Note: Almunia beaten at his near post again
When the same Swede scored another from the same side to make it 2-0, I thought it was over.
Again.
And the final score? Arsenal 2 Barcelona 2
Unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable.
Happy April Fools.
The clown in goal, decided that he's the keeper for the big games. He kept us completely in the game in the first half, having to pull off 6 fantastic saves from Barca in the first 30 minutes. And then conceded a stupid one when the half time break was over. From zero-to-hero, and then hero-to-zero, and again, zero-to-hero. I'm speechless on this.
Wenger took 2 gambles before the game. He played Gallas instead of Sol Campbell and started Fabregas. Both backfired, and you can understand why he doesn't like to rush players back too quickly or play them when they're not fully fit. And then we had Arshavin who definitely suffered something serious because that guy has been playing through minor injuries for us. For him to come off that early into the game and go straight down the tunnel after the substitution says it all. That is 3 players lost in one game, one unplanned and unanticipated.
Like everything about Arsenal, everyone would simply write us off as undeserved, no matter what we do. So whatever. 2-2 it is, and it's down to the Barca defence who couldn't deal with Walcott's pace. I would start him in the second leg, and that's a very high possibility, considering Arshavin should miss out.
Denilson came on for the injured Gallas and Song moved to centreback. Song could have done more about the two goals but otherwise, did well. Denilson did an Almunia and put in a very good performance. Excellent in fact.
The ref, on the other hand, was poor. Very very very very poor. That douche. You know, when the touchline ref held up the number '8' instead of '3' for the substitution, you damn well know that he suffers from ASTIGMATISM. Not sure if good eyesight is a requirement by FIFA for referees but they seem to only concentrate on the physical aspect. What's the point of running up and down when you can't fucking see? Needless yellows were flying here and there, and the time Pique brought down Cesc illegally, he waved play on. Then he sent off Puyol. Ha? srsly? One red and one yellow for the 5 of Arsenal. The worst one was the one shown to Fabregas but I'd expect him to miss the return leg through injury anyway. If we do get a result there, then at least we'll have him for the semis. Thanks to the ref, both Puyol and Pique will miss the next match. If the Barca defence can't cope with Walcott's pace then they're pretty screwed.
Our tackles were flying in, totally legit, and the ref managed to penalise us for it. Does he not watch English football? Such a wank of a ref, who decided it was necessary to 'protect' the Barca players. When will any ref decide that they have to protect us too? No one in Barca has had their leg broken by opposition. FIFA is a fucking shyte organisation that cannot function, so is UEFA. For two games now, since the knockout stages, the ref has threatened to ruin the game. From Barca's point of view, the red card was retarded. If yellow cards flew at this speed in the BPL though, shawcross wouldn't have been able to break Ramsey's leg. All these lame ref associations should decide what they fucking want or what they fucking think is best and have some continuity in their decisions. Don't come fuck around with a crazy cards party. Playing football by the rules is what most people (I exclude Shawcross) want to do, but it is baffling when the rules are according to the ref's personality. Maybe this Swiss bloke thinks it necessary to book a player who got the ball in a challenge that is purely legit in the English game, but completely out of it in Europe. Get it together. I'm sure no one can work like robots but at least be close to a certain standard. These refs owe the game at least that.
Now now, while the whole wide world is lamenting Arsenal's draw, they should take a step back to consider the following:
1) Both of Barca's goals, come from LONG BALLS and not intricate passing from their supposed BRAND OF FOOTBALL. When they tried to pass into the net, they were stopped by the clown in goal who wasn't a clown until the long balls came.
2) We had only 2 shots on target. (excluding the penalty; Theo's goal + Bendtner's saved header) How many fuckers out there have said over and over and over that goals count more than the attempts and the possession? Now that Arsenal have 2 shots on target and 2 goals, all of you shits can shut the fuck up on this one. Barca didn't make all their possession count, when we had the ball we made the difference and we're level. Where's the fuss?
3) The best team in the world, made Manuel Almunia look like a top top top top class keeper. Nuff said.
4) Valdes had only 3 saves to make - from Theo, Bendtner, and the penalty. Only pulled off ONE.
5) we lost 2 players duing the game (excluding Cesc who was hell bent on continueing in spite of), had to make 2 unplanned subs, leaving Wenger with just 1 to make a difference. Had he had 2 more with 2 of our first choice players on the pitch, we could have turned the game on it's head even more, as much as the Arsenal haters and Barca fans would disagree. Now now, look who pulled 2 goals back?
6) A draw, felt like a win. It really does, considering the whole host of chances that Messi couldn't put past our top top top top keeper Almunia. Their attack on our weakest link was really toothless to say the least. You can't even put the ball past Almunia? There's something really really really really wrong with you. You might want to sign Kevin Phillips.
The world would see this game as a triumph for Barcelona over Arsenal, both who pride themselves on their desire to play football the way it should be played. Barca simply showed the world how to be wasteful and paid for it. Had they been clinical at the same time, it would have been a different story. Still in disbelief they let Almunia foil that. How was that possible?! 2-0 up and you still could be pegged back to 2-2. 2-0 and you thought you won the game. Well I thought it too, but who knew? The mental strength this Arsenal team possesses is epic I tell you. Any team 2-0 down to Barca really need a whole lot of balls to pick themselves up from it and come back from it. Theo came on with all the balls in the whole wide world and didn't get starstruck. Fabio would be pleased as hell with his impact. This is an Arsenal team with balls. Balls they never had before. If the douches of the world tell you that Barcelona showed Arsenal how football is played, then Arsenal showed them what sheer mental strength and determination is. Only Manchester United have came to the Emirates in Europe and came away with a win, in the last 28 games.
Statistics, don't lie.
It's not over yet. We have 5 players on yellows so that'll be a big problem if we do go through but it's a worry I really want to have.
A not so glamourous Wolves tie is coming up. The games are coming thick and fast in April. We need the 3 points to stay in the title race while Chelsea and United fuck each other.
I have a fucking epic headache from staying up for the game and the intensity of the match fucked my brain so bad.
Labels: Barcelona, clown in goal, fucking blind referee, Manuel Almunia, Theo Walcott
A Little Drunken Madness @ 1:15 PM
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