Hello and how are you?
Tonight, April the 29th sees the Mighty Cannon set up positions at the Emirates as they entertain Paris Saint Germain for the first leg of the CL semi-final. Kick off is at 8.00pm western European time.
Well, despite the matches against The Tractor boys and FAC finalists Crystal Palace, our collective Arsenal minds have been fixed on this one since the final whistle of the Real Madrid game. A match where any after burp-like whiff of hubris needs to be blown in the wind and forget what we’ve done, this is an entirely different set up but equally a decent, star-studded and dangerous side. Two steps away from the final and the old minds already imagining it, but we need feet on the ground and minds in Ordnung.
” who do you think you are mate, Arsenals tactical manager?”
Their match against Villa proves that any lack of concertation can be deadly, realistically Villa could have come away from Paris 2-1 down and stood a dang good chance of qualifying, despite PSG hit them quickly for two in the second leg. Villa did expose one or two weaknesses which I’m sure have been noted.
I’m glad though that we are playing Enrique’s PSG rather than Villa, we seem to play better when the vibrational match is on the ascendant rather than the opposite and our ex- manager seems to often have us sussed? Enrique himself has warned the Arsenal that they are a ‘different kind of beast’ since last October, when we beat them 2-0, well mate, we aint no different.
In the last two, Bleu have lost to Nice, and drew with Nantes, so a mini stutter for them and will perhaps spur them onto something else, yet the same can be said for the Mighty Cannon after the fart about with CP? PSG are twenty points clear in Ligue 1, and like us, haven’t ever won a CL final, despite binging loads of money in hope that it might come off. So both sides will be motivated for this one…
After the Real game, many ‘neutrals’ (what the heck is that, does it even exists?) were wooed by our play, spirit and composure, so I’m sure they will, like us be hoping to see a similar performance to our last outings, knowing that on our day, when it clicks we can beat anyone, even Barca, who looked great in the Copa del Rey. Gavi’s such a great player to watch, but like you I hope we won’t face Barca should we get through this stage.
But eyes front, and may the Cannon do its business!
Our old chums at Statto HQ have given us a 44.4% chance of winning and our visitors 27.9%
Its been a sixteen year wait, and it feels bloody exciting to be back. Especially if you get the date right. COYG!
Take care of yourselves.
Mills
Positively Arsenal 
poor performance that we would of got away with had we been more clinical.
In reality we could of lost 4 or 5 -2. Obviously we threw the kitchen sink at it in the last ten minutes, as we usually do, making all five subs and really getting them rocking. Or maybe that was a different ARSENAL team.
We accepted the 1-0 defeat and live to fight the away leg and maybe that will be a better performance.
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ian I keep on saying it Arteta accepts draws and low scoring defeats, he is a coward. To bring on Nwaneri for injury time is laughable
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laughable or lamentable
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I’m not normally one to criticise, but I felt we lost that game when we played Palace. I’d have thought an all guns blazing approach and maybe a comprehensive win on Saturday would have left us ready for the intensity of last night. As it was we started as we finished, almost at walking place and by the time we upped the pace the game was already gone.
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I think we will win in the second leg, he said offering no evidence whatsoever.
But the hubris shown by us left us vulnerable and blind to our weaknesses, Enrique warned us, PSG are quick and will punish you, as seen by other good teams theyve beaten.
Our heads (confidence) seemed really to drop after the early goal as if it wasnt in the script? If our goal from the free kick would have stood or any kind of early goal, I think we might not have lost…at least the damage was contained, it could have been much worse and we do still have some hope, whilst PSG will think they are already there…and that may well help us?
I hope he benches most of the team for Bournemouth, even dropping 3 points is worth it for a potential place in the final?
As with the whole season, its about what form the team shows up in, I still think we will do it, if we play like we can. Hopefully Parteys return will aid us too.
COYG!
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Arsenal Women had a nightmare game v Aston Villa Women this evening, lost 5-2, and have given Chelsea women the chance to win the title tonight, if CFC beat man utd women they are champs for something like 5 years in a row.
Arsenal women had a real CL hangover, made a few changes to the team and they were awful. Can’t understand why Manuela Zinsberger replaced Daphne van Domselaar in the starting 11, for me she has been shown to not be up to it and its not like your goalie needs a rest after a CL game. Arsenal made to many changes to the starting 11 today and it really backfired.
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21 minutes in and Inter Milan are 2-0 up away to Barcelona
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now 2-2
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Although all the history points to a PSG home win maybe perversely we are more suited to winning there.
We are very capable of stagnating a game and strangling good opposition until there are points in the game we can take advantage of.
We certainly got away with a lot at home, but still managed to create chances ourselves and nearly come away with an undeserved draw or even a win.
This tie is very much in the balance and although PSG look a fantastic side, that will surely end their wait for Champions League success in the next few seasons, this season their naivety and nervousness may betray them in the second leg.
With just a single goal needed in ninety minutes to turn the pressure screw, progression here is still very much on the cards.
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FT: Nottingham Forest 0-2 Brentford
with that result it means AFC need a max of 5pts for a top 5 CL place finish, and we have a 5pts lead over 3rd placed Newcastle but we do have to play them, so a few good results still needed to finish 2nd, beat newcastle and it cuts their point maximum too
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George, sent the Bournemouth preview over to you. COYG!
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Man City currently 1-0 up at home to wolves, if it stays that way city will go 3rd just 3 points behind Arsenal
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Arsenal will have one of our young goalies on the bench tomorrow as Neto can’t be involved against his parent club
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New post is up
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Good old Arsene, the manager that keeps on giving, reports are suggesting Arsene is asking FIFA to strip the spuds or manure of a champions league place if they were to win the Europa this year.
Apart from the hilarious nature of their fans going crazy, I think he is absolutely correct.
With the new format of the CL and no clubs dropping into the Europa, it has seriously weakened the competition and quite frankly the entry of sides sitting just above relegation places in their league would be embarrassing for FIFA.
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