Comments on: Arsenal 1-4 Barcelona: Beaten by the best but wondering ‘what if?’

By: Nigel

Nigel — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 16:45:49 +0000

It seems that many supporters have pushed the panic buttons, such as firesale of all who were lousy or ineffectual yesterday such as Silvestre, Rosicky, Eduardo, Diaby plus the perennials like Almunia. Throw in Walcott and why not Nasri. In fact I think Nasri was the greatest disappointment or at least equal to Rosicky. Who had a good game? “Even” Vermalen looked poor. YET, if we dare to think that Song and Fab and perhaps Gallas were fit, we might have been a little stronger up the middle which would have had a knock on effect for Nasri. But the truth is that we were running on fumes. Rosicky was marginal for the game after the blood letting at Birmingham, but who would have Wenger put there instead? One wonders why Wenger bothers with Silvestre, I would have had started the way he ended without him.

but there was another what if moment at 1-0 when Diaby decided not to play to Walcott. …

but these aside, Barca are pretty much a complete team and to have a shout we needed to be fully fit–imagine Barca starting without 5 first choice starers, half their outfield players (Gallas, Song, Fab, VP, Arshavin).

I think the firesale needs to be put in perspective.

Keep Eduardo and Rosicky for another year, see if there is improvement after year long injuries. Dump Gallas, Silvesrte and get a new goal keeper …

By: Jonas Matete

Jonas Matete — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 11:01:24 +0000

It was a difficult night, can’t afford to measure it. I can only flush back to the Premier League and try to settle my brains there.

By: guyfrmars

guyfrmars — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 04:10:45 +0000

oh god.
Arsenal is competing on the domestic and europe side on a string budget. We play great football, have great players. We just played Barca with our B team and pushed them all the way. A make shift defensive center pairing, our usual playmakers and leading goal scorer out for the season. Lets just admit Barca was really really good and if it was Man U, Chelsea vs them, they will be out of it too. in fact, i enjoyed the match and in my belief it will put them up in good stead. The positives from the first leg can be seen in the Wolves game. They pushed and pushed and finally they scored. I would love to see how we go against SPUDS.

The complaints on the board tells me you’re all new or young fans. Sack Wenger lol. We have Man U, Chelsea and Liverpool fans taunting us and we dont need you sorts to do the same.

By: Adam(different)

Adam(different) — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 03:01:42 +0000

How can we possibly be so upset when the 5 best players on our team weren’t playing. Its not even a fair contest. I’m just heart-broken we couldn’t field our strongest or even a strong team. Talking about the game is pointless when Arsenal didn’t even have a real team out there.

By: Apit

Apit — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 15:37:25 +0000

@Anyang abraham , GO FUCK YOURSELF!
come on lads! in arsene we trust and in arsenal we believe!

By: jon

jon — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 15:25:21 +0000

what happened to off the ball movement? or coming towards the ball to maintain possession?

also did wenger purposefully ask walcott not to track the full back when he was attacking?

By: Enemy Airship

Enemy Airship — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 15:09:05 +0000

Small sized attacking midfielders like Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, you mean? Defenders like Puyol, Maxwell, Milito, who all struggle to reach 5’10? Yeah that will never work, those guys will never win ANYTHING.

MEGALOL.

By: DJ RC

DJ RC — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 15:07:42 +0000

Its the injuries that has hurt us for the last season and the problem gets graver and graver. This season is worst, long term injuries combined with short time injuries at the business end of the season.

Yes Barca too didnt have their full 1st team……it was more of Messi vs Arsenal. I wonder what the result wud have been if we had swapped forwards……hehehe!!

By: unchained

unchained — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 13:56:13 +0000

we do not have a god given right to lose either.

I have been harping on this (unpopularly) for the past three years.

THE SYSTEM WE HAVE IS NOT WORKING PEOPLE.
the small sized attacking midfielders needs to change. we start out every year with hopes and dreams only to be shattered come april. we need to get competent defenders… not 5’10 guys when all year they post up with 6’3′ guys. we need defensive midfielders who hold the ball and maintain the shape of the game. not dudes who grab it and run with their heads down.

i hear they are extending Arsene’s contract. He has given us much but it is time to move on.

By: Enemy Airship

Enemy Airship — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 12:47:07 +0000

NEWSFLASH: Arsenal do NOT have a God-given right to win trophies!

It astounds me that people can react so badly to losing against the world’s greatest team. Do you so easily forget games like the first leg, and the battle against Porto before hand? Games like those are the reasons to be a football fan. We’ve had a tremendous adventure every year, despite winning nothing for the last 5, and I thank the club for every single one of them.