Europa League Semi-Final Draw (13/04, some time).

[Alpha]

Let me see.

a) We are playing a team whose manager knows exactly how to stifle opponents
b) We are playing against Griezman
c) Diego Costa

Frankly c) is good enough to say we are losing the tie, but I added another 2 reasons why our chances of going to the final are almost nil.

Apart from having a dodgy defense , Arsenal is unfortunately a team who has dodgy supporters who only see a negative outcome in any game .
Any team in Europa League is not a world beater included Atletico Madrid . If there were that good as people want to make them look , they should be in Champions league.
Against Porto , they showed their vulnerability . A better team than Porto could have taken advantage and scored more than 2 goals .
Antoine Griezmann is a good player but not a super finisher . He prouved against Porto he could miss easy chances as he is just a human .
Moral : Arsenal and Athletico Madrid have both 50/50 chances of reaching the final .
So no panic yet .

[Niall_Quinn]

Apart from having a dodgy defense , Arsenal is unfortunately a team who has dodgy supporters who only see a negative outcome in any game .
Any team in Europa League is not a world beater included Atletico Madrid . If there were that good as people want to make them look , they should be in Champions league.
Against Porto , they showed their vulnerability . A better team than Porto could have taken advantage and scored more than 2 goals .
Antoine Griezmann is a good player but not a super finisher . He prouved against Porto he could miss easy chances as he is just a human .
Moral : Arsenal and Athletico Madrid have both 50/50 chances of reaching the final .
So no panic yet .

So how long does this go on then?

Why do you think we can't compete in the CL? And why do you think triumph in the also-ran cup is in any way an acceptable substitute? Because that's Wenger's way of thinking, for sure. And it's the very thinking that has made us a second grade club, despite the top tier resources and the world class fleecing of the "dodgy" fans.

The 4th Place Cup. That's why we don't compete in the PL or CL. Because Wenger has bred mediocre into the fabric of the club. And now the club is trying to sell FA Cups and the Europa League as an acceptable standard. But I notice they haven't dropped the ticket prices.

No other club has had to put up with a decade of this shite. There has to be a cut-off point. Eventually. So there's no point having a go at the increasing number of fans who are now staying away or using 10 years of shit to predict another shit outcome. Why not reserve your fire for the bastards who put the club in this situation. Or maybe you are happy with how things are? Which is fine. Wenger is happy too.

But don't go demanding all fans accept it please.

[fakeyank]

Apart from having a dodgy defense , Arsenal is unfortunately a team who has dodgy supporters who only see a negative outcome in any game .
Any team in Europa League is not a world beater included Atletico Madrid . If there were that good as people want to make them look , they should be in Champions league.
Against Porto , they showed their vulnerability . A better team than Porto could have taken advantage and scored more than 2 goals .
Antoine Griezmann is a good player but not a super finisher . He prouved against Porto he could miss easy chances as he is just a human .
Moral : Arsenal and Athletico Madrid have both 50/50 chances of reaching the final .
So no panic yet .

I am sorry if I let an entire decade (and more) of getting NOTHING out of European ties against decent opponents. How on earth could I look at data like that and think that we will have a negative outcome against one of the most tactically astute managers in football?! Makes no sense. I must be a moran.

[Niall_Quinn]

I am sorry if I let an entire decade (and more) of getting NOTHING out of European ties against decent opponents. How on earth could I look at data like that and think that we will have a negative outcome against one of the most tactically astute managers in football?! Makes no sense. I must be a moran.

Kneejerk reactions. Judge him at the end of the century.

[Letters]

I am sorry if I let an entire decade (and more) of getting NOTHING out of European ties against decent opponents. How on earth could I look at data like that and think that we will have a negative outcome against one of the most tactically astute managers in football?! Makes no sense. I must be a moran.

It's fairly reasonable to think we are...second favourites.
Arsenal "fans" who seem to actively hope we lose can FOAD, frankly.

[Niall_Quinn]

It's fairly reasonable to think we are...second favourites.
Arsenal "fans" who seem to actively hope we lose can FOAD, frankly.

When did you become such an heroic fan?

Last stand is it? The one last great hope. And it's pissing you off that fans who actually acknowledge the last decade and a little bit have the nerve to remind you of it? Spoiling the plan is it? Spilling the beans?

EVERY fans would be going into EVERY remaining game 100% behind the club that has shamelessly raped them for over a decade IF that cunt fucked off tonight.

But he won't.

So don't go asking fans to be happy about the prospect of that cunt worming his way back into the manager's chair that he's stunk out by using this competition as a vehicle to save his own sorry arse.

Of course it's bitter sweet. We want to win and we want that cunt to go. But these things may prove to be mutually exclusive.

After what we've seen from this cunt for years and years, what's so terrible about having misgivings about even the faintest possibility of him clinging on to wreck the club further? Fans who give a shit about anything bar the short term prospects of this club should fuck off and die? Is that what you are saying?

[Goonermerree]

I really want us to win the EL, but I can understand why fans might not want us to. I am being very negative when I say, 'I don't think we stand a chance against Atletico.' Based on what you may ask. I watched most of Sunday's match, ant the matches against which ever other teams we have lost to away from home, none of them are as good as Atletico.

I have a friend who has supported Arsenal for longer than we've all been alive, he's seen bad teams and gone through bad phases, but even he is disillusioned right now. He may not renew his season ticket and doesn't go to evening matches any more. He's knocking on a bit and he gets home beyond midnight after week matches, but there is no way he wouldn't go if he were being inspired when he got there

[Niall_Quinn]

I really want us to win the EL, but I can understand why fans might not want us to. I am being very negative when I say, 'I don't think we stand a chance against Atletico.' Based on what you may ask. I watched most of Sunday's match, ant the matches against which ever other teams we have lost to away from home, none of them are as good as Atletico.

I have a friend who has supported Arsenal for longer than we've all been alive, he's seen bad teams and gone through bad phases, but even he is disillusioned right now. He may not renew his season ticket and doesn't go to evening matches any more. He's knocking on a bit and he gets home beyond midnight after week matches, but there is no way he wouldn't go if he were being inspired when he got there

The real optimism that can be dug out from this is how far this club could bounce back if it didn't have to drag Wenger around with it. We're probably the club with the most potential in world football, I can't think of any other club that might be transformed so dramatically once one simple step is taken.

Wenger knows this himself, I'm sure. Which is why it's so shameful that he hangs on.

[Özim]

IMO Wenger won't want t leave before his contract is up at least, but failing to win the CL and possibly ending up 7th would really put pressure on him, winning the EL would pretty much remove that pressure and allow to stay and perhaps even sign a new contract.

As far as hi leaving on a high, really couldn't care less, that ship has sailed, just want him to leave however that happens, I don't think he deserves to leave on a high anyway based on his performance and behaviour his career with us has overall been average.

To those who say Atletico aren't all that, well they've consistently been very good, they had a bad start to the season which meant they dropped out of the CL, but every year they are 2nd or 3rd and they've been very good in the CL before this season, they are organised, disciplined and have some top quality players, including a top keeper, top CBs and a top class attack and midfield.

They're a better side than us, with a better manager, at the end of the day they might not have impressed against Sporting but they still got through and kept they're aggregate advantage from the first leg, the only way we're going to beat them is by lucking this one IMO, I wouldn't put it past Wenger, sometimes he just seems to get the rub of the green!

[Letters]

When did you become such an heroic fan?

I don't think wanting the team I support to win makes me a hero.

Us winning it and Wenger leaving are not mutually exclusive. The first may happen, the second definitely will at some point.
IF us winning it was somehow the key to Wenger having eternal life and being our manager in perpetuity then there would be an argument here but it isn't and he won't be.
So, for now, let's try and rescue something from what has been a poor season.