Champions League Thread R16 L2

[Michel Kane]

You talk more about Arsenal, than you do your own team.Like I said, says something about your breed of 'fan'.That's why I don't even mind guys likeBane, man will be there talking about United just as passionately as he participates in the banter.YOUR kind on the other hand?

[FANTA]

how is this turning into an analysis of my credentials as a 'fan' is beyond me tbhim just getting a laugh out of a team i despise gettin' battered from pillar to post.anything else is irrelevant imo

[MEIRELES.]

Who's still in Europe?

You make fans of your team look bad. Stop it.

Nope, I'm just giving as good as I/we get.

[Guest Lens]

cannot fault Almunia one bit on that display /RVP red was ridiculous. lol @ Wenger dropping "he must have never played football to give a second yellow card for that". Bendtner chance wasn't clear-cut / easier to score as it's bein made out

[TF S4DK]

When your team last played Champions League ball in 2009.Why are you hyping?

[MEIRELES.]

And where the hell is TF?edit: LMAO!

[Agony]

Barcelona 3-1 Arsenal: Barca press and progressArsenal didn’t manage a single shot, as Barcelona go through to the quarter-finals.Pep Guardiola chose Eric Abidal and Sergio Busquets at centre-back, as expected, though there was a surprise at left-back, where Adriano started over Maxwell.Both Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie were fit to start. Arsene Wenger decided to play Tomas Rosicky on the right, and Abou Diaby got the nod over Denilson.The game was very strange – neither side played as well as they can. Arsenal could barely string more than four passes together, and whilst Barcelona dominated the game, they were tremendously wasteful when they got into the penalty area.Despite appearing extremely comfortable in the final ten minutes, Barca were somehow only a Nicklas Bendtner shot away from being dumped out, in what would have been one of the unlikeliest progressions in European Cup history.Arsenal stand offArsenal played very differently without the ball, compared to the first leg. In London they pressed relentlessly at the start of the game, but here they stood off more, and focused on getting into a good shape.The fitness of van Persie an Fabregas may have contributed to this tactic (Fabregas, in particular, was clearly not fully fit) – but Wenger probably also accepted that it’s not possible to press for 90 minutes away at the Nou Camp, and so Arsenal stood off.Barcelona strategyBarcelona’s tactics were not markedly different from their standard approach. The full-backs hugged the touchlines and were very advanced – often pushing Rosicky and Samir Nasri back into a back six – and the three forwards took it in turns to come towards the ball and then spin in behind. Arsenal still defended relatively high, but they were deeper than at the Emirates, and therefore were less prone to the ball over the top.Messi was a threat throughout, and often received the ball in space, but was guilty of trying to do too much – he overran the ball when entering the penalty area on more than one occasion. Take the Arsenal back four against the Barcelona front three, and Arsenal were doing OK – the problem came, of course, from the movement of Barcelona players from deeper positions. Daniel Alves played an especially advanced role and was always on for a diagonal pass when Xavi got the ball in central midfield.Barca pressingThe key feature of the game was something we all know Barcelona do well – pressing. Their energy and bravery in winning the ball back high up the pitch is now very well established, but tonight was a particularly good case study. The constant harrying meant that Arsenal were simply unable to work the ball up the pitch, and almost the entire game was spent in their own half of the pitch.Fabregas’ backheel was a ludicrous decision, but Barca’s pressing can take some of the credit. Not just because there was a player closing down and intercepting at that moment, but because the pressure for 45 minutes had created the backheel. A backheel is something that you try on the edge of the opposition box, when you’re under pressure and need to do something ‘clever’ to get past an opponent. Fabregas is far from a stupid player, but Barcelona were pressuring so much that he felt he had to do something ‘clever’ merely to complete a pass on the edge of his own penalty area.Second halfIt’s not often a side scores a goal despite not having a shot in the entire match, but Busquets’ mistimed header from a corner gave Arsenal an unlikely lead in the tie. Three minutes later, the situation changed again with van Persie’s red card, and from then on, Arsenal could only dream of winning a corner kick.The sending off alone can not explain the Barcelona victory (20 shots to none is a ridiculous statistic) but it’s fair to say Arsenal’s strategy was compromised. Having dominated the final twenty minutes of both first legs in the past year, Arsenal’s plan may have been to wait until the final quarter of the game and then push on, especially as Barcelona had pressed so much.Arsenal cluelessInstead, they were barely able to play football. Sky Sports’ commentator Martin Tyler summed it up inadvertently when he suggested that when Manuel Almunia had the ball in his arms, he was attempting to kick the ball downfield at an angle, so there was a chance a Barcelona player would head it out for a throw. What a miserable state to be in – a side famed for their slick passing football reduced to trying to win a throw on the half way line from a goalkeeper’s clearance. The chalkboard on the left shows how few passes Arsenal played in attacking positions.Barcelona simply passed and passed and tired Arsenal. Xavi broke through for the second to round off a fantastic move, and Pedro won a penalty that Messi converted. Barcelona should have had more, but Almunia was making some good saves.ChangesIt was surprising that Wenger didn’t introduce Bendtner until the 77th minute – Arsenal clearly needed someone who could win the ball in the air from long balls, and also someone who could hold it up. The late chance was a bonus and came out of nothing, other than Wilshere’s determined closing down. He was Arsenal’s best player in each of the two legs.Guardiola’s changes came after 80 minutes, and didn’t significantly alter the game.ConclusionBarcelona being good at pressing is hardly a revelation, and it hardly takes a genius to identify it as a crucial factor in this game – but it was the key feature. Arsenal couldn’t get the ball up the pitch, and Barcelona won possession in positions very close to the opposition goal.Zero attempts on goal suggests that Arsenal ‘parked the bus’ – even Inter managed one shot in their semi-final last year – but they didn’t, they were simply unable to get past the first burst of closing down.http://www.zonalmarking.net/2011/03/09/barcelona-3-1-arsenal-tactics/

[The Infamous]

embarrassing I was supporting Arsenal for the night as wellYou will never beat them because unlike other english sides u lack the intensity and determination needed to beat Barca. Not enough pressing and strong challenging.Letting them have time and space is SUICIDE. Masch tackler on Bendtner at the end>>>>I want him back he is wasted at Barca

[Creed Diskenth]

Masch >>>Injured himself for teambait mans gonna be out for 5 weeks

[Lenny]

Walcott was badly missed. Barcelona's pressing game is f*cked, never have I seen us not being able to string 2-3 passes going forward.The way they use Alves is f*cked.How big is the Barcalonas pitch?

[Bruno Di Gradi]

Walcott was badly missed. Barcelona's pressing game is f*cked, never have I seen us not being able to string 2-3 passes going forward.The way they use Alves is f*cked.How big is the Barcalonas pitch?

massive...ive been der. They utilize the space sick

[The King]

How big is the Barcalonas pitch?

Bout the same size as OT.

[Eskay Jones]

alright people enough talk about them losers.time to focus on

[Guest Klitschko]

embarrassing I was supporting Arsenal for the night as wellYou will never beat them because unlike other english sides u lack the intensity and determination needed to beat Barca. Not enough pressing and strong challenging.Letting them have time and space is SUICIDE. Masch tackler on Bendtner at the end>>>>I want him back he is wasted at Barca

It was more a very poor first touch, than an excellently timed tackleHe isn't so much wasted at Barca, as incompatible. Even yesterday when he received the ball in general his passing was a lot sloppier, and longer than everyone else.Put in a few lovely crunching tackles though, that little c*nt lives for 50/50s. His closing down was excellent though.Although he has improved in recent weeks, being at Barca has shown him up tbh.

[Mephisto]

Still pissed off at Cesc's 'performance'Said he felt his hamstring after 15mins. Well then come off you selfish d*ck. Now he will prob be out for a couple of weeks.

[HangTheDJ]

Mascherano is just a good squad option for them. They need to sign a centre half though.

[Mr Q]

Should Cesc really have been anything more than a sub? Wenger took the risk to play injured players and it backfired, imo. Busquets at CB and the guy just looked comfortable apart from that silly OG. Question, does Wenger scout other teams or does he just have undying faith in the way his team plays?So wish we still had Masch.

[LS]

Reckon if RVP was in B52's place when they have that chance they would have knocked them out. All the other stats are irrelevant. If B52 put that in the net i couldn't see Barca winning. Scum had their chance and they blew it./Don't like how Spurs fans think this will be a walk in the park. We need to remember we are Spurs so we can easily f*ck at any stage on the match.As long as we playGomes (ANY RB apart from Hutton) Gallas, Dawson, BAE, Lennon, Sandro, Modric, Bale, VDV, CrouchWe should have enough to hit them on the break.I'm just worried if we concede an early goal we might struggle

[Natty]

Still pissed off at Cesc's 'performance'Said he felt his hamstring after 15mins. Well then come off you selfish d*ck. Now he will prob be out for a couple of weeks.

This is what happens when you know your replacement is denilshit

[Francis Coquelin]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeAfg_e_4Uw

indefensible really

[Rsonist]

If Hutton plays. RIP our CL campaign.

[Guest Klitschko]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeAfg_e_4Uw

indefensible really

Genuinely never thought I'd hear you say this.How can a touch with the outside of your boot turn into a 50/50 tackle?Awful.

[Trim]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeAfg_e_4Uw

indefensible really

the way bendtner presented him the ball with that first touch

[Lenny]

Question, does Wenger scout other teams or does he just have undying faith in the way his team plays?

More time we play to our strengths but this time i reckon Wenger told his them to soak up the pressure, try and stay in the game and hit them later on during the matchWhich is why i think Arshavin was on the bench to come on later

[Guest Klitschko]

Thats just before he receives the ball, look at the position of the keeper, and the position of Mascherno.Shameful, that could have been his moment. WIlshere must have been so pissed, all that hardwork through the game...could have paid off if he had a better touch.It's sad to think, looking at that still, that his touch took the ball near enough to the penalty spot.