Champions League Last 16 Draw (14/12/15 11am GMT).

[Letters]

But the point is we have Cech. He's got experience of actually winning the thing and he's several steps up on what we've been going into these bigger CL games with in the recent past. I assume we'll actually play him.

That would be Wenger's best WUM yet if he played Ospina.

[Letters]

No disgrace no, but the fact we can predict that we're out whenever this happens IS a disgrace, teams like Liverpool, Chelsea etc have upset the odds in the past and yet we never seem to be able to.

No team is unbeatable, it kinda depends how much you want something as teams have shown in the past and we use to as well (under George Graham as an example), we never want it enough or play like a team that really believes they can upset the odds, so naturally we can knocked out.

I don't think any English side is anywhere near the level of teams like Barca, Bayern or Real right now.
Players like Cech, Ozil and Sanchez maybe give us a chance - and they also give a chance of the league too. Giroud is no Aguero but he's decent enough and supported by some of the real world class players we do have it gives us a chance.

[hobson's choice]

Oh well im done with tourney for this season. English teams are lucky that the Serie A is shit, and France only have one good team. Or the PL could be in serious danger off losing a CL

[fakeyank]

This game worries me... I am worried players like Ozil, Sanchez, Ramsey will play like wild beasts and get themselves injured for our actual goal- the PL. There is NO way we will win this tie, unless we can pull Lasagnagate Pt 2 and Pt 3 during the home and away legs.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

I'd rather we get the big games early so we set the standard early for ourselves. But saying that....this is Arsenal. The springboard effect just doesn't work for us. We could beat Barca but go out in the next round to Zenit. But I hope we put on a show this year. We raised our game against Bayern and we can do it against Barca as long as we have the right team selection.

Offensively I think we can cause them problems and put on a show. Mathieu, Pique and Agent Vermaelen aren't the best CB's in the world ...... can definitely see us scoring.

Only problem is that there isn't a hope in hell's chance we can stop any of Messi, Neymar or Suarez scoring in either leg. Especially if it's going to be Flamini and Ramsey in the middle.

Got to pray for an injury or form issues to at least a couple of those three to even stand a chance.

And what happened when Dortmund, Atletico and Juve got to the final?

We can say what we like about Chelsea being a "minnow" when they won it, a team that had splashed out on Torres and Mata...just because they pubbed their way to victory.
The point i am making is that if we want to win the competition we are going to have to play a team like Barcelona anyway, i don't think we have a good enough squad (in terms of depth) to be able to go for both that and the premier league....and i've got to the point where i think winning the premier league is a must....man city are inconsistent, chelsea are no where.....there is no hiding place, no excuse for us this time....

Athletico were literally seconds away from winning the CL when Ramos powered in that header in the last moment of the game.

Dortmund needed an 89th minute wonder goal from Robben to see them off.

Usually these games are tight edgy affairs, no matter the difference on paper and whilst of course not being favourites, we would stand a reasonable chance in a one off game against either one, whereas in a two legged tie the other team always has a chance to rec.

And for the last point, we equally are just as susceptible to let a negative result in the CL affect our confidence in our PL games. I don't think it's easy for the team to compartmentalise each tournament when you get to the latter stages.

[Master Splinter]

Boring.


I'll predict next year's draws:

Group stage:

Dortmund
Arsenal
Olympiakos
Galatasaray

Last 16:

Arsenal v Bayern.

Chelsea v PSG.

[Kano]

This game worries me... I am worried players like Ozil, Sanchez, Ramsey will play like wild beasts and get themselves injured for our actual goal- the PL. There is NO way we will win this tie, unless we can pull Lasagnagate Pt 2 and Pt 3 during the home and away legs.

What do you mean our goal? We have no chance you said. It's Liverpool's title to lose after all.

[IBK]

Not unhappy with this. I don't think we'll go through, but to win the CL we would have had to play Barca or Bayern at some stage, so if we do achieve the impossible that's one of them dealt with. more likely we'll go out and be able to concentrate on the EPL.Perhaps not a bad thing.

[Niall_Quinn]

I reckon we've more chance against this lot than Zenit or Wolfsburg. We'll be up for this whereas we'd be complacent against a smaller club. Seen it all before. We could beat them at home but we all know what we're up against away, and it's not just football. A 2-0 home win and we have a prayer, anything less and we have zero hope. Barca may have some great players but what a cunt of a club. If we could somehow knock them out that would be enough for me this season. If course we have to have a team to put on the pitch, if the injuries keep piling up we'll be in for a hiding.

[fakeyank]

What do you mean our goal? We have no chance you said. It's Liverpool's title to lose after all.

Well liverpool are doing all they can to lose it, so we stand a chance... a small one of course.