Football Focus

[Otta]

Indeed.

Arsenal showed real passion last night, and deserve a tipped hat in their direction.

[Jah Lush]

Yeah pity they lost the first leg 4-nil. Did they bottle it second half?

[Otta]

No, I think Milan totally shut up shop.

[Otta]

Erm, Stevenage seem to be a goal up (Penalty).

[StraferJack]

well, Milan became a bit more organised but mostly it was Arsenal running out of steam I think. Ox and Walcott went off with niggles, not much on the bench so it just drifted past us

I'm happier with the way we played than I am gutted about not getting through tbh. We don't have the squad to progress much further AND get a spot in the league so all in all I'll take it

2 things tho - UEFA have charged Arsenal for fairly innocuous (and accurate) comments. And dear god that ref was lame beyond belief. He wasn't biased, just lame

But some of the "banter"ish comments on here about last night seem a bit petty compared to the events and drama in the game. Props to otta and others for recognising the positives

[ibilly99]

up the Arsenal !

[Mick Mac]

Otta Wrote:

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> Indeed.

>

> Arsenal showed real passion last night, and

> deserve a tipped hat in their direction.

Sorry but its not good enough really. You can dress it up as you like but its the end if the road for another season.

And im sorry SJ but Milan may have been a different side had they not won the tie already. Great effort by Arsenal but I think it was attitude that won over. As soon as the gap was 1 goal it was shut up shop, next round please.

[StraferJack]

It would be a brave or foolish team who had a gameplan of "let's not bother unless to get within a goal, then..."

Arsenal's season has been another dud - 'tis true but that's not the same thing as building on what you have

Entirely possible (nay probable?) that we got beaten by a couple of goals last night. People didn't expect anything like those early goals (nor with any conviction)

In the context of the last month where we have come back twice against big teams, the difference this year is that we are finishing (touch wood) on an upward trend, compared to recent seasons where we promised much by Feb only to disintegrate completely.

Dress it up as YOU like, but the last 3 games against big teams has shown a different, more spirited Arsenal. And for a team which doesn't spend fortunes that's no small positive

[Mick Mac]

Fair enough argument SJ and its your team so its up to Arsenal fans it they are satisfied or not.

[StraferJack]

It's an argument I have often enough with arsenal fans, never mind anyone else

Yes I'd rather we won trophies but on balance yeah I'm happy. Seasons are frustrating but interesting. And unlike most of the other big clubs, we are in a sound financial footing. Chelsea or man city could make rangers or Portsmouth look like a model of stability if their owners up and leave

[Mick Mac]

Parkdrive Wrote:

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> Mick Mac Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Arsenal take glory in defeat. Hmmm. Was that

> not

> > the last chance of a trophy this year?

>

>

> You mean you didn't know. And yes, the performance

> was excellent. I can never remember which of the

> Scots teams you follow, but neither covered

> themselves in glory this season, or were they even

> in it?

I support the Irish team. The team in the black.

[Otta]

I remember Liverpool in a Cup Winners Cup tie against PSG in about 1996 where they went out having not done quite enough despite winning the second leg at home.

I thought it was a cracking match, and I felt proud of the team afterwards.

[Mick Mac]

The analysis very much depends if the team is on the rise or fall. For me Arsenal are om the fall. So I'm not sure you are making the same point Otta. My point is that a good performance does not necessarily change the overall downward trend.

[????]

...they'll be fine without RVP next season

[????]

Anyway, what about Messi!!...phenomenal

[Jah Lush]

Indeed. Messi is a genius.

[Mick Mac]

I think we knew that before. What did he do tonight?

[Undisputedtruth]

Wait till Messi reaches his peak. Now that's scary.

[????]

Mick Mac Wrote:

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> I think we knew that before. What did he do

> tonight?

...a mere 5 goals

[Parkdrive]

Jah Lush Wrote:

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> Yeah pity they lost the first leg 4-nil. Did they

> bottle it second half?

Just remind me again, who derailed your Europa cup dream?

[StraferJack]

Messi unquestionably awe-inspiring

But let's not forget he plays in a team 10 points behind the league leaders

[Parkdrive]

Mick Mac Wrote:

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> The analysis very much depends if the team is on

> the rise or fall. For me Arsenal are om the fall.

> So I'm not sure you are making the same point

> Otta. My point is that a good performance does not

> necessarily change the overall downward trend.

We are 4th in the league currently, and have played Champs League CONTINUOSLY for more seasons than City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham. We haven't spent gazillions like Livepool, United, City, Tottenham, and Chelsea and we show a healthy profit year. So yeah we're on a downward spiral. Could end up like Pompey, Rangers or Port Vale. FFS.

Messi is a joy to watch, he's totally off the scale.

[Otta]

Looks like Arsenal are taking steps to replace RVP already.

[Mick Mac]

Messi is brilliant, just was not aware of what he had done.

His 5 goals may be up there with George Best's against Northampton Town?

[red devil]

Otta Wrote:

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> Looks like Arsenal are taking steps to replace RVP

> already.

...more likely to replace Chamakh and/or Gervinho?