Champions League Last 16 Draw (16th Dec) 11am.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Speculative time because you may have heard these things tend to drag on a bit.

Group Winners: Manchester United, Real Madrid, PSG, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona.

Group Runners-up: Bayer Leverkusen, Galatasaray, Olympiakos, Manchester City, Schalke, The Arsenal, Zenit St. Petersburg, AC Milan.

English nepotism:



Manchester United will play either:
Galatasaray, Olympiakos, Schalke, Zenit St Petersburg or Milan
Chelsea will play either:
Bayer Leverkusen, Galatasaray, Olympiakos, Zenit St Petersburg or Milan
Manchester City will play either:
Real Madrid, PSG, Dortmund, Atletico Madrid or Barcelona
Arsenal will play either:
Real Madrid, PSG, Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid or Barcelona

Come on. :bow:

[Özil's Panoramic View]

Little bit come on Athletico Madrid or PSG. :pray:

[Munchies]

Little bit come on Athletico Madrid or PSG. :pray:

Pretty much

:tumbleweed:

[Syn]

Bring on a biggie. Get knocked out swiftly and focus on the league.

We know who we're going to get anyway.

[Munchies]

I guess, the old cliche of having to beat the best is thrown around and its true. If we want to win the trophy, might aswell see if we can beat the big teams.

Cesc :threaten:

I'm assuming most fans, myself included, don't really mind too much about Cesc now, I just see him as another player now. If we were to sign him again, fine, but we've moved on. Don't hate him like RVC.

[AFC Leveller]

Would love Real Madrid. Dont want Bayern or Barcelona.

[Marc Overmars]

Not bothered who we get, should be a great occasion. Ideally we want Atleti or PSG but they will cause us plenty of problems as well.

Might as well do it properly and get Barca or Madrid.

Progression would be a bonus IMO, I don't hold out much hope of going through but we'll see.

[Xhaka Can’t]

We haven't had Real in a long time - please let it be them.

[milla]

We haven't had PSG - please let it be them.

:coffee:

[Xhaka Can’t]

Don't give a damn about PSG. I want a glamour tie but am little bit sick of Barca and Bayern

[Marc Overmars]

Wouldn't mind PSG actually. Always like facing new teams.

[LDG]

We'll get Real. Nailed on. You heard it here first.

Gareth Bale :haha:

He left cos your shit.

[Syn]

http://e2.365dm.com/13/09/800x600/Gareth-Bale-Real-Madrid-2013_3003777.jpg?20131022121219

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

http://musicvstheater.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/MonkeySad.jpg

[GP]

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NjIu38oyAUk/Uew9VMw7rJI/AAAAAAAAHXg/wQpgYZjz5CE/s1600/monkey+pee+in+mouth.gif

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

http://i.imgur.com/3nEDr.gif

[LDG]

:haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

This is tomorrow. :popcorn:

So for a bit of fun:

The Arsenal vs PSG
Galatasaray vs Chelsea
Olympiakos vs Man Utd
Man City vs Barcelona
Schalke vs Atletico Madrid
Leverkusen vs Real Madrid
Milan vs Bayern Munich
Zenit vs Dortmund

[milla]

The Arsenal vs PSG
Galatasaray vs Chelsea
Milan vs Man Utd
Man City vs Real Madrid
Schalke vs Atletico Madrid
Leverkusen vs Barcelona
Zenit vs Bayern Munich
Olympiakos vs Dortmund

:popcorn:

[Özim]

Wouldn't mind PSG actually. Always like facing new teams.

There's no easy games to be honest, PSG are pretty good and Athletico are flying high in Spain. Wouldn't mind PSG either I agree something different should be an exciting game.

Don't want Barca that would be boring, Real would thump us so don't want them either, Bayern have had their blip and will be focussed plus we've been there before anyway.

[Xhaka Can’t]

I'd love for us to get any of the sides other than Bayern and Barca. I'd like to see us get beat play against someone else for a change.

[Bumble]

I'd love for us to get any of the sides other than Bayern and Barca. I'd like to see us get beat play against someone else for a change.

I agree it would be nice to avoid barca or Bayern, as you get fewer decisions at the nou camp then you do at OT. the RvP sending off was one of the most ludicrous decisions ever. Bayern are just too powerful for us, I know we beat them last time but they were in the same situation as we found ourselves against Napoli. Knowing you don't have to win takes a bit of the performance away. PSG or Athletico would be good but I think it will be Real. Ozil's return v monkey boy and the con artist.

[milla]

Con artist :haha:

[Penguin]

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NjIu38oyAUk/Uew9VMw7rJI/AAAAAAAAHXg/wQpgYZjz5CE/s1600/monkey+pee+in+mouth.gif


http://i.imgur.com/3nEDr.gif

:lol:
http://gifs.gifbin.com/1238512403_dancing_chimps.gif

[Munchies]

Come on Barca/Real/Bayern :popcorn:

Might aswell have a good team now if we're going to go out eventually

[selassie]

There's no easy games to be honest, PSG are pretty good and Athletico are flying high in Spain. Wouldn't mind PSG either I agree something different should be an exciting game.

Don't want Barca that would be boring, Real would thump us so don't want them either, Bayern have had their blip and will be focussed plus we've been there before anyway.

This. I wouldn't mind PSG either, though I wouldn't be that confident of us progressing, they are a very good team, probably top 8 in Europe above us.

The easiest would be Atlectico, though that would also be a 50/50 IMHO. Don't want Bayern or Barca yet, they would both knock us out, Real would do too IMHO, they are too strong offensively.

[AFC Leveller]

PSG have Zlatan, Lucas, Cavani and a couple more very good players so they'd probably be tougher than Atletico Madrid.

Want Real Madrid though.

[Munchies]

Won't be able to watch this live, but an hour to go :popcorn:

[AFC Leveller]

Won't be able to watch this live, but an hour to go :popcorn:

more like 2 or 3 hours by the time they finish their crap ceremony.

[Munchies]

Don't have to go in after all . Phew ! :lol:

Come on Barca. Let's knock these cunts out for once.

[Marc Overmars]

Relying on Maccy updates for this.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Sky's programme is on now. Haven't seen it mentoned who we got in the rehearsal draw yet.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Figo interview. :bow:

[Munchies]

Legend :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Figo says Man Utd, Arsenal and Man City are all big teams.

Chelsea. :haha:

[Munchies]

Figo says Man Utd, Arsenal and Man City are all big teams.

Chelsea. :haha:

Figo :bow:

[Munchies]

That Ozil goal against Napoli looks better every time I see it

[McNamara That Ghost...]

It's nearly time. :popcorn:

[GP]

I just had a doughnut :popcorn:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

What filling?

[GP]

It was an iced ring doughnut.

With sprinkles.

[Munchies]

CL music :bow:

Here we go :popcorn:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Hmmm, not bad.

Sky have finally cut to the official draw.

Bald headed man. :bow:

[GP]

Rapturous applause :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

277 goals in the Group Stage.

BLitW. :bow:

[Munchies]

Hurry up you cunt

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I can only type the fixtures when they've been made!

[Munchies]

FFS, this is so dire, htfu

[Munchies]

AVB SACKED

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Over to Eurosport then, SSN more interested in AVB currently.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

No show without Vinegar.

[Munchies]

Everyone knows these rules, come on

[McNamara That Ghost...]

It really is time for the draw now. :popcorn:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Man City out first.

[Munchies]

City up first, come on Barca !

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Man City vs Barcelona! Wow. :haha:

[Munchies]

:haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Olympiakos up now.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Olympiakos vs Man Utd.

:haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Milan time.

[Marc Overmars]

City. :pal:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Milan vs Atletico Madrid.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Bayern, PSG or Real Madrid for us. :doh:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Bayer Leverkusen vs PSG.

Oh crap.

[Marc Overmars]

Motherfucker

[Munchies]

Bayern or Real for us now...

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Galatasaray vs Chelsea.

Dids is going home.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Schalke vs Real Madrid.

We have Bayern Munich again!

[Munchies]

Fuck we got Bayern

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Zenit vs Dortmund
Arsenal vs Bayern Munich.

:lol:

[PGFC]

:woohoo:

[Marc Overmars]

Wonderful. :rolleyes:

[LDG]

Fuck.

[Munchies]

Oh well.

City :haha:

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

You have to laugh or you'd cry.

[GP]

Good. We'll finish the job this time.

[Letters]

:lol: Bayern aren't any good are they?

[PGFC]

Nah, they're shit at home...

[Özil's Panoramic View]

Good. We'll finish the job this time.

This ^

[Letters]

H: 3-0 Ozil Hat-trick
A: 0-3 Ozil Hat-trick

:patrice:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Pep. :lol:

We were the only side coming even remotely close to knocking them out last season, therefore...it's on!

[Özim]

Bayern Munich how boring!

[JonasTC]

Well, we might aswell get the best team out of the way right away :D

But think about it, i dont think Bayern is comfortable with this draw AT all, we're the only team that has made them look human. They havent really changed much in their starting-11 since we've played them, we've added the best #10 in the world and given magic mushroom-roids to Ramsey, since we played them.

[AFC Leveller]

G.A.Y. Draw.

Bayern will be tough, probably the toughest we could have got but i say bring it on.

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

FFS.

[selassie]

We were 3 minutes away from drawing Zenit! Oh well, it was good while it lasted.

[Dein-machine]

Another "meaningless" game in Munich then.

[Bumble]

Well, we might aswell get the best team out of the way right away :D

But think about it, i dont think Bayern is comfortable with this draw AT all, we're the only team that has made them look human. They havent really changed much in their starting-11 since we've played them, we've added the best #10 in the world and given magic mushroom-roids to Ramsey, since we played them.Didnt Man City just beat them 3-2 after being 2-0 down and had pellegrini read the rules they were one goal away from us drawing someone else. So i dont think we are the only team to make them look normal. However, like we did against Napoli they fact that bayern didnt need to win either game took something from them. So despite beating them 2-0 did we ever really look like knocking them out.

[Ollie the Optimist]

we went out on away goals last year and we are a better team now so there is some hope. its going to be a huge ask though however, we all know we won't win the competition so whats the point in fighting for fourth and hoping you play the shit teams? these are the games we want and will remember if we do something special.

no reason why we can't win either.

[Letters]

we went out on away goals last year and we are a better team now so there is some hope. its going to be a huge ask though however, we all know we won't win the competition so whats the point in fighting for fourth and hoping you play the shit teams? these are the games we want and will remember if we do something special.

no reason why we can't win either.
:lol:

:hug:

[Ollie the Optimist]

:lol:

:hug:

oh sorry i forgot that being drawn against a big team means we have no chance whatsoever, no point in even looking for any glimmer of hope and that its much better to be drawn against the shitter teams like bayer levakusen and lose anyway

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

Look at the draw Man Utd, Chelsea and Dortmund got.

Then try telling me finishing second is okay.

[Letters]

I'd rather get a big draw too Ollie but let's face it: Bayern are better than us. Much better than us.
That doesn't mean it's impossible for us, if I thought that then why watch?
But we're 2nd favourites by a distance.

[JonasTC]

Didnt Man City just beat them 3-2 after being 2-0 down and had pellegrini read the rules they were one goal away from us drawing someone else. So i dont think we are the only team to make them look normal. However, like we did against Napoli they fact that bayern didnt need to win either game took something from them. So despite beating them 2-0 did we ever really look like knocking them out.

Group stage is different from the knockout stage, in the knockout stage you take no chances, even if you lead after the first game, so you cant really compare those. But okay, us and a team that has spend a billion+ on their team over the last couple of years have made them look human.

[Ollie the Optimist]

I'm not saying finishing second is ok. what i said was, we aren't going to win the thing so i would rather go out facing a big team.

chelsea won't be happy with that draw either. you seen how they defend? drogba will have a field day

[Ollie the Optimist]

I'd rather get a big draw too Ollie but let's face it: Bayern are better than us. Much better than us.
That doesn't mean it's impossible for us, if I thought that then why watch?
But we're 2nd favourites by a distance.

i don't think I've said we are favourites for this so i don't get the laughter. they are better then us but we are better team then we were last time and we went out on away goals. all I'm saying is that we have some hope. you never know what might happen, we could win the home leg and suddenly you never know. are we likely to win and go through? no. will we give it a good go? i bloody hope so. can we win and go through? you never know, it is a cup competition after all

[Marc Overmars]

oh sorry i forgot that being drawn against a big team means we have no chance whatsoever

That is usually the case when it comes to CL knockout football unfortunately, our track record is average to say the least.

[Letters]

I just like how optimistic you are. It's quite sweet really although sometimes I think you veer into delusion.

[Niall_Quinn]

This is the ideal draw.

To win it we'd likely have to beat this lot at some stage. If we win it we'll be feared by the rest and it will give us a massive confidence boost and start to build one of those "name is on the cup" scenarios. If we lose, it is expected, provided we play well it won't be such a big downer plus it will free us up to concentrate on the PL.

So win-win, much better than getting Gala and fucking it up.

Provided we don't get a cheating ref we can at least give this lot a game.

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

I'm saying finishing second is ok. what i said was, we aren't going to win the thing so i would rather go out facing a big team.

chelsea won't be happy with that draw either. you seen how they defend? drogba will have a field day

Rubbish. If that's the case then you might as well give up in every competition. 'Might as well face the big teams in the FA cup and Carling cup early, we aint winning the trophy'.

You try to enhance the chance of winning a trophy by mitigating the probability of facing the big teams. Of course you need to play a big team at some point, but getting to the champions league semi's then losing to a big team would be much better than losing in the round of 16. Trumping out in the early stage will do nothing but dampen the confidence amongst players. On the other hand, getting a bit of luck and reaching the semi's, then losing against a big team, would improve the morale of the team knowing they reached a respectable position in the competition. Players dream of playing in the semi's and finals of big competitions, not the round of 16. Not to mention the increased revenue for the club.

We worked so fucking hard to get top 4 last season and celebrated the achievement like winning a trophy. What's the point of all that hard work if we're content with losing in the round of 16 to a big team?

[Niall_Quinn]

Not so bothered about being second - much more bothered about going into a game with a negative gameplan, that hasn't worked for us since the cup final against Utd but we don't seem to learn the lesson.

[Ollie the Optimist]

Rubbish. If that's the case then you might as well give up in every competition. 'Might as well face the big teams in the FA cup and Carling cup early, we aint winning the trophy'.

You try to enhance the chance of winning a trophy by mitigating the probability of facing the big teams. Of course you need to play a big team at some point, but getting to the champions league semi's then losing to a big team would be much better than losing in the round of 16. Trumping out in the early stage will do nothing but dampen the confidence amongst players. On the other hand, getting a bit of luck and reaching the semi's, then losing against a big team, would improve the morale of the team knowing they reached a respectable position in the competition. Players dream of playing in the semi's and finals of big competitions, not the round of 16. Not to mention the increased revenue for the club.

We worked so fucking hard to get top 4 last season and celebrated the achievement like winning a trophy. What's the point of all that hard work if we're content with losing in the round of 16 to a big team?


i can see that, however last year, we went out in the last 16 and went on an unbeaten run to the end of the season so it can work both ways.

my theory on this year, i want the league. we won't win the champions league so id rather go out facing one of the big teams because they are dam good games usually. if we lose, we go down to one game a week and can focus on the league, if we win, then wow. of course i would love to win the champions league but this year, id rather win the league. it would be a greater achievement IMO

[Ollie the Optimist]

I just like how optimistic you are. It's quite sweet really although sometimes I think you veer into delusion.

not quite sure how its delusion to say we aren't winning the compeition, its unlikely we will beat bayern, stating how we are better team since we last played them (we have) and that its a cup competition so anything could happen. case and point. chelsea

[Niall_Quinn]

Last season I would have just laughed and accepted we were out before a ball was kicked, then prayed we could scrape 4th in the league. This year I think we have a slim chance against Bayern, why not, if we are right on top of our game (twice) we are a good side and this is knockout football. Plus we are talking about competing for the PL without it being pure fantasy. Things have certainly improved. Probability suggests we'll win neither, but we've gone from being non-competitive to competitive which is what most of us wanted.

[Letters]

Last season I would have just laughed and accepted we were out before a ball was kicked, then prayed we could scrape 4th in the league. This year I think we have a slim chance against Bayern, why not, if we are right on top of our game (twice) we are a good side and this is knockout football. Plus we are talking about competing for the PL without it being pure fantasy. Things have certainly improved. Probability suggests we'll win neither, but we've gone from being non-competitive to competitive which is what most of us wanted.
:gp:

That.

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

i can see that, however last year, we went out in the last 16 and went on an unbeaten run to the end of the season so it can work both ways.

my theory on this year, i want the league. we won't win the champions league so id rather go out facing one of the big teams because they are dam good games usually. if we lose, we go down to one game a week and can focus on the league, if we win, then wow. of course i would love to win the champions league but this year, id rather win the league. it would be a greater achievement IMO

Last season and this season are completely different. This season we've improved and are challenging. A team challenging shouldn't throw away trophies or be content with reaching round of 16's.

[Harland]

Not too sure Ollie deserves the stick he's getting here, he isn't delusional by any means as he accepts that we are second favourites but fact is we did strengthen from last year.

[Ollie the Optimist]

:gp:

That.

thats exactly what i said though and got called delusional?

[Globalgunner]

thats exactly what i said though and got called delusional?
truth is you are delusional, you can see the bright side of stepping in a big lump of dog poo

We routinely bottle our group games and end up with a mountain to climb.....ergo we havent made the QFs for some time now. The same lack of tactics that see us fail everytime we meet a quality team in whichever cup.
Hope Poldi is at least back cos Giroud is fast starting to resemble Aderbayor. Its a game so we have a punchers chance. ali v Chuck Wepner

[Dein-machine]

We have the tie that Wumbers tactics against Napoil derserves & yet I see he was commenting earlier on hoping for a decent draw. Presumably he wanted PSG. Pity he didn't think about that before tryng to get the likes of Ozil & Cazorla to play like Stoke in Naples.
We couldn't win it this year - Saturday proved that but the extra revenue would have been welcome & feel good factor of a decent cup run. Anyway, lets hope next year when we're totally in charge of our group with a game to go he remembers he's negativity continues to get us nowhere in big matches - but I doubt it

[GP]

Wumber :bow:

[Letters]

truth is you are delusional, you can see the bright side of stepping in a big lump of dog poo
:haha:

[Master Splinter]

It was always going to be Bayern or Barca.

We would have got Olympiakos if we'd finished first in our group.

If we get through, I'd like to play someone different for once.

Hope Dids Didses Chelsea.

[Ollie the Optimist]

truth is you are delusional, you can see the bright side of stepping in a big lump of dog poo

We routinely bottle our group games and end up with a mountain to climb.....ergo we havent made the QFs for some time now. The same lack of tactics that see us fail everytime we meet a quality team in whichever cup.
Hope Poldi is at least back cos Giroud is fast starting to resemble Aderbayor. Its a game so we have a punchers chance. ali v Chuck Wepner

is that the same lack of tactics that caused us to beat liverpool, spurs, napoli, dortmund away this season?

i just don't get how I'm delusional by saying that although bayern are a better team, as with all cup competitions there is a chance of an upset and we might do it but if we are going to go out, id rather go out to a big team then a small team.

we finished top of the group, we got milan and lost. we finished second and got bayern. there are no easy games in this competition once you are in the knockouts. we fucked up in napoli, i have never said anything different but because i dare to say we could pull off an upset because its a cup competition i get called delusional.

funny enough, someone said the exact same thing, and people agreed with him.

[Dein-machine]

is that the same lack of tactics that caused us to beat liverpool, spurs, napoli, dortmund away this season?

i just don't get how I'm delusional by saying that although bayern are a better team, as with all cup competitions there is a chance of an upset and we might do it but if we are going to go out, id rather go out to a big team then a small team.

we finished top of the group, we got milan and lost. we finished second and got bayern. there are no easy games in this competition once you are in the knockouts. we fucked up in napoli, i have never said anything different but because i dare to say we could pull off an upset because its a cup competition i get called delusional.

funny enough, someone said the exact same thing, and people agreed with him.

Ofcourse we could pull of an upset but I don't get your point on the tactics. Liverpool, Spurs & Napoli were home games where we've gone out to try to score. Dortmund away was a wonderful result but they could have won the game by half time it they had taken a couple of easy chances. Playing the way we did we would get beat 8 times out of ten. Didn't need that away to Napoli who are nowhere near as good as Dortmund. If we scored 1st it would have killed them but he wanted to soak up the pressure using those world famous defensive midfielders Ozil & Cazorla.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

I laughed at that on football weekly too! :d

[IBK]

Last season I would have just laughed and accepted we were out before a ball was kicked, then prayed we could scrape 4th in the league. This year I think we have a slim chance against Bayern, why not, if we are right on top of our game (twice) we are a good side and this is knockout football. Plus we are talking about competing for the PL without it being pure fantasy. Things have certainly improved. Probability suggests we'll win neither, but we've gone from being non-competitive to competitive which is what most of us wanted.

I see what you are saying, but turn it around and recall how we have done in every 'big' game this season save for Liverpool and Dortmund away - and a step change feels far more like hope than expectation.

We have improved. Yes. I'd say mostly in defence. But in reality there is little evidence to suggest that there is anything fundamentally different to this team than other Wenger teams who at stages have tended to flatter then deceive.

I don't want to put a downer on what at times has been a pleasantly surprising season so far. But it is true that the last week or so has been painful.

[Niall_Quinn]

But that's the point, we've actually won a couple of big games this season. Plus we were very unlucky to lose vs Utd, flu and our own ex-striker shouldering one in, Utd themselves had nothing of their own making to threaten us with - not even the ref for once. Everton and Napoli were poor performances and they all have one thing in common, Wenger's negative approach to certain games and opponents. Saturday was a circus, can't read too much into it beyond what we already know, we need options up front. Wenger has put the pressure on us for the Chelsea game by chucking the Everton and Napoli matches in the hope of having more energy against city. But we'd have been just as well off knackered against city but with the points in the bag vs Everton and topping our CL group. This saving and resting bullshit is more counterproductive than anything else.

Or looking at it another way - if we put in an end of season run like last year, we're champions. Some options coming back from injury too. I don't think it's all doom and gloom quite yet.

[IBK]

But that's the point, we've actually won a couple of big games this season. Plus we were very unlucky to lose vs Utd, flu and our own ex-striker shouldering one in, Utd themselves had nothing of their own making to threaten us with - not even the ref for once. Everton and Napoli were poor performances and they all have one thing in common, Wenger's negative approach to certain games and opponents. Saturday was a circus, can't read too much into it beyond what we already know, we need options up front. Wenger has put the pressure on us for the Chelsea game by chucking the Everton and Napoli matches in the hope of having more energy against city. But we'd have been just as well off knackered against city but with the points in the bag vs Everton and topping our CL group. This saving and resting bullshit is more counterproductive than anything else.

Or looking at it another way - if we put in an end of season run like last year, we're champions. Some options coming back from injury too. I don't think it's all doom and gloom quite yet.

Sometimes you see a comment that genuinely helps to change your mindset. Cheers.

[Bumble]

I don't think he was negative against everton. everton played exceptionally well and deserved a draw. Napoli as the players said was because we didnt need to win that they played the way they did. It is the reason we beat bayern. Had the first leg been a draw a doubt we would have won the second leg last season. Top level sport if you don't give 100% you tend to lose. It is very difficult to coast through games.

We can go through against bayern. We just must not lose it after the first leg. Don't chase the result as 0-0 is not a bad result.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

I would agree to an extent and I don't think we were particularly negative against Everton. I think we were against Napoli though and Wenger's comments on playing Walcott if we needed a goal were particularly telling.

As someone else mentioned recently.... we've barely won a single game playing negatively since the FA Cup triumph in 2005, so why Wenger opts to do so, so often in big games is a mystery.

[AFC Leveller]

Bayern beat City away from home quite easily but then lost at home (similar to last season when they knew they didnt have to win) so it looks like we will need to be still in the tie after the first game and then hit them on the counter away from home.

[Dein-machine]

I don't think he was negative against everton. everton played exceptionally well and deserved a draw. Napoli as the players said was because we didnt need to win that they played the way they did. It is the reason we beat bayern. Had the first leg been a draw a doubt we would have won the second leg last season. Top level sport if you don't give 100% you tend to lose. It is very difficult to coast through games.

We can go through against bayern. We just must not lose it after the first leg. Don't chase the result as 0-0 is not a bad result.

Martinez likes he's full backs to get forward. Everton had a lot of players in our half during this game because of this. If Martinez had seen Theo on the team sheet with Cazorla on the other side he would have had to limit this. Therefore less Everton players in our half resulting in us not being pressed so much & retaining the ball better. We made Everton look good because they always had an option, they were poor in the final 3rd. We played the way we did in Naples because of the manager, not the players.
Ozil & Cazorla being asked to do a defensive role by tracking back with their full backs & not to go beyond the half-way line - if we wanted to get a 0-0 we should have used Gibbs & Monreal down the left & 2 defenders down the right. The reason we were 1 goal from going out & the reason why we now face Bayern is Wumgers negativity.

[The Ogg Monster]

truth is you are delusional, you can see the bright side of stepping in a big lump of dog poo



Thats optimistic, not delusional.

Im always optimistic with Arsenal, especially this season FFS. We're the kind of team that always has a chance of winning every game, we're too good to be written off against anyone, even Bayern, bring em on, it'll be two great, exciting games of footy.

[selassie]

Thats optimistic, not delusional.

Im always optimistic with Arsenal, especially this season FFS. We're the kind of team that always has a chance of winning every game, we're too good to be written off against anyone, even Bayern, bring em on, it'll be two great, exciting games of footy.

I think if it was a one-off game I would be a lot more confident of beating Bayern. We are more than capable of beating them in one game, over the past 3 or 4 seasons we have beaten Barca, Milan, Dortmund and Bayern away. What we seem to have a problem doing is being consistent in 2 games against the same opposition or in CL's case over 2 legs.

We go into this game as major underdogs because despite having the quality in our team to hurt anybody we have a horrible habit of throwing games away in CL and making the task of getting back into the tie nigh on impossible.

[Dein-machine]

I think if it was a one-off game I would be a lot more confident of beating Bayern. We are more than capable of beating them in one game, over the past 3 or 4 seasons we have beaten Barca, Milan, Dortmund and Bayern away. What we seem to have a problem doing is being consistent in 2 games against the same opposition or in CL's case over 2 legs.

We go into this game as major underdogs because despite having the quality in our team to hurt anybody we have a horrible habit of throwing games away in CL and making the task of getting back into the tie nigh on impossible.

100% agree with your comments on consistancy but it what's goign to happen when Wumger try's to play the master tactician. Bayern will do what Dortmund did to us at the Emirates, they'll be slightly more defensive minded than if they were playing in the German league but still look to attack with speed and numbers. We quite simply have to do the same but if he doesn't play pace upfront against teams like this then we've had it. We have 2 very different plans in Europe when we play good teams home & Away when in reality because we are a footballing team we shouldn't to anywhere to try & get a 0-0 because we're not trained at it. Even in the tough away games we have to try & attack in numbers.