arsenal v juventus

[fela fan]

I suspect he is maturing as captain too... Arsenal were in the zone and just seemed the complete team with no reliance on the main man.

Indeed. Due to time zones i don't see many european games, but with deserted streets off i went to my mate's house to see this game, and what a magical way to lose out on one's sleep. I thought arsenal played the perfect home european game and the perfect away european game all rolled into one. They played as good a game of football as can be played, and that against the runaway league leaders in italy. They had to be technically right on the ball, and they were. At times there was almost zero thinking time for the player with the ball, but their passing was outstanding. The way they worked the second goal was why i watch this beautiful game.

Arsene is now in the middle of providing us lucky fans with his third generation of players, and i feel pretty blessed to have seen the brand of football that he has his players playing.

Might i also remind posters that i have 100 quid on us to win the cup, at 14/1...!

Good prediction by bonfirelight too!

 

[DRINK?]

Well I don't like Arsenal, though they looked quality last night, make a change from the sterile, dull imaginative cr*p played under Jose and the gang at Chelski. Know who I would prefer to watch...football should be played like that. Saying that thought Juve were poor and still can't see anyone beating barca...how the f' they didn't stick 4 on Benfica last night I don't know. Though fair play....think next year's premiership is going to be the tightest ever...

 

[Bonfirelight]

Excellent result from Arsenal. Toure was imposing at the back and Juve had no answer to Henry and Fabregas.
Viera looked like the player Arsenal had last season - no heart. I mean, it comes to something when Robert Pires is muscling you out of a game, and as for Juves other so called stars..
There was a time we'd all respect players like Ibrahimovich and Emerson in part because they played for Juve, but on last nights showing i think it shows how far Italian football has fallen since its heyday, because they certainly wouldn't be a regular feature in any top English or Spanish sides.

I fully expect Arsenal to go through now and on to the final where they will surely meet Barcelona for a mouthwatering clash between two footballing sides led by their talismanic players.

 

[g force]

I think Juve are a fairly average team TBH. I see nothing in the team, bar Buffon, Cannavaro and Nedved that should worry most top teams.

they were lucky against a very poor Bremen side and last ngiht were shown up as the average team they are. The reason they lead in Italy is consistency (ie dullness...much liek Chelseas) - AC Milan are a far better team defensively and in attack.

Well done Aresenal on a great result...pretty happy Barca managed a draw at home given the side we had to play.

 

[Bonfirelight]

I think Juve are a fairly average team TBH. I see nothing in the team, bar Buffon, Cannavaro and Nedved that should worry most top teams.

Shame Juve went through because they're the only team i'm worried about.

 

[Streathamite]

last ngiht were shown up as the average team they are. The reason they lead in Italy is consistency (ie dullness...much liek Chelseas) - AC Milan are a far better team defensively and in attack.

.

yes but Juve are leading the Foro, not AC - that has to count for summat!

Well done Aresenal on a great result...

cheers guv, yer a propah toff!

pretty happy Barca managed a draw at home given the side we had to play

err...come again???

 

[g force]

I was speaking in terms of Barca playing them...we never do well against Italian teams - they're a jinx on us! Them and AC were the teams I didn't want us to draw at this stage, especially given our injuries and suspensions.

And looks liek we won't have to worry aboyut Juve in the next round either...which means we'll probably get AC

Italian football, and Capello's teams in particular, are so dull...be glad to see Juve out.

Oh yeah...my mistake...I meant to say i'm gald we get to play 'em at home after that draw I haven't had a cup of tea yet. But jesus our away kit is horrible.

 

[iROBOT]

It's amazing that Wengers got a bunch of lads playing like this, whipping one of the top three teams in Europe.

this being a spectator sport The Arsenal are easly the most entertaining team in Europe. It's good to see Arsenal playing well again, we just need to transfer this on to the Prem'.....

 

[iROBOT]

juventus were very crap though
they should really be against barcelona/ac milan in the final now, if they score once in the 2nd leg juventus need 4, villareal are a fine team but probably couldn't cope with that sort of onslaught and inter are in customary disarray

If Juve are so crap can you tell me why they are above AC Milan?

The Arsenal made them look crap.

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

And looks liek we won't have to worry aboyut Juve in the next round either...which means we'll probably get AC

They made the semi-final draw at the same time as the quarter final draw, so if Barca go through they get the winner of Milan-Lyon. So probably Milan, yes.

 

[Bonfirelight]

It's amazing that Wengers got a bunch of lads playing like this, whipping one of the top three teams in Europe.

this being a spectator sport The Arsenal are easly the most entertaining team in Europe. It's good to see Arsenal playing well again, we just need to transfer this on to the Prem'.....

Therin lies the rub. Arsenal are among the most entertaining teams in europe for sure, and are playing very well in continental competition where you are afforded that much more time on the ball.
The premiership however is an entirely different prospect and as yet this Arsenal team, for all their abilities aren't showing that they have the tools necessary to deal with 90 minutes of being pressured and harried by the likes of bolton on a wet wedneday night (as the cliche goes ).

Its the one thing i have to take my hat off to Chelsea for, and its interesting that they have become the polar opposite to Arsenal (despite tradition suggesting it should be other way around) in that they can grind out results against anyone, but cannot step up when it takes some class and guile to win a game.

 

[revol68]

yeah the arsenal really can move a ball around, and to be honest if they can perform in europe then fair fucks.

Man Utd were absolute shite in europe the past two years, they looked like a typical english side, completely unable to put their foot on the ball and knock it around. Nope, everything must go forward, and if possible in one line, god forbid you actually passed and moved, fuck having some fucking flair.

Chelsea are possibly the most boring team since George Graham was at highbury.

 

[iROBOT]

Therin lies the rub. Arsenal are among the most entertaining teams in europe for sure, and are playing very well in continental competition where you are afforded that much more time on the ball.
The premiership however is an entirely different prospect and as yet this Arsenal team, for all their abilities aren't showing that they have the tools necessary to deal with 90 minutes of being pressured and harried by the likes of bolton on a wet wedneday night (as the cliche goes ).

Its the one thing i have to take my hat off to Chelsea for, and its interesting that they have become the polar opposite to Arsenal (despite tradition suggesting it should be other way around) in that they can grind out results against anyone, but cannot step up when it takes some class and guile to win a game.

All true, but if you look at the side emerging now, there are some new very physical players just about now finding their way. Ebue/Flamini/Fabrigas/Adebayor/Diaby….ect (there's more) Wengers an intellegent man he's building in the physical to the flair, it was on show last night. Italian teams are very physical, The Arsenals new breed and Wengers tactics nullified Itays leading side.

I really think that the present side with this growing understanding between the players has the potential of raising the bar yet again next season…cant wait!

 

[Bonfirelight]

All true, but if you look at the side emerging now, there are some new very physical players just about now finding their way. Ebue/Flamini/Fabrigas/Adebayor/Diaby….ect (there's more) Wengers an intellegent man he's building in the physical to the flair, it was on show last night. Italian teams are very physical, The Arsenals new breed and Wengers tactics nullified Itays leading side.

I really think that the present side with this growing understanding between the players has the potential of raising the bar yet again next season…cant wait!

Agreed, but its not so much the physical aspect i was getting at.
Its more so that this team thrive on the time and space europeans tend to offer, but aren't coping so well with being chased down and pressured for 90 minutes. Now this is in no small part to their youth and the fact that many of the players haven't perhaps settled into the english game just yet.
i've no doubt Wenger will get it right soon and the future looks good for them.

 

[siarc]

If Juve are so crap can you tell me why they are above AC Milan?

hmm perhaps you should read that again
judged by his absence nedved is still their most important player though

 

[iROBOT]

hmm perhaps you should read that again
judged by his absence nedved is still their most important player though

Yes looking forward to see how Arsen's tactics change to counter him....it's still just the first half afterall.

 

[Streathamite]

A smashing game of soccer.

a smashing game of WHAAAAT????!!!!
It's 'football' mate, FOOTBALL!
Where do you think you are, Tucson?

 

[hammerntongues]

Well done you Gooners , took the game to them and a convincing victory , hope you play the same way in 2nd leg.

An Arsenal / Barca final is quite a prospect , on balance I think most neutrals would give Barca the slight edge but it would be a great game .

no one wants Henry to leave the Prem and last night must have gone a long way in swaying his opinion

 

[Bonfirelight]

Well done you Gooners , took the game to them and a convincing victory , hope you play the same way in 2nd leg.

An Arsenal / Barca final is quite a prospect , on balance I think most neutrals would give Barca the slight edge but it would be a great game .

no one wants Henry to leave the Prem and last night must have gone a long way in swaying his opinion

i think he'd be a fool to leave for anywhere other than Barca or Real tbh.

 

[hammerntongues]

i think he'd be a fool to leave for anywhere other than Barca or Real tbh.

I dont think that is in doubt but in spite of Arsenal resurgance over the last few weeks I just cant help thinking he would not be tempted by Barca , the guy is a very intelligent wealthy individual who has won just about everything there is to win at every level , if he moves it not be for money or even for more trophies it will be for " a change " .I do not question his love for Arsenal but as fans we sometimes expect too much loyalty.
Personally I would be very sad to see him go but i still think its on the cards.

 

[Jazzz]

Might i also remind posters that i have 100 quid on us to win the cup, at 14/1...!

I hadn't forgotten!

 

[hektik]

You couldn't have been more wrong!

and i couldn't be more pleased at the fact. it was an awesome performance, and i am glad we won. I just cant help but curb my natural pessimism when it comes to my football teams, although it does have the added benefit of making victories all the sweeter (because they are agaisnt your odds) and removes the tang of defeat (because you expect it).

 

[hektik]

And what the fuck was Camoranesi doing, blowing kisses to the crowd as he was sent off?

i can only imagine that he was responding to the crowd, who were singing "cheerio" and waving to him. (says my friend, cunt that he is, went to the game)

 

[Streathamite]

I just cant help but curb my natural pessimism when it comes to my football teams, although it does have the added benefit of making victories all the sweeter, and removes the tang of defeat (because you expect it).

I can't help my natural pessimism when it comes to getting you to actually COME OUT FOR A BLOODY DRINK - although it does have the added benefit of making your oh-so-rare appearances all the more welcome, and removes the tangue of captain no-show tedium, and adds to the sense of surprise, because we least expect it

 

[bigbry]

Everyone's wondering about the second leg in Turin.

As Juve have to come out of their shell ti try to make it look a bit respectable I can see the Arse having a field day if they get there (natural) counter attacking game going.

I fancy them to win the second leg as well.

 

[g force]

I can see Arsenal doing enough to go through...not sure they'll win though. Maybe 1-0 Juve

I can't see Henry moving to us either, and it's not like we really need him when we have Eto'o and Ronny. Nice to see the English media already going into overdrive over Cesc...yes he's very talented, but as Henry said, give him time to grow up and see what happens. There's been plenty of players who have shone at 18 just a brightly...Denilson anyone?!

I don't think that will happen and it's great news for Spain when our best players are all in their early to mid-20s. But I had to laugh at Michael Walker in the Gruniad today saying how Barca must be kicking themselves for letting him go....yeah....we're only 11 points clear in the league with a +43 goal difference

Arsenal offered the one thing Barca couldn't - regular first team football.

 

[fela fan]

But I had to laugh at Michael Walker in the Gruniad today saying how Barca must be kicking themselves for letting him go....yeah....we're only 11 points clear in the league with a +43 goal difference

Yeah. The british media only know black or white. Either heroes or zeroes. Either the best, or humiliating. I've seen how mental they've gone over fabregas, it's the start of the building-them-up process, while simultaneously they're on the start of the knocking-them-down process with viera.

It's a peculiar british mentality, and it's terrible in my book. All the crap written about both players. But they must be wetting themselves with excitement for sure: able to build up and knock down at the same time!

James Lawton in the indie seems to swallow a volume of the thesaurus and a volume of poetry prior to writing his columns.

Anyway, i'd just say that arsenal were fucking magnificent. And i'm looking forward to an early goal in the second leg. If that does happen, total demoralisation will set in, and we might get a 3-0 or 3-1 or something like that.

 

[siarc]

Nice to see the English media already going into overdrive over Cesc...yes he's very talented, but as Henry said, give him time to grow up and see what happens. There's been plenty of players who have shone at 18 just a brightly...Denilson anyone?!

and nobody is like that about messi?

 

[g force]

Of course they are...because he's the new Maradonna Messi is an amazing talent (and part of the reason why Barca didn;t fight to keep Cesc), but he's still learning. I'm biased but from what i've seen, Messi could be the real deal - better maybe than even Ronaldo when he joined Barca under Robson.

The pressure for these kids is immense, no wonder so many of them fail. Denilson's price tag must have weighed him down because Betis fans expected him to be Pele. Pennant too seems to have suffered from that.

I think Wenger is smart enough not to let that happen to Cesc or Walcott, but whether they'll produce it week in, week out is a different matter.

 

[siarc]

maradona himself has annointed messi as his successor though (not sure if he's done that before)