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

[Bumble]

Fark! At Pool get Roma as well!


Oh well at least the only positive is that we can't fuck around as we have before. First leg is a home as well which is worrying.

I think the first leg at home is better as least we are still in the tie when we play at home.

if we defend against griezman and costa like we defend against most teams think we could be in a spot of bother.

I am actually looking forward to it, I haven't looked forward to a game in a while.

I think the realisation could be that regardless of results Wenger will decide when he goes. So might as well bring home a European trophy, as the best case scenario is win the Europa league for the trophy factor not the CL football factor, Wenger decides now is the time to go as he has finally won a European trophy. A new manager comes in with the promise of CL football. Worst case we get demolished by AM, Wenger stays anyway as he convinces Kroenke that we have progressed by making the semis and we can have another crack at Europa league next year.

[Mac76]

First leg is a home as well which is worrying.

no, i'd say that was the better way around, as we then know what we have to do in the away fixture, and pressure is on the other side not to concede away goals (unless they're already 5-0 up of course...)

[The Emirates Gallactico]

The problem with having the first leg at home is that you don't know how to approach it. Do we go all out to destroy them or do we focus on not giving up any away goals?

Plus we always perform better at home both in Europe & the League so it would have been nice to have that as a backup option in case the first leg went to shit.

The really annoying thing is that is Utd never had to face anyone as hard as Atletico last year to win it - they had pub teams all the way to the end. But no, this year had to be the one year when they couldn't get out of the group stages.

Only good thing is that Costa got injured yesterday so he may not be back for this.

[Mac76]

Probably. Wenger has no pride and no shame and his primary goal for Arsenal Football Club now is to secure his own job. So there's every chance he'll chuck this game aginst our once major rivals. He won't give a fuck what the fans think about that, of course.

except that we still have Burnley breathing down our necks so getting nothing at Man Ure means top 6 could turn into top 7...

i hate Sean Dyche btw, don't know why, i just do - just thought i'd mention that...

[Mac76]

we've a tough sequence coming up actually:

26 Apr - A v Atletico
29 Apr - Moan U v A
3 May - Atletico v A
5 May (yes just two days later) - A v Burnley (a 6-pointer these days sadly...)
9 May - Vardy's Gyppo Army v A

i still hate Sean Dyche btw - just thought i'd mention that once again...

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Personally don't think it's even a question. Focus has to be on EL only.

It doesn't matter whether we finished 6th or 7th or even 5th really. Think we've already got EL football next year because we got into the CC final and so it's just a question of money and pride.

[dostoy]

I want Wenger gone more than anything but I am certain that even if Arsenal do not win the EL he will still be the manager next season anyway.

This means that Arsenal might as well win the EL and be back in the CL next season.

Wenger is guaranteed to fuck that up as well as the whole season which will hopefully mean there will not be another contract for him in 12 months time although that is far from certain.

Arsenal are a pathetic club who don't want to win, they are just happy plodding along whilst making money and that will not change until Wenger and Kroenke both leave.

[Özim]

First leg at home first is a bad thing, Atletico will know exactly what they need to do at home, that's a better scenario IMO, realistically wins are more likely at home, just look at yesterday we had it won after being 4-1 up but then conceded 2 and almost 3 before pulling it back, could have gone badly if they'd gone 3-0 up as we saw in other ties.

I don't fancy us against Atletico, however Wenger is the luckiest manager around IMO, so I can see him somehow getting a jammy result.

[Özim]

I want Wenger gone more than anything but I am certain that even if Arsenal do not win the EL he will still be the manager next season anyway.

This means that Arsenal might as well win the EL and be back in the CL next season.

Wenger is guaranteed to fuck that up as well as the whole season which will hopefully mean there will not be another contract for him in 12 months time although that is far from certain.

Arsenal are a pathetic club who don't want to win, they are just happy plodding along whilst making money and that will not change until Wenger and Kroenke both leave.

What if his contract is extended on the basis of winning the Europa League? Would you be happy with that, if he gets another two years? That is certainly a possibility.

[GP]

Think we've already got EL football next year because we got into the CC final and so it's just a question of money and pride.

No. Losers don't get anything.