That was a brilliant performance by Arsenal. They out Barcelona'd Barcelona. They all say that you never try to match Barcelona's game but Arsenal did that...and won. Huge respect to Arsenal tonight.

Amazing 2nd half of the Arsenal Barcelona game :stunned:

That was a brilliant performance by Arsenal. They out Barcelona'd Barcelona. They all say that you never try to match Barcelona's game but Arsenal did that...and won. Huge respect to Arsenal tonight.

 

Huge respect to both teams for playing sublime football. For once a match which actually lived up to all the hype.

A fantastic advert for the game.:cool:

 

Also, I've just seen the Spuds highlights, and how Milan didn't end up with two red cards, I don't know.

Dodgy officiating to say the least!

i actually found myself jumping up and punching the air when arsenal scored. nothing like watching barca lose!

Huge respect to both teams for playing sublime football. For once a match which actually lived up to all the hype.

A fantastic advert for the game.:cool:

 

Also, I've just seen the Spuds highlights, and how Milan didn't end up with two red cards, I don't know.

Dodgy officiating to say the least!

 

I only saw the highlights but it looked a superb game, I'm really happy for Arsenal though as thier probably my favourite team in the Premier League.

I was able to watch the first half of the game. Then, i went to sleep, dreaming that the game ended in a tie (:shame:), but was shocked when i found out Arsenal won. It was okay though because Arsenal was really impressive last night (from what i was able to watch). :nice:

 

not a good week for Barca. drawing with Gijon last weekend and losing this one. Puyol needs to be back asap.

i actually found myself jumping up and punching the air when arsenal scored. nothing like watching barca lose!

 

Must have been a very popular victory. My sister who hates football even punched the air when Arsenal scored as did I! Barcelona are brilliant but there is a certain lack of respect and arrogance that stems from them as they think they have a right to try and coax a player from any club who's performing outstanding football for their team. They tried doing it with Torres, they've done it with Fabregas and even did it with Nasri a couple of months back.

 

Anyhow Europa League tonight! Kenny manages his first ever game in Europe for Liverpool and may have a few surprises up his sleeve. Young Raheem Sterling, 16, could make the bench tonight along with other hot prospects that are being produced at the club. Sterling and Suso in particular are two names to look out for in the future. I hope to see both in some action tonight!

I only saw the highlights but it looked a superb game, I'm really happy for Arsenal though as thier probably my favourite team in the Premier League.

 

Arsenal are definitely my favourite team in the PL.:D

Last year Arsenal drew 2-2 at home to Barca before losing 4-1 in Spain.

 

Hopefully history won't repeat.

That was a brilliant performance by Arsenal. They out Barcelona'd Barcelona. They all say that you never try to match Barcelona's game but Arsenal did that...and won. Huge respect to Arsenal tonight.

 

I don't think we should get carried away here, top marks to Arsenal for somehow coming out with the victory, but they were pretty damn lucky. They played a better match until Villa's strike, from there on Barca created a lot of half chances and good chances to put the game away, and before Van Persie scored you just got that sinking feeling for them. Van Persie overall had a terrible game, Cesc Fabregas really got carried away with the beauty of one touch football and was just unneccessarily passing it to the nearest red shirt even if there was no need for it, and he lost a lot of possession.

 

Well I suppose it could be said they out-Barcelona'd them, because they scored both of their goals with great passing, but I think Arsenal really need to up their game for the 2nd match, and they are fortunate to even have that opportunity. Plenty of work to be done.

 

Last year Arsenal drew 2-2 at home to Barca before losing 4-1 in Spain.

 

Hopefully history won't repeat.

 

Well it can't as they didn't draw 2-2 this time.

I don't think we should get carried away here, top marks to Arsenal for somehow coming out with the victory, but they were pretty damn lucky. They played a better match until Villa's strike, from there on Barca created a lot of half chances and good chances to put the game away, and before Van Persie scored you just got that sinking feeling for them. Van Persie overall had a terrible game, Cesc Fabregas really got carried away with the beauty of one touch football and was just unneccessarily passing it to the nearest red shirt even if there was no need for it, and he lost a lot of possession.

 

Well I suppose it could be said they out-Barcelona'd them, because they scored both of their goals with great passing, but I think Arsenal really need to up their game for the 2nd match, and they are fortunate to even have that opportunity. Plenty of work to be done.

 

 

 

Well it can't as they didn't draw 2-2 this time.

 

Arsenal weren't lucky. They played the game and got their rewards for doing so. There was no luck involved. Scoring from a backpass only for the keeper to spill it into the net is lucky. Scoring two very worthy goals while keeping cool and composed in midfield and defence is not luck.

That's a favourable opinion, I really thought Arsenal played great while watching the live match, but in hindsight- watching the highlights today, Barca played much better and easily could have scored a few more before Van Persie struck. Wilkshere was the only stand-out performance, they had a great result but they didn't have a great night from their performance.

 

If Arsenal had lost and played the way Barca did, you'd say Barca were lucky. They did indeed score 2 goals that were pure class, but they only had 2 chances in the 2nd half, they were on the backfoot.

 

Congratulations to Arsenal fans etc. etc. you somehow won, the reality of it is, if they play that way again in the 2nd leg, goodnight Arsenal.

Congratulations to Arsenal fans etc. etc. you somehow won, the reality of it is, if they play that way again in the 2nd leg, goodnight Arsenal.

 

Exactly. Arsenal will need to play much better than that to win or tie at Camp Nou.

Quite frankly Barcelona will have to play much better than that if they are to win. Surely you realised that Barca's attacking threat was subdued in the second half? The chances are they will play better but what chances did Barca have that Arsenal didn't? What about the 2 missed chances by RVP in the first half alone which barring Messi's missed dink were the two best chances that half.

Quite frankly Barcelona will have to play much better than that if they are to win. Surely you realised that Barca's attacking threat was subdued in the second half? The chances are they will play better but what chances did Barca have that Arsenal didn't? What about the 2 missed chances by RVP in the first half alone which barring Messi's missed dink were the two best chances that half.

 

Yes, I reckon credit should be given to the Gooners where it's due. After all, they did manage to beat what is generally regarded to be the best team in the world, and did it with sublime counter-attacking football, which should be applauded.:cool:

Arsenal played very well, better than Barcelona, and deserved to win. Yet they got lucky, 'cause Barça didn't play very well. Let's face it, it's rare for Barcelona not to play well.

 

To get to the next round Arsenal needs either to play like they've never played before or get lucky for the second time, 'cause Barça only needs an 1-0.

Arsenal played very well, better than Barcelona, and deserved to win. Yet they got lucky, 'cause Barça didn't play very well. Let's face it, it's rare for Barcelona not to play well.

 

 

Maybe Barcelona didn't play well because Arsenal didn't allow them to.:smug:

Quite frankly Barcelona will have to play much better than that if they are to win. Surely you realised that Barca's attacking threat was subdued in the second half? The chances are they will play better but what chances did Barca have that Arsenal didn't? What about the 2 missed chances by RVP in the first half alone which barring Messi's missed dink were the two best chances that half.

 

Yes Van Persie missed two good chances- because he had a shit game apart from the goal, so did Fabregas and about half the team. They may have played slightly better in the first half but Barcelona were always threatening to get a yard ahead and make it 2, then, against a team like Barca, that's effectively game over. The only reason Arsenal scored is because they had 2 counter attacks when Barca's wing backs suddenly ventured way up the pitch and left themselves totally exposed.

 

Have you forgotten the 2 point blank saves, Messi's 2nd clear chance (When has Messi ever missed 2 through on goal chances in one game?), the offside goal (Which the player just had the goalkeeper to beat), but it's not just chances, it was the increasing pressure of Barca, it just felt like they HAD to score coming up to the 78th minute, but they didn't cover themselves, they were trying to get 2 when 1-0 would have been a sound result. To be fair, they deserved to be punished, the focus on defence was almost disrespectful, they were commanding the Arsenal players and apart from Wilshere, players were getting closed down quickly on a consistent basis. So they took it too far and got arrogant, believed they could go for more and even when Arsenal proved they could score, Barca still tried went all out to get a 2nd which is pure foolish.

 

If you think back to the 75th min, Barca totally in control and looking like sealing it, you'd have to think, how the hell did Arsenal win that game?

 

It wasn't a miracle or anything, they played well enough to get something from the game, but to end up winning from being behind in the late 70th minute? Insane.

 

Arsenal played very well, better than Barcelona, and deserved to win. Yet they got lucky, 'cause Barça didn't play very well. Let's face it, it's rare for Barcelona not to play well.

 

Even with Barca not at their best, they should have won, but they just got silly. Pep needs to take a step back and after a draw in the league and a defeat, realise that this machine of a team is only human after all. I can't imagine this being the start of a bad spell, Barca will probably be up and running again when it goes to the Nou Camp.

Barcelona should learn how to defend properly, then. It is part of the game, after all................... :dozey:

Yes Van Persie missed two good chances- because he had a shit game apart from the goal, so did Fabregas and about half the team. They may have played slightly better in the first half but Barcelona were always threatening to get a yard ahead and make it 2, then, against a team like Barca, that's effectively game over. The only reason Arsenal scored is because they had 2 counter attacks when Barca's wing backs suddenly ventured way up the pitch and left themselves totally exposed.

 

Have you forgotten the 2 point blank saves, Messi's 2nd clear chance (When has Messi ever missed 2 through on goal chances in one game?), the offside goal (Which the player just had the goalkeeper to beat), but it's not just chances, it was the increasing pressure of Barca, it just felt like they HAD to score coming up to the 78th minute, but they didn't cover themselves, they were trying to get 2 when 1-0 would have been a sound result. To be fair, they deserved to be punished, the focus on defence was almost disrespectful, they were commanding the Arsenal players and apart from Wilshere, players were getting closed down quickly on a consistent basis. So they took it too far and got arrogant, believed they could go for more and even when Arsenal proved they could score, Barca still tried went all out to get a 2nd which is pure foolish.

 

If you think back to the 75th min, Barca totally in control and looking like sealing it, you'd have to think, how the hell did Arsenal win that game?

 

It wasn't a miracle or anything, they played well enough to get something from the game, but to end up winning from being behind in the late 70th minute? Insane.

 

 

 

Even with Barca not at their best, they should have won, but they just got silly. Pep needs to take a step back and after a draw in the league and a defeat, realise that this machine of a team is only human after all. I can't imagine this being the start of a bad spell, Barca will probably be up and running again when it goes to the Nou Camp.

 

For the vast majority of the 2nd half Arsenal had nullified Barcelona's attacking threat.

 

Personally I think there's a tiredness problem with Barca. Guardiola allowed his players a day off last Sunday because apparently they were too tired.

ONE day off? Holy god.

 

Barcelona should learn how to defend properly, then. It is part of the game, after all................... :dozey:

 

Barcelona know how to defend better then most (If not all) the teams in that competition, but they simply decided not to- by pushing defenders up in search of a 2nd. If they had stayed tight at the back as a unit like Arsenal did, they'd have won that match and possibly would have gotten a 2nd, it was just very, very silly, especially after they conceded to just carry on taking such risks.

 

Pep is bound to have learned from that, Barca is a gigantic club and every decision surrounding the entire club is scrutinised to fine detail, he knows that they are simply going to have to be more patient next time.

ONE day off? Holy god.

 

 

 

Barcelona know how to defend better then most (If not all) the teams in that competition, but they simply decided not to- by pushing defenders up in search of a 2nd. If they had stayed tight at the back as a unit like Arsenal did, they'd have won that match and possibly would have gotten a 2nd, it was just very, very silly, especially after they conceded to just carry on taking such risks.

 

Pep is bound to have learned from that, Barca is a gigantic club and every decision surrounding the entire club is scrutinised to fine detail, he knows that they are simply going to have to be more patient next time.

 

Yeah if you know how most football teams go about preparing for a match it's not often they get a day off particularly for a midweek game. A lot of teams would usually do a bit of light training so yeah.

Yeah if you know how most football teams go about preparing for a match it's not often they get a day off particularly for a midweek game. A lot of teams would usually do a bit of light training so yeah.

 

Maybe they've started believing their own hype...................... :rolleyes:

 

£176 for cheapest Champions League final ticket

 

17th February 2011

 

Uefa has announced the ticket prices for the 2011 Champions League final – and they’re high enough to make your eyes water. Supporters can expect to fork out between £150-£300 for a single match ticket along with a whopping £26 administrative fee.

 

Tickets for the final, which takes place at Wembley on Saturday 28th May, go on sale to the general public between Thursday 24th February and Friday 18th March. Standard match tickets are split into four categories: Category 1 – £300; Category 2 – £225; Category 3 – £150; and Wheelchair £80.

 

The 2010 Champions League final saw Category 4 tickets available at the price of €90 (approximately £75 at today’s exchange rate) meaning that Uefa has effectively doubled the cheapeast standard ticket. Around 86,000 fans will be in Wembley for the Champions League final with each finalist entitled to 25,000 tickets.

 

When Uefa moved the Champions League final from its traditional Wednesday evening slot to Saturday evening European football’s governing body claimed one of the main reasons was to make the final more family friendly: “It is also hoped that playing the Uefa Champions League final on a Saturday will give families, especially children, the chance to see the game,” said Uefa online. Yet a “youth package” comprising of one adult and one child ticket for the 2011 final costs £338.

 

“To ask fans to fork out between £150-£300 for a single match ticket is absolutely outrageous, it just strikes of profiteering at the supporters’ expense. The price on some tickets has doubled in one year and that’s before we even get started on the £26 admin fee which is the cherry on top of a pretty disgusting cake,” said Michael Brunskill of the Football Supporters’ Federation.

 

“Part of Uefa’s reasoning for a Saturday evening final was to encourage children and families along. How does this square with charging £338 for a family ticket comprising of one child and one adult? On their own website Uefa warn fans not to buy ticket from touts as they’ll only be charged ‘exorbitant prices’ – the FSF would suggest that those in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.”

i would happily fork out 300 pounds to see a champs league final. it is the most important annual sport event in the world despite what the americans say about the super bowl.