From Jeff Morrison : parking the bus
While I agree it looked like Arsenal parked the bus, I don’t think they were told to do so.
I imagine the plan was to defend and play the counter.
To this end it would’ve been much better to play Bendtner and Arshavin.
But most of our players, especially Diaby and Rosicky, were so overawed by the spectacle/movement of Barca that it turned into a bus park – I’m guessing without Wenger actually telling them to do so.
Cesc should never have been out there.
RVP actually looked up for it and fit, but had zero support.
I digress – what made Arsenal park the bus was pure fear of the speed and incision with which Barcelona played, especially without the ball.
The incredible intensity they had with the ball actually ratcheted up on the rare occasions they lost it, and Arsenal, again especially the slow of foot and mind Diaby were unable to cope.
RVP’s sending off took away a chance for an upset, but no doubt the best, most positive team went through.
As always, the question is what will Wenger actually take away from this drubbing, and, as usual, the answer is probably nothing.
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From Jason : Parking the Bus
I agree Wenger did park the bus, but I think his intention was to have more of a counter attacking threat than we did.
He thought Rosicky would be better defensively and that he could use Arshavin when the game became more stretched.
If RVP had stayed on, this could have been the case and the plan could have worked. At 0-0 just before they scored we seemed fairly comfortable and at 1-1 (and 11 men) we still looked and Barca did seem to be getting frustrated.
Parking the bus could have won us the tie, but it wasn’t to be.
I do agree Cesc and RVP shouldn’t have played and why did Cesc stay on the pitch when he admitted being in pain. If Arshavin and Bentdner had started perhaps things would have been different. Roll on Saturday.
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From Thad Cox : Glorious Failure
Myles,
I think that going out to Barcelona through an unfair decision is perfect for Arsenal. Without Fabregas and Van Persie at 100% and no Walcott or Song we were always going to struggle against the relentless passing, pressing and probing of Barcelona.
By being ‘unlucky’ through having to replace the keeper (thought Almunia was superb by the way, especially after the late goal in the cup match away to Orient, last year’s game in the Nou Camp. and especially considering and the amount of stick he gets from the fans) and having RVP sent off in a ridiculous manner means that we are now in a position of having a convenient excuse for failing.
If the keeper didn’t get injured and if RVP wasn’t sent off then we might’ve gone through.
The excuses hide the fact that we were outplayed and, more importantly, leave us to concentrate on the league without the distraction of Champions League football.
The FA Cup is a similar situation, if we win, then you have the motivational boost of knocking out Man Utd and being in a cup competition significantly weaker without them.
If we lose we only have the league to concentrate on, whereas Man Utd will have the League, FA Cup and Champions League and this will only aid us in our best chance of winning the title for many years, as like you said Man Utd, Chelsea and City wont all be this poor at the same time again.
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From James McKean : RVP
Those who seem to think that the nature of RVP\’s shot suggests he must have heard the whistle are simply wrong.
He was in the clear, but he was headed wide on his wrong foot.
He\’s not the quickest, so trying to bring the ball back onto his left would have allowed his defender to get back. And he had no support whatsoever.
In short, the quick shot – before the angle got any worse – was probably his best option. Also, earlier this season a keeper tricked a striker into stopping playing with a whistle.
Put simply its extremely plausible that RVP thought that they were still playing, and as such there\’s no question he deserved the benefit of the doubt.
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From Andy Fung : Wenger the lucky man
I disagree that the back heel was due to Fabregas’ injury.
It’s down to decision-making rather than fitness. he just blew it, big time. that’s all.
Van Persie’s sending off only gave Wenger one fine excuse for the defeat. He’s always a lucky man. Even with a fully-fit squad, Arsenal had no way of beating the amazing Barcelona, pressing arsenal to death.
Can he from now on complain about other teams only defending and not making any effort of attacking??
One funny note is now Arsène Wenger believes his squad deserve credit for fighting so hard on four fronts this season !
When will he stop all these b.s.?
Just win us some trophy before talking nonsense!
Wolverhampton (and virtually all Premiership teams) are also fighting very hard!