Forget the Premiership title, it's beyond us. We've lost far too many games and are too inconsistent to mount a challenge.
The Champions League however is a totally different prospect and it's a trophy that I really believe Arsenal can win.
Our possession football suits the Champions League. It's a far slower pace than the English Premiership and there is no team better in Europe than Arsenal at keeping the ball.
You need the luck of the draw and people will say if Arsenal draw an English team, then we will struggle because they know how to play against us. I beg to differ.
If a side resorts to the usual bully boy tactics employed by Premiership teams then the European referees will stamp down on it. The harsh tackles will not be allowed.
Liverpool and Chelsea have knocked us out in the past but we outplayed them both in those ties. I'd say a great deal of luck enabled them to overcome us. Surely that luck would change?
Successful sides are built on the foundations of a solid defence. The defence made up of Gallas, Djourou, Clichy and Sagna is more than solid enough to keep clean sheets.
We didn't keep a clean sheet against the "almighty" Chelsea but the goal we conceded was an own-goal and could have been prevented had Almunia not suffered a rush of blood to the head.
A Chelsea side at home, had one shot on target against us in 90 minutes. That alone proves to me the back-four of those mentioned above are more than capable of shutting out Europe's elite.
Arsenal always have goals in them. We can score against anyone, especially those crucial away goals.
If we can keep it tight in the home games then we can beat anyone over two legs. Teams will not want to face us.
I see so many parallels between this season and the 2005/06 season when we reached the Champions League final. The inconsistency in the league, the rumour's of infighting. It's uncanny. I don't however see us struggling for fourth place this season. We will get there comfortably.
People are speaking of another trophyless campaign for Arsenal. I don't agree. I genuinely believe the Champions League will be ours in May.
Keep it Goonerish......................
18 comments:
Have a hunch too!
i think we have a chance of getting to the final but if we meet barca we'll get thumped
Don't worry about Barca Jonjon, Thierry will miss two sitters!
HAHAHA
good call mate
i totlly agree with you, i think we are more suited to the CL this season, even if we play the other english sides.
i just feel barca are an identical side to us, except better.
thats the side we have to beat to win the CL
I agree Jonjon.
Barca are the side to beat but I think we can.
I too have a funny feeling about the Champions league, but for me it really does depend on whether we manage to form a settled and more effective midfield quartet, as we still do not know our best starters, something that is in stark contrast to last season.
We cant be drawn against an English team until the Q/F stage.
Ive always found the guys play with a lot more passion and enthusiasm in europe, we just need the luck if the draw and by that i mean no english teams please!!!
Why not both? We still have 3/4's of the season to go. I aint givin up on nutt'n!
Gunners for the PL/CL/FA Cup!!!!!
all i want is a champions league,then i can die happy,see you in rome.
I think the big-game mentality of our side is what makes us such a force in Europe. I can't remember the last time I saw this crop of players not at least deserve victory in Europe. We had ten men against Barca, and Liverpool benefited from two dodgy pentalty decisions in two legs. We always perform. Where Hull and Stoke leave us absolutely uninspired. It's no excuse for throwing away points, but we are too good to be playing those sorts of teams. Arsenal are a side capable of outplaying anyone on the continent - and the huge gulf of class in the Premier League is something the rest of the top four seem to be profitting from, while our own players seem to pretty much lose interest, switch off and take a victory as granted.
I agree that the Champions League is our best hope of silverwear until our team matures into a side with a long-term, patient mentality. We'll always be up for these big occasions.
I have similar feelings about Arsenal being a force in the CL, but winning it might be a step too far for us. It's not that the team doesn't have enough quality,
it's the squad. Given our track record, it is safe to say that some starting eleven will get injured before may or, attention adebayor, jade significantly.
that being said, if henry score any sitter and eliminate us i'll be so so mad.
I have similar feelings about Arsenal being a force in the CL, but winning it might be a step too far for us. It's not that the team doesn't have enough quality,
it's the squad. Given our track record, it is safe to say that some starting eleven will get injured before may or, attention adebayor, jade significantly.
that being said, if henry score any sitter and eliminate us i'll be so so mad.
This is a very strange season. First time that there isn't a clear favourite to win the league. None of the Top 4 has really been convincing the way Arsenal & United were last season, and the way Champions usually are. Each team has a massive problem.
I can't say what we will or won't win. To me we have the quality to win even the league, and we're still a long way off. This time last year, despite being unbeaten, nobody was even taking us seriously.
"The defence made up of Gallas, Djourou, Clichy and Sagna is more than solid enough to keep clean sheets."
yet these are the defenders who have let other teams score twice and have shown little composure and much nervousness, silvestre, gallas and toure the most
Bring on the English teams. We have already beaten Man U and Chelsea they should be more scared of us!
Wrighty, i think we will have a chance to go to the Final of CL because the teams are more focus when they're up against big teams.
And don't forget we still have a chance to win FA Cup.
In regards to w/end games against Wigan, what you reckon the final score? 3-0? coz i might put money on it.
lp,
I reckon 2 or 3 nil mate.
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