Today’s post from our very own Blackburn George.
It never rains but it pours.
It is pissing down on Arsene at the moment. And the Press together with a large section of our fan base have stolen his umbrella and are enjoying the soaking he is getting.
The result of yesterday’s game was disappointing. No one can be happy with a home defeat. It hurts. It hurts me, you, the players, Arsene, everyone.
The trouble is some people think it’s only them who feel the pain. And act as if it’s them who should be given the ice cream and jelly.
We were not bad yesterday. In fact for much of the second half, we were quite good.
Bayern Munich are probably the second best team in Europe at the moment. That they are slightly ahead of Arsenal should not be seen as an indication that we are poor. We are not.
We conceded two unfortunate goals. But perhaps the score was a reflection of the game overall. No point dwelling on our shortcomings, or dreaming of what might have been.
We lost.
As I see it, we suffered because we did not have full backs that could deliver into dangerous areas, and we, until the introduction of Giroud, did not have a centre forward that could hold the ball in forward positions until the midfield could arrive to support him.
If we need a forward with both pace and the ability to hold up play, I think we will have to buy him in the summer. I believe that we will then have all the options we need.
Again we saw what a difference a fully formed midfield genius Thomas Rosicky is. And how much difference just one top player can make.
This team needs to be allowed to grow together and develop, without losing key figures. That, and the inevitable improvement by our young British players, with the addition of one or two top quality players, should see us compete at any level.
You either believe, as I do, that we are on an upward curve, or you are convinced we are on a downward spiral.
We trust the manager. Or we don’t.
So it’s Mission Impossible in the return match.
But I seem to remember the Mission Impossible team always came through. Here is hoping.
Chin up people. We have each other and Arsenal. That will do for now won’t it?
Positively Arsenal 
Very fair RedArse – we are very broad church here, other than Pope George obviously
Interesting point about the Invincibles and how intimidating they could be. Someone reminded me today of the Invincibles and their CL credentials in reference to last night’s match.
The jist of their comment was that Arsenal are now among the CL’s second tier, not among Europe’s elite, and it was not like this when the mighty Invincibles were strutting their stuff. The current second tier I take on the nose, it is correct.
As for it was “never like his before” well, actually, it was – every year – we never really made our mark until we reached the final cos we kept running into really good European teams who put us out on our arse – a bit like last night.
Anyone who reckons our defending last night was gash should have a look at the back four’s efforts at Wembley against Fiorentina and Barca years back, and then see us demolished 0-3 at Highbury by Inter.
The one year all the top clubs in Europe contrive to fuck up each others chances, 2004, the Invincibles lose to Chelsea, at Highbury, who then lose to a poor Monaco, who then lose to the Portugese tiddlers Porto.
So while I will always have a warmest regard for the 49’ers, and earlier AFC sides under Wenger in the CL, lets not kid ourselves – we have never quite been there – much hard work needed
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And lest there be any negative connotation be taken from that previous comment let me say that hard work will yield results – no doubt
We are not going backwards
More sideways
as long as that’s clear
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Nice work George. Not a horrific display last night by any means. A lot of blame out on the fullbacks but they didn’t really get much cover.
I agree on the striker front too, I like Giroud but I think we need one another one.
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its what i find interesting.. Barca always by hook or crook knocked us out for several years depending on the point at which we met them… so i wonder how people talk as though e have never lost in Europe before this season…
not an excuse and the tie is not even over yet, Milan last season springs to mind
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Sir red-arse, your very welcome.
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we need to make a 50mtrs x 10mtrs banner of this here below
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Magic that Hunter
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Robert Pires just retweeted this –
#Arsenal : David Dein le chaînon manquant. 11 titles avec lui. Depuis son éviction en 2007 : Rien! Il était le complément idéal de #Wenger.
# Arsenal David Dein missing link. 11 titles with him. Since his ouster in 2007: Nothing! It was the perfect complement to # Wenger.
I can’t say for sure if Pires is advocating bringing back Dein.
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Pires has to do better than that. What about Chelsea, City and a new stadium and the new level of wages and fees being paid.
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Double D on his own may not be all that bad, the fact he carries Usmanov with him… well that is another story…
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Love Pires,but he is a footballer when all is said and done.Not an expert on Arsene or Micro Economics.
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I don’t think that there is any doubt that David Dein and Arsene Wenger were a great double act
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Great piece you have here. Chin up people. We have each other and Arsenal. i wish you all the best George.
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Football is totally different now and so is Arsenal.
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So were Bergkamp and Henry.Frank.
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Robert you had won no medals or trophies in club football before Arsene brought you to Arsenal, he stood by you during a poor first season when you were out of your depth, and later stood by you when serious injury could have signaled the end of your career. You won a load of medals under Arsene. After you finally left, unwilling to accept only one year rolling contract arrangements you did not win another medal.
Shut it
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2 goals down at half time? We can deal with that .
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Some good perspective today. Nobody likes to lose, but these things happen. I think some of the overreaction is linked to the unexpected loss at the weekend. Had that game turned out differently, the level of vitriol might have been lessened. The players need to pick them selves up and focus on the next game and those of us in the stadium on Saturday need to focus on supporting them.
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“2 goals down at half time? We can deal with that.”
And we’re always better in the second half!
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@ steww, exactly. only half time
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Red Arse, well written
Am in a. Similar position to you, new to the blog, positive thinking Arsenal supporter and fed up with all the doom and gloom, so have defected here. Just the word positive was enough.
I will lay my thoughts on the line as well. I am a big Wenger fan. Have supported Arsenal all my life (pre Bertie Mee) I was at the 69 league cup final shouting my head off when Gould scored only problem was I was at the wrong end! Anyway I have lived through a lot of misery. Wenger waS like a breath of fresh air and despite people claiming he, acquired a team, he made some fantastic purchases (Pires, Ljunberg, Vieira, Henry, Anelka etc). Long winded way of stating my loyalty. The guy has given me tremendous pleasure
My only gripes are
1. Wenger is much better at buying attacking talent than defensive ( cygan, stepanovs, silvestre, Squillaci, Santos etc.
2. Personally I think one of the biggest problems with the current team ( I think I saw this alluded to earlier) is the full backs inability to cross then ball. Sagna in particular very rarely gets iin a cross, in fact he looks ungainly but he’s more effective crossing with his left. Jenkinson has a similar problem but he always cuts Back and passes infield.
Hope I too will be accepted (despite my gripes) really enjoyed reading the blog
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Anicoll @ 7:47 pm – We’ll fuckin said re Bobby Pires. How many others were made by Wenger and a nobody before and after. Yes, I love Robert like any proper gooner but show me his career in management before I take him seriously.
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Good evening chaps!
Anybody going to the game on Saturday? I just bought a ticket would love to meet some kindred spirits 🙂
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Players are not exactly the brightest bulbs in the socket so it does not surprise me that he thinks in such simplistic terms.
Insidious is a good word. The appearance of ‘reasonableness’. I’ll see where it takes us before trumpetting the arrivals.
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I agree with Passenal
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Blimey Bob you must be nearly as old as George!, welcome to a positive Arsenal blog, George should be doing all this welcoming but he’s too busy talking nonsense on twitter it seems. (Insert smiley face here).
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I am not advocating the return of DD and nor do I think that AW needs him. We just need to keep going and not be deflected by those who would do us harm
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I think we should cut Superbob some slack,he’s never said a bad word about arsene,he takes his little lad over the arsenal-he’s one of us and as an Arsenal player? well…
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What Steww said!
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Georgaki – I’ll be around on Saturday if you fancy a pre-match beer? 3 pm kick off so how about The Coronet on Holloway Road at 1.30 pm?
Expecting a great performance from our lads so should be a good afternoon.
Assuming I survive the Milan v Barca snorefest currently on the box …
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He is hardly getting a kicking ,is he Mel?
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@ArsenalAndrew at 8:39 pm
I’ve just sent you an email.
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If you get the chance go to Millbank and experience the work of Ernst Schwitters at Tate Britain. Another extraordinary man who created wonders under very difficult circumstances in a hostile world.
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Bobby can have as much slack as he likes Mel – his account is hugely in credit
In the present mood however any ex player seen to be taking sides on Wenger, Dein and by proxy Usmanov does themselves no favours
Hence Sssshhhhhhh
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And Fabregas off at the 60th minute. Typical post-Arsenal performance by him.
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Coronet at 1.30 would be lovely
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See you there Coll!
Enjoying watching Barca chase a game for once …
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I actually forgot about the matches today.
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You’re not really missing that much, Paul …
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Never said he was George,but it’s hardly a Stewart robson anti-wenger interview more of a lazy pro David Dein stance as far as I can see.
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Yeah, Barca game pretty boring. Imagine one of those games where we are playing against a team that has parked the bus while we are missing the creative spark. It’s like that, just 100 times worse because it’s not Arsenal
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Barca out!
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Nice piece George. Just back from work and am so enjoying this little corner of the virtual Arsenal world to accompany my evenings cuppa.
As a newbie, as far as this group is concerned, I might still pop along to the coronet and try and say hello if I may? bunch of old smilie blokes I’m looking for eh?
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i hear both scorers are ex pompey men?
Pompey 2 barca 0, lol
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arsenal versus Milan in the final, you saw it here first!
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A good few will be meeting up at the Coronet. Great!
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Yeah Steve, bunch of old Smilie blokes down the Coronet. In fact I’ll probably be wearing an actual Smiley if only to keep Frank and his horses at bay.
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Great – Pompey take down barcelona!! Milan scab a goal in Spain and they’ll be thru. Wonder if Cesc will play?
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Well well well – a deserved win from the home side in Milan
And scoring three against Milan in a second leg requires a very special team indeed
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Milan showed how to play barca there. Very Impressive
Will hope to meet you all there then… I’ll look for the smilie
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