Arsenal Barca

[Wax Jacket]

I couldn't watch it last night, the commentary was too much

[Maguire]

I couldn't watch it last night, the commentary was too much

It's incredible how bad a TV channel can make its sports coverage IMHO.

Still a gr8 game though.

[Row Z Royal]

I couldn't watch it last night, the commentary was too much

It's incredible how bad a TV channel can make its sports coverage IMHO.

Still a gr8 game though.

Gr8 indeed. Just tuned out of the commentary really. It was doing my swede in.

[Royal Rother]

Whether or not Arsenal have fallen as a team, they have certainly moved forward as a club in the last 5 years, which is far more important in reality.

[Hoop Blah]

Firstly, Barcelona are a fantastic side and they control a decent chuck of the game, but everyone seems to be forgetting the first 15 minutes of the game when Arsenal created all the chances (up until Messi missed his chipped effort after being put clean through - you'd have thought that was impossible the way he's built up by the way).

They went on and created their own chances later in the half as well so although they were second best at times and Barcelona kept the ball (as they will) for long periods I don't think Arsenal were on the end of such a lesson to be honest.

It's great to get to see sides like this on such a regular basis, but I do wish they wouldn't get hyped up so much.

[No Fixed Abode]

Typically everyone is getting carried away by this result. Remember it's only half time and Barca have a very poor record away from home in the CL under Pep. In fact, when they won it last year I don't think they actually won a game away from the Nou Camp.

[sheshnu]

Typically everyone is getting carried away by this result. Remember it's only half time and Barca have a very poor record away from home in the CL under Pep. In fact, when they won it last year I don't think they actually won a game away from the Nou Camp.

[Bandini]

Firstly, Barcelona are a fantastic side and they control a decent chuck of the game, but everyone seems to be forgetting the first 15 minutes of the game when Arsenal created all the chances (up until Messi missed his chipped effort after being put clean through - you'd have thought that was impossible the way he's built up by the way).

They went on and created their own chances later in the half as well so although they were second best at times and Barcelona kept the ball (as they will) for long periods I don't think Arsenal were on the end of such a lesson to be honest.

It's great to get to see sides like this on such a regular basis, but I do wish they wouldn't get hyped up so much.

It lived up to the hype though.

[ZacNaloen]

Firstly, Barcelona are a fantastic side and they control a decent chuck of the game, but everyone seems to be forgetting the first 15 minutes of the game when Arsenal created all the chances (up until Messi missed his chipped effort after being put clean through - you'd have thought that was impossible the way he's built up by the way).

This.


Arsenal did a very good job of preventing chances, mostly through Koscielny showing absolute skillz tackling throughout all the game. Barcelona will have possession, but rather than chasing shadows and tiring themselves out in the middle of the park Arsenal did the right thing, were patient, and made the tackles that counted. And then broke on them.

Barcelona got through a couple of times, but Barcelona are the best footballing side in the world so you can't have expected them not to. Their chances were rather limited though.

[26-10-06]

Typically everyone is getting carried away by this result. Remember it's only half time and Barca have a very poor record away from home in the CL under Pep. In fact, when they won it last year I don't think they actually won a game away from the Nou Camp.

showing his footall knowledge!

[Hoop Blah]

It lived up to the hype though.

As a game it lived up to the hype yes, it was a great game to watch, but in terms of Barca being this unstoppable force who steamrolled Arsenal (if you believe all the reporting) for long periods of the game blah blah. In my reality though Barca had a hell of a lot of the ball but Arsenal more than matched them on good goalscoring opportunities, which is kind of the aim of the game.

They were good yes, but I just think they get hyped up a bit too much really.

[No Fixed Abode]

Typically everyone is getting carried away by this result. Remember it's only half time and Barca have a very poor record away from home in the CL under Pep. In fact, when they won it last year I don't think they actually won a game away from the Nou Camp.

showing his footall knowledge!

Oops. Still, I fit in with all you lot that know nothing about football now.

[Royal Rother]

One thing that was very pleasing was the fact that, despite several "opportunities" to do so, neither team looked for a penalty.

Several times in the 2nd half Barca players had defenders right up their backsides in the penalty area - many other teams would have waited for a slight touch and gone sprawling.

[TBM]

One thing that was very pleasing was the fact that, despite several "opportunities" to do so, neither team looked for a penalty.

Several times in the 2nd half Barca players had defenders right up their backsides in the penalty area - many other teams would have waited for a slight touch and gone sprawling.

Like Pedro did, you mean?

[Royal Rother]

Indeed. (Why, do I detect that maybe he did fall over at some stage - I missed it if he did!)

[ZacNaloen]

He did it a couple of times tbf

[Y21_Royal]

Whilst Arsenal did play very well it'd take a very stauch gooner to believe it shouldn't have been 2-0 at HT and its open to debate if Arsenal would have had the momentum to come back at that point. However that's slightly irrelevant.

Barca shot themselves in the foot by taking off Villa and bringing on Keita. It messed up the system and rather than providing bulk in the middle it just took away Iniesta and stopped the the flow of passing and they couldn't keep the ball. Arsenal on the other hand shifted Nasri into the middle and they were able to keep the ball better in there. The two subs changed the game so kudos to Wenger for that one.

Barca are still favourites to go through but what was really pleasing was seeing a team actually try and beat them at their own game rather than 'parking the bus'. It proves you don't have to meet flair with negativity. The only irony is that despite playing that game well, their two goals were on the counter.

Also agree with the Wilshere/Koscielny love in. Disappointed that Song's been overlooked in it all though, he had a great game, really broke the play up well and was unlucky with his booking

[Thomas L'Heureux]

Whilst Arsenal did play very well it'd take a very stauch gooner to believe it shouldn't have been 2-0 at HT and its open to debate if Arsenal would have had the momentum to come back at that point. However that's slightly irrelevant.

Barca shot themselves in the foot by taking off Villa and bringing on Keita. It messed up the system and rather than providing bulk in the middle it just took away Iniesta and stopped the the flow of passing and they couldn't keep the ball. Arsenal on the other hand shifted Nasri into the middle and they were able to keep the ball better in there. The two subs changed the game so kudos to Wenger for that one.

Barca are still favourites to go through but what was really pleasing was seeing a team actually try and beat them at their own game rather than 'parking the bus'. It proves you don't have to meet flair with negativity. The only irony is that despite playing that game well, their two goals were on the counter.

Also agree with the Wilshere/Koscielny love in. Disappointed that Song's been overlooked in it all though, he had a great game, really broke the play up well and was unlucky with his booking

Decent analysis. I personally think Alex Song is an outstanding player. He is really under-rated in my opinion. He does the 'ugly' side of the game well and with discipline, but he's a real player too.

His performance was made only stronger by the fact he got booked in the sixth minute and was therefore walking a tightrope for the rest of the game.

[TBM]

Whilst Arsenal did play very well it'd take a very stauch gooner to believe it shouldn't have been 2-0 at HT and its open to debate if Arsenal would have had the momentum to come back at that point.

Agree with what you said, but they did that last season to draw 2-2 at home......

the difference this season is now Arsenal can go away and know they dont have to score to go through, unlike last season which is probably part of the reason they lost.

[Y21_Royal]

Whilst Arsenal did play very well it'd take a very stauch gooner to believe it shouldn't have been 2-0 at HT and its open to debate if Arsenal would have had the momentum to come back at that point.

Agree with what you said, but they did that last season to draw 2-2 at home......

the difference this season is now Arsenal can go away and know they dont have to score to go through, unlike last season which is probably part of the reason they lost.

But they do have to keep a clean sheet. I think Arsenal need to go into it with the same mentality as yesterday, if they sit back they'll lose because the team isn't organized for that. I should make a distinction between sitting back and being forced back. Two different things and Arsenal countered from the latter brilliantly yesterday. Don't think they suit the former though