Champions League Draw Dec 20th

[Cripps_orig]

Group A: PSG, Porto Group B: Schalke, Arsenal Group C: Malaga, AC Milan Group D: Dortmund, Real Madrid Group E: Juventus, Shakhtar Donetsk Group F: Bayern Munich, Valencia Group G: Barcelona, Celtic Group H: Manchester United, Galatasaray. We can face PSG, Malaga, Dortmund, Juventus, Bayern Munich or Barca. We'll go in as 2nd favourites against any of them and I'll be going to the home leg so hoping for a big team

[Gervinho's Forehead]

Not fussed who we get because we're going out anyway and I ain't gonna be going to the home leg.

[Globalgunner]

We cant even beat swansea at home on our best day. No chance against any of those. We will get thumped 3-0 in the away leg and play a heroic 2-1 at home. Wenger will laud our spirit and togetherness.

[Syn]

Gg irate as fuck.

[Cripps_orig]

I'm glad we are playing at home first. Imagine the 2nd leg being at home after a guaranteed 4-0 loss in the away leg. The stadium would be deader than Arsene Wengers tactical awareness during a pre match build up

[Syn]

Cripps i rate as shit.

[GP]

:haha:

[Cripps_orig]

Cripps i rate as shit.oh

[Letters]

Cripps i rate as shit.
:haha:

[Letters]

We cant even beat swansea at home on our best day.
Yes. Yes. That was our best day, the best Arsenal have ever played. And we still couldn't beat Swansea.

:sarcy:

Behave yourself.

[Japan Shaking All Over]

Start of this thread is a classic case of FFS
You dont have to as stupidly optimistic as say myself or even Ollie (sorry Ol mate) or put yourself through the emotional/finacial strain of attending a game but surely we cab give ourselves a chance? ?

The team is having a meltdown, admitted and the wheels of my Wenger Knows bandwagon are really coming loose but I still feel that we are not as shit as what people make out, though we are also not as good as what I make out at times too! :sad:

[Joker]

Don't mind who we get, we're going to get knocked out anyway.

[Globalgunner]

Of the 16 teams left. We are probably the worst. Of the teams we could actually face, we are definitely worse. No chance I`m afraid. The only good thing is our season and budget are not predicated on progressing beyond this stage. We are in good shape.

[Letters]

Of the 16 teams left. We are probably the worst.
Nah

Of the teams we could actually face, we are definitely worse.
I'd fancy us against PSG or Malaga, the others not so much.

[Globalgunner]

I wouldnt fancy our kamikaze defending against Ibra or our tepid midfield against Malaga. When we had good teams we usually went out at this stage so what is the basis for the optimism now except maybe just optimism itself. When the draw comes out I would like to see letters put 20 at the bookies on us getting to the next round. No point waving the flag on an internet forum.

[Letters]

What a stupid post, well the last bit is.
I reckon we'd have a decent chance against the two sides I've mentioned. That doesn't mean I'd put money on it.
If we're going down that route why don't all the people who think we've no chance put their life savings on us losing.
:shrug:

None of us really know, Arsenal have been erratic at best this season. But it's not a foregone conclusion that we're going out whoever we draw.

[Globalgunner]

What a stupid post, well the last bit is.
I reckon we'd have a decent chance against the two sides I've mentioned. That doesn't mean I'd put money on it.
If we're going down that route why don't all the people who think we've no chance put their life savings on us losing.
:shrug:

None of us really know, Arsenal have been erratic at best this season. But it's not a foregone conclusion that we're going out whoever we draw.

No need to go ballistic
Time will tell who is optimistic and who is realistic

PS we have not been erratic this season.....We have been consistently bad. As we have been for a long while

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Malaga will likely be weakened during January, Spanish football is teetering on the edge as it is, let alone with how Malaga is being run.

I imagine players have been payed at Malaga now but Pellegrini has not been (at least not consistently). :lol:

[Injury Time]

Fixtures in Feb? We will be out of everything, no chance of 4th, we need to win to get in next year-we will respond to the pressure*



*with a tepid whimper and some gallant spirit after the point of no return**




**caution may contain voodoo

[Letters]

PS we have not been erratic this season.....We have been consistently bad. As we have been for a long whileKompany said we're the best team he's faced this season, we were good up at City.
We were good at Anfield.
More recently, we played well against Montpellier - especially 2nd half.
There's been more bad than good but we did enough to qualify from our group, we wouldn't have done if we'd been consistently bad.

[GP]

And we smashed Spurs to bits, of course.

Anyway, it's football. What's the point in being realistic? If you can't be optimistic about your team what else is left?

Bring on Barca :scarf:

[Japan Shaking All Over]

No need to go ballistic
Time will tell who is optimistic and who is realistic

PS we have not been erratic this season.....We have been consistently bad. As we have been for a long while

I dont think anyone is going ballistic. . .(especially as you outed Letters to wage money if anything you should be daring me to get my arse down to the bookies, as I usually love walking around with my head in the clouds

What is with the claiming of being realists just because you can predict doom and gloom for the club and in some cases actually wishing it?

Dont get me wrong my rose tinted glasses are not such a shade that I cant see we have our problems but feck me, I would rather predict a win and be pleasantly surprisex than predict a loss just so I can come back and say I told you so

[Ollie the Optimist]

And we smashed Spurs to bits, of course.

Anyway, it's football. What's the point in being realistic? If you can't be optimistic about your team what else is left?

Bring on Barca :scarf:


whats the fun in going into every game believing we will get hammered. there is not point to it. much more fun to believe in having a chance and going for it

[Ollie the Optimist]

also who can chelsea get in the draw?



had to be done,

chelsea :haha:

[GP]

also who can chelsea get in the draw?

Man City, I think.

[Letters]

especially as you outed Letters
:unsure:


:patrice:

:ninja:

[Japan Shaking All Over]

Yeah all the teams that are better than us. . . .(expecting to be shot down for this. . .but had to say it. . .!)

[Japan Shaking All Over]

:unsure:


:patrice:

:ninja:

homo

[Marc Overmars]

I'd be delighted with Barca or Dortmund, hope we get them. Bayern or Juve would be good as well.

PSG have some individuals that could hurt us but their lack of experience may show, Malaga is our best bet of going through.

[LDG]

Cripps i rate as shit.

:lol:


:beer: :bow:

[Japan Shaking All Over]

I'd be delighted with Barca or Dortmund, hope we get them. Bayern or Juve would be good as well.

PSG have some individuals that could hurt us but their lack of experience may show, Malaga is our best bet of going through.

Now thats 'realism served in a glass'

[Cripps_orig]

Apparently and not sure how true this is, Man Utd and Schalke, the 2 teams we can't face in the next round have lodged a complaint to UEFA as they claim it is not fair other teams have a chance to face us and practically get a bye to the Quarters and they don't. Anyway I'm an optimistic guy so let's be positive. We are 16th favorites for the CL :dance:

[Marc Overmars]

I had to stop for a second and realise that was a joke. :lol:

:doh:

[Xhaka Can’t]

Apparently and not sure how true this is, Man Utd and Schalke, the 2 teams we can't face in the next round have lodged a complaint to UEFA as they claim it is not fair other teams have a chance to face us and practically get a bye to the Quarters and they don't. Anyway I'm an optimistic guy so let's be positive. We are 16th favorites for the CL :dance:

Cripps is now to wumming what Wenger is to football management.

Sent from my HTC One S using Tapatalk 2

[GP]

Cripps is now to wumming what Wenger is to football management.

Sent from my HTC One S using Tapatalk 2

Nah, Wenger was successful once.

[Letters]

Cripps i rate as shit.
Syn :bow:

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

have malaga got any other decent players we can steal off them?

[Marc Overmars]

have malaga got any other decent players we can steal off them?

Isco is a must get.

[Gervinho's Forehead]

Nah, Wenger was successful once.

He's not got a patch on you has he?

[Injury Time]

have malaga got any other decent players we can steal off them?

Probably just the one that scores the goal(s) that knocks us out...

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Don't mind who we get, we're going to get knocked out anyway.

Yeah lets get Dortmund and lose 10-0 that will teach us.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Cripps is now to wumming what Wenger is to football management.

Sent from my HTC One S using Tapatalk 2

Leave Cripps alone its disgusting hoe the lad gets treated on here, just cause he is always right.

Now Ach on the other hand what a ****.

[Cripps_orig]

Cripps is now to wumming what Wenger is to football management.Sent from my HTC One S using Tapatalk 2I'll take that as a compliment tbh seeing as you are one of Wengers biggest fans on here

[Cripps_orig]

have malaga got any other decent players we can steal off them?Any other? That seems to imply we got a decent player off them already. Who would this be?

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

a little midget who's been run into the ground by wankger and is now performing like denilson.

[Xhaka Can’t]

I'll take that as a compliment tbh seeing as you are one of Wengers biggest fans on here

Sure.

Sent from my HTC One S using Tapatalk 2

[Olivier's xmas twist]

I'll take that as a compliment tbh seeing as you are one of Wengers biggest fans on here

No he is not. Just cause GB don't abuse him every hour don't make him his biggest fan.

[Letters]

I'll take that as a compliment tbh seeing as you are one of Wengers biggest fans on here
You are to WUMming what Santos is to the art of defending.


:tiphat:

[Cripps_orig]

You are to WUMming what Santos is to the art of defending.:tiphat:I'll take that as a compliment seeing as he's an Arsenal defender bought by Wenger and you are one of his biggest fans

[Ollie the Optimist]

i thought the idea of wumming was, you know, to actually be funny

[Olivier's xmas twist]

i thought the idea of wumming was, you know, to actually be funny

:haha:

[Letters]

i thought the idea of wumming was, you know, to actually be funny
Cripps is lacking a bit of sharpness but he's showing great spirit.

[Joker]

:haha:

World class sycophancy there.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

World class sycophancy there.

Not really no, now piss of and leave me alone.

[LDG]

Syn :bow:

Syn deffo has a hangover today.

[Cripps_orig]

PSG, Porto Group B: Schalke, Arsenal Group C: Malaga, AC Milan Group D: Dortmund, Real Madrid Group E: Juventus, Shakhtar Donetsk Group F: Bayern Munich, Valencia Group G: Barcelona, Celtic Group H: Manchester United, GalatasarayBack on topic. Predictions? I'm going for Real v PSG, Porto v Man Utd, Galatasaray v Malaga, Valencia v Schalke, Celtic v Dortmund, Arsenal v Juventus and AC v Barca

[Letters]

Return key broken?

[Xhaka Can’t]

Probably not, that happens a lot if you use a phone.

Sent from my HTC One S using Tapatalk 2

[Özim]

Probably not, that happens a lot if you use a phone.

Sent from my HTC One S using Tapatalk 2
Maybe put the phone down and type with your fingers instead then?

[Cripps_orig]

Probably not, that happens a lot if you use a phone.Sent from my HTC One S using Tapatalk 2This. It used to be fine and then GW did their first maintenance shit and its been like that ever since.

[LDG]

Maybe put the phone down and type with your fingers instead then?

Funny (ish) Zimm :bow:

[Marc Overmars]

This. It used to be fine and then GW did their first maintenance shit and its been like that ever since.

What phone are you using?

I post from my phone at work sometimes (without Tapatalk) and it works fine.

[LDG]

What phone are you using?

I post from my phone at work sometimes (without Tapatalk) and it works fine.

GW. The only reason I come to work :bow:

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Funny (ish) Zimm :bow:

:gp:

[Özim]

What phone are you using?

I post from my phone at work sometimes (without Tapatalk) and it works fine.
Yeah my problem with Tapatalk is this sh*t:

"Sent from my HTC One S using Tapatalk 2"

Isn't there some sort of privacy law against this, I don't want every Tom, Dick and Harry knowing I'm a cool sophisticated iPhone 5 user and the others probably don't want others knowing they're not.

[Joker]

Yeah my problem with Tapatalk is this sh*t:

"Sent from my HTC One S using Tapatalk 2"

Isn't there some sort of privacy law against this, I don't want every Tom, Dick and Harry knowing I'm a cool sophisticated iPhone 5 user and the others probably don't want others knowing they're not.

You can turn that off by going into settings then setting the Tapatalk signature to "None".

[Cripps_orig]

Couple of days to go :popcorn:

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Couple of days to go :popcorn:

Lets hope Ronaldo goes back to Old trafford and gives them what for.

[Cripps_orig]

SSN programme starts at 10am

[Gervinho's Forehead]

Can't wait to find out who we're going out to. :popcorn:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

We got Bayern Munich in the rehearsal draw.

[Letters]

SSN programme starts at 10am

Draw at midnight? :rolleyes:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

It should be starting in a couple of minutes.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Leonardo. :bow:

[Cripps_orig]

Listening to Talksport for the draw. Keys and Gray :bow: They have been missed

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Here we go. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Galatasaray vs Schalke. That doesn't help us. :lol:

[Cripps_orig]

Galatasaray v Schalke

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Celtic vs Juventus.

As in the rehearsal draw.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Arsenal up.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Arsenal vs Bayern Munich.

:doh:

[PGFC]

:patrice: Bayern Munich

[Cripps_orig]

We have Bayern

[PGFC]

oh.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Shakhtar Donetsk vs Borussia Dortmund.

Tasty.

[GP]

Bring it!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Milan vs Barcelona.

Milan. :rose:

[Cripps_orig]

Gray saying PSG will play Barca......both won their groups

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Real Madrid vs Manchester United.

:haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Gray saying PSG will play Barca......both won their groups

He is truly missed.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Valencia vs PSG.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Porto vs Malaga.

Very good draw for Malaga.

[Cripps_orig]

Man Utd :haha: Real :bow: Come on Milan.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Exactly the same draw as in the rehearsal. :lol:

Be a bit more subtle eh UEFA?

[Letters]

We're winning this :cool:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Let's get Dids to eat Bayern Munich again.

:bow:

[Kano]

lol

[Cripps_orig]

Finally I get to see a European super power in the CL at the Emirates

[LDG]

That'll do, in light of what we could have got, I guess.....

IT IS ON, LIKE MY MIS...ERRR...DONKEY KONG!

[Gooner23]

We're just as capable of beating a good team as we are of losing to a crap one.

I'll take Bayern.

Oh, and United :pal:

[cheesy bites]

Finally I get to see a European super power in the CL at the Emirates
But we play there every other week.


:getcoat:

[GP]

Exactly the same draw as in the rehearsal. :lol:

Be a bit more subtle eh UEFA?

:lol: There's no way it's fixed...

[Letters]

Yes, cos if they fixed it they'd definitely broadcast what the draw was going to be before they made it.

[Kano]

Yes, cos if they fixed it they'd definitely broadcast what the draw was going to be before they made it.
Double bluff?

[Cripps_orig]

Hope we don't play the same day as the Real match. We'll need a 3 goal lead minimum to have any chance of going through

[McNamara That Ghost...]

There's very little chance of us and Man Utd playing on the same day, not now two English teams already crashed out of the CL.

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

muller shitting himself at the prospect of playing ramsey

:haha:

[LDG]

Who did Chelsea get?

[Gervinho's Forehead]

Who did Chelsea get?

:lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Who did Chelsea get?

Wait an hour and we'll know.

:lol:

[Syn]

We fucking win this tie now.

[GP]

We fucking win this tie now.

:gp:

[GP]

We are 33/1 to win the CL.

Put a monkey on it!

[PGFC]

We are 33/1 to win the CL.

Put a monkey on it!

RACIST!

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Lets hope Ronaldo goes back to Old trafford and gives them what for.

:gp:

Id take Bayern tbh.

[Gervinho's Forehead]

Lets hope Bayern bottle it against us like they did against chelski.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Lets hope Bayern bottle it against us like they did against chelski.

Poldi going home :bow:

Lets hope he don't bottle it.

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

anyone genuinely believe we have a chance?

sign didier, stick 10 men behind the ball and hoof it up top?

[Cripps_orig]

We have a chance. However anything less than a convincing win in the first leg and we are out. We will definitely lose in Germany. Our hopes rest in the game at the Emirates

[Cripps_orig]

Galatasaray v FC Schalke - Schalke

Celtic v Juventus - Juventus

Arsenal v Bayern Munich - Bayern

Shakhtar v Borussia Dortmund - Dortmund

AC Milan v Barcelona - AC

Real Madrid v Manchester United - Real

Valencia v Paris Saint-Germain - PSG

FC Porto v Malaga - Malaga

My predictions

[Letters]

You're always got a chance in football but Bayern would be strong favourites.
I'm looking forward to it, nothing to lose really, there's no disgrace in going out to that lot.

[Syn]

I give us a 7.4% chance to progress. Cazorla needs to have a monstrous game.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Galatasaray v FC Schalke - Schalke

Celtic v Juventus - Juventus

Arsenal v Bayern Munich - Bayern

Shakhtar v Borussia Dortmund - Dortmund

AC Milan v Barcelona - AC

Real Madrid v Manchester United - Real

Valencia v Paris Saint-Germain - PSG

FC Porto v Malaga - Malaga

My predictions

Not bothered which goes through tbh, just laugh at the loser tbh.

[Kano]

there's no disgrace in going out to that lot.
depends how we go out tbf.

[LDG]

Hartson - "Arsenal should not fear Bayern Munich"

Hartson :lol:

Awlful....



Just awlful.

[Cripps_orig]

From memory, we have played Bayern 4 times in the Wenger era

W1 D1 L2 is our record and the one we won, we still went out on aggregate

Yeah we're fucked

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Hartson - "Arsenal should not fear Bayern Munich"

Hartson :lol:

Awlful....



Just awlful.

Well he's not wrong, like letters said we got nout to lose anyways.

[Letters]

depends how we go out tbf.
Well, I guess having a holocaust in both games would be embarrassing.
But even a comfortablish win for Bayern wouldn't be that humiliating.
At least we're playing a team I'm excited about seeing us play.

[LDG]

Nice choice of words.

[GP]

What are the chances of us having a holocaust against the Germans?

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

i remember the 05/06/07 years when we had these type of games and were complete underdogs, noone ever gave us a chance yet we somehow managed to win.

that night at the bernabeu, i remember the papers the previous day giving us absolutely nothing in terms of hope.

we had stars in those teams that could spark something out of nothing. a great team ethic and belief.

i miss those days.

[Özim]

They'll beat us and beat us well.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

i remember the 05/06/07 years when we had these type of games and were complete underdogs, noone ever gave us a chance yet we somehow managed to win.

that night at the bernabeu, i remember the papers the previous day giving us absolutely nothing in terms of hope.

we had stars in those teams that could spark something out of nothing. a great team ethic and belief.

i miss those days.

05 and 07 we crashed out in the last 16. :unsure:

We did have the '06 run but that's it really.

[Özim]

Well, I guess having a holocaust in both games would be embarrassing.
But even a comfortablish win for Bayern wouldn't be that humiliating.
At least we're playing a team I'm excited about seeing us play.
So what you're saying is getting beaten by them is OK really, not a bad result for us.

I think we'll get beaten, but no I don't think it's good enough that we expect to get beaten by Bayern, we should feel we have a good chance and would if the club was managed properly.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

So what you're saying is getting beaten by them is OK really, not a bad result for us.

I think we'll get beaten, but no I don't think it's good enough that we expect to get beaten by Bayern, we should feel we have a good chance and would if the club was managed properly.

Don't say We speak for yourself.

[Özim]

Don't say We speak for yourself.
Ok, so you think we should be scraping the bottom of the barrel and expect to get beaten by all and sundry then? Fair enough.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Ok, so you think we should be scraping the bottom of the barrel and expect to get beaten by all and sundry then? Fair enough.

Not sure how you got that from that.

[Letters]

So what you're saying is getting beaten by them is OK really, not a bad result for us.
That's not really what I'm saying, no.
But they are CL Finalists (I know, so are Chelsea, and how did they do this year? :lol: ) and are clearly a better side than us.
Losing away at ManYoo isn't a disgrace. Being beaten by them by a cricket score like last year, or being beaten so easily by them this, isn't good enough.
Even at our best under Wenger we lost to Bayern, we're a shadow of that side now while Bayern are clearly pretty strong. They're strong favourites and losing to them is no disgrace.
As someone else said, if we lose then the manner of the defeat and our performance is what I'll look at.

[Özim]

Not sure how you got that from that.
Well if you don't think we should feel we can beat Bayern, that means you think we shouldn't feel we can beat them and the opinion you've voiced is that we can't expect to be 4th cos our team isn't good enough etc and should know that .

So you think we should accept being 2nd rate then?

[Özim]

That's not really what I'm saying, no.
But they are CL Finalists (I know, so are Chelsea, and how did they do this year? :lol: ) and are clearly a better side than us.
Losing away at ManYoo isn't a disgrace. Being beaten by them by a cricket score like last year, or being beaten so easily by them this, isn't good enough.
Even at our best under Wenger we lost to Bayern, we're a shadow of that side now while Bayern are clearly pretty strong. They're strong favourites and losing to them is no disgrace.
As someone else said, if we lose then the manner of the defeat and our performance is what I'll look at.
Yeah but I really hate the fact that we really don't feel we have a decent chance, we're a huge club after all but it seems on the pitch we are small time....in the last 20 years I'd have given us a decent chance of winning everytime, but not today because our team doesn't have the heart, desire or quality to give me that belief.

I find that sad, I'd love nothing more than to believe we can beat anyone, the reality is though I just don't, I expect us to lose. Chelsea won the CL as underdogs last season, they didn't have a great season in the league and yet won it, why is it that our team is so predictable, why is there no expectations that we can pull off a shock?

I reckon it's because of the mentality of the team and management, Graham had inferior teams that beat big superior sides but the reason is they had desire and belief they could upset anyone, without that you have nothing.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Well if you don't think we should feel we can beat Bayern, that means you think we shouldn't feel we can beat them and the opinion you've voiced is that we can't expect to be 4th cos our team isn't good enough etc and should know that .

So you think we should accept being 2nd rate then?


I think we'll get beaten, but no I don't think it's good enough that we expect to get beaten by Bayern, we should feel we have a good chance and would if the club was managed properly.

You might not feel we have a chance but other gooners might, hence the speak for yourself.

[Özim]

You might not feel we have a chance but other gooners might, hence the speak for yourself.
Some might, but you'd have to be a real optimist to think we have a decent chance, they're CL finalist, have top quality players like Robben and Ribery who frankly can run rings round our defence and after last season have a lot to prove.

I just think they'll be too organised and will have too much offensively for us, a good result at home is our best hope IMO.

[Özim]

Man U have a massive task, can't see them winning that, Real are a formidable team, that's a really bad draw for a group winner.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Some might, but you'd have to be a real optimist to think we have a decent chance, they're CL finalist, have top quality players like Robben and Ribery who frankly can run rings round our defence and after last season have a lot to prove.

I just think they'll be too organised and will have too much offensively for us, a good result at home is our best hope IMO.

Way i see it, we have a chance, its up to us to take that chance. We have nothing to lose so id say i hope the team goes for it. We could have got a worse draw vs a Dortmund and a Bayern and id take this tie over them. Don't get it twisted Bayern are favs for the tie, That does not mean the boys should fear them.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Boateng's stupid red card has some relevance to us now. Also Badstuber is dead for the remainder of the season.

[GP]

It's on like Diddy Kong (racing)!

[Özim]

Way i see it, we have a chance, its up to us to take that chance. We have nothing to lose so id say i hope the team goes for it. We could have got a worse draw vs a Dortmund and a Bayern and id take this tie over them. Don't get it twisted Bayern are favs for the tie, That does not mean the boys should fear them.
I'd believe we have a chance if in the last 5+ years we hadn't looked totally toothless against decent opposition in the CL, sorry but I just don't believe we have a chance, this team doesn't have that winning mentality and desire which gives you that chance, we're too predictable as usual we'll fold under pressure like a house of cards.

I've heard people saying we have a chance in the CL for years but our performances have never given us that hope.

[Letters]

Yeah but I really hate the fact that we really don't feel we have a decent chance, we're a huge club after all but it seems on the pitch we are small time....in the last 20 years I'd have given us a decent chance of winning everytime, but not today because our team doesn't have the heart, desire or quality to give me that belief.

I find that sad, I'd love nothing more than to believe we can beat anyone, the reality is though I just don't, I expect us to lose. Chelsea won the CL as underdogs last season, they didn't have a great season in the league and yet won it, why is it that our team is so predictable, why is there no expectations that we can pull off a shock?

I reckon it's because of the mentality of the team and management, Graham had inferior teams that beat big superior sides but the reason is they had desire and belief they could upset anyone, without that you have nothing.
I'm not exactly doing cartwheels about it either but we are where we are.
Wenger's never been a great tactician or motivator but he did have great players back in the day and he had 2 great captains in Adams and Vieira. Now he has neither.

Oh, and Chelsea had massive slices of luck last year. They had Drogba who could always get them a goal and they defended well at times when their back were against the wall, but they did get bloody lucky too.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

I'd believe we have a chance if in the last 5+ years we hadn't looked totally toothless against decent opposition in the CL, sorry but I just don't believe we have a chance, this team doesn't have that winning mentality and desire which gives you that chance, we're too predictable as usual we'll fold under pressure like a house of cards.

I've heard people saying we have a chance in the CL for years but our performances have never given us that hope.

You always have a chance Bayern are not the best team, and they did lose in the 3-1 to Bate. End of the day as long as thr players feel they do thats what is important.

Who knows Bayern may get bad Injuries by the time in comes around. CL is full of suprises anything can happen. Not sure why write them off but i bet you'll be watching.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Yeah but I really hate the fact that we really don't feel we have a decent chance, we're a huge club after all but it seems on the pitch we are small time....in the last 20 years I'd have given us a decent chance of winning everytime, but not today because our team doesn't have the heart, desire or quality to give me that belief.

I find that sad, I'd love nothing more than to believe we can beat anyone, the reality is though I just don't, I expect us to lose. Chelsea won the CL as underdogs last season, they didn't have a great season in the league and yet won it, why is it that our team is so predictable, why is there no expectations that we can pull off a shock?

I reckon it's because of the mentality of the team and management, Graham had inferior teams that beat big superior sides but the reason is they had desire and belief they could upset anyone, without that you have nothing.

Yeah i remember jumping for Joy when Graham won the Cl, good times.

[Grebbo]

I'd rather be playing Real Madrid than Bayern. Madrid will always give you chances.

We are out.

[Özim]

I'm not exactly doing cartwheels about it either but we are where we are.
Wenger's never been a great tactician or motivator but he did have great players back in the day and he had 2 great captains in Adams and Vieira. Now he has neither.

Oh, and Chelsea had massive slices of luck last year. They had Drogba who could always get them a goal and they defended well at times when their back were against the wall, but they did get bloody lucky too.
I agree, but there's been something missing with Wenger teams for a long time, it's almost like they're incapable of upsetting the odds, the belief and desire just doesn't seem to be there and that's why we never get through IMO, it's not always about being the best team as Chelsea demonstrated last season.

I also agree Chelsea had a lot of luck last season, but they also had those players in the team capable of taking advantage of those slices of luck, when you look at our team who do we have to deliver on the big occasion?

[Özim]

You always have a chance Bayern are not the best team, and they did lose in the 3-1 to Bate. End of the day as long as thr players feel they do thats what is important.

Who knows Bayern may get bad Injuries by the time in comes around. CL is full of suprises anything can happen. Not sure why write them off but i bet you'll be watching.
I just can't see us beating them, I reckon they'll be too organised for us and we don't cope well with organised defences, they also a few matchwinners who can take a tie away from you in the space of a few minutes.

I'll watch of course but I'm not expecting anything, I'd enjoy it much more if it wasn't so predictable.

[Özim]

Yeah i remember jumping for Joy when Graham won the Cl, good times.
It was the CWC but yes, for me those teams were maybe technically inferior but you went into these games thinking...you know what we could really do this and this made the games all the more enjoyable.

That's definitely missing from the recent Wenger teams, I can never picture a scenario where we perform for two legs without screwing something up.

[Letters]

I agree, but there's been something missing with Wenger teams for a long time, it's almost like they're incapable of upsetting the oddsRubbish!

We were odds on favourites vs Bradford and we managed to cause an upset there.



:(

[Olivier's xmas twist]

It was the CWC but yes, for me those teams were maybe technically inferior but you went into these games thinking...you know what we could really do this and this made the games all the more enjoyable.

That's definitely missing from the recent Wenger teams, I can never picture a scenario where we perform for two legs without screwing something up.

Missed the point completely. 10 points for anyone who can guess.

[Özim]

Missed the point completely. 10 points for anyone who can guess.
Oh right sarcasm, nice one.

I'd rather watch the Graham team in Europe any day of the week to be honest, Wenger's teams since 2006 have been sh*t and beaten as expected everytime when they met one of the big boys, that's why the CL is so boring, the inevitability of it all.

We have two hopes of getting through, bob hope and no hope.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Oh right sarcasm, nice one.

I'd rather watch the Graham team in Europe any day of the week to be honest, Wenger's teams since 2006 have been sh*t and beaten as expected everytime when they met one of the big boys, that's why the CL is so boring, the inevitability of it all.

We have two hopes of getting through, bob hope and no hope.

Yes because Wengers team pre 2006 did well in the Cl. Grahams teams was good but not as good as the Invincibles.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Rubbish!

We were odds on favourites vs Bradford and we managed to cause an upset there.

:(

Pretty much, Isn't cup football about the element of suprise and what could happen. Fa cup/CC/Cl just about anything can happen.

[Özim]

Pretty much, Isn't cup football about the element of suprise and what could happen. Fa cup/CC/Cl just about anything can happen.
Yes but only organised teams with leadership and belief upset bigger teams, from what I've seen we just don't have that within the team...noone really believes we can beat them and they certainly don't play like they believe they can. Wenger teams post 2006 have basically been very predictable in a sense that you know what they can and can't achieve and they never deviate from this, that's why the same cycle repeats itself over and over again and that in itself is what takes a lot of the enjoyment out of watching the team.

In addition over two legs it's less of a lottery.

[Master Splinter]

Boateng's stupid red card has some relevance to us now. Also Badstuber is dead for the remainder of the season.

Boateng is a bit shit and Badstuber has not been too impressive recently, so I'm not sure if it's an advantage for us. We should definitely get chances against them, despite their excellent defensive record in the League.

The main worry is that if we have a full-back crisis again, it will be painful viewing. Once they pin you back, it's relentless.

Cheeky bid for Satan tbf.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

German striker Lukas Podolski sees no reason why Arsenal should not be able to knock his old club Bayern Munich out of the Champions League.

The Gunners were today paired with the Bundesliga leaders in the draw for the last 16, with the first leg in London on February 19 and the return at the Allianz Arena in March.

Podolski, who spent three seasons at Bayern from 2006, believes Arsenal have what it takes to get past one of the tournament favourites.

"They played in the final in 2010 and last year. It is a big club, but we have the chance to win against Bayern Munich," Podolski told Arsenal Player.

"They have (Mario) Gomez up front, they have (Franck) Ribery, (Bastian) Schweinsteiger, Philipp Lahm, Manuel Neuer.

"But there are two matches, one at home (and) one away, so both teams have the chance to win."

Despite inconsistencies on the domestic front, Arsenal have reached the knockout stages of the Champions League for the 13th consecutive season - a record bettered only by Real Madrid.

Wenger feels the competition is getting stronger every season.

Speaking this morning at a press conference before the draw was made, Wenger said: "You have only five teams from last year that are in the last 16 [again]. That means 11 newcomers are in the last 16, which shows you how quickly it changes and how difficult it is to be in there.

"The German clubs, for example, have made a big, big leap forward. The Spanish clubs are traditionally there and in England we have a little deficit because usually at that level we have four. We are only two this season.

"You have the French, Paris St Germain, coming in, traditionally Porto are always in there but especially I believe the Germans have improved."
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/champions-league-draw-arsenal-striker-1498968

[Özim]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/champions-league-draw-arsenal-striker-1498968
Podolski only forgot their best player, Robben.

Podolski :lol:

Awful interviewee

[Syn]

Podolski might be the most fired up for the game. He had a bad spell at Bayern and fell out with the staff. Might want to get some revenge.

[selassie]

I didn't expect an easy draw. Munich are rightly amongst the favourites for this tournament, they have been superb this season. I don't expect us to progress, realistically I can see us getting beaten both home and away, not trashed...but I think they'll edge us in both games.

[fakeyank]

:lol:

This is going to be a mauling of epic proportions. Question is not IF we lose but how much we lose by. Bayern should be barred from CL participation for 5 years if they lose to us.

[Arsenal Royal]

how can I get tickets for the away game?

[Cripps_orig]

Podolski only forgot their best player, Robben.

Podolski :lol:

Awful intervieweeId say Schweinsteiger is their best player tbh. Everything goes through him

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Id say Schweinsteiger is their best player tbh. Everything goes through him

Pretty much.

Robben is such a bottler tbh.

[Master Splinter]

Kroos has been better than Schweinsteiger more recently.

If you base it on consistency, there's probably no-one better in the world than Lahm. He's the epitome of a German machine. The efficiency is beautiful to behold.

[Injury Time]

Pretty much.

Robben is such a bottler tbh.
Oh well done with voodoo moran<_<

[Syn]

Oh well done with voodoo moran<_<

I guess the way out of this is just to say Arsenal is not a big game for them and so he wouldn't be 'bottling' it anyway. [And some other aspie wahhhhhhhhing]

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Oh well done with voodoo moran<_<

Nah he's not a bottler, best player in the world tbh. Messi who.

[Özim]

Pretty much.

Robben is such a bottler tbh.
Charlie :lol:

Awful Wum

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Charlie :lol:

Awful Wum

Missed the world cup final and last seasons CL final then.

[hobson's choice]

Bayern are gonna pummel us, simple and plain, unless we buy during this window(YEAH RIGHT:lol:)

[hobson's choice]

i remember the 05/06/07 years when we had these type of games and were complete underdogs, noone ever gave us a chance yet we somehow managed to win.

that night at the bernabeu, i remember the papers the previous day giving us absolutely nothing in terms of hope.

we had stars in those teams that could spark something out of nothing. a great team ethic and belief.

i miss those days.

A lot of the paper talk was just bs, cause most of the knowledge folks had us beating Madrid, and Juve in 05/06., and same with Milan a couple years later, Cause Madrid, Juve, and Milan were all flaud teams.

[Letters]

Bayern are gonna pummel us, simple and plain, unless we buy during this window(YEAH RIGHT:lol:)
Diaby will be like a new signing :cool:


:(

[Joker]

If we can keep the scoreline down we'd have done well.

[Ollie the Optimist]

i think this could be a real upset. this tie isnt for another two months, and a lot can change, form, injuires and a transfer window so new signings could be possible. lets not start predicting 5-0 wins just yet!!

the champions league is about games like these though, its much more fun playing bayern, real, barca etc then your sparta pargues. if we play well then who knows, we beat barca a couple of years ago, we thrashed milan at home last year, we can pull out big european performances. its going to be a big tie, a big couple of matches, and we can go through. bring them on

[Olivier's xmas twist]

i think this could be a real upset. this tie isnt for another two months, and a lot can change, form, injuires and a transfer window so new signings could be possible. lets not start predicting 5-0 wins just yet!!

the champions league is about games like these though, its much more fun playing bayern, real, barca etc then your sparta pargues. if we play well then who knows, we beat barca a couple of years ago, we thrashed milan at home last year, we can pull out big european performances. its going to be a big tie, a big couple of matches, and we can go through. bring them on

Bit brave to air these views on here.

[Globalgunner]

Even before the draw I was not optimistic about us getting through, Now I am quite certain. To win the CL you need either exceptional players or an astute manager OR both. We have neither, so we are going to play our last 2 games in the CL. We are at the Emirates first and we will hold them 1-1. Wenger will say we played with "Great Spirit and showed the quality of our game". We go to Munich and get tanked 3-0 with Robben running rings round Gibbs to the extent that he tears his hamstring and is not seen again till next season. Here on GW we will start on each other again until Mummy sends some of the juveniles to bed.

Even when we had great players in every position. Wenger was clueless in these games. Now with a clump of journeymen. No chance.

[Injury Time]

Even before the draw I was not optimistic about us getting through, Now I am quite certain. To win the CL you need either exceptional players or an astute manager OR both. We have neither, so we are going to play our last 2 games in the CL. We are at the Emirates first and we will hold them 1-1. Wenger will say we played with "Great Spirit and showed the quality of our game". We go to Munich and get tanked 3-0 with Robben running rings round Gibbs to the extent that he tears his hamstring and is not seen again till next season. Here on GW we will start on each other again until Mummy sends some of the juveniles to bed.

Even when we had great players in every position. Wenger was clueless in these games. Now with a clump of journeymen. No chance.
So you are quietly confident of a win then :good:

[Marc Overmars]

I doubt we'll go through but I'm looking forward to the tie none the less.

[Cripps_orig]

i think this could be a real upset. this tie isnt for another two months, and a lot can change, form, injuires and a transfer window so new signings could be possible. lets not start predicting 5-0 wins just yet!!

the champions league is about games like these though, its much more fun playing bayern, real, barca etc then your sparta pargues. if we play well then who knows, we beat barca a couple of years ago, we thrashed milan at home last year, we can pull out big european performances. its going to be a big tie, a big couple of matches, and we can go through. bring them onYeah we lost both those ties which you conveniently forget. Milan destroyed us at the San Siro and then had a shocker of a first half at the Emirates but saw us off easliy in the 2nd. I wouldnt say being outplayed in 3 of the 4 halfs we played something to shout home about.

[BlindFaith_8]

Even before the draw I was not optimistic about us getting through, Now I am quite certain. To win the CL you need either exceptional players or an astute manager OR both. We have neither, so we are going to play our last 2 games in the CL. We are at the Emirates first and we will hold them 1-1. Wenger will say we played with "Great Spirit and showed the quality of our game". We go to Munich and get tanked 3-0 with Robben running rings round Gibbs to the extent that he tears his hamstring and is not seen again till next season. Here on GW we will start on each other again until Mummy sends some of the juveniles to bed.

Even when we had great players in every position. Wenger was clueless in these games. Now with a clump of journeymen. No chance.

I choked with laughter about Gibbs doing his hammie trying to keep up with Arjen or Franck :haha: