Europa League Final, Chelsea v Arsenal, 20:00 BST (29/05, BT Sport 2)

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Well I am not sure it deserve its own section like the Champions League final did but it does deserve its hype thread two weeks plus away.

That on the account of us only making European finals in 12+ years stints. :lol:

Come on Arsenal, beat Chelsea in a final again. :pray:

Cech. :bow:

Agent Cech. :sick:

All about this sexy trophy:

https://cdn1.theweek.co.uk/sites/theweek/files/styles/16x8_465/public/2018/08/europa_league_trophy_gettyimages-687803714.jpg?itok=lReRmXW2

[Marc Overmars]

50/50 game, nervous as fuck.

Will be absolutely gutted if we lose to them to compound missing out on the top 4

We HAVE to win it. :pray:

[SMatthews]

No reason to fear these fuckers at all.

Smash Hazard out the game early doors and it’s ours.

Hopefully that glaring miss yesterday means Auba is saving one or two for the final.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

VAR is in operation for this. :popcorn:

[Letters]

Come on boys!

Let's twat these twats!

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Definitely a 50/50. Least we have hope though unlike when they had our number a few years back.

No Didier dogbreath or Diego I shit on your whore mum Costa to deal with.

[GP]

Weird that there's no Champions League this year, means this is the showpiece Finale.

[fakeyank]

Hate the fact that this is on a Wednesday. Tf is up with that? Why not do it the weekend before?

Any way, if we keep Hazard quite, we have a chance or else this is a Chelsea trophy to lose.

[Letters]

Hate the fact that this is on a Wednesday. Tf is up with that? Why not do it the weekend before?

Any way, if we keep Hazard quite, we have a chance or else this is a Chelsea trophy to lose.

Fancy coming to Baltimore so we can watch it together?
I have an unfortunately timed work trip that week.

[GP]

Baltimore? :lol:

Don't get shot.

[Letters]

Baltimore? :lol:

Don't get shot.

:( I hear it's quite the shithole <_<

[GP]

To be fair, everything I know about Baltimore I learned from The Wire.

[Letters]

I get the impression it's just pretty dull. I'm more likely to get bored than shot.

[KSE Comedy Club]

To be fair, everything I know about Baltimore I learned from The Wire.

Me too.

Letters, it pretty much is dull - but with drugs.

....at least it was in the early 00's :shrug:

[KSE Comedy Club]

I actually think we have more of a chance of winning this than Chavvy.

They had an easy route to the final bar Eintract and they looked pretty shit in both legs by all accounts.

Lets smash those fuckers and give 'Azahh' the send off to Madrid he deserves!

COYG :scarf:

[Letters]

Letters, it pretty much is dull - but with drugs.

....at least it was in the early 00's :shrug:
:lol: Fine. I'll just get some drugs then. Will stop me getting bored and I can OD if we lose the final.
The perfect plan with no drawbacks.

[KSE Comedy Club]

:lol: Fine. I'll just get some drugs then. Will stop me getting bored and I can OD if we lose the final.
The perfect plan with no drawbacks.

:lol:

Result! ;)

[Globalgunner]

:lol: Fine. I'll just get some drugs then. Will stop me getting bored and I can OD if we lose the final.
The perfect plan with no drawbacks.

Hear Hear!

[fakeyank]

Fancy coming to Baltimore so we can watch it together?
I have an unfortunately timed work trip that week.

Baltimore is such a shithole! :haha: :pal:

I will be in Mexico this weekend, so cant travel again since Mrs FY is preggers!

[Letters]

Baltimore is such a shithole! :haha: :pal:

:lol: :(


I will be in Mexico this weekend, so cant travel again since Mrs FY is preggers!

Congrats, dude! :hug:

FY (didn’t pull) Out!

[Marc Overmars]

Tickets for this have gone on sale to Silver and Red members, presumably because not everyone can be bothered with the logistics of travelling to Azerbaijan.

What an utterly lousy choice of venue for a European final.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

General sale soon enough. :lol:

[Marc Overmars]

The more I read about Baku the more astonishing it is the city was chosen in the first place. Apparently the airport cannot even handle more than 15,000 people a day.

Pure corruption, UEFA clearly had their pockets lined by some oligarch.

[Xhaka Can’t]

Tickets for this have gone on sale to Silver and Red members, presumably because not everyone can be bothered with the logistics of travelling to Azerbaijan.

What an utterly lousy choice of venue for a European final.

I was just about to post the same thing. This has got to be unheard of, especially given the tiny ticket allocation.

Even if I had the shitloads of money a ticket and travel, there is no fucking way I’d even consider going to Baku.

[Xhaka Can’t]

I’ve just noticed from the Arsenal blurb that some (doesn’t specify how many) of Arsenal’s allocation are restricted view seats.

Who in their right mind would part with a couple of grand for restricted view tickets in a shithole on the furthest reaches of the continent?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

The more I read about Baku the more astonishing it is the city was chosen in the first place. Apparently the airport cannot even handle more than 15,000 people a day.

Pure corruption, UEFA clearly had their pockets lined by some oligarch.

The most stupid corruption of all time though because they don't have the infrastructure to deal with all the executives going. :lol:

[GP]

The more I read about Baku the more astonishing it is the city was chosen in the first place. Apparently the airport cannot even handle more than 15,000 people a day.

Pure corruption, UEFA clearly had their pockets lined by some oligarch.

The KFC there is breathtaking.

(seriously, google it)

[Xhaka Can’t]

The KFC there is breathtaking.

(seriously, google it)

Fucking hell!!!

I may reconsider going to the final now.

[Mac76]

Damn, that's making me feel hungry...

[LDG]

Fucking hell!!!

I may reconsider going to the final now.

Visa for a KFC :bow:

[Letters]

KFC :lol:
Awlful Nando's.

[Letters]

Just looked up flights to Baku out of interest. No direct flights and it's about a million pounds.
Arsenal fans :pal:
Chelsea fans :pal:

UEFA :bow:

[dazthegooner]

So watching it on Bt sports it is then?

[Letters]

So watching it on Bt sports it is then?

As discussed, will be in the US. No idea if I'll be able to watch it at all :(

[Letters]

Hmm.

https://www.arsenal.com/usa/fanzone-usa/usa-supporters-club/baltimore-md

Baltimore :bow:

[GP]

I wish I could use WMUG's Daddy's private jet.

[Globalgunner]

Wont they have a live feed at the Emirates?

[Özim]

Hudson-Odoi out of final, that's great news the guy is a menace, wish we had a winger as good as this guy, we need to start uncovering some of these top youngsters.

[SMatthews]

The situation surrounding Mkhi is a f joke. Reports saying he’s unlikely to go, even though all our injured players - including the ones leaving - will be there.

Hopefully it gees up the players a bit more to get the job done.

[GP]

Wont they have a live feed at the Emirates?

No, apparently there's working going on and they can't accomodate a screening.

[Marc Overmars]

He didn't travel when we played Carrier Bag earlier in the season so I imagine it will be the same again here.

Absolutely disgraceful that we have to play at a disadvantage because he surely would have featured in the game.

UEFA are a joke.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

UEFA don't allow for political messages in football though!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Loftus-Cheek is dead now too.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48292157

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Hudson-Odoi out of final, that's great news the guy is a menace, wish we had a winger as good as this guy, we need to start uncovering some of these top youngsters.

Sarrrrri would have told him, go sit down anyway.

[Mac76]

Loftus-Cheek is dead now too.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48292157

good for us, but what a joke, such a stupid decision by the club to schedule that game and then to send good players ahead of a major final - even we weren't dumb enough to organise something like that

[Globalgunner]

good for us, but what a joke, such a stupid decision by the club to schedule that game and then to send good players ahead of a major final - even we weren't dumb enough to organise something like that

Abramovic probably wanted to see his team live for a change

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

But there are reports we are having a full on game in training....which I'm not sure is a world away.

[Marc Overmars]

We’ve returned half of the allocation of tickets as have Chelsea.

What a dreadful event this is shaping up to be. Half empty stadium mostly made up of executive wankers on a jolly up.

No wonder the Europa League isn’t respected in this country.

[Letters]

Wow. This really is a shambles.

[Letters]

Mkhitaryan not able to travel :rolleyes:

https://www.arsenal.com/news/henrikh-mkhitaryan-miss-europa-league-final

Slow hand clap to UEFA.

[GP]

What a fuckup.

UEFA should be ashamed.

[Marc Overmars]

Absolutely pathetic.

[SMatthews]

Cunts.

Hopefully this fires up the team even more to go and get the job done.

Welbz is back in training and could be a much needed option from the bench.

[Marc Overmars]

We’ll do it for Eduardo!

[Marc Overmars]

I had a browse on the ticket site out of curiosity and there are ample seats available in all price categories. Apparently the club have only sold around 3000 tickets.

This is our biggest game for many years so it is incredibly sad this is turning out to be a non-event.

Would be good if the club could charter some flights or something like that? Not that they should have to. UEFA. :doh:

[GP]

I had a browse on the ticket site out of curiosity and there are ample seats available in all price categories. Apparently the club have only sold around 3000 tickets.

This is our biggest game for many years so it is incredibly sad this is turning out to be a non-event.

Would be good if the club could charter some flights or something like that? Not that they should have to. UEFA. :doh:

Apparently the airport is too small there's no extra capacity.

[Letters]

What an utter fiasco.
UEFA have said words to the effect of “well, how did we know it would be two English sides?”
To which the obvious response is “You didn’t, but it’s the same in Madrid and they’re not having this issue because as a city that have the the infrastructure to cope with a major sporting event. Baku demonstrably does not”.

Complete farce...

[AFC Leveller]

Drop Cech now that he’s been named as Chelsea’s sporting director (from next season).

[Globalgunner]

They do hold an F1 grand Prix there you know. Its just bad timing that its hosting 2 london clubs. However i cant understand why the airport is so small

[WMUG]

I wish I could use WMUG's Daddy's private jet.

I did enquire, but it's busy that week.

[WMUG]

As discussed, will be in the US. No idea if I'll be able to watch it at all :(

It's live on Youtube in the UK, you can use a VPN.

[Letters]

It's live on Youtube in the UK, you can use a VPN.

Yes. I saw that earlier. Ta :good:

[Marc Overmars]

Drop Cech now that he’s been named as Chelsea’s sporting director (from next season).

Double agent Cech? Or does that make him triple?

[SMatthews]

What an utter fiasco.
UEFA have said words to the effect of “well, how did we know it would be two English sides?”
To which the obvious response is “You didn’t, but it’s the same in Madrid and they’re not having this issue because as a city that have the the infrastructure to cope with a major sporting event. Baku demonstrably does not”.

Complete farce...

Or how about picking a country that doesn’t have a ban on certain nationalities from entering you fuckwits?

[GP]

I did enquire, but it's busy that week.

Metropolitan Liberal Elites :rolleyes:

[dazthegooner]

Double agent Cech? Or does that make him triple?

How would we feel though if Cech made a massive error in the 90th minute and we lose the final.

[Letters]

How would we feel though if Cech made a massive error in the 90th minute and we lose the final.

Pissed off. But I wouldn’t for one minute think he’d thrown it in to appease his new employer.
I’m sure he’s more bothered about winning the trophy than that.

[Globalgunner]

Im sure Cech will be completely professional in his final game for us. He will do his utmost. Nevertheless, Leno is the better keeper. Understandably we have no choice but to play Cech

[Letters]

"Tickets are currently on sale to Platinum, Gold, Silver, Purple, Red, Cannon and Junior Gunner members only"


What the hell is a Purple member?!

[Letters]

Oh piss. I miscalculated. Looks like the game actually kicks off at 3pm in Baltimore.
Me :pal:

[Letters]

What the hell is a Purple member?!
Oh. It's for ILT.

[Mac76]

Im sure Cech will be completely professional in his final game for us. He will do his utmost. Nevertheless, Leno is the better keeper. Understandably we have no choice but to play Cech

are you being ironic or serious?

either way, as far as i'm concerned we have every choice and Emery should focus on getting the job done rather than sentimentality, and pick our best keeper.

[Letters]

Gaah! This conversation is going round and round circles.
If there was a huge gulf in class between Leno and Cech then, of course, play Leno. But there really isn't.
Cech got us there, or was part of the team who got there at least. He's earned his place in the final.

[SMatthews]

There is no debate. Clearly Cech has to play. You don't manage a group of people by removing one of the most experienced and respected in that group at the last minute. That - rather than replacing him with Leno - would be very poor management.

[Globalgunner]

This is what happens when you give different keepers different roles. ie either cup or league roles. If we had been swapping them at intervals in both competitions, we would have had no compulsions in playing Leno in the final. Cech could easily have played in the league against some of the lighter weights especially at home. Anyways. It is what it is meaning Cech will have to play.

[Özim]

I have no idea why you would not play your best keeper in a final, it's been done many times before where the 2nd keeper plays the earlier round and the best keeper comes in for the final.

Cech only played because Leno was playing most of the other games in the league, it was the other way round at the beginning of the season, there's no room for sentimentality if you want to succeed, you just pick your best 11 for the final and Leno is number 1 keeper end of.

If we play and end up losing because of a Cech howler (he's not been averse to them this season) we'll regret this decision, not worth the risk IMO, Cechs kicking is poor and he's getting on and isn't the keeper he once was.

[Letters]

Early season I might have agreed with you but recently Cech has been fine.
I'm not worried about him playing in the final.

[GP]

Early season I might have agreed with you but recently Cech has been fine.
I'm not worried about him playing in the final.

Me either.

[Özim]

Early season I might have agreed with you but recently Cech has been fine.
I'm not worried about him playing in the final.

I just think you play your best team and Leno has proven over the season to be the best, why risk playing someone not as good.

[Letters]

I just think you play your best team and Leno has proven over the season to be the best, why risk playing someone not as good.

Because he's earned his place. Again, if there was a big gulf in class between Leno and Cech then there would be a strong case for playing Leno but there isn't. Both have made mistakes this season.
I don't regard Cech as a liability. I reckon he's earned his place in the final.

[Özim]

Because he's earned his place. Again, if there was a big gulf in class between Leno and Cech then there would be a strong case for playing Leno but there isn't. Both have made mistakes this season.
I don't regard Cech as a liability. I reckon he's earned his place in the final.

Technically he hasn't earnt his place, he's not been playing in the league at all (this is the reverse of what happened earlier on in the season), if he'd earnt his place he'd have played in the league, the fact he hasn't tells you that Emery thinks Leno is superior.

He's basically a 2nd keeper who plays cup games so that our best keeper gets a rest, it's what Leno did before he got into the team and earnt his place.

[Letters]

10 PRINT ZimPost
20 PRINT LettersPost
30 GOTO 10

[KSE Comedy Club]

10 PRINT ZimPost
20 PRINT LettersPost
30 GOTO 10

You drunk again Letters or is it the Baltimore drugs? :unsure:

[KSE Comedy Club]

Technically he hasn't earnt his place, he's not been playing in the league at all (this is the reverse of what happened earlier on in the season), if he'd earnt his place he'd have played in the league, the fact he hasn't tells you that Emery thinks Leno is superior.

He's basically a 2nd keeper who plays cup games so that our best keeper gets a rest, it's what Leno did before he got into the team and earnt his place.

You are right to some extent Ozim, however, the right thing to do is to let Cech play ahead of Leno.

He is the keeper that we have had throughout the whole competition, and as Letters says, he has more than earnt his place in the starting line up for the final.
It's his last game of professional football so he will want to go out on a high, and because of that I think he will play exceptionally well.

He isn't the type of guy to think 'oh well, fuck it, it's my last game whatever happens so I'm not bothered' - he wants to win a trophy to finish his career.

From next season however, Leno should be playing most games, no matter what comp we are in (except maybe the league cup).

This season isn't a complete disaster but it still isn't great, so we can let Cech have his swansong and focus on playing our strongest 11 every game next season.

I certainly don't begrudge giving Cech the nod over Leno.

[Marc Overmars]

Leno hasn't exactly been flawless either so I wouldn't say there is a gulf between the 2 of them. What if Leno was to struggle with claiming crosses in this game? As he has done a few times this season? I'd be thinking where the fuck is Cech because that's his strength.

Cech should play, not because of any sentimental reasons but because it's the right decision for the team. As SMatthews said it would be poor management.

Leno is rightly number 1 but this game is unlikely to be won or lost on the strengths of the keeper. Unless he has a complete and utter disaster but that could happen on any day.

[Özim]

Has Cech really been that good in this competition anyway, we've had some terrible results against nobodies earlier on.

[Özim]

You are right to some extent Ozim, however, the right thing to do is to let Cech play ahead of Leno.

He is the keeper that we have had throughout the whole competition, and as Letters says, he has more than earnt his place in the starting line up for the final.
It's his last game of professional football so he will want to go out on a high, and because of that I think he will play exceptionally well.

He isn't the type of guy to think 'oh well, fuck it, it's my last game whatever happens so I'm not bothered' - he wants to win a trophy to finish his career.

From next season however, Leno should be playing most games, no matter what comp we are in (except maybe the league cup).

This season isn't a complete disaster but it still isn't great, so we can let Cech have his swansong and focus on playing our strongest 11 every game next season.

I certainly don't begrudge giving Cech the nod over Leno.

I'd look at it as we need to win this, if we don't the season would have been a poor, there's a lot at stake, he has played in the rest of the competition but the reason for that is clear, Leno was number 1 and we were prioritising the league games, so we used Cech in the EL to rest him.

I know it's Cech's last game, but we could just bring him on in the last few minutes if we're winning comfortably.

Anyway it'll probably be Cech who plays, let's hope he doesn't have one of his dodgy games, against his former clubs no less. What I will say about Cech is he didn't come here because he wanted to win stuff, because let's face it that was never really going to happen here.

[SMatthews]

Barring injury, it’s safe to assume Cech is going to start.

But he’s the least of our worries with both Ramsey out and no option to use Micki from the bench if needed.

It definitely means starting Ozil and hoping he turns up for a big game. Iwobi will also prob have to start.

It’s good news that Welbz may make the bench, as we have no other attacking experience to use as back-up.

The only other option is Emery changing the formation, which I wouldn’t expect, but he could do it with so few attacking options.

[Özim]

In truth I'm not too bothered about Mkhitaryan, he's been pretty poor this season and doesn't offer much, I wouldn't mind if we sold him this summer, Ramsey is a bigger miss.

Just have to hope Auba and Laca turn up, they're the ones we'll be relying on and perhaps some creativity from Ozil, other than those we've got very little creative quality.

Think we'll be underdogs for this, it might be Hazards last game and he might want to go out with a bang and with the state of our defence it's certainly a worry, as is Xhaka who is always likely to make an error leading to a goal.

[Letters]

Mkhitaryan is hardly a key player but on principle it’s annoying that they’re holding the final in a place which means for political reasons one of our squad can’t play.

I’d say Chelsea start as favourites but there’s not much in it.
Could go either way.

[SMatthews]

Aside from UEFA making a complete balls up of the whole thing, Micki is a big miss given our other options.

Outside of Auba or Laca he’s out top scorer with 6 and 4 assists. Not the best figures but better than anyone else we have aside from our strikers. I’d have more faith in him than Iwobi and Ozil, based on what they’ve produced this season.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Barring injury, it’s safe to assume Cech is going to start.

But he’s the least of our worries with both Ramsey out and no option to use Micki from the bench if needed.

It definitely means starting Ozil and hoping he turns up for a big game. Iwobi will also prob have to start.

It’s good news that Welbz may make the bench, as we have no other attacking experience to use as back-up.

The only other option is Emery changing the formation, which I wouldn’t expect, but he could do it with so few attacking options.

Honestly, I would prefer Nketiah gets the nod ahead of Welbeck for this game.

Firstly he's been released by the club which means he isn't needed so to bring him into the team is daft and secindly, he hasn't played a competitive game for about a year so throwing him into this and hoping for stellar performance is naive at best.

[KSE Comedy Club]

We are the underdogs, but I think we will be ok.

We can't keep shitting out in in Europe and I think this will be the year it goes in our favour :coffee:

[Marc Overmars]

I don’t believe we’re underdogs and if we are it’s marginal.

Our recent record against them is not bad so I don’t believe the team has anything to fear. They may have finished third but the top 4 race was a lottery and they just so happened to be the least shit over the last few games.

We’ve had a harder run to get here as well and we have the better manager, in this competition at least. Plus we have the added motivation of needing to win, could be similar to the 2017 cup final when Chelsea had possibly zoned out after winning the league and we played like our lives depended on it.

[SMatthews]

Honestly, I would prefer Nketiah gets the nod ahead of Welbeck for this game.

Firstly he's been released by the club which means he isn't needed so to bring him into the team is daft and secindly, he hasn't played a competitive game for about a year so throwing him into this and hoping for stellar performance is naive at best.

Nketiah is not ready for this level, the kid needs to go out on loan. Whether Welbz is leaving or not doesn’t matter. It’s the same with Cech, they are professionals who will do whatever they can.

You can bring 12 subs to the final and bring on a fourth player if we go into extra time. It would be silly not to use Welbz if all we have is some wet behind the ears kid to rely on to save us.

Who will our subs include? Elneny? Guendouzi? Zero goals there. Nketiah has scored one goal this season. Welbz has to be a priority given those options.

And we’re defintiely not underdogs.

[Letters]

Plus we have the added motivation of needing to win, could be similar to the 2017 cup final when Chelsea had possibly zoned out after winning the league and we played like our lives depended on it.
We were definitely the underdogs that day, I didn't think we had much chance.
This time I fancy us. Possibly slight underdogs but as you say there's not much in it.

Come on, boys :scarf:

[KSE Comedy Club]

Nketiah is not ready for this level, the kid needs to go out on loan. Whether Welbz is leaving or not doesn’t matter. It’s the same with Cech, they are professionals who will do whatever they can.

You can bring 12 subs to the final and bring on a fourth player if we go into extra time. It would be silly not to use Welbz if all we have is some wet behind the ears kid to rely on to save us.

Who will our subs include? Elneny? Guendouzi? Zero goals there. Nketiah has scored one goal this season. Welbz has to be a priority given those options.

And we’re defintiely not underdogs.

Nketiah doesnt get to play very often but he certainly doesn't come across as a wet behind the ears kid.

Welbeck has scored 1 goal as well so that's hardly a good comparison.

[KSE Comedy Club]

I don’t believe we’re underdogs and if we are it’s marginal.

Our recent record against them is not bad so I don’t believe the team has anything to fear. They may have finished third but the top 4 race was a lottery and they just so happened to be the least shit over the last few games.

We’ve had a harder run to get here as well and we have the better manager, in this competition at least. Plus we have the added motivation of needing to win, could be similar to the 2017 cup final when Chelsea had possibly zoned out after winning the league and we played like our lives depended on it.

I meant underdogs in the media's eyes, we always are.

We are better than Chavski, definitely.
I also think we have a huge desire to win and it will show in this game.

[SMatthews]

Nketiah doesnt get to play very often but he certainly doesn't come across as a wet behind the ears kid.

Welbeck has scored 1 goal as well so that's hardly a good comparison.

By the fact he's a kid who's hardly played any first team football in his life he's wet behind the ears. He can't be relied on to create or score a goal if needed. Nor should he be at that age.

Welbz is a long shot but his experience counts for a lot, if we need a goal, fresh legs or some pace, he can give us that from the bench for the last 20-30 minutes. He managed to score 5 goals before he was out injured (which is still one of our best scorers outside of the strikers).

Especially given the other options we have available - which are pretty much zero after UEFA fucked us over Micki.

[KSE Comedy Club]

By the fact he's a kid who's hardly played any first team football in his life he's wet behind the ears. He can't be relied on to create or score a goal if needed. Nor should he be at that age.

Welbz is a long shot but his experience counts for a lot, if we need a goal, fresh legs or some pace, he can give us that from the bench for the last 20-30 minutes. He managed to score 5 goals before he was out injured (which is still one of our best scorers outside of the strikers).

Especially given the other options we have available - which are pretty much zero after UEFA fucked us over Micki.

Nketiah scored 2 goals in the FA cup when he came on, 2 goals that sent us through. He was plenty composed then, who's to say he couldn't do that again :shrug:

[SMatthews]

I guess a league cup game against Norwich at home is a little different to a big European final that will largely define our season.

Both will be on the bench anyway, and I think Emery would turn towards Welbz as a first option - if he’s ready that is.

[Marc Overmars]

Welbeck is always a decent bench option to have because of his physical attributes.

Don't know useful he'd be given he hasn't played for 7 months but if we're desperate I'd definitely chuck him on given how thin our options are anyway.

The starting 11 will need to win us the game, there won't be much on the bench at all.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Yeh, but Welbeck is pretty shit.

[Globalgunner]

The key to fame at Arsenal is: the longer you are out injured, the more fondly people remember you. Ramsey Welbeck, Cazorla, Jack. All modern day Arsenal heroes

[Bumble]

The key to fame at Arsenal is: the longer you are out injured, the more fondly people remember you. Ramsey Welbeck, Cazorla, Jack. All modern day Arsenal heroes

Gilberto

[Özim]

Anyone who thinks we're as good or better than Chelsea needs a reality check, granted we beat them because their manager isn't great, but they have a superior team/squad to us pound for pound, we basically just rely on Auba and Lacazette as our threats, other than that we have very little threat and our defence is a shambles.

We've got a better forward line than Chelsea, but that's about it.

[Özim]

Yeh, but Welbeck is pretty shit.

Pretty much, very limited footballer who's carved out a career based on some imaginary potential which naturally he never fulfills, misses sitter after sitter and is always injured, one of the most overrated footballers ever seen.

[Özim]

The key to fame at Arsenal is: the longer you are out injured, the more fondly people remember you. Ramsey Welbeck, Cazorla, Jack. All modern day Arsenal heroes

You're not far off there, Cazorla was decent though, bags of talent and and an eye for goal, shame he couldn't stay fit, but that's a common problem at Arsenal.

[Özim]

Nketiah scored 2 goals in the FA cup when he came on, 2 goals that sent us through. He was plenty composed then, who's to say he couldn't do that again :shrug:

If you're good enough you're old enough as they say!

[Letters]

Yeh, but Welbeck is pretty shit.

He’s scored some pretty important goals for us.
Never first choice but a decent option to have on the bench

[KSE Comedy Club]

He’s scored some pretty important goals for us.
Never first choice but a decent option to have on the bench

Which is why he has been released by the club..........hmm :sarcy:

[Letters]

He's not superstar but he's not "shit" either.
Actually think he's a pretty skillfull player but not a great finisher which admittedly is not a good trait for a striker!

[AFC Leveller]

What do we expect the starting 11 will be on Wednesday? Will Emery go for a back 5? I think us missing Rambo and Miki will make things difficult for him in terms of the tactical approach. Last time we beat Chelsea, Ramsay played really well and did a good job on Jorginho. We played them off the park that day and the back 4 were excellent (Kos was MOTM).

[SMatthews]

What do we expect the starting 11 will be on Wednesday? Will Emery go for a back 5? I think us missing Rambo and Miki will make things difficult for him in terms of the tactical approach. Last time we beat Chelsea, Ramsay played really well and did a good job on Jorginho. We played them off the park that day and the back 4 were excellent (Kos was MOTM).

We don’t have many options so the side pretty much picks itself - although he may go to a back 5 and drop Ozil which is no bad thing, as its hard to rely on him in any big game. The bench will be desparate, which makes it all the more important we have someone like Wellbeck to use if needed.

[KSE Comedy Club]

He's not superstar but he's not "shit" either.
Actually think he's a pretty skillfull player but not a great finisher which admittedly is not a good trait for a striker!

No, I do agree with you that he has his moments, but as a striker he is no good and my main concern is that he hasn't played all season, so classing him as a good option to have off the bench is stretching things a bit imo.

[Özim]

No, I do agree with you that he has his moments, but as a striker he is no good and my main concern is that he hasn't played all season, so classing him as a good option to have off the bench is stretching things a bit imo.

Totally agree, if he wasn't rubbish he'd have delivered in his career, its not like he's not had long enough or enough chances, he's played for two of the biggest clubs in England and both times he's shown no signs of improvement and hasn't performed.

Wish we'd never wasted money on him. Compare him to proper strikers we've at last got in Auba and Laca who can hit the back of the net and do things you need strikers to do.

[Özim]

He's not superstar but he's not "shit" either.
Actually think he's a pretty skillfull player but not a great finisher which admittedly is not a good trait for a striker!

You said it yourself he's not a great finisher, which is an important trait for a striker, in my opinion the most important.

[Letters]

Zim :lol:
Why are you completely unable to see in anything other than black and white?
In your world players/managers are always brilliant or they're terrible.

[Özim]

Zim :lol:
Why are you completely unable to see in anything other than black and white?
In your world players/managers are always brilliant or they're terrible.

No that's not the case, but strikers have to be able to finish, that's the primry skill requirement for a striker, one that doesn't may as well be a midfielder.

[Marc Overmars]

Don't think anyone is arguing that Welbeck isn't a poor striker, he clearly is. Only reason I've ever been in favour of using him is because of his work rate. With Laca and Auba on the pitch we don't need to rely on him for goals anyway.

We can name 12 subs and we already know without Ramsey and Mkhi it will probably read like a who's who of crap. So our options are almost non-existent.

[Letters]

You can name 12 subs?! :blink:

[SMatthews]

Don't think anyone is arguing that Welbeck isn't a poor striker, he clearly is. Only reason I've ever been in favour of using him is because of his work rate. With Laca and Auba on the pitch we don't need to rely on him for goals anyway.

We can name 12 subs and we already know without Ramsey and Mkhi it will probably read like a who's who of crap. So our options are almost non-existent.

Exactly. Pace, work rate and some height should it be needed later in the game. No one’s expecting miracles but when you consider we lost one of our other highest scorers (Micki) and Wellbeck is still only one behind, it shows how bad our options are. It’s absurd to think a 19 year old kid with next-to-no experience would be a better option. No one expected a thing from him when he came on against Leicester after another lengthy lay off and he even managed to nab a goal.

[SMatthews]

You can name 12 subs?! :blink:

Same with the CL final.

[KSE Comedy Club]

What about Smith-Rowe?

His loan must've finished by now surely?

[SMatthews]

It’s not officially the end of the season yet. Serie A are still playing matches, same with France.

[KSE Comedy Club]

It’s not officially the end of the season yet. Serie A are still playing matches, same with France.

poo bags

[McNamara That Ghost...]

The squad is travelling out to Baku already. :lol:

https://www.arsenal.com/news/pictures-boys-board-plane-baku-0

Bergkamp would've had a fun time getting there if he was still around.

[Mac76]

Exactly. Pace, work rate and some height should it be needed later in the game. No one’s expecting miracles but when you consider we lost one of our other highest scorers (Micki) and Wellbeck is still only one behind, it shows how bad our options are. It’s absurd to think a 19 year old kid with next-to-no experience would be a better option. No one expected a thing from him when he came on against Leicester after another lengthy lay off and he even managed to nab a goal.

Yes if he's fit to play a part i'd be happy to see him there, though Emery will have to bear extra time in nind when looking at players who aren't 100% fit

[Edinburgh Gooner]

Virgin media have announced that both uefa finals will be broadcast free on channel 100, regardless of whether you already subscribe to bt sport.

[I am invisible]

Kante could be out for Chelsea.

[Mac76]

Kante could be out for Chelsea.

So it's no go for N'golo...?

Yes, ok... :getcoat:

[Letters]

I hope we win, I’ve decided.

[Mac76]

I hope we win, I’ve decided.

me too, even though the club e-mailed ST holders this week to inform us that if Arsenal win, our ticket prices will go up - despite the fact of course that the club will have a significantly greater income if we qualify for the Champions League....

:censored:

[SMatthews]

Meanwhile, the UEFA shitshow continues in Baku as they plan to pump in piped crowd noise.

https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/uefa-europa-league-final-baku-chelsea-arsenal

[McNamara That Ghost...]

It has noise so it's not going to fool anybody that it is us. :ninja:

However it could just be testing the acoustics.

The take of one of our Arsenal supporters on Redcafe about Mkhitaryan:


They're absolutely right btw. This has nothing to do with Mkhitaryan being in danger, it's a personal decision i.e. he hates Azerbaijan.

Armenia competed in the Azerbaijan Eurovision, proudly displaying their flag. They were all granted visas and nothing happened.

Same with the European games held in Baku, Azerbaijan. The Armenian athletes weren't attacked at all and they were never in danger.

It's just a shame Mkhitaryan and his family made the selfish decision play political games and boycott the most important match of our season.

:blink:

I mean just :blink:

:wacko:

[SMatthews]

It’s always easy to make a decision for someone else when you’ll never have to make it yourself in your entire life.

[Mac76]

This is interesting from Emery:

"I speak about Petr a lot but above all he is a great man and a great professional. His behaviour in his year with us has been amazing.

"I want to do something important with him in his last match. This was my conversation with him - I told him 'I want to do something important with you in the last moment in you career, playing or not playing'."

"He can start or not start, I have to decide, but he deserves trust because his career says to us he is a gentleman," he said.

"Really, how can we not believe in him?"

i guess that last bit does make it sound like he'll play but who knows?

Maybe he won't start him after all????? :unsure:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48368406

[Letters]

UEFA :bow:

https://www.101greatgoals.com/news/arsenal-fans-share-baku-horror-stories-before-europa-league-final-vs-chelsea/

Wankers.

[Marc Overmars]

Match day. :sick:

Sarri to Juve is gathering momentum.

FFS we can’t lose this, not with their best player and manager ready to do one.

Come on Arsenal. :pray: :pray:

[Thierrymon]

5am kick off over here. Got such a busy day at work, I really hope this doesnt go to extra time.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

:sick: indeed.

It seems a bit cruel expecting me to work.

[Marc Overmars]

Haven't been this nervous for a match since the 2014 Cup final.

[Ralpheroo72]

5am kick off over here. Got such a busy day at work, I really hope this doesnt go to extra time.

Same here, if it goes to penalties, I will miss my train to work! So hopefully the boys have it sewn up in normal time :pray:

[Letters]

3pm here. No chance of watching it, I'll be in meetings all day :(
Will have to reply on the BBC and you twats to keep me updated.
Come on, Arsenal :scarf:

[KSE Comedy Club]

3pm here. No chance of watching it, I'll be in meetings all day :(
Will have to reply on the BBC and you twats to keep me updated.
Come on, Arsenal :scarf:

Did you at least get the drugs?

[Mac76]

i still don't really care about the trophy except on the most minor level - it's all about the CL for me

[Letters]

Did you at least get the drugs?

:lol: Not yet.
Baltimore's alright, you know. Haven't seen much of it yet but the harbour is lovely and we had a good meal last night in Little Italy.
I haven't been shot at yet :cool:

[Globalgunner]

:lol: Not yet.
Baltimore's alright, you know. Haven't seen much of it yet but the harbour is lovely and we had a good meal last night in Little Italy.
I haven't been shot at yet :cool:

Don't you worry. My hitmen are very good. When they aim for the Letters. They rarely miss

[SMatthews]

i still don't really care about the trophy except on the most minor level - it's all about the CL for me

Even though it would be only the third European trophy we’ve ever won?

[Mac76]

Even though it would be only the third European trophy we’ve ever won?

It'll be great to do that but we all know it's a second-tier competition and given a CL spot is on offer that's the main thing for me

[KSE Comedy Club]

:lol: Not yet.
Baltimore's alright, you know. Haven't seen much of it yet but the harbour is lovely and we had a good meal last night in Little Italy.
I haven't been shot at yet :cool:

Yeh, I'm sure Bunk and McNulty cleaned up the streets eventually so it's not as rough as it was during the Wire :lol:

Is there no chance of you streaming it while you work - it is exceptional circumstances after all ;)

[KSE Comedy Club]

i still don't really care about the trophy except on the most minor level - it's all about the CL for me

I wouldn't say that myself, its still a major trophy even if it is in the CL's shadow.

Also it's the mentality that comes with winning it, (we would have to hope) the way the team perceives it and gives them the desire to do it again.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Fuck me! I'm getting nervous now!

COYG!! :scarf::scarf::scarf:

[Mac76]

I wouldn't say that myself, its still a major trophy even if it is in the CL's shadow.

Also it's the mentality that comes with winning it, (we would have to hope) the way the team perceives it and gives them the desire to do it again.

Fair point but i'm not sure i could say those recent FA Cup wins did that, in terms of the league anyway

[Mac76]

Anyway i admit i'm being a hit cold about it, i've just not got to the pub yet! :beer:

[Mac76]

Sarri :haha:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48440772

[Master Splinter]

All this talk about Chelsea missing b-teamers like Hudson-Odoi and Loftus-Figo who've played about 12 senior matches between them. Only Kante is essential to their team and he'll probably end up starting.

We're missing Holding, Bellerin, Ramsey, Mkhitaryan and Welbz has just returned to training. Three of them have missed over half the season too.

We've only really got Iwobi as a viable bench option, assuming Ozil starts.

Still, if Auba and Laca can keep their recent European form going, we should be ok. Just put someone on Azar and they're completely blunt.

5-0.

[Letters]

Don't you worry. My hitmen are very good. When they aim for the Letters. They rarely miss

:(

[Marc Overmars]

Anyway i admit i'm being a hit cold about it, i've just not got to the pub yet! :beer:

Our European honours list is laughable. This is definitely a major trophy for a club like us and way bigger than any FA Cup.

Leaving work and off to the pub now. See you guys on the other side. :sick:

COME ON YOU GUNNERS!!!

[Letters]

Fair point but i'm not sure i could say those recent FA Cup wins did that, in terms of the league anyway

They don't have the ability to win the league, desire is an issue with our lot IMO but quality is a bigger one in terms of us being champions.

[SMatthews]

It'll be great to do that but we all know it's a second-tier competition and given a CL spot is on offer that's the main thing for me

Tell that to the players who win it. There are only ever four trophies available to win each season for any given club, sometimes even less, so we shouldn’t be turning our noses up. You’d probably discount the league cup too - which doesn’t leave much prestige left in the season if you don’t win the league or CL.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

BT's programme starts at 18:30 BST.

[SMatthews]

All this talk about Chelsea missing b-teamers like Hudson-Odoi and Loftus-Figo who've played about 12 senior matches between them. Only Kante is essential to their team and he'll probably end up starting.

We're missing Holding, Bellerin, Ramsey, Mkhitaryan and Welbz has just returned to training. Three of them have missed over half the season too.

We've only really got Iwobi as a viable bench option, assuming Ozil starts.

Still, if Auba and Laca can keep their recent European form going, we should be ok. Just put someone on Azar and they're completely blunt.

5-0.

If Rudiger is out that’s a big miss for them too.

[Letters]

Come on, you twats!
Let's twat those twats! :scarf:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Keown, Gudjohnsen and Cesc are pitchside.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Arsenal: Cech, Sokratis, Koscielny, Monreal, Maitland-Niles, Torreira, Xhaka, Kolasinac, Ozil, Aubameyang, Lacazette.

Subs: Leno, Lichststeiner, Mustafi, Jenkinson, Elneny, Guendouzi, Willock, Saka, Amaechi, Iwobi, Nketiah, Welbeck.

Chelsea: Chelsea: Kepa, Emerson, David Luiz, Christensen, Azpilicueta, Jorginho, Kante, Kovacic, Pedro, Hazard, Giroud.

[Letters]

Cech :bow:

:sick: Come on Arsenal!

[Letters]

"I thought Petr Cech would play and I think it is the wrong decision. You have to play your best team in a cup final and Bernd Leno is a better goalkeeper is than Cech."
- Lee Dixon.

Seaman previously said the same. I can see the argument but I'm ok with Cech.

Come on boys! :upset:

PS: This afternoon's meetings are a complete waste of my time. I could be in a pub somewhere watching this :angry:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Bring the guy in goal that has all the pressure to perform thrusting him in the final when he hasn't played in it before. I dunno, I don't think it's any more likely to stop a fuck up.

[Letters]

Basically agree.
You know if Cech chucks one in tonight the usual subjects will be all "told you so", ignoring the fact that Leno has hardly been flawless this season.

[AFC Leveller]

Not sure about going with a back 5 but we'll see.

[Letters]

Hang on...when is kick off? Is it now or is it in another hour? This time zone nonsense is confusing :wacko:

[Letters]

Oh right. It's only 2pm here. It's at 3. Don't mind me...

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Come on, you twats!
Let's twat those twats! :scarf:

:gp:

[Master Splinter]

Can Ozil finally do something of worth in an important game away from his home stadium?

Let's hope his second good game of the season is tonight.

[Ernesto]

Come. On. You. Gunners!

[Letters]

Come. On. You. Gunners!

:gp:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Opening ceremony on, lots of taking the knee.

[Xhaka Can’t]

Wow, they must have been planning that opening ceremony for almost 10 whole minutes!

[Letters]

Opening ceremonies for football games :doh:
We're not America :sulk:

[A Gunner]

What is this shit show?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Wow, they must have been planning that opening ceremony for almost 10 whole minutes!

Be fair, they've been travelling all week.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Ian Darke and Robbie Savage commentating.

Savage commentating, in a European final.

Fuck off.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Europa League theme. :bow:

Maybe a :haha: depending how tonight goes.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

What are the weird markings on the pitch?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

David Luiz hoofs it, Cech comes out to collect it easily.

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Cameramen must be Armenian, because they haven't been allowed into the country either.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Sokratis scuffs it.

[Maestro]

let's go boyyyys!!!!!!!!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Maitland-Niles displaying all the English talent there.

[SMatthews]

It looks like a pre-season friendly.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

The pitch looks in great condition says Savage, for what, crop rotation?

[SMatthews]

Nice play but a little more composure needed from Auba.

[Master Splinter]

Auba should do better there.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Auba shot but dragged wide!

[GP]

COME ON ARSENAL!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Piped in chanting of Arsenal songs. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Hazard diving already.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Sokratis takes out Bif. :bow:

It's not a Bif game if he doesn't go down in agony at some point.

[SMatthews]

Should’ve crossed that earlier.

[Maestro]

first time kola, use your brain

[Master Splinter]

Kola FFS.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Do something with it first time Kola!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Xhaka boots it out of play?

[SMatthews]

VAR for a pel

[SMatthews]

No pen

[Maestro]

well done laca, we need to get scrote and dive too

[AFC Leveller]

Denied a clear pel.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Has to be a pel, he was wiped out.

[SMatthews]

Looking the better side so far. Keep it up

[GP]

VAR :lol:

[SMatthews]

Good movement from AMN but poor cross

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I don't think Ian Darke knows what tangible means.

[Maestro]

Bellerin should not walk back into the RB spot, absolutely no way

[SMatthews]

Holding Laca’s shirt - how is that not a pen?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Lacazette takes out Kepa and Azpilicueta on one action. :bow:

[SMatthews]

I don't think Ian Darke knows what tangible means.

It’s a smaller type of orange.

[SMatthews]

Bif :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Agent Bif. :bow:

[Maestro]

great in the air, always been poor with the ball at feet ....Giroud

[SMatthews]

We need to score while Chelsea are playing this shit.

[SMatthews]

Close from Xhaka!

[AFC Leveller]

Xhaka whacks it with his right foot, close!!!

[Maestro]

come on we have them on the ropes here

[Thierrymon]

Good effort from Xhaka.

[SMatthews]

Clipped the bar!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Xhaka hammers it, not a bad effort for once.

[GP]

I want Arsenal to win.

[Maestro]

they keep pulling laca's shirt

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Well done Sokratis on two occasions.

[SMatthews]

Better final balls from them on the break and we’d have been fucked by now.

[Xhaka Can’t]

I want Arsenal to win.

Spoken like a true fan.

[GP]

Spoken like a true fan.

Thank you, Comrade.

[Master Splinter]

Need to score here before Chelsea get a pelanty on the break.

[SMatthews]

Well parried Cech

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Cech saves from Emerson.

Emery. :bow:

[AFC Leveller]

We need to watch those flicks ons from Giroud and Hazard.

[SMatthews]

Kola fluffs another cross

[AFC Leveller]

If only Kolasinac had end product. He find himself in so much space yet always fluffs his lines.

[SMatthews]

How is that not a yellow at least, studs on his heel.

[SMatthews]

Cech :bow:

[Thierrymon]

Chelsea having the better of it. Good save from Cech there.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Cech saves from Bif. :bow:

[SMatthews]

HT

[AFC Leveller]

HT.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

0-0 HT.

No added time really. :lol:

[Letters]

Actually managed to stream most of it :ninja:

We bossed the first 30 minutes or so but didn't create much. Chelsea came back into it and had 2 good chances, well saved by Cech.
We're doing pretty well overall, fairly happy with our performance so far.

Come on, Arsenal :scarf:

[Master Splinter]

Arsenal the more dangerous overall, but Chelsea had the best chance.

Both teams seem to be playing with some caution.

Just need to up the tempo a bit because Chelsea looked fragile when thee was some continued pressure.

And Kola will surely complete one successful cross?

[Özim]

Hazard the danger man for us.

[Mac76]

Think we've held our own but could go either way

Fingers crossed

COYG