Your Vision

Your Vision - Mission Improbable?

06 Apr 2010

By L Gooner A

In no way are we out of the Champions League. Why? A number of reasons.

We have Arsene Wenger. Need I say more? Well I will anyway. The best manager the club has ever seen, possible the best we'll ever see. Some of you don't like the fact the we are trophyless for 5 years now, but I wouldn't like watching that crap 'football' that Mourinho sends his teams out to play, even if it does win things. Arsene used yesterdays press conference to confirm that he realises we need to, in his words "make the pitch smaller" if we are going to win.This is usually Song's job, but Denilson was brilliant at it when he came on last week. The pressure Barca put on us is one reson they were so dominant early on, and we need to start in a similar fashion tonight.

That first 25 minutes last week was spectatcular. In a bad way. I'm sure I'll never see such an incredible footballing performance again. However, except for that 25 minutes we were in no way the worse team over the rest of the game, contrary to the views of any other football fans or journalists. When we had the ball they were scared of us, and always on the back foot. This even applies to before Theo came on, with Sam Nasri going close not long before half-time.

When Theo did come on we showed just how defensively vulnerable Barcelona are. They were afraid of us. I often watch Barca when they're on TV anyway but have made sure I've watched all their games since the draw was made. When going forward they're fantastic, even when Messi isn't firing on all cylinders, such as last week. However they are poor at the back, and that is when Puyol and Pique are available. Funnily enough, the last time they lost at Camp Nou was against Atletico Madrid, and neither of their first choice centre-halfs were available. Each week Barca look weak at the back, conceding two goals against Real Zaragoza just a few weeks ago. Zaragoza aren't a good side, but had two pacy forwards who gave the Barca back four endless trouble. Similarly Barcelona beat Athletic Bilbao 4-1 this weekend. Despite comfortably winning the game they were never comfortable at the back, Bilbao having 3 or 4 golden chances that I trust the likes of Nasri, Diaby, Theo, and yes, Nicklas Bendtner, to put away.

Juve, Roma, Inter, Real Madrid, A.C Milan. We've beaten all of them as underdogs away from home in Europe. None of them match the brilliance of these Barcelona side, but Real still had many of the 'Galacticos', A.C Milan had won at Old Trafford just a year earlier, Juve and Roma were also at the best. No English side had ever beaten A.C, Inter or Real away from home when we did it. Many of those games were very much 'The Thierry Henry Show', well last week Theo was the star, and what an opportunity this si for him to propel himslef onto the world stage and show he is the replacement for Titi that we were told he could be. Camp Nou is the probably the biggest stadium that we've not won at, as Arsene has indicated "We've won away everywhere in Europe - Barcelona is a place where we haven't done it, so there is no better opportunity than Tuesday". Furthermore, Sky Sports has just told me Barca haven't won at home against an English club for 5 games. Fingers crossed.

I believe that, even without Cesc, Robin, Alex Song, Gallas and Arshavin we can win. Rosicky and Sol are doubtful, but I still believe we have enough.

Write article...

Comments

#1 - luis zelaya Says:

well we got soundly beaten, hardly a surprise. the boys did their best but since silvestre gave the goal away it was pretty much over. barca deserved to win and advance, no discussion. they are the best team in the world, but with song alone i believe messi would have had more trouble scoring. he was pretty much muted in the draw, today he did what he wanted. i don't think almunia can be blamed for any of the goals, he actually made some good saves. some of the boys played their hearts out, the strategy was good but physically very demanding. i'm only worried about what this mental blow might do to our title chances, and the ever thinning squad (silvestre?) maybe after playing barca every other game seems easier.

#2 - Arsenaloid Says:

I just cant believe to everything i see. Yes, i can believe, but, i don't want to . Please , Please, Please Wenger, the beautiful game is gone...Now, no results, no trophies. Forget of Chamakh and young upcoming talents..Spend some, buy them....They are all around

#3 - gt Says:

Soundly beaten by the best team in the world, and no complaint about that. We need some solid players in the back, and we need to examine seriously whether the way we play is enough to be the best. It's painfully apparent we're not right now.

#4 - CHGooner Says:

Ridiculous article from start to finish. Delusion, delusion delusion......

#5 - Subir Kumar Roy Says:

the truth is we have been beaten by teams like Barca, Chelsea, Manu. the truth is we are not on the same level as them. the truth is we have injuries to key players every season. the truth is we do not have a plan B. the truth is we do play football the "right way".

why can't a good/solid defence be a part of that truth?
why can't another good DM be a part of that truth?
why can't a good striker be a part of that truth?
why can't long range shots or Plan B be a part of that truth?

Surely by clamouring for these Arsenal/AW are not being asked to abandon their philosophy. Are they? Does AW really know?

#6 - richie Says:

L Gooner A, I missed this article.
I agree,
Imagine how ibromovic felt watching all the money he´d spent playing negative football. Gooners all felt like movrinho was GG in disgvise back then. Only George did it withovt any money. What movrinho does works becavse it stops others playing i.e inter vs barca in their 3 CL games bvt wovld anyone wanna watch it every week?

I´d rather Arsene spent nish and developed the kids at least we play attactive football in the right way lets continve to bvild and develope rather than try to bvy ovr way ovt as some want.