After the City game, it's been rather quiet on the Arsenal front, as boring as the game itself.
Nothing much into it really, because there's nothing to talk about, nothing to play for anymore, but 3rd spot. I mean, it's a real improvement from playing for 4th, but the tables don't lie - we were really 3rd best in the league. People might argue that the top 2 aren't any better, but the truth is, they're better, just not by a mile so it's not that obvious. Still, top spot was still up for grabs but the team decided to take their foot off the gas completely and throw in the towel prematurely so there's nothing we can do.
There has been stuff though, about our goalkeepers. Well well well. I don't want to keep harping on our need for a new top class one, and just wait for us to announce the signing of one. If Wenger doesn't sign one then I would probably go berserk. The only problem I have is Fabianski being seen as 'number 1'. That guy obviously has a lot of issues and only performs well during training (wth). And he managed to use the eventless City game to redeem himself. Sometimes, I wished City had more ambition. Did they even know that Flappy was in goal? All you gotta do is bombard the goal for the last 10 minutes of the game and I guarantee you, he'll flap. Considering that City still have Villa and the spuds to play, getting a result against Arsenal would count for something, while giving them a little bit of room to maneuver. Now, nothing less than a win against those two would let slip 4th spot.
Not going to go into candidates for that number 1 shirt because it's pointless. It's all up to the manager. All I can say is that Joe Hart fits best, with BPL experience and all, but City are unlikely to let him go because he's good and Shay Given had to dislocate his shoulder. Besides, they're the team most likely to have trouble with the new home-grown rule next season. It's funny how the tabloids announce a full City squad clear out consisting of HG players like Stephen Ireland and SWP. They'll absolutely need them to make up the 8. I'm a big fan of Ireland, but I don't see Wenger signing him anyway.
So, the Emirates Cup is set. Lyon, AC Milan and Celtic. Why did we invite the Scots who called us cheats after the Eduardo incident? They were always going to lose the tie, if that penalty made a difference then fine, but those cunts chose to use it to mask their own failings, and then now we invite them to our home. Geez. Then there's Lyon. I wonder if it's part of the deal to bring Lloris to Arsenal by arranging a friendly. We'll know in due time. Also, Flamini should be coming home, assuming his contract isn't just about up and he's not planning to sign for someone else on a free transfer.
Last night, I watched the Barca-Inter game. It was rather entertaining, because anything with Mourinho is entertaining in some way, and I don't mean on the pitch. His reaction to Thiago Motta's sending off was one of sarcasm and spite. Then there's Barcelona, who are really a bunch of diving cheats. You can now add simulation and acting to their repertoire. Whatever Sergio Busquets did last night was nothing short of disgraceful, and it's not the first time he rolled around for no apparent reason. He did that against Arsenal, but thank goodness no one gave him a chance with a hand to his chin. (not that it would have mattered) For the best team in the world, and they do claim that, they really have a ton of cheats, with Dani Alves their commander-in-Chief. He paid for it when Barca were denied a penalty at the San Siro when he was hacked down in the box by Sneider. Had he not been such a cheat, the ref wouldn't have hesitated as much to point to the spot, and the 1-0 they got at the Nou Camp would have seen them through to yet another final.
For all of Arsenal's failings, everything is pointed back at Arsene Wenger. He picks the team, it's his players he chooses to stick with, and the signings he chooses not to make. And that's hardly as bad as picking a team, knowing that they're all cheats and divers, and doing nothing about it. Wenger doesn't like it when Eboue dives. Pep Guardiola turns a complete blind eye. I mean, if you think/know that you're that good, to the extent of accepting the title of best team in the world, then why the need to cheat? If he hasn't realised by now, it's the cheating that cost him the game. Mourinho for all of his antics and anti-football tactics, actually looks more 'honest' than Barcelona.
So Inter are through. They meet Bayern Munich in the final and it should be a crackin' game. I fancy Arjen Robben scoring, but Mourinho knows his ex-players too well, enough to know how to nullify their threat, like he did to Drogba and Lampard when he played Chelsea.
Also, Barcelona is extremely classy in defeat. They turned on the sprinklers on the pitch as Inter were celebrating. I suppose, it was a substitute for confetti.
Lastly, I hope Wenger was watching the game. He needs to see what a good goalkeeper brings to his team. Julio Cesar's save from Lionel Messi's shot could have been the turning point that changed the game. Barca were needing a 2-0 win and Inter wasn't going to try to score at all. Had it been 1-0 earlier then the game would be on and Inter's mental strength would be tested for longer than 6 minutes + 4 minutes of extra time. They were always going to hold out. Can't say the same had the Messi shot crept in.
Labels: Barcelona, clown in goal, Flappy Fabianski, Man City