Arsenal Banter Archive February 23 2016

23 Feb 2016 22:50:33
No point disecting the game too much, Barcelona are a different class too us, miles apart.

As usual, we huff and puff but never blow any houses down.

Once again, our big players never turned up. Disappointed in Sanchez and Ozil and Ramsey is proving to be a one season wonder.

Not too disappointed though. Concentrate on League and FA Cup and let's leave the big boy competitions to the big boys.

Let's move on and bounce back at Old Trafford.

24 Feb 2016 00:06:38
Listened to game and there is no disection needed, it went to type.

23 Feb 2016 22:20:16
I'm just driving along the m25 in my Subaru drinking san Miguel an have queen on the radio have a guess what song it is Barcelona lol.

23 Feb 2016 22:56:46
Subaru and San Miguel, says it all really.

23 Feb 2016 23:18:43
I think your find that queen didn't sing Barcelona raver, it was a Freddie Mercury solo effort. Get your facts right sonny.

23 Feb 2016 23:27:51
What you mean is your are driving around Aldi car park in your Transit van, drinking sparkling mineral water whilst listening to Susan Boyle on your cassette player.

But, I like ambition Raver :-)

24 Feb 2016 01:09:18
The fact that he said he was driving round the M25 smells a bit fishy to me! Isn't that a large car park for gang bangers?

23 Feb 2016 22:03:19
Played well, but made some mistakes. Ramsay I love but had a bad game, has not reached that form again. Flamini poor guy had a disaster. Still a world class striker needed, just to put a bit of fear in other teams - Giroud is a good player, but not deadly or quick enough to worry defences. Got to put it all into the EPL.

23 Feb 2016 22:23:11
Agree, in general terms the team made a good game, but i'm realy concerned about the lack of confidence in our offensive force after the game against City. Altough, i'm very impressed with Welbeck about that, is exactly what the team need.
I have to say this: I can tolerate a lot of things about this team (and I have done it in all this years) but we're NOT ALLOW to lose the BPL against spurs.

23 Feb 2016 22:42:56
It was a team effort, Ramsay was awful though, now we know cazorla is sorely missed and obvious #1 CM and Ramsay is no threat to leave for Barca.

24 Feb 2016 04:27:56
Where was our saviour el lenny.

23 Feb 2016 21:51:06
There is the same old story of if we hadn't taken our chances then it would have been different, if this, if that, this has been the same excuse for far too long. We were dominated by Barcelona tonight in most aspects. We need a world class centre forward, and an almighty improvement on Mertersacker if we are to have any chance of progressing from this stage next year, yet alone compete next year with Manchester City, Chelsea, Manchester Utd all going to have overhauls and Tottenham, Leicester continously impressing. That said, we did play the best team in Europe this year, who no doubt will go a long way to matching that treble. But if we look at the problem at source, we lost our first two games against, let's say, not the best opposition. Since day 1 we did not give ourselves our chance in this competition, we were bound to be caught out no matter how many times the cracks were covered. I know I am ranting but that's because the disappointment is still strong inside me. We had a few players who did put a decent show on tonight, notably Cech, both of the fullbacks and Welbeck when he came on. But at the end of the day we will lose 2-0 or 3-0 again at the Camp Nou, because we cannot compete in Europe's elite. We do not look like we want to compete with Europes elite. Our signings recently have not shown ambition to the fans.

23 Feb 2016 21:28:37
The harsh truth is, we just aren't good enough. But against Barcelona who is? We might be good enough to win the prem but unless you pay Barcelona wages to messi neymar sura etc. . Nobody stands a chance.

23 Feb 2016 19:34:04
Come on Arsenal!

{Ed007's Note - Remember to check out our live chat during the match:

www.arsenalrumours.co.uk/live/

23 Feb 2016 20:13:10
I fancy 3-1.

23 Feb 2016 20:34:17
Love the optimism NES

So far so good mate.

23 Feb 2016 18:51:03
Just seen line up and just my opinion but only wenger could pick that team and i'm not over impressed by his picks. Giroud no goals in 7, ox 1 goal in forever, sanchez 1goal in 6 ozil 1 goal in 6. I think we will be sitting ducks tonight, pleased i'm at work for once. Will i be deleting or watching tomorrow.

23 Feb 2016 19:27:43
Ox seems an odd choice tbh.

23 Feb 2016 19:35:16
He's sticking by the Ox so as to build his confidence rightly or wrongly.

23 Feb 2016 21:58:26
Will this guy ever stop complaining? He'd be whining even if he supported Barca.

23 Feb 2016 21:59:56
Walcott has done nothing the last few matches, so the Ox starts.

23 Feb 2016 15:06:52
Barca are slow starters, I think we should rip into them from the off and than play more defensive.

On the other hand, it won't be a bad result if it finishes 0-0, than we sneak a cheeky goal at Camp Nou and go through on the away goal.

23 Feb 2016 15:56:38
The greatest show in Europe comes to town and Dags hopes for a 0 0!
Not sure why but I'm guessing your not on the driving instructors annual ball entertainment committee mate :-)

23 Feb 2016 16:54:07
Ha, g62

I bet he doesn't even get an invite to the ball.

23 Feb 2016 17:24:56
Not if they've heard his jokes Malaga mate :-)

23 Feb 2016 17:26:34
Is it Barcelona v Bayern tonight G62. What channel I wouldn't want to miss the greatest show in Europe! Or is it the final already lol.

23 Feb 2016 17:49:32
Barcelona are the Harlem Globetrotters of football Sanogo mate and if we can't be excited about playing them its time to take up domino watching :-)
I think we all know the chances of us progressing into the last 8 is very very unlikely but it's a great occasion and beats losing to Monaco Olypiakos and Zargreb any day of the week :-)

23 Feb 2016 17:53:23
Ha they sure are mate and I'm really excited, but that will probably subside 10 mins in and il turn to off lol.

23 Feb 2016 18:10:34
Thats one way of looking at it.62.

23 Feb 2016 15:58:16
they will score tonight.

23 Feb 2016 11:50:44
Exciting match tonight. We must select the correct side and play with confidence.
I pray that Flamini is not selected.
The keeper and defence picks itself. I would play Coquelin in front of the back four, alongside Ramsey.
Then Walcott, Ozil and Sanchez, with Giroud up top.
I have been impressed by Elneny, but he needs some time to adjust to life in the PL and he needs to be strengthened physically, but I have high hopes for him. This match is way too early for him. I am concerned that Monreal's lack of pace may be exposed against Barc's pacy attack, but Gibbs who is far quicker, hasn't looked good this season. Ideally I would have selected Gabriel ahead of Mertesacker, if he wasn't injured. I would look to being the Ox on, if necessary to inject pace and a direct style. I think that Barcelona may find Giroud a handful.

i wonder whether we should take a gamble against Barcelona and play Welbeck up top with Giroud, to place pressure on Barca's central defence and get Sanchez and Walcott to deliver crosses from the wide positions. It sounds odd, but I would play Coquelin and Ramsey in the middle. Playing against a more conventional English 4-4-2, may not be attractive nor fashionable, but playing Barcelona at their own game is a sure recipe for defeat over 2 legs. Just an idea, by the way!

23 Feb 2016 13:59:02
i like welbeck instead of giroud. has pace, a bit of trickery and his confidence is high, put him up with walcott and sanchez and Barcelona won't be playing a high line. with giroud we need to pray we take advantage of set pieces but going by our last few games, he has done nothing, squandered chances and he prob would not even get on the subs bench for barca.

i fancy our chances if we keep it 0-0 till halftime and wenger can assess the next half.

23 Feb 2016 07:53:18
If rumours are try that Pep wants Arteta at City, I'm more then happy to drive him up there myself, no charge I'll even pay the fuel myself.

Good luck tonight people.