Our record in these CL qualifiers really is something else. So far, we have played 11, and won 11. Say what you want about Wenger, but he sure does know how to navigate his team past these games.
We were too good for Fene and they were frankly dreadful. This time we didn't make any mistakes and kept our focus, something that we didn't maintain against Villa. Hopefully we'll kick on from here and keep our momentum running until the big NLD.
Of the players Spurs have signed, how many have any EPL experience? Likely it will take some time for the New recruits to form as good an understanding as some fear they will. Plus it may take some of the others a bit to realise, " Give it to Gareth! " is no longer an option.
Wenger must be really pissed off at having another £30 Million to spend. On a serious note, Sagna was excellent last night. He needs a new contract.
At the end of the day it will take a while before all of the Spur signings gel properly, but to underestimate them would be foolish. We will go into the NLD as the better team, baring any disasterous injuries.
Consistently our best player though his high standards dropped a little last season. He deserves a contract.
Agreed - but there is a difference between random incompetence and 'the ref doing his best to make sure we lost' which implies corruption. I happen to believe that there is a slight bias towards the 'better' teams associated with the refs' mindset that better players are less likely to foul and more likely to be fouled. There are also a lot of refs who have preconceived ideas about certain players and teams based on past experience. Bale being continually booked for not diving is a good example. Random incompetence needs to be eliminated as far as possible because it doesn't average out as people seem to believe. For example the difference on penalties awarded last year was massive and had a much larger effect than the final points difference between Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs.
Dirty tactics! Fenerbahce fans lets off firecrackers outside Arsenal’s hotel ahead of crunch Champions League tie http://metro.co.uk/2013/08/21/dirty...ahead-of-crunch-champions-league-tie-3932550/ nd Fenerbahce’s hardcore fans want to make it as tough as possible, with a number of them tracking down Arsenal’s hotel late at night. They then proceeded to let off flash bangs, firecrackers and flares right outside the building, where Wenger’s side were trying to get some sleep. The plan worked, with Jack Wilshere tweeting a photo of the madness going on outside his window, while adding: ‘Getting ready for tonight! Had some visitors outside our hotel last night! Atmosphere tonight will be amazing!’ Wilshere’s midfield partner Ramsey was also struggling to sleep, and he also took to Twitter, telling his followers: ‘Got a bit lively outside our hotel last night!! Focused on the game now, let’s bring something back to the Emirates’. Looks like we've found the solution, make sure the players get no sleep before the game and we're guaranteed winners!
Taken in the context of my quote this wasn't a literal interpretation, but a reflection of his performance. I thought you would have understood that. There's absolutely no doubt that his incompetence in that game cost us dearly. As for Spurs and penalties, I'm afraid Gareth Bale has earned you a reputation for diving and looking for penalties, so with referees so keen not to be deceived by cheaters, it's more likely that you're not going to get the rub of the green. That said, there are a least half a dozen examples I could give where we weren't awarded penalties in games that could have increased our points tally, so your claim that Spurs missed out because of it is a moot one. Anyway, you shouldn't have that problem with a diving cheat Bale on your hands for much longer anyway
So everyone keeps saying but since no penalty has actually been awarded for a foul on Bale in the last 18 months it seems odd that he has this reputation.
I think he's been booked five times for diving. Three of them were clear fouls on the replays and the other two were more dubious. hardly enough to earn a reputation......
No I was responding to the tweet that he joined the team on the plane home, which should be a positive.
Its not unusual for a footballer to lose balance when avoiding a tackle - doesn't prove anything This is the real thing...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7SF_KWuIss and affected the match result Anyway - this is now way off topic for the thead - apologies
Surely, even with your Red and White tainted glasses, you can see he was evading a possible leg breaking challenge, the keeper was about to swing his leg through - to be fair, pulled out, but Bale wasn't to know that. Anyway, was nowhere near the penalty area, so diving to get a free kick is a bit different. If he'd stayed on his feet, was round the keeper for an easy goal (for Bale anyway) makes you wonder if cheating was on his mind. Call him a coward, maybe, but not a cheat.
