Football (Soccer)

[admin]

Welcome back MPS, and on the eve of one of the biggest matches of the season as well.

This game will be interesting, because neither team can afford to lose or even draw (unlike previous meetings).

[admin]

Oh well. We played extremely well in the first half, but United were much stronger in the second. I guess the pretend race with Chelsea is over for Arsenal, although it might go on for a while for Manchester United. Chances are, we'll probably start playing well from now on, now that there's no pressure anymore. I guess it's a relief of some sorts.

[Oriphus]

I have to admit, im completely tickled pink with the result of that match yesterday. Although i have not yet watched it, i did listen to it on the radio. I'll make a full post after i watch the match tonight. Just hope Chelsea slip up. That is the end of Arsenals title hopes i feel.....

Welcome back MPS

[Oriphus]

I didnt get to watch the match tonight. Hopefully ill get to see it tomorrow. Saw the Chelsea match though and they looked very ordinary at times. It really shouldve been 1-1 except for an amazing save from Peter Czech.....Damn him. Im hoping we bit Chelsea in April and Arsenal do us a favour and beat them as well. All we need then is 2 other defeats or 3 draws.....

It could happen - also we need to win all the rest of ours....

[admin]

You said a couple of posts ago that you have conceded the title to Chelsea, and I didn't think Arsenal should concede. I guess being second changes things a little

If I was Arsene Wenger, I would tell the team that the priority is to try our best, the target is to finish at least second and if not, put as much distance between us and the fourth team (Everton or Liverpool?). It's a three horse race, so technically any of these three teams can end up third, so let's make sure it is 3 teams at the top, followed by a big gap in points, and then the rest. I do feel that losing the league this early will take a lot of pressure off us in the Champions League, as in all of our previous season in the competition, we had the league title to chase at the same time. It's no surprise that our best result in the Champions League (2000/2001, losing to Valencia in the quarters on away goals) came in the season when the league title was lost early on in the campaign. We have much more experience now and a better squad than back then, so we should definitely aim first for a semi-final spot, and then see what happens next. Regardless of what happens, one of Man United/AC Milan and Chelsea/Barcelona will be out of the competition by the quarter finals, and that's not bad.

I suspect Wenger will rest some players before CL matches, and the good thing is that we have lots of promising youth that can step up without any problems. Unfortunately, it may also be our inexperience squad players that costs us the league title this season, since we got rid of our experienced squad players and replaced them with talented youth. Still, this season has been fantastic for giving youth players some experience (van Persie, Cesc, Eboue, Hoyte, Clichy, Flamini), and we'll be a lot stronger because of it in the future.

[Oriphus]

I guess Arsenal are in a position now were the pressure is now off in the League. You can concentrate on the CL, but at the same time try your best in the League as well. AS you say it is a 3 horse race only, and at the minute all 3 of us are still in it. I think that Arsenal will beat Chelsea, and i think that United will beat Chelsea, so i see a 6 point gap closed in those two matches. I also think that there are teams in the league that will draw with them, possibily even beat them.

Chelsea are fallible. They probably deserved their victory last week, but 1-0 was a bit close, and in all fairness it couldve easily been 1-1. As it stands, i feel that 3 draws (apart from our two teams beating them) is definitely a possibility. All we have to do is keep winning, as do Arsenal

What about big Vierra having a go at our Neville. Roy Keane sure was furious about that. Not even a handshake at kick off. I think its pretty safe to say that Roy Keane was outstanding on Tuesday night for us.....

I do think that Arsenals chances have diminished now, but without the pressures, who knows what could happen.

Im still anticipating a heavily faught title. After all, out of 12 Premiership titles, Arsenal & United have taken 11 of them. That says something (ok so 8 of them were United, but your still head & shoulders above the rest).

The match on Tuesday was amazing though, one of the best this season and it was refereed exceptionally well. I think that United are showing that they are really really in form at the minute. IN the second half of the match, they looked very comfortable, especially after the poor defense in the first.

[admin]

With Robben injured, Chelsea may struggle to score goals again just like the start of the season. Unfortunately, they have the winning mentality in them, just like Arsenal during the unbeaten season, so they could possibly win all the games until it's mathematically impossible to lose the league. If Chelsea don't win the league this season, then it will have to be the most spectacular collapse ever - would be funny though

Still, we're only 2 points behind you, so if you can catch up to Chelsea, then so can we. And who knows, we may even get points stripped from Chelsea for tapping up Cole - 6 points will do nicely.

[MPS]

great game that Arsenal-MU,
ronaldo is brilliant
i'm back from the mountains, winter break. will try to post in a few days.

[Oriphus]

Hey MPS, glad your back. Need some support so we outweigh this Arsenal man here lol

Yeah, im hoping that with United beating CHelsea and Arsenal beating Chelsea, with two other draws we will be ahead of them, and you will be on even terms with them. Then its all to play for again. Vould be a very nice end to the season though.....

[admin]

I don't think Arsenal deserve the title this season, because we've played very poorly (dropped 8 points in the last month alone!!). So if Chelsea do win it, then that are the better team and it also proves that money can buy you the title. But if they don't win, then it might take Chelsea another 50 years to get close to the title again, which is fine by me.

[MPS]

kluivert scores, chelsea out, that's that for todays' cup game :]

[admin]

The funniest game ever, IMO - Chelsea's luck was so bad, it's almost like a comedy routine. I actually watched it live and then downloaded it off the net as well so I can watch it again. When they made the 3 subs, I said to myself that with the snow, this is going to backfire. If Newcastle can injure someone (and I was looking at Shearer), then it would be as good as a red card for Chelsea. And they did just that (Saint Shearer not to blame, of course, but poor Bridge - could be the last game he ever plays for Chelsea, after they buy Ashley Cole of course). Then I said after Cudicini ran into Duff, that if Cudicini came off injured, they would have no goalkeepers. This didn't happen, but Duff got injured and Cudicini got sent off. Great save by Glen Johnson though. Chelsea only had 6 fit outfield players at the end of the game.

[MPS]

poor chelsea.... NOT! :>

what a score in Munich, Bayern 3 Arsenal 1 - what do you say to that ad'?

nice performance by liverpool, dudek was already thinking about the next game i think when he presented bayer with the goal

also, well done real

it's MU & barca time tomorrow, hope both teams win
:]

[admin]

We got a crucial away goal, so all is not over. They weren't that good tonight (but we were terrible), and with a bit of luck, we could have scored more. If we weren't so terrible, and played like we normally play, we could have won the game comfortably. I have a feeling we'll do them in the home game by a big margin, when Sol, Ashley and Dennis are back in the team again. We're usually fired up in the CL when everything looks a bit desparate (which happens quite often).

As for the Man United game, I see a small win for the home side (followed by a slightly bigger loss in the return leg). Chelsea will probably get a draw against Barca, which will be like a victory for them considering the amount of injuries they have right now.

[MPS]

what a game at nou camp, watched it live, great comeback by barca. shame about MU... plus lyon's impressive win