Soccer Bi-Weekly (15)

[Daedalus12]

Go Gunners! I'm cautiously optimistic despite Arsenal's recent form. I don't think anyone expected them to do anywhere near as well as they've performed this season, when Henri left and Van Persie was injured critics said the writing was on the wall, but they've proved that isn't the case.

That said I think the lack of depth is starting to show, they don't have a natural left footed striker at the moment (poor Edu, wishing him well) but hopefully Walcott can step up to the plate.

No English team has ever beaten Milan at the San Siro, and they're a tough team, but I wonder if they won't be just a little too over confident.

I am already very nervous in the stomach about this match and it'll get worse the closer we get to game time. Both teams' forms have been below par recently. Milan will be playing their 15th match in about 45 days. I really hope this will not be San Paolo's last European game.

 

[Jax]

Does anyone know why the 2nd leg of INTER vs. LIVERPOOL has been moved to next week ? I know Liverpool play West Ham tommorow in the PL but surly they could of played that next week.

 

[dragunzng]

Inter V Liverpool, I THINK has been moved to next week, but don't quote me on that.

Right now I'm worried because it seems my cable channel might not show the Arsenal Milan match!

 

[Jax]

^UEFA website confirms the match being moved

 

[dragunzng]

Half time in the Arsenal Milan match so far. It's a lot faster paced than I'd expected.

EDIT: THEOOOOOOOOO!

 

[Alidar Jarok]

The Arsenal-Milan match was pretty good. With no real team I should root for, I decided to root for the gunners, since I at least know people who root for them. I didn't expect the first goal to go in. The second goal was amazing, though. That was sheer effort in scoring it.

 

[sttngfan1701d]

I'm no Arsenal fan, but I have to cheer them for knocking out Milan. God I'm tired of seeing them in the latter stages of the Champion's League every...single...year.

 

[StolenThunder]

Watched Celtic get beat up the first half (alas) then came home for the Arsenal second half (hooray).

Looked like an excellent Arsenal performance.

 

[dragunzng]

Watched Celtic get beat up the first half (alas) then came home for the Arsenal second half (hooray).

Looked like an excellent Arsenal performance.

It really was, you'd never think they were the away team by the way they played. Diaby and Eboue stunk the place up tho.

 

[Daedalus12]

Well Arsenal finally done us in. It looks like Ii Presidente will finally shell out some cash to rebuild the team this summer. Congratz to the gunners for outplaying us in both games and being the first English team to beat Milan at San Siro!.

 

[Jax]

Really surprised about Arsenal and I knew Walcott would be key near the end, what a sprint for the second goal. No doubt about Man Utd though surprised they only got one and that they kept a clean sheet. Celtic played bravely and look forward to seeing them next year again in the CL.

Tonight...

Chelsea vs. Olympiacos

Schalke vs. Porto

Roma vs. Real Madrid

 

[Daedalus12]

Really surprised about Arsenal and I knew Walcott would be key near the end, what a sprint for the second goal.

Walcott wasn't a key to anything though. The second goal was a superfluous add-n as Milan needed two goals in the last 6 minutes to progress. Fab's 35 yard bouncer was the key.

 

[Jax]

When he came on it seem to help Arsenal alot and for the first goal his run off the the right from near Fabreas position also made the defence make the gap that Fabergas shot through. Walcott will be very important to the Gunners between now and the end of the season.

 

[dragunzng]

^ He certainly had more spark than Eboue during the match. And I agree that now that Eduardo's out of action Walcott's going to be an important member of the team.

 

[Daedalus12]

When he came on it seem to help Arsenal alot and for the first goal his run off the the right from near Fabreas position also made the defence make the gap that Fabergas shot through. Walcott will be very important to the Gunners between now and the end of the season.

Fabregas had a much better chance on goal in the first half right on the edge of the box (he hit the post though) than that 35 yarder which squeezed right through the tiniest gap (was screened by Ade.) in the 84th minute. I see that sort of shot go in maybe 1 out of every 20 or so in football. In the final analysis it was all down to one magical play which is the case in most matches between big teams. Theo Walcott while promising he might be had a very little impact in this tie. Wenger knew that and that is why he limited Walcott's role as usual.

As in the first game Hleb was Arsenal's most dangerous man in attack around the box area while Flamini/Fab with participation of Clichy and Sagna managed to exert control over our midfield (this hasn't happen very often in the last 6 years).

 

[Jax]

I just feel for the rest of the season Walcott could do what Solskajer did so well for Man Utd by being a 15 min super sub and we all know what he did in 1999 against Bayern Munich.

You remember the ball I think Fabregas did over the top before he score and Walcott was alone in box and squared it...Is it just me or should he of tried to lower it below the keeper ? I thought orginally that miss late on was going to cost them.

 

[Angel4576]

Vintage performance from Arsenal. Clearly the more deserving over the two legs, but fair play to Milan who appeared to take the defeat very graciously.

If Liverpool can finish off Inter next week then the only decent non-English team left will be Barcelona.

Inter Vs Liverpool was moved a while ago wasn't it? I remember in the commentary for the first leg they said that the second leg was a week after the other second legs. Presumably this is because they didn't want both AC and Inter at home in the Champions League over two nights. Either that or they didn't want the prospect of Liverpool fans going over a day early and being in Milan whilst the Arsenal fans were there.

 

[Jax]

So no Real Madrid, AC Milan and most likely Inter come next week...

That leaves the 4 English clubs and Barcelona who IMO can win it, sorry Roma, Schalke and Fenebache but I don't see you lifting the trophy. I so hope we see a Q/F of...

Man Utd vs. Roma

Arsenal vs. Barcelona

and the others I don't care about because those 2 matches would be the matches I would want to see. The draw is made next friday afternoon but thats not all the football because tonight its the UEFA Cup and I will be watching Spurs hopefully pull a shock win against PSV but to be honest I fear all 3 remaining English clubs will go out in the last 16.

 

[Angel4576]

I don't think Man Utd will win it either.

They were absolutely dire against Lyon on Tuesday, and had they been facing one of the more powerful European teams I think they'd be out now.

Chelsea, player-for-player are probably the best of the English teams. Liverpool, are the most experienced, and seem to perform a lot better in Europe than they do domestically. Arsenal, are an enigma. When their backs are to the wall they usually turn in a performance that is more than the sum of their parts.

It wouldn't surprise me if Chelsea, Arsenal or Liverpool (or Barcelona for that matter) went on to win the title this year, but I think the rest are just there to make up the numbers. Including Man Utd.

 

[Daedalus12]

I just feel for the rest of the season Walcott could do what Solskajer did so well for Man Utd by being a 15 min super sub and we all know what he did in 1999 against Bayern Munich.

You remember the ball I think Fabregas did over the top before he score and Walcott was alone in box and squared it...Is it just me or should he of tried to lower it below the keeper ? I thought orginally that miss late on was going to cost them.

I can't see Walcott becoming the deadly finisher in the box type striker in the mold of Solskajer or Trezequet. He can be much more than that though if he develops. Perhaps he can be the next Thierry Henry who can dribble up along the wings and either pass it to another cutting player or score on his own. Right now he is just a pair of fresh legs. Overall the battle was won by Arse's fullbacks and their midfield trio. Otherwise Walcott as with any other speedy players we've faced in the past 5 years would've been easily neutralized by a variety of tactics including fouling.