Champions League knockout phase

[Arn]

Copy and paste my quotes about Arsenal that suggest i support them, not the ones that say they're not **** or they're not a good side.

Rage at the suggestion of them being **** was tangible? nah, but maybe rage at such a stupid and false comment.

You don't win a game like this against Barcelona if you're not a top class team.

[Fredo]

Barcelona's main strength is that they can play two of the best playmakers in the world in central midfield, Xavi and Iniesta.

Remove one of them and replace him with Keita and you get a much worse central midfield. The opposition can then concentrate much more on Xavi and let Keita do the passing bit. That started to happen straight after Pep took off Villa.

Pep still make some big big mistakes.

I reckon there's an element of truth in that. They lost their grip after that substitution, maybe thought that they were so far on top that it was time to rest some players. Still, Valdes should have saved that, had it not been for that I reckon Barca would have gone home dry.

[danperkins]

They were second best tonight. Simple as.

They really weren't mate, Barca are a sensational team but they got their asses handed to them in that second half. Sets the tie up nicely now IMO

[Daniel 7]

I like Arsenal and freely admit to being a bit envious of the way they play. Imagine us playing like that at the start of the season instead of Roy ****ING Hodgson's hoofball.

[danperkins]

Completely agree with Arn's post

[Arn]

I reckon there's an element of truth in that. They lost their grip after that substitution, maybe thought that they were so far on top that it was time to rest some players. Still, Valdes should have saved that, had it not been for that I reckon Barca would have gone home dry.

Pep is a very very good manager but he like every manager out there make big mistakes sometimes.

[Craig_H]

You don't win a game like this against Barcelona if you're not a top class team.

I'm sure they occasionally lose to some no-mark side in the spanish league. Everything so black and white with you

[Fredo]

Seems to be a general dislike and bitterness for Arsenal, they outplayed Barca in teh secodn half, all Barca's posession was for **** and Arsenal throughly deserved the win. Credit where credit is due IMO.

Should be a fantastic game in second league, can't wait for it.

Outplayed Barca? 66% possession in favour of Barca, not sure how you came to that conclusion.

[Craig_H]

Outplayed Barca? 66% possession in favour of Barca, not sure how you came to that conclusion.

Remember who you're talking to here

[Arn]

Completely agree with Arn's post

I'm on a wind up you know so you simply can't agree with me.

Some people need to learn a thing or two about tactics and not just look at mistakes made by the players.

[JohnDoe]

They really weren't mate, Barca are a sensational team but they got their asses handed to them in that second half. Sets the tie up nicely now IMO

Barca just need one goal and Arsenal will be chasing the game, can't see them coming away with a result. Losing Pique is a blow but Wenger isn't going to do an Inter and sit deep.

[Craig_H]

I'm on a wind up you know so you simply can't agree with me.

Some people need to learn a thing or two about tactics and not just look at mistakes made by the players.

So patronising and condescending.

[Fredo]

I like Arsenal and freely admit to being a bit envious of the way they play. Imagine us playing like that at the start of the season instead of Roy ****ING Hodgson's hoofball.

They're horribly one dimensional though. They normally get away with it in the Premier League, tonight's result is just a freaky one.

[JohnDoe]

I'm on a wind up you know so you simply can't agree with me.

Some people need to learn a thing or two about tactics and not just look at mistakes made by the players.

You're absolutely right. Iniesta's position out left confused Valdes and dragged him out to his direction, which left the near post open. I can see everything clearly now from a tactical standpoint, thank you.

[danperkins]

Outplayed Barca? 66% possession in favour of Barca, not sure how you came to that conclusion.

So what!! Its about what you do with that posession, Barca got outplayed in that second half, surely you can't dent that regardless if you don't like Arsenal or love Barca.

Barca are the best team in the world and one of the best teams of all time, usually they make their posession count, but Arsenal deserved that tonight.


Credit where credit is due