Arsenalist

Outclassed by a team that is simply better than us. Playing a high line killed us two of the goals we conceded were a direct result of that. The injuries were obviously an issue with Gallas, Fabregas, Van Persie and Song out, but it’s not like the manager didn’t know that he was thin on strikers and defenders in January. It’s naive to think that we had a realistic chance tonight. As a supporter you always hope for your team to pull through, but fact is that Barcelona are ridiculously efficient with the ball whereas we tend to waste too many opportunities. There were a few instances tonight where Clichy, Bendtner and Rosicky made a mess of things when a team like Barceona, in the same situation, would’ve made a goalie work.

The inability of the midfield to hold the ball, string passes together and build some confidence in themselves while building frustration for Barcelona was mandatory and it didn’t happen. Diaby, Denilson and Rosicky had poor games and couldn’t keep the ball when under pressure from Barcelona’s aggressive tactics. Other than having a difference maker like Messi, that’s the main difference between these two teams – they have the grit to get the job done when they need to and we are lacking in that area.

Eduardo looks like a shadow of his former self and Bendtner, as good as he is in the air, is unable to think with the ball at his feet. You can see it every time he touches it, he can’t anticipate the action and doesn’t have the vision and creativity required to finish those half-chances. Walcott’s good, but he’s far from a refined product and I’m wondering how long we’re willing to wait. With another chance at a trophy gone by the wayside, is it time to give the youth movement another year, or will Wenger truly and honestly make a legitimate run at a trophy by bringing in high quality, proven products.

It’s a disappointing day to be an Arsenal fan, and the only good thing about this tie is that it was a complete hammering and there was no question who was the better team. There are no “what ifs” to lament about, it’s an old-fashioned beat down and perhaps we can learn something from it. With our league hopes dependent on Chelsea and Man Utd dropping points, it’s unrealistic to think we’ll end up with a trophy this year, but as always you keep hope. The difference is that in years past, that hope was predicated on proven quality and not just pure hope alone.

Bendtner 1-0: Watch :: Download

Messi 1-1: Watch :: Download

Shit, Messi again 2-1: Watch :: Download

I hate Messi 3-1: Watch :: Download

Messi is good 4-1: Watch :: Download

Wenger Interview :: Bendtner Interview

Twitter – @arsenalist

Bendtner, Vermaelen and Eduardo score as we overcome an early 0-2 deficit in Belgium.

Short Highlights Pack: Watch :: Download.

Wenger Interview :: Vermaelen and Bendtner Interview

Click sponsor to keep site going.

Follow me on Twitter.

Eduardo foul and penalty 1-0: Watch :: Download

First Half Highlights: Watch :: Download

Eboue 2-0: Watch :: Download

Arshavin 3-0: Watch :: Download

Their goal 3-1: Watch :: Download

Full Match Highlights: Watch :: Download

Click sponsor to keep site going.

Follow me on Twitter.

Convincing win. Villareal didn’t test us as I thought they would. The game was wide open to start and after Adebayor missed a chance set up by Fabregas, I thought we had missed a great opportunity. Walcott’s composure on the first goal was sublime, almost Velaesque. Villareal didn’t create enough chances and their attack was fairly benign. Adebayor’s goal came minutes after he was caught offside on an Arsenal counter-attack. He’s unbelievably crappy and equally brilliant within moments of each other, his missed header in the first half should’ve made it 2-0 (see first half highlights below) but still, I’m happy with his overall game. His goal reminded me of the Henry goal against Spurs. The foul which led to the penalty wasn’t a penalty at all and it resulted in Villareal losing their discipline and the match.

I thought Song was especially good in the middle, he had some great fights for possession which he won. Our back four of Eboue, Gibbs, Toure and Silvestre weren’t tested so that was good. Gibbs picked up an injury late which could be big for the FA Cup semi-final this weekend.

Enjoy the goals and the win. That dance has to go, there’s even a clip of Arsene Wenger doing it after the Adebayor goal. It’s Manchester United in the semi-final. Don’t forget to click on the sponsor, here’s the Match Report.

Click Sponsor to keep site going.

Wenger Presser :: Wenger Interview :: Fabregas and Walcott Interview

Full UEFA Match Highlights:

Setanta Sports Full Time Highlights and Analysis: Watch :: Download

Theo Walcott Goal (Download)

Halftime Highlights: Watch :: Download

Emmanuel Adebayor (Download)

Robin van Persie Penalty + “Foul” on Theo. Terrible decision (Download)

Click Sponsor to keep site going.

Click sponsor to keep site going.

Full Highlights

Starting lineups and game notes: Watch :: Download

BBC Match Report :: Arsenal.com Match Report :: Arsene Wenger

Senna is unmarked and gives Villareal a 1-0 lead: Download

Halftime highlights and analysis: Watch :: Download

Adebayor fantastic goal after being found by Fabregas: Download

Setanta Match Discussion and some highlights: Watch :: Download

@arsenalist

Click sponsor to keep site going.

In two weeks time Arsenal will travel to the Italian capital to try and continue their Champions League campaign, taking a slender 1-0 lead into the Stadio Olimpico. Some have questioned whether this lead will be enough against one of the great sides in Italian football. However, having witnessed the Gunners best performance for some months against Roma on Tuesday night there is plenty more to take away with us on the 11th March than just a one goal lead.

Many had expected, including myself, that Roma would come to the Emirates and defend for their lives having had such a poor record against English sides in the past, with their 7-1 defeat to Manchester United just a few years ago a possible stark reminder to what can happen to the Giallorossi on English soil. However they came to play on Tuesday night, certainly aiding Arsenal’s game plan, as unlike so many sides that come to the Grove now Roma opted not to try and grind out a result.

The game was as open as they come which suited Arsenal and the hope would be that if the game is anything like the first the Gunners can steal an away goal. Despite only taking a one goal advantage into the game my belief is that we will be more than capable of nicking a vital away goal, as long as the ball doesn’t drop to Nicklas Bendtner! It would be easy to criticise the Danish forward for his three missed opportunities but I won’t as I feel he has come in for enough stick in recent weeks and hopefully won’t get too much game time once Eduardo and Emmanuel Adebayor are back to full fitness.

I was extremely impressed by the way Arsene Wenger set up his team in mid-week as well, despite Bendtner having to play on the left wing. Samir Nasri reveled in his role just behind Robin van Persie and caused the Roma defence all kinds of problems. So as the old saying goes if it ain’t broke don’t fix it and I’d hope Wenger sticks with the French youngster in the same role for the trip to Italy.

The positives coming out of Tuesday’s game for me outweigh the negatives of not taking a bigger lead into the second leg. Arsenal’s injury plagued squad have enough quality to see them into the quarter-finals of the Champions League based on what we have seen. The Gunners have a mixed away record this season in Europe but always seem to pull it out of the bag when they are in Italy, last seasons win against AC Milan the prime example.

Arsenal’s Premier League title dreams have all but gone but the dream is still alive in Europe, as well as the FA Cup, and if they can get an away goal and then a kind draw in the quarter-finals with the big named players set to return before the semi-finals and final there is no reason why Arsenal can’t go one step further than the 2006 disappointment.

Note: Click sponsor to keep the blog going.

Before the game:

Italian visitors at the Emirates tonight as the knockout stages of the Champions League begin with Arsenal hosting AS Roma. Roma are 6th in Serie A and Arsenal are 5th in the Premiership. Stream Links Here.

During the game

RVP 1-0 (Penalty): Watch :: Download

Bendtner Miss: Watch :: Download

Eboue Miss: Watch :: Download

After the game

Match Highlights: Watch

Really felt we should’ve won this 4-0. Eboue and Bendtner missed great chances which could’ve sealed this tie. As it is we got some defensive work to do in Italy.

Note: Click sponsor to keep the blog going.

We’re getting killed right now:

Bruno Alves 38′ 1-0: Watch :: Download

Halftime Highlights: Watch :: Download

Lisandro López 54′ 2-0: Watch :: Download

WATCH FULL MATCH HIGHLIGHTS :: Download

Jeez…we are bound to face Barcelona or Juventus. It’s a weak side but even still we looked rather toothless in attack. Bendtner and Vela’s partnership was being disrupted by Porto’s backline and Bendtner just doesn’t have the talent to create with the ball. Eboue’s trying to get back in shape but he looked very nervy.

Click Sponsor please.

Before the game:

Adebayor is out for three weeks because his Achilles is messed up. Honestly, I think Arsenal would have to win 7-0 today for me to even feel a little excited about this. Our passage to the group stages is all but wrapped up really. Our problems lie on the domestic stage and the Man Utd fixture coming up is 12568 times more important than this game. Hey, at least we have RVP for this one. Remember, we lose him for three Premiership games (I think) leaving us with Vela and Bendtner up front (Oh, joy). Fuck me, why am I talking about the premiership again? It’s Champions League tonight.

Even a big win here means nothing because we’ve made it a nice little habit of laying a domestic egg after a great European performance. It’s apples and orange, crack whores and call girls, Obama and McCain, fucked and getting fucked. You know what I mean, its not the same. Either way, let’s go you Gunners.

Oh yeah, I’ll try posting highlights if they don’t block the streams. Those cunts.

During the game

Don’t be mad at Van Persie. God just hates him to the point that he’s got to be the unluckiest striker in all of football. When he’s not breaking the goalie’s nose he’s putting a dent in the crossbar. 0-0 at the half against Fenerbahce.

1st half highlights: Download :: Watch

After the game

Nil. Fucking. Nil. How lovely of a scoreline is that? And here I am saying 7 goals wouldn’t be enough. We looked like shit and we played like shit and sorry to say this but even Fabregas played like shit. I’ve never seen him make so many ill-conceived passes. I’m scared to see Bendtner and Vela head up our frontline against Man Utd. This game was the old Boring, Boring Arsenal and Wenger looked like he wanted to snap somebody’s neck and Pat Rice was very fearful of that. Didn’t even shake that cunt Argones’ hand. Our best chances came in the first half with RVP hitting the crossbar and then coming inches from scoring.

In the second half we never looked like we were going to score and even when Vela was brought on he couldn’t create much. The defense didn’t have much to do and Fabianski got the nod ahead of Almunia who had a headache or some shit. I don’t know. Give me credit for sitting through this fucking affair and not wanting to yell at the monitor which would’ve pissed off a lot of my co-workers. Fact it, without Theo or Adebayor out there our wing-attack sucks. Samir Nasri is a nice little player but he can’t do it alone (the mofo bobbled a perfect chance to score in the first half) and he’s no Flamini that could win you some tough headers in midfield. Silvestre got his nose busted.

Anyway, here’s some analysis of the game which you might hate but its true. So fucking true.

Highlights and Analysis: Watch :: Download

Where was the defense?

Emmanuel Adebayor 1-0

Theo Walcott 2-0

Mikael Silvestre (OG) 2-1

About Diaby 3-1

Alex Song 4-1

Daniel Guiza 4-2

Aaron Ramsey 5-2

ITV Downloadable Highlights

Say thank you by clicking on the sponsored link.