What next for this season?
A result of sheer disgust but little surprise.
Once Arsenal were paired with FC Barcelona on Friday, March 19 for the Champions League quarter-finals, it was apparent that Wenger’s men faced a colossal battle.
Beat them and it is a spectacular message to the rest of the continent, lose and it is absolutely no shame.
Indeed, given the sort of depleted squad which was sent out to represent Arsenal in the tie’s decisive meeting at the Camp Nou today, this had to be the biggest of scalps.
So it was quite ironic how fate somehow favored Arsenal 18 minutes after kick-off. Nicklas Bendtner utilized his grit upfront to put the visitors ahead.
But it was going to be all too temporal of an ascendancy.
Three minutes after the opener, the most formidable man on the pitch – despite all his supposed calmness last week – whipped home an equalizer.
Majestic. By the stroke of half-time, it would be impeccable.
First the Argentine sneaked into the box and fired the home side into a 2-1 lead before completing his hat trick five minutes later.
Into half-time, and Arsenal were looking at this tie just the way they saw it nearly a week ago. But while they were outclassed again, there was no escaping being outscored this time.
That was worrying for Wenger who threw on wildcards in the form of Eboue and Eduardo after the interval. It proved too little and Messi’s fourth goal three minutes from time meant it was too late. This tie had been settled a long while ago.
The Gunners have now crushed out of the Champions League and as Wenger’s men make their trip home from Spain, the ultimate question will be ‘what next?’.
An unlikely wrestle for the Premier League crown or another fruitless season?
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If your the team…
-Beat the Spuds
-Pray for a miracle
If your Arsen..
-Revaluate the team and figure out where we need backup.
-Purchase a GK, CDM, CM, Winger and Striker.
-Don’t sell anyone
If your the Fans…
-Respect the team
-Pray for a miracle
-Look back on a good year
-Don’t get upset
-Watch the World Cup
Up the Guns
“Look back on a good year”
Absolutley.
It really has been, and it’s still not over yet.
yes there are some weak spots in the team, but look at how much we’ve grown.
a couple of shrewd buys over summer and we start again next year.
but until then, we’ve got some spuds to beat and a title to chase
Yes! Arsene & the Gunners as well as the fans can be proud of the level which Arsenal has been playing this season with the young gunners (in terms of age) being polished year after year.
Fans should really have faith in the team they support. Barcelona did not take a year or not even just 5 years to build up what they are today. There need to be patience, recognition for the team should be given and recognized.
Even if this season is going to be trophy-less again, the manager and the players should be respected. Back them up, give them the time to florish!
With such a long list of injuury since mid of the season, Arsenal has done really well!
might want to purchase a CB or two while shopping.
THE SEASON WONT BE TROPHYLESS !!!!!!
CMON WE GOTTA SEE OUT SPUDS THEN 4 CITY WELL BE AT HOME
WITH RVP AND ARSHAVIN PROBABLY BACK .
THE TEAMS WE R GONNA FACE R NO WHERE NEAR BARCA .THERE WAS ALOT OF OPTIMISM BACK THEN ,WHY NOT NOW ?
WE DONT NEED A MIRACLE TO WIN THE LEAGUE ,WE R JUST 3 BEHIND .
KEEP THE FAITH .
Centre back(s), Chamakh on a free and Eden Hazard.
go now. sylvestre my ass. you failure wengere
FAILURE WENGER ???LOOK JACKASS DID U REALLY THINK WE WERE GONNA BEAT BARCA ,WE ALL KNEW IT HEART OF HEARTS .WENGER DID THE RIGHT THING BY NOT STARTING SOL SO ATLEAST WE DONT JEOPARDISE R LEAGUE CHANCES .WITH A FULL TEAM WE COULD REALLY HAVE GIVEN BARCA A RIDE
where is the optimism coming from?
I’m only saying this: lucky enough that the two best teams lost a lot of points this year, extremely bad management during the winter break when no players where brought, naive tactical approach in important games, fostering players with no future at the highest level.
demand responsibility, demand that the club states its objectives and tries to achieve them by more than the luck and failure of the others.
disappointing night and a very humble defeat.
Outclassed and outperformed. Gutted to a certain extent, but I’m still keeping my chin up. I really thought we came out with good composure trying to pressure them. Xavi was well contained, but we let, Messi run all over us. Sol, shoudl’ve started and, Eboue as well. We could’ve had at least 2 before their first and who knows maybe the game would’ve gone our way. Clichy, was the man today! Why didn’t everyone see how hard he was working out there? Rosicky, nowhere to be found. It was just a disaster out there at times running into one another and giving away silly passes.
It goes to show how think we are in the backline and up front. I call on the Boss to step up now and make some serious changes to this squad because if he only brings in one player net year then round and round we go.
Congrats to Barca!
Arsenal Forever!
*how thin we are
I know for next year!!! Wenger out!!! He wont spend 30-40 mill on top players. But players like Torres or Villa will cost that amount !!! Our defending was the worst over years tonight!! Yes, Messi is absolutely the best in world but he labeled Silvestre as a good defender. What a pathetic cunt Wenger is!!! Go and rott in hell!!! With Wenger we wont win anything as he is so obsessed with is idiotic project we wont compete with the best!!!
WHOEVER IS STUPID ENOUGH TO INSULT WENGER SHOULD NOT BE AN ARSENAL OR FOOTBALL FAN!!!
Mikael Silvestre must be up there with the Henrys and Bergkamps for what he’s done for Arsenal in his two years since leaving United.
Such a legend! 😆
Fuck you very much Mikael. We love you!
But then you gotta ask: who signed this genius?
@ danny: So tell me did he buy someone for strikeforce in jan? Shut up idiot and see the facts. Monsieur stubborn doesnt see the FA cup as a needing trophy and he wants to win the champions league!!! Hahahhahahahahaha
Where is Henry, Pires, Ljunberg, Bergkamp, Keown, Vieira, Gilberto ( can go on and on!! ) replaced??? If he stays we wont win anything for the next years. Better, he said Silvestre is a good defender!! What a joke he became!! His time is up!!! Go to RM french cunt!!!!
I’m not taking any jabs at the Boss, but during the post game interview he said, “Silvestre and Campbell are two good players. That is why the choice [of who to play] is difficult.”
Ummm, it would’ve been difficult for me, as well! I wouldn’t know which one would get destroyed more. Personally, I would’ve gone with, SOL! Sylvestre, is so lucky to have played in the 2nd leg. Our backline and mid were outplayed. Clichy, is the only player I saw out there trying to do something. Clichy, is back!
Nasri and Rosicky didn’t show up. Love those 2 but they did nada.
I would have started with Sol, too!! He is true and true Arsenal and Silvestre is just a pathetic cunt which Wenger bought to a cut price!!! He had more then 5 years to develop a great team!! There must be some big big investments in summer but without Wenger!!! Also why is Almunia still playing? Promote Szesny next year and buy Neuer!!! A great gk
can make wonders!!!
SOMETHING IS CLEARLY WRONG WITH U .WHY R U ATTACKING WENGER .WENGER DOESNT MEAN WHAT HE SAID ABOUT THE CBS .ITS QUITE OBVIOUS HES BEING DIPLOMATIC .ITS NOT A SHOCK WE LOST AND BY THAT MARGIN .IT WAS EXPECTED .HE DIDNT HAVE 5 REGULARS .WENGER HAS MAINTAINED OUR TOP 4 STATUS AND KEPT US FINANCIALLY SOUND .WITHOUT HIM HE WOULD PROBABLY HAVE THE SAME EXPECTATIONS THE SPUDS HAVE ABOUT COMING 4TH OR SOMETHING .THE ARSENAL R STILL IN THE TITLE HUNT.SO BE OPTIMISTIC .HES CERTAINLY GONNA INVEST IN THESUMMER .HES JUST CLEVER ENOUGH NOT TO TALK ABOUT IT NOW AND RECOVER
1 question. Did he buy a RVP replacement in jan?? No!!! Time is up for this pathetic fu…. lier!! Even the board said he has a lot to spend if he wants!!! Get real he wont bring us trophies anymore. Even the FA cup is not good enough for him!!!
Yeah, 5yrs sounds like a lot of time. But when things seem to be getting better someone leaves and doesn’t get replaced…Henry, Toure, Hleb, Ade. I can prob mention some more.
Arsenal has to go straight for 1st place. I don’t care how but they must!
R U SERIOUS ABOUT ADE?????
Read it again!
Last time wenger took a gamble with a defender he ended up going off injured (Gallas), I would very much rather silvestre (who i know is shit) plays the 90 than campbell plays 45 and can’t play again this season. Also I know like any other Arsenal fan I want trophies but I really do believe that to bring us to a new state of the art stadium and keep us playing at the top level is an achievement within itself!!! (All without outside investment)
I agree, Danny! I feel the same was, but going out the way we did and not perform to our standard was a bit hard to watch.
DIDNT GET IT MAN
IKD, what is it that you don’t get?!
I agreed that we still compete at the top level without overspending. And watching my team play the way we know they can play was hard not to see today!
I think IKD means “Ade” ade is adebayor
We lost to a better team ( the European Champion ). I feel there is nothing to be ashamed of. At the same time, we didn’t play well and to our full potential either. I saw for the fact that Kazan Raden won at Nou Camp and that gave me belief that we the Arsenal need not fear Barca. Alas, it didn’t materialize due to a number of reasons namely as Wenger said “too many mistakes” and a depleted squad. Its disappointing to lose but lets not go around tearing the manager and squad because I believe they tried their best but it isn’t good enough.
I agree but there is a big difference from trying our best and playing our best!!
No excuses,we were beaten by a superior team,and congratulations to Barca.There is no disgrace in losing to arguably the best team in the world today,and we should be proud of our team and continue to give them our full support going forward.Keep the faith.
1) Tottenham away
2) All the other matches
3)Investigation of why we get soo many injuries (maybe change training or get new doctor/physio)
4) Look to add to squad. (ie New Keeper and CB, Striker a must)
Again I see the vicious cycle of tearing the team, player and manager down whenever things don’t happen the way we wanted.I believe the players and manager are equally down and disappointed. Hey, at least The Arsenal is ahead of Chelsea and Liverpool to come this far in the champion league! All isn’t lost yet cos’ there’s still the Premier League to fight for. The team will need all the encouragement and support.
kidz, I think most Arsenal supporters expectations were so high. Especially, to beat one of the best teams in the world that when it didn’t happen people were just really upset and disappointed about the outcome. I’m a bit disappointed too, but the way we performed in the QF is questionable. We might be in front of Chelsea and Pool but nobody seems to care at this point. Everyone makes their own choice on how they feel and what they say, but people are forgetting the massive pressure Arsenal were under to beat Barca. Half of our players were out! With a full strength team things would’ve been different. Mistakes played a huge part, as well. No excuses, but I can name numerous mistakes by our players!!!! Very, very unlike us!
Patience is running short around here and I think we should stick to the plan and continue to support our team during the last stretch of the season. Spurscum is next and we have to beat them!
For those already throwing in the towel what are you going to do when, Wenger is still here next year and you don’t get what you wish for as far as bringing in Villa, Torres and other players who’s price tags are very expensive? You want me to suggest some teams for you to pick for quick success? Good luck!
Arsenal fans must not sidetrack and stick together till the end!
Cahill centre defender Sakho sup
Loft, I have always enjoy reading your comments and the above is also definately one of them….Cheers!
Kidz, likewise! You are a true gentleman! Cheers!
We are all gutted but this is not the end of the world !! Frome the very begining of the season we have fought with vital injuries, no team can loose as many top players as we have done and win top prizes. taken all into consideration we have done vey well. Can only hope with a few additions and less casualties we will win trophies next year. Guys insulting the manager will not push him out or keep him in lets just quite the foul language and act like true Asenal supporters. In 60 years and more I have never known a manager achieve so much and be insulted so badly. Just quit the language and express yourself like real men.