Match Day Thread FC Barcelona vs. Arsenal (UCL Round of 16) 2015/16 Official Match Thread (agg. 2-0)

We can still do it. We need to score first obviously and then it's game on. It's a massive ask, but we have to go into the game believing that we can do it.

 

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This match demonstrates to all, how as fans we are being ripped off every season. As punters we pay through our noses to watch our team, (I hear it is one of the most expensive in world football). What do we get for our troubles, Giroud as our main striker. I am not knocking Giroud, just saying with the amount of money we pay, surely we should have a world class striker. I am not saying we should have Messi, Neymar or Suarez... Surely we should be getting something close to one of these guys... Not too much to ask for.

 

Overturn a 2-0 deficit at the nous camp? Against MSN? Not happening. You're best chance was nicking this game 1 nil and then parking the bus at theirs

 

Been telling Arsenal fans this since RvP left, you still haven't replaced him.
Like you say, doesn't need to be Suarez or Neymar, but someone like Costa (without the MMA antics though )

 

Probably, but we have to go for it anyway now.

 

Yep, we definitely need a clinical striker. I think we've got the wide positions pretty much covered with Sanchez, Walcott, Welbeck, Oxo. But we need somebody with that killer instinct in front of goal.

 

We have important fixtures coming now, we cannot afford to go for it.

 

9.47pm

10.08pm

spoken like true fanboy

 

Those are easy to slot in, 3 isn't much, not 4-5, like you lot need, , don't know maths, dumbass.

 

I thought we did very well in the first half and was quite impressed with how we contained them and maintained our defensive shape. The second half, we started off well, but then they were leaving gaps open which gave us space to try and exploit and create opportunities - which we did. Unfortunately, they are so technically gifted and lightening quick on the counter that it meant if we didn't take our chances when pushing forward, we would be exposed at the back and that is exactly what happened. Can't blame the team for trying, though.

Truthfully, I think we all knew this tie was a foregone conclusion as soon as the draw was made. Mertesacker and Flamini messed up for the second goal, but even if we only lost by a one-goal deficit, it would have just been delaying the inevitable.

I don't think any pragmatic Arsenal fan genuinely believed we would qualify over the two legs, but what I and others wanted to see was the team trying to remain competitive in the match for as long as we could. We wanted to see the team take the game to Barcelona and that is what we did.

Barcelona have destroyed better sides than us this season and I was afraid that it would shatter our confidence for the upcoming games if they had replicated some of their previous outstanding team displays, but our performance overall wasn't one to be annoyed at, so there's no real need for the team to be disheartened.

We should have taken a couple of the chances that we spurned and a team of such highly-skilled players will punish you if you fail to take them, but sometimes you just have to hold your hands up and accept that we were beaten by a side that are on a completely different level to us. There's no shame in that whatsoever.

 

If you're ever going to be contenders for this standard you have to have a world class striker who can provide 25/30 goals a season (all comps) a decent centre back wouldn't go amiss either.

 

We should take heart from the fact that lowly Man Utd beat them 1-3 in the summer and even Celta Vigo managed to put 4 past a full strength Barca in September.

Dare to dream!

 

Love it, great attitude. Chances are you'll get murdered but why accept that? Put your neck on the line and predict a 4-0 win in Spain.

 

So did Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish Super Cup. When it came to matches that really counted, Athletic were unceremoniously put to the sword.

 

Aduriz of Athletic Bilbao. Pity he's 35 now as he is in the form of his life right now. Good luck on finding this supreme striker.

 

If only we had suarez - imagine him and sanchez upfront...

 

Imagine him with Messi and Neymar, oh wait....

Anyway's we made a good go of it and we're now out of the tie. Rest our key players for the return leg and concentrate on the league.

 

I said Welbeck should have started last night. It was too obvious to me. Bringing Flamini on was mind boggling. Wenger sometimes...