I'm glad we're playing Palace this weekend. We need to bounce back straight away and forget about this result.
I'm glad we're playing Palace this weekend. We need to bounce back straight away and forget about this result.
Dortmund started much better than us and that set the tempo for the first half. I thought we just stod off them and waited to see what they could do instead of actually going for it like we did against Napoli. Arteta kept passing it to one of the CBs instead of forward and resorted to short passes to the back all game which made Dortmund comfortable and played into their game plan. I have to say the way the press high up the pitch is fantastic and we didnt have an answer to it. yesterday was ideal for Theo as Dortmund pressed us and left plenty of space in behind (knowing we had no real pace). we lacked an outlet.
2nd half, esp towards the last 20 minutes we seemed to take the game to them and the introduction of Cazorla was timely as Jack was shite.
I think we're more dangerous away from home this season and i can see us getting a result at their place.
We have left ourselves a hell of a lot to do to get out of this group. Last nights defeat could prove very damaging if we don't get a result over at Dortmund or Napoli.
I felt they played us off the park in the first 15 mins or so, the passing and movement from them was of a very high level and we couldn't match them.
Once we settled down we caused them a few problems in the first half but it was a very "huff and puff" type performance IMHO.
Once we introduced Santi in the 2nd half it made a huge difference and for 15mins or so we were completely on top. It's extremely disappointing that we didn't grab a 2nd goal and extremely disappointing that we conceded a late goal but that is what separates the good teams from the great teams.
Still plenty of work to be done to get out of this group, if we can grab a point in Dortmund, and win the 2 remaining games against Marseille and Napoli then we should qualify. To end up group winners we're going to need to win our 3 remaining games which is too much of an ask IMHO.
We just need to avoid defeat in Dortmund, then things will look relatively straight forward again.
Yeah I agree, though I am not confident that we can. I think a lot of people underestimated Dortmund prior to last nights game, they are an elite CL club IMHO, they are better than us.Originally Posted by Marc Overmars
We are going to need to put in a really BIG performance to get anything out there.
bayern munich shat on us 3-1 then we went there and did them 2-0, so its quite possible.
that said I think dortmund will win the group and our progress is down to how we do relative to napoli
As for last night - we have no width and didnt create enough. Shame cazorla only hit the woodwork and we conceded soft goals. Nothing to panic about though - we didnt look shit at all. Best to learn the lessons and move on. THis season is more about the league anyway
Last edited by Nayan; 23-10-2013 at 08:32 AM.
Pretty much agree with this, felt that Dortmund controlled the game until Cazorla came on in the 2nd half though, at one point although they didn't create a huge amount, they'd get the ball try and create we'd clear and they would do the same thing again, this went on for quite a while we could barely get a touch.
Yesterday was a really bad result, we've gone from controlling this group to it now being touch and go as to whether we qualify, based on last night's showing I don't fancy our chances in Dortmund where they will be even stronger so we'll need to go to Napoli and get a result. Napoli were very poor at the Emirates but at home they are suppose to be much stronger and do have some quality players.
Wenger wasn't happy after the game and you can understand why, Dortmund imposed their game on us and really stopped us playing through some great pressing, think we lacked some quality up front if I'm honest, someone who could really trouble their defence. Cazorla was great though, he made a big impact and was really happy to see Wilshire hauled off after another ineffective performance from him where he looked likely to give the ball away in a dangerous area.
That was an odd tie, Bayern did all the hard work away and didn't turn up at home, it's almost like they thought it was won, it won't be the case with Dortmund as it's all to play for.
Had Bayern played like they can on the day they've have beaten us comfortably as they were a far superior team.
This is a tough task IMO, Dortmund were away yesterday and really kept us quiet for large periods and had a large amount of possession thanks to their pressing game, at home you'd have thought they'd be more potent going forward.
We only need a win and a draw really
Something mental would have to happen in place of that to see us miss out.
It's better to burn out, than to fade away.
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