We are really clutching at straws if we think RVP's sending off was the reason we lost. Was he going to stop either of those goals? Would he have been on the pitch when Bendtner fluffed his chance? I doubt he would have completed the 90 minutes anyway. The Diaby foul on Messi was inside the box and it was stonewall. I think we were very resilient and defended very well. Ironically we lost 4-3 on aggregate but I think when we lost to Barca last season it was a closer game at the Nou Camp. They are just an amazing team when they are on their game and they have been on their game all season. Bendtner should have buried his chance and if he did all we would be hearing is what an amazing never say die attitude and resiliency Arsenal showed tonight. Unfortunately people will now dismiss the fact we lost 4-3 on aggregate to the best team on the planet and accuse us of bottling it, being an embarrassment to English football, playing anti football (even though the same people would have been banging on about why Arsenal should park the bus before the match), etc. Cesc was awful and clearly should not have played. He was holding his hamstring when he was taken off which means he will probably not play at OT now. Djourou, Kossy & Clichy were all immense. Szczesney won't play either which is a blow. Almunia played the game of his life but it doesn't change the fact that he is nothing more than a decent shot stopper and if Szczesney is out for more than 3 weeks I will be worried. Jack again did not look fazed by the occasion. I don't understand why people say he is overrated. How bitter. Nasri was our best player going forward. RVP was anonymous. On the bright side, Song will probably be back and after RVP's ridiculous sending off, he should be able to play at OT, too. If Nani and Rio are out then I am confident of a victory there. As long as the players don't get disheartened from our defeat tonight, which they shouldn't, then I think the defeat to Barca could prove a blessing, especially if United progress vs Marseille.
No wonder you got slated on 606 for this conspiracy bollox. Busacca just a cr@p referee who likes to be the centre of attention, but not all his decisions went against Arsenal. As for RVP's sending off. Both yellow cards were weak, but to the letter of the law!
Even for a Chelsea fan you have a very short memory. Do you not remember your own 5-1 embarrassment in 2000 when only a wrongly disallowed goal and some profligate finishing prevented a cricket score? You had even less possession than Arsenal did last night...and that wasn't even a particularly good Barca side Oh of course. Having Eto, Henry, Toure, Pique and Puyol in the side was really holding them back. Winning the treble and beating Real 6-2 at the Bernabeu was all just a load of luck...
Hardly a thrashing was it? but I expected a petulant knee-jerk reaction because I dare open up tender wounds. In that match you forget to mention that we took them to extra time in that game only because of a dodgy penalty but they wore us down in extra time the aggregate score was the true reflection 6-4. Which at least we shook a fist at them as opposed to the limp-wristed attempt your embarrassments did. Still on record as the worst performance in a European final by any British team ever. But I guess its still too painful for you
...and there's me thinking only Citeh & Chelsea had better defensive records than us this season? Goals against Chelsea 24 Manchester City 25 Arsenal 27 Wenger was intending to play a game of 2 halves. Park the bus in the first half, soak up the pressure and tire the Barca synchronized diving team, before switching to our usual game in the 2nd half. The 1st half of the plan worked well - the 2nd half was screwed up by the Swiss sod in the middle. So, we made Barcelona look better than they were and the sending off stifled our attacking options, ergo the posession/shots stats were royally askewed.
i think referee's are ruining the game, any one see the shaktar game, howard web is bloody blind, 11 v 11 may have done something, but i do beleive if bendtner hit it first time in stead of takign a donkey touch we'd be in the next round. IN all cant fault barca, they played there game and we held em at bay for a long time. Wounder whats gunna happen with arsene after ref bust up. hope barca win now so at least we got beat by champions. Man u barca in next round maybe man u can beat them.
This is the problem. Rooney commits a blatant foul against Wigan deserving of a red card as does Carragher and the ref decides in both cases not to send the players off. Then at the other extreme the ref last night enforces the letter of the law (understandably it can be argued) but ignores common sense and once again there's a massive debate and outcry. Ref's need to be more consistent and accountable.
touchline tech and replays needs to be introduced now. Fifa stated still 1 year away from trial of touchline and replays.
And if not, the governing bodies need to change the review system, so at least some retribution can be instigated. OK, it won't change the result, but a match winner getting a 3 game ban following a review which then affects that team is the way forward.
they use it in tennis and get a certain amount of calls. it is actually ruining the beautiful game. a ref cannot see every inch of the pitch,
I never bought this crap that it'll slow the game down and ruin it. It'll take seconds for another official to look at a replay and radio the ref. Also what about all the diving about and play acting that already slows down the game?
And players surrounding the ref which takes at least a minute to sort out - a video replay would provide the answer in less than 10 seconds!
What ever happened to players approaching the ref, i thought it was only the player at fault and team captains allowed to approach him?
My point exactly. For years I have been advocating the Rugby law where ONLY the Captain is allowed to talk (and by talk I mean LISTEN) to the referee! Respect for the officials is required, my mate's little bro (Under 11s) was in a game where one of the oppo's players got sent off for shouting "Go **** your mum" to the ref They see the players doing it!
The rules need changed that anyone else other than the captain approaches the ref gets booked. Correct me if I'm wrong but when Fulham years ago were promoted and managed by Jean Tigana, didn't he bring in a rule that no one from the Fulham team was to approach the ref and challenge him over any decisions regardless of how dodgy they were? Very refreshing. The LMA needs urgently to get involved and get its members on board.
