***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

[Krebstar]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

Wolves and Barcelona are two entirely different opponents. I'm sure your aware of that. I just don't think Djourou and most importantly Koscielny has ever played against a team with the quality of Barcelona. We will see if they are up to the challenge.

I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but I just don't see us having much of a chance. It really is the worst possible matchup for us.

Yesterday I already prepared myself mentally for the, well if we lose, at least we can focus on the league, haha. Sucks, but true, right? Damnit, there I go again. Justifying it to myself.

[Perceptor]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

Wolves and Barcelona are two entirely different opponents. I'm sure your aware of that. I just don't think Djourou and most importantly Koscielny has ever played against a team with the quality of Barcelona. We will see if they are up to the challenge.

I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but I just don't see us having much of a chance. It really is the worst possible matchup for us.

Oh no I agree with you, but I'm just trying to be optimistic. I follow Barca too and on their day, we saw what they can do to good teams let alone relegation fodder

[Krebstar]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

Oh no I agree with you, but I'm just trying to be optimistic. I follow Barca too and on their day, we saw what they can do to good teams let alone relegation fodder

I'm most likely nearing insane other than optimistic, but I'm really feeling that we can pull off an upset. Barca just showed this weekend that they can stumble and while our mentality isn't insanely greater than last year, it's still better. Plus, we now have an in form RVP up front not to mention Walcott who's playing much differently different than last year.

Perhaps I'm just to the point where I'd rather believe we can do it and then feel like a fool if we do not, than think we can not do it and look like a fool if we do. I truly believe we can beat them, though. Are they the favorites? Of course. But I don't think we'll walk in and stand and watch them play this year. With Song and Wilshere in midfield, we have a much different attitude in terms of physicality.

Not to mention RVP plays much more physical than any other striker we have, when he has the ball and when he's trying to win it back.

We're going to give up a few goals I'm sure, but we can definitely score on them. Can we score more? We shall see, but I'm going to risk looking like a Liverpool fan and say yes.

[Krebstar]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

Huge news, Nasri will be in the squad but may not start.

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/nasri-back-in-the-squad-rosicky-returns-too

[Krebstar]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

I went back and looked at our lineup from the second leg last year:

Bendtner
Walcott
Rosicky
Nasri
Diaby
Denilson
Sagna
Vermaelen
Silvestre
Clichy
Almunia

So, who will we have tomorrow that we didn't have last time...RVP, Fabregas, Song and Wilshere. Plus, a different Nasri (if fit). Now, our back four will be almost the same, as Silvestre was a major handicap. Plus, I really think Szczesny is in better form now than Almunia was then.

Of course, we drew the first leg last year and lost the second. Still, just as Arsene said today, this is a better side than last year.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/feb/16/arsene-wenger-arsenal-barcelona

Worst thing about tomorrow...I can't watch the game live. I must wait until the replay later on FSC. Grrrr.

[rsnomar05]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

I went back and looked at our lineup from the second leg last year:

Bendtner
Walcott
Rosicky
Nasri
Diaby
Denilson
Sagna
Vermaelen
Silvestre
Clichy
Almunia

So, who will we have tomorrow that we didn't have last time...RVP, Fabregas, Song and Wilshere. Plus, a different Nasri (if fit). Now, our back four will be almost the same, as Silvestre was a major handicap. Plus, I really think Szczesny is in better form now than Almunia was then.

Of course, we drew the first leg last year and lost the second. Still, just as Arsene said today, this is a better side than last year.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/feb/16/arsene-wenger-arsenal-barcelona

Worst thing about tomorrow...I can't watch the game live. I must wait until the replay later on FSC. Grrrr.

If we had both Nasri and TVM in the starting lineup, I'd feel a lot better. At least Nasri should be starting in the second leg. Having Fabregas and Song should be huge, and Szczesny is playing much better than Almunia, but our defense is still shaky. I had forgotten Silvestre played in that leg, but boy was he bad.

[Perceptor]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

RVP and a fit Cesc are BIG additions. Can't wait until tomorrow guys

[rsnomar05]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

RVP and a fit Cesc are BIG additions. Can't wait until tomorrow guys

I haven't been this excited about a sporting event in a long time. While I would have preferred a more favorable draw, there is nobody I would rather beat than Barcelona. Just two more hours.

[~LiverpoolRed~]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

Should be a great game tonight. Good luck tonight Gunners! A clean sheet would be massive going into the 2nd leg at the Nou Camp.

[Krebstar]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

I haven't been this excited about a sporting event in a long time. While I would have preferred a more favorable draw, there is nobody I would rather beat than Barcelona. Just two more hours.

See, that is how I'm looking at it. I'd rather face Barca now than in the next round. If we're going to play them, I'd rather do it right away.

So pissed I can't watch live. Which means after kickoff I'll be avoiding the internet and watching the replay tonight. I just have to watch it. Text updates won't do it for me.

[rsnomar05]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

See, that is how I'm looking at it. I'd rather face Barca now than in the next round. If we're going to play them, I'd rather do it right away.

So pissed I can't watch live. Which means after kickoff I'll be avoiding the internet and watching the replay tonight. I just have to watch it. Text updates won't do it for me.

I can't watch tonight either. I've told all my friends/family that if they spoil it for me, I'll make sure hell rains down upon them. I said it in nicer terms, of course. I'll be avoiding the internet and my cell phone (darn text messages) as well.

[rsnomar05]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

Should be a great game tonight. Good luck tonight Gunners! A clean sheet would be massive going into the 2nd leg at the Nou Camp.

A clean sheet would be massive, though with our defense, I'm not holding my breath. I think it's vital that we go into the second leg ahead, as if we go to their pitch tied or behind our chances of winning are minuscule. That means this first leg is huge and could be what decides everything. Come on you Gooners!!

[misterbroom12]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

Unbeleivable game from both sides. MOTM is easily Wilshere, did everything right and never gave the ball away outside of our offensive third. Contrary to popular belief in this forum, I thought Koscielny played very well. Maybe a bit of a mistake from him on the first Messi miss but I think it was down more to hesitation from both as to who was going to pressure Villa. Maybe a bit lucky to only concede once but we deserved more than 2 goals as well. Eboue impressed me as well. Thought he was going to get terrorized by Villa down the flank but he kept his shape and defended the whole game. Buzzing with excitement for the 2nd leg, I loved that we pressed Barca to beat us with quick passes rather than sitting back and trying to hold them, it threw them out of their normal comfort level and is a style of play I'd like to see us employ more regularly. We don't have the overall individual defending quality at the back to allow teams to play in front of us so why not force the issue and see if we can't force the possession back to us.

[ZM Punk]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

Unbeleivable game from both sides. MOTM is easily Wilshere, did everything right and never gave the ball away outside of our offensive third. Contrary to popular belief in this forum, I thought Koscielny played very well. Maybe a bit of a mistake from him on the first Messi miss but I think it was down more to hesitation from both as to who was going to pressure Villa. Maybe a bit lucky to only concede once but we deserved more than 2 goals as well. Eboue impressed me as well. Thought he was going to get terrorized by Villa down the flank but he kept his shape and defended the whole game. Buzzing with excitement for the 2nd leg, I loved that we pressed Barca to beat us with quick passes rather than sitting back and trying to hold them, it threw them out of their normal comfort level and is a style of play I'd like to see us employ more regularly. We don't have the overall individual defending quality at the back to allow teams to play in front of us so why not force the issue and see if we can't force the possession back to us.

I'm not a huge fan of Koscielny, but boy was he great today. He was my MOTM just for the simple fact that I did not expect that great of performance from him. I knew Wilshere would rise to the occasion, that kid just has it.

Should give us some confidence going into the Nou Camp, though I still think when it is all said and done Barcelona will go through. Nonetheless I'm still very proud of our team.

[Krebstar]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

I can't stop believing now after that win. This was another huge step in the mental growth of this squad. Have there been bumps in the road? Of course. But we're playing some great football at the moment and I truly believe we can win this tie.

The only player I was disappointed with all night was Eboue, but that is to be expected. Hopefully everyone remains fit until the next game.

Also, how about RVP? One of the best in the world. The lad is on fire. Eleven goals in eight matches.