Olympiacos v Arsenal Wed 09/12, 19:45 kick off

[AFC Leveller]

Make or break game. Frankly speaking, losing this wouldn't be the end of the world for me as a fan, we wont win the thing and it wont prove anything to us fans.

We have a couple of pacey players back and we should be able to win but we have been here before recently and have come up short every time.

id play the same team as yesterday but with Theo on the right and hit them on the counter attack.

What can we do to ensure we dont end up in the Europa league?

[Kano]

Well it's being knocked out in the next round or Quarter final if we get through, or Europa League for us next. I'd happily take the latter really if we don't get the required result here as we are guaranteed that at least.

[Marc Overmars]

Fuck knows if we'll do it but it's going to be fun watching us try.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

I want us to win, because i always want us to win......but do i really care whether we end up in Champions League or Europa League?....no not really....in fact part of me would rather us enter the latter because if we take it seriously it's a competition we can win and if we don't it's less of a distraction for a premier league run in (should we still be in the running)

That said i think we will do enough, because under Wenger we always do just enough....we never sink below a certain level, and for the last ten years we have not really risen above a certain level.

3-1

Giroud
Ramsey
Ozil

We will go 2-0 up, they will put it back to 2-1 and we will score the third with five minutes left.

[Niall_Quinn]

It's essential to win. Not for Kroenke and the extra cash. Not for Wenger because he put us in this position with his incompetence. But for the prestige of the club and the retention of the top tier players we have here. Ozil and Alexis don't want to be fucking around in the Europa League - they don't have to put up with that. They have been doing the business on the pitch but they are being let down by a foolhardy manager and his cheapskate second grade signings. If we can't beat Olympiacos and beat them well then Wenger should walk on principle. He's the reason this campaign is fucked and he should pay the price if the ultimate outcome of his decision making is failure. But the players will drag his arse out of the fire anyway, we'll win this. And Wenger will live to fuck up another day.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

It's essential to win. Not for Kroenke and the extra cash. Not for Wenger because he put us in this position with his incompetence. But for the prestige of the club and the retention of the top tier players we have here. Ozil and Alexis don't want to be fucking around in the Europa League - they don't have to put up with that. They have been doing the business on the pitch but they are being let down by a foolhardy manager and his cheapskate second grade signings. If we can't beat Olympiacos and beat them well then Wenger should walk on principle. He's the reason this campaign is fucked and he should pay the price if the ultimate outcome of his decision making is failure. But the players will drag his arse out of the fire anyway, we'll win this. And Wenger will live to fuck up another day.

Fair point...well made

[Globalgunner]

Hope we win, not sure we will by enough. If we score first the Greeks will defend with everything including the Parthenon edifice.
If we fall into the Europa we wont win that either. Better managers than Wenger are in that comp too.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Hope we win, not sure we will by enough. If we score first the Greeks will defend with everything including the Parthenon edifice.
If we fall into the Europa we wont win that either. Better managers than Wenger are in that comp too.

I think the influence of managers is often overstated, if we go into the Europa league we will probably be one of the top teams in the competition....yes we may end up doing what we did against Monaco last season.....but even if Wenger was a better manager it's unlikely we'd seriously compete for the Champions League.

Yes we are a wealthy club, but it's the dominion of clubs like Bayern, Real, Barca...the modern super clubs....can you honestly tell me it won't be one of those three that wins it?

[AFC Leveller]

I think the influence of managers is often overstated, if we go into the Europa league we will probably be one of the top teams in the competition....yes we may end up doing what we did against Monaco last season.....but even if Wenger was a better manager it's unlikely we'd seriously compete for the Champions League.

Yes we are a wealthy club, but it's the dominion of clubs like Bayern, Real, Barca...the modern super clubs....can you honestly tell me it won't be one of those three that wins it?

I agree that this season its probably gonna be one of those clubs and they have been dominating for the last 2-3 years. However, from 2003 to 2009/2010, the CL became a cup competition and we had one or two surprise packages that eventually claimed it. Porto won it without being the best in Europe, Liverpool made it into 2 finals despite being shit, Chelsea won it while finishing 6th and even we made the final despite going through a transitional period. I think we had our chances to win it and simply blew them and today its gone back to the days where you had to be and beat the best to win it.

[Globalgunner]

If Dortmund and Athletico can get to the finals, purely on the dexterity of their respective managers then it can be done. once you get to the final it is a 1 off anything can happen. we cant get to the finals because basically we are carrying a huge handicap.
in the Europa you have the Spanish teams and italians plus German teams. Not to mention teams that also drop out of the CL. Wenger has no chance, he will always find a way to balls it up.

[IBK]

Our long record of qualifying from the group stages in the CL is pretty much the sum total of Wenger's football reputation these days. He is almost obsessively proud of it. We have a good record of getting results when it means everything to the manager, and this match means more to Wenger than pretty much anything else. We can expect the team to be properly motivated for Wednesday's game, therefore, and it wouldn;t surprise me if we do what's necessary to go through. 1-3.

[Niall_Quinn]

Our long record of qualifying from the group stages in the CL is pretty much the sum total of Wenger's football reputation these days. He is almost obsessively proud of it. We have a good record of getting results when it means everything to the manager, and this match means more to Wenger than pretty much anything else. We can expect the team to be properly motivated for Wednesday's game, therefore, and it wouldn;t surprise me if we do what's necessary to go through. 1-3.

Hope you are right.

If not, you'll be held responsible.

[fakeyank]

1-2 win for us

[Letters]

1-2 win for us

:lol: I've got a sneaky feeling that's exactly what will happen.

[Munchies]

0-1

we score in the 80th minute

[Bumble]

3-2 to us. no worries. even if we concede I wouldn't worry about it. we need to be aiming to score 3 anyway. So after going 2-0 down we can mount a comeback to end all comebacks.

[Niall_Quinn]

What happens if we get a 3-2? Does it then go to general group goal difference?

[IBK]

Hope you are right.

If not, you'll be held responsible.

Don't worry, I have a sackful of excuses already prepared if we don't make it.

[Bumble]

What happens if we get a 3-2? Does it then go to general group goal difference?

think its goal difference and ours is better.

[selassie]

I have a feeling we will do it and then draw Barca in the next round, happy days. :lol:

[AFC Leveller]

I have a feeling we will do it and then draw Barca in the next round, happy days. :lol:

I dont usually fear barcelona (our record at home against them is decent) but this season they look unstoppable. The front 3 are too good for anyone to handle.

[selassie]

I dont usually fear barcelona (our record at home against them is decent) but this season they look unstoppable. The front 3 are too good for anyone to handle.

I agree. To be honest there are many teams who I think will beat us in the first knock out round assuming we qualify.

[AFC Leveller]

How can we avoid going into the Spursday league? Zagreb have to beat Bayern, which is highly unlikely.

[Marc Overmars]

We have the better head to head with Zagreb, Europa League is already sealed.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Last time we beat a Greek team on Greek soil was 17 years ago...Wednesday 9th December 1998 to be exact, 3-1 win away at Panathinaikos.

[Kano]

They are going to do exactly the same as the home tie, sit back behind the ball and look to hit us on the break. Defence needs to be far sharper tonight and Giroud is probably a better bet to start with.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Walcott in for Ox otherwise no changes from Saturday

[McNamara That Ghost...]

http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/live-experience/cps/400/amz/vivo/live/images/2015/12/9/tweet-674662832177328129-2.png

Come on Arsenal. :bow:

[Master Splinter]

The last three visits here have all been with the reserve squad, having already qualified. So, this is the first time we're playing them in a competitive game here tbf.

I obviously would have been more confident if Alexis, Coquelin and Cazorla or even a Welbz or Wheelchair had been fit. I think we'll probably win, but go narrowly out as is the new norm now.

[Niall_Quinn]

That team's good enough to give the Greeks a good hiding. (If somebody shows Theo what the goal looks like before kick off)

1-5

Hatrick Ozil and Ozil with the other 2.

[Niall_Quinn]

That team's good enough to give the Greeks a good hiding. (If somebody shows Theo what the goal looks like before kick off)

1-5

Hatrick Ozil and Ozil with the other 2.

[Niall_Quinn]

Somebody chuck some more coal on the web site - match will be over by the time the site responds.

[Maestro]

This is a reactionary website

[Niall_Quinn]

Robbie Savage :doh:

[Niall_Quinn]

LOL - Ozil might be starting injured :haha:

Calf according to BT.

[Master Splinter]

Oh fuck. The third kit.

:rose:

[Niall_Quinn]

I hope we aren't planning to allow them this much space for the whole match.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

No foul?

[Niall_Quinn]

Let's see what the ref does first time one of our lads goes in hard.

[adzzzbatch]

I must say the camera view is pretty shocking.

[Ralpheroo72]

Any reliable streams for this one? Thanks!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Bellerin giving them a good kicking. :bow:

[Niall_Quinn]

FK - tbf, silly hack by Bellerin.

[Niall_Quinn]

Any reliable streams for this one? Thanks!

http://www.stream2watch.co/sports/soccer/olympiacos-fc-vs-arsenal-fc-live-stream-december-09

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Fortounis booked for diving.

[Niall_Quinn]

Good decision ref - cheating Greek booked for ridiculous dive.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

BFG losing his mind.

[adzzzbatch]

Fuck off merts

[Niall_Quinn]

We've been total shit so far. Nothing into Theo or Bif at all. Tippy tappy shit and the passing is garbage. running into dead ends. Second to the ball.

[AFC Leveller]

I have a feeling this will end in tears.

[AFC Leveller]

I have a feeling this will end in tears.

[AFC Leveller]

I have a feeling this will end in tears.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

This has been absolute pish.

[adzzzbatch]

We're a fucking shambles.

[Niall_Quinn]

She cannae tek the strain Letters!

Change the batteries in the servlet.

[Ralpheroo72]

http://www.stream2watch.co/sports/soccer/olympiacos-fc-vs-arsenal-fc-live-stream-december-09

Cheers NQ!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Kasami. :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Flamini hits the bar!

Giroud header, saved.

[adzzzbatch]

better.

[Niall_Quinn]

Flamini :doh: Misses the barn door from 2 yards :doh:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

GIROUD!!!!!!

[A Gunner]

0 - 1 Giroud

[Niall_Quinn]

BIF!!!!!!!!!!!

1-0

Ozil :bow:

[adzzzbatch]

GET IN!!!

[Master Splinter]

BIF!!!

[adzzzbatch]

"keeper should've saved it"

Fuck off BT

[Kano]

Rambo and Bif again :bow:

[Niall_Quinn]

Right then!

Let's slack off and allow them back into it :coffee:

[Master Splinter]

Bif's head :bow:.

[Kano]

Oh so 2-0 works too? Nice

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Campbell curled cross in, easy.

[Niall_Quinn]

Oh-sil is playing for us, according to Savage

[Marc Overmars]

Come on you Gunners!! :popcorn:

[Niall_Quinn]

Bif :doh: What's he doing?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Rusty Theo puts it wide.

[Niall_Quinn]

They forgot to show Theo where the goal is. Bad management.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Well done Kos.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Flamini. :haha:

How has he avoided a booking?

[Niall_Quinn]

Oh fuck off ref!

[Niall_Quinn]

HT 0-1

Scrappy stuff, but got the goal in the end.

[Master Splinter]

Ref's a cunt. So blatant.

Theo very rusty.

Ozil needs to get into it a bit more.

Their best attacks have come from sloppy play from us. Sort it out FFS.

[Kano]

Man Gerrard is a depressing prick.

[AFC Leveller]

Rambo and Bif again :bow:


Ref's a cunt. So blatant.

Theo very rusty.

Ozil needs to get into it a bit more.

Their best attacks have come from sloppy play from us. Sort it out FFS.

What's the news on ramsay? Some reports saying he hobbled off..

[Kano]

The camera caught him setting on the pitch as the referee called for half time instead of a blatant foul but no more news than that.

[Kano]

Oh Jesus

[Niall_Quinn]

Bif looks fucked. Ankle.

[Master Splinter]

Bif with the dramatics again.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

GIROUD!!!!

Outstanding from Campbell!!!!

[Kano]

Bif!

[A Gunner]

0 - 2 Giroud!!!

[Master Splinter]

BIF!!!!!

[Niall_Quinn]

BIF 2-0!!!!!!!!!!!!

From being dead to scoring the vital goal.

[IBK]

Fark yeah!!!!!!!

[adzzzbatch]

COME ON!!!!!!!!!!!

[A Gunner]

Another goal and we are in!!!

[Kano]

Great work from Campbell. He's really starting to find his place in this team.

[Niall_Quinn]

Campbell's done excellently there. Great composure.

[Master Splinter]

Mesut Campbell :bow:.

[Letters]

YES! COME ON!!!

[Kano]

Another goal and we are in!!!

We're sorted now but we need one more for security.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

What a chance for 1-2. Straight at Cech.

[Maestro]

brilliant goal and fantastic play from campbell

[Niall_Quinn]

Cech :bow:

He's getting used to us trying to throw games away so he's always on his toes.

[Niall_Quinn]

We're sorted now but we need one more for security.

3 more tbf

[Globalgunner]

Im starting to believe, we might not be a bunch of Fuck ups

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Gah Theo!

[Niall_Quinn]

Walnut????? WTF? How does he not score?

[Globalgunner]

Walnutt, living up to the hype. He`s got pace you know.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Cech. :bow:

[Niall_Quinn]

Cech :bow:

[IBK]

Bloody hell! Cech!!!!

[Kano]

We definitely need another because the pressure will turn on us in the last twenty, crosses galore probably piled into our box.

[Niall_Quinn]

More worried about dives piled into the box and the ref going on a buying spree.

[Maestro]

Theo needs serious calibration

[Niall_Quinn]

Theo's going to need another 85-95 games to get back in the groove. At 15 games a season that's his career.

[Kano]

More worried about dives piled into the box and the ref going on a buying spree.

Or that. Either way, we need more than this lead.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Brown just shat himself.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Bif booked.

[Niall_Quinn]

Wow - lucky they are shite.

Bif booked for brushing past a diving Greek.

The ref could swing this.

[Master Splinter]

Ref is buying everything. Cheat.

[Niall_Quinn]

Ref is buying everything. Cheat.

It's Christmas.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Cech saves from Kasami comfortably.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

PELANTY!!!!

[Kano]

Pelanty!

[A Gunner]

Penalty!!!

[adzzzbatch]

COME ON!

[Niall_Quinn]

Pelanty!!!

Get Santi

[IBK]

Pel. Lovely!

[Kano]

Bif! :bow:

[adzzzbatch]

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

GIROUD!!! COME ON!!!!

Olympiakos need three!!!!!

[Master Splinter]

BIF :bow:. :bow:.

[Niall_Quinn]

BIF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Surely we can't fuck this now?

[A Gunner]

0 - 3 Giroud Hattrick!!!!

[IBK]

I think I love Bif

[A Gunner]

1st Hattrick by Giroud for us

[Niall_Quinn]

I think I love Bif

It's okay to fancy Bif, it's not gay.

[Master Splinter]

Rest the beautiful bastard now tbh.

Get Gibbs on.

[Maestro]

fucking brilliant

ps* ozil is ridiculously talented

[Kano]

BIF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Surely we can't fuck this now?

Who the fuck mentioned Anderlecht?

[Marc Overmars]

COME ON!!!!

[Xhaka Can’t]

Who the fuck mentioned Anderlecht?

:haha:

:(

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Theo off, Gibbs on.

[A Gunner]

Gibbs on
Walcott off

[Niall_Quinn]

Theo hauled off for Gibbs

[Globalgunner]

Theo hauled off for Gibbs

Done his reputation no harm at at with that phish display

[Ralpheroo72]

As good a performance as I've seen in a long time, outstanding!

[Niall_Quinn]

More great work from Campbell.

[Niall_Quinn]

FK to the Greeks for hacking down Ramsey.

[Ralpheroo72]

What's with their squad numbers? 77 on for 92!? Are they the packers of green bay?!

[Kano]

Cmon take off Rambo and Bif now.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Let's give them a good hiding.

[Niall_Quinn]

So Utd have Channel 5 all to themselves then.

[adzzzbatch]

Ramsey pulled over nothing given

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Monreal's shot. :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

So Utd have Channel 5 all to themselves then.

BT Sport.

[Kano]

Flamini again :lol:

[Niall_Quinn]

Ref's hoping for a key role in Flamster's new empire.

[Niall_Quinn]

BT Sport.

Same thing

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Gibbs is taking pity on them.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Cech just gets it over. I want a cleansheet you clowns.

[A Gunner]

4 minutes injury time
Campbell off
Ox on

[Kano]

Campbell :clap:

[Niall_Quinn]

Ox for Campbell. Great display from him.

[A Gunner]

Giroud off
Chambers on

[Niall_Quinn]

Bif subbed :bow:

Chalmers on

[Kano]

Chambers upfront :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Olympiakos 0-3 The Arsenal, FT!!!!

We're through!!!!

:bow: :bow: :bow:

Man Utd. :haha:

[A Gunner]

0 - 3 FT
Through!!!

That was worth getting up for in the middle of the night!

[adzzzbatch]

Well done boys! It was a shaky start but we got there!

[Niall_Quinn]

FT 0-3 Bif x 3

Job done

[Kano]

Man Utd :haha:

Gary Neville :haha:

[AFC Leveller]

Very well done.

Sounded like Joel had a decent game.

[GP]

Campbell has done really well lately.

And Bif is just awesome.

[Marc Overmars]

Fantastic! Well done lads. :scarf: