in defence the past few weeks. Worrying for Arsenal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Navegador Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 FT Manchester United 2 - 0 Arsenal The way things are, I wouldn't get surprised if they managed to get knocked off Premier League :lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Rose Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 2 weeks ago still in 4 competitions, tonight only 1 left. FA Cup is Man Utd's to lose now. Man Shitty & Stoke to get the other 2 spots only to complain that in the olden days before Wembley they would have played in a stadium up north but now they have to come to London for the semi-finals. (Blue Square South here Salisbury come :)) Me thinks Crawley Town will win the Conference this year, 3 points clear plus 5 games in hand! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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