Champions League 2024/25

[filbertway]

12 minutes ago, CosbehFox said:

Easy to play with the foot off - keep the wins coming domestically. 

Been given duff info tbh but it was pointed out to me that teams might not be so precious about their placings in the league phase now after PSG's position. 

 

I'd agree with the point about position not meaning much, although finishing top 8 is massive as it literally means you play 2 less games than 9-24 who have to play the extra play off matches.

 

Which means you can rest everyone for 2 games in theory  

[st albans fox]

12 hours ago, Kitchandro said:

What don’t you get? They were battering them until those subs. Completely killed their momentum and the flow of the game.

 

PSG are very poor defensively and a decent team would have hammered them tonight. Being good going forward isn’t everything.

Liverpool also battered them for the first 25 mins of the second half at anfield but unlike villa, they couldn’t score in that period. 
 

it’s almost like they take their foot off the press for that third quarter to allow them to compete better for the last one.  I haven’t seen enough of them to know if it’s their shtick to press like crazy for the first half and then go again last quarter (though not at the same intensity as the first half). 

[filbertway]

9 minutes ago, st albans fox said:

Liverpool also battered them for the first 25 mins of the second half at anfield but unlike villa, they couldn’t score in that period. 
 

it’s almost like they take their foot off the press for that third quarter to allow them to compete better for the last one.  I haven’t seen enough of them to know if it’s their shtick to press like crazy for the first half and then go again last quarter (though not at the same intensity as the first half). 

Doue coming on at 60 minutes changed the pattern of the game. I assume Emery saw that and wanted to inject more energy into a team that had been going full pelt.

 

The "That's why he's only managing Villa" had my howling

 

Kitchandro, world renowned manager who has won it all several times over talking down to Emery

 

 

[StanSP]

39 minutes ago, Leicesterpool said:

Are Arsenal going to bottle it tonight? Something about seeing Arteta peed is defo worth a watch.

I don't really like Real but I'd love it if they pulled it off. 

[Footballwipe]

Tbh I'd rather face Arsenal fans and have them win this tie. 2014, 16, 17, 18, 22, 24 is quite enough Real Madrid success for my liking.

[Stuntman_Mike]

48 minutes ago, StanSP said:

I don't really like Real but I'd love it if they pulled it off. 

I'm not usually one to back English clubs in Europe, but in the past Arsenal were a team I didn't mind out of the 'big sides'. 

 

That has all changed lately though  

 

Most of their fans are so annoying. 

[Leicesterpool]

I like to see English clubs do well in Europe.. except Arsenal. Press weren't half bragging they beat Real 3-0, the sun aka Arsenal fanzine had page after page. If they got battered 5-1 tonight you would find it hidden away in the newspapers.

[Super_horns]

I think it would be noted TBF as another sign of bottling it .

 

Depends how it happens - be more sympathetic if due to a bad decision or luck .

 

Some already lining up a few excuses if it goes wrong.

 

 

 

Edited 16 April by Super_horns

[Leicesterpool]

I think the Arsenal fans may start to turn on Arteta if they bottle tonight. Healthy 3-0 lead and scupper it no matter who you play wont go down well.

Edited 16 April by Leicesterpool

[Torquay Gunner]

45 minutes ago, Leicesterpool said:

I think the Arsenal fans may start to turn on Arteta if they bottle tonight. Healthy 3-0 lead and scupper it no matter who you play wont go down well.

Tough game tonight and it won't be a good look for Arteta if we go out, since a three goal lead has only been overturned four times in the knock-out stages of the CL. He has a lot of fan boys though, so can’t see it making much difference to them even if the worst does happen. 

[RowlattsFox]

It's a weird one for Arsenal. Rightly praised for an excellent first leg win, but also set them up for an ultimate failure. 

 

I think they'll be given a scare but just about do enough. 

[foxfanazer]

2 hours ago, Torquay Gunner said:

Tough game tonight and it won't be a good look for Arteta if we go out, since a three goal lead has only been overturned four times in the knock-out stages of the CL. He has a lot of fan boys though, so can’t see it making much difference to them even if the worst does happen. 

I'm sensing you're not one of them? 

 

I think he's been very fortunate to be afforded the time he's had. I reckon if Emery had have had the same level of backing you'd have had more success. Not to say he hasn't improved you in certain aspects but the way some Arsenal fans bang on about him is almost cult like

[Torquay Gunner]

5 minutes ago, foxfanazer said:

I'm sensing you're not one of them? 

 

I think he's been very fortunate to be afforded the time he's had. I reckon if Emery had have had the same level of backing you'd have had more success. Not to say he hasn't improved you in certain aspects but the way some Arsenal fans bang on about him is almost cult like

You sense correct. I have said it on here before that Arteta has spent in the region of 800 million in his five years at the club, but trophy wise has nothing, but a covid FA cup to show for it.  No club has a devine right to win trophies, but with Arsenal’s set up I would expect more.  I, of course have to give him a fair bit of credit for getting us back competing in the league and of course last season we pushed Man City to the brink.  However, I tend to now think that he has hit his ceiling and we won’t get so close again under him.  I would love to be proved wrong and we are halfway to a CL semi final after all.  I do find him though on a personal level,  a rather irritating character. 

[Bert]

3 hours ago, RowlattsFox said:

It's a weird one for Arsenal. Rightly praised for an excellent first leg win, but also set them up for an ultimate failure. 

 

I think they'll be given a scare but just about do enough. 

I think Madrid win by 1. They’re gonna have to go for it so will surely leave some gaps. 

[Ted Maul]

If Madrid score early, it's on.

[filbertway]

Been saying Madrid 3-0 Arsenal at ht all week. Just have that feeling that Arteta will send them out terrified and they'll spend 45 mins trying and failing to defend the lead.

[Raj]

Would love a 4-0 Madrid win🤣🤣🤣

[Leicesterpool]

5-1 Real Madrid, It'll get to 3-0! Arsenal will grab one back... celebrate like they won the whole tournament and still go on to lose 5-1!

Edited 16 April by Leicesterpool

[StanSP]

Fletcher getting way too excited for that Mbappe goal when he might as well be standing outside the stadium for offside  

 

Edited 16 April by StanSP

[foxfanazer]

Just now, StanSP said:

Fletcher getting way too excited for that Mbappe goal when he might as well be standing outside the stadium for offside  

 

That would've been a 3 minute VAR check in the prem

[StanSP]

Penalty check?

[StanSP]

That's not a penalty. He wasn't getting anywhere near the ball?

[StanSP]

Penalty to Arsenal!

[RowlattsFox]

Stupid defending but I'm not sure it should be a foul either. Merino had just gone to ground when he's nowhere near the ball. 

[Corky]

Shit penalty