Arsenal v Barcelona – It’s Finally Here!

Finally after all the waiting, and after all the talking Arsenal take on Barcelona in the Stade de France in the Champions League Final.

I honestly couldn’t care less now about who will be playing for us tonight – what matters is that every single player in an Arsenal shirt must give everything. It’s obvious to say it but if we fight for every ball and play like we can do then victory can become a reality.

It’s hard to know what to expect tonight. Most people are happy with Barca and Arsenal in the Final because they think it will be an open attacking game. I have to say that it would be in Arsenal’s best interests to keep the game tight and nick a goal from somewhere – most likely through a piece of Henry magic.

I honestly believe if Arsenal can score the first goal then we can hold out for a win.

There is a reason behind our excellent defensive record in the competition (as well as a little luck) and I don’t think Arsenal intend to start conceding now.

Much has been made about Barcelona’s weaknesses, and many identify them as the full-backs and the keeper Victor Valdez. Arsenal will have to be at the top of their game so I don’t think Arsenal will target any one area.

As you might have gathered by now I’m talking total b*llocks, mainly because I’m looking forward to the game so much and I’m unlikely to make any sense leading up to the game!

I have never felt like this before any game in my life. It is because we are on the brink of something special and it isn’t a dream. It’s a big reality.

And 90 minutes have never mattered more. That’s why I’m nervous.

Anyway, the jist of this post is:

COME ON ARSENAL!!

Senderos & Flamini Back In Contention?


Probable Arsenal Team?

What you see above is most likely the stating line-up for the biggest game in Arsenal’s history.

Senderos and Flamini have been passed fit and have been included in the Arsenal squad for the Champions League Final tomorrow but they could (and most likely will) miss out to Ashley Cole and Sol Campbell.

The rest of the team picks itself – I can’t see our D’Artagnan starting ahead of Jose or Freddie. Hleb has proved he can track back well and tackle, and Reyes and Ljungberg offer a stronger option defensively.

And if the game is tight then Pires is always a decent option to bring on after an hour to open things up.

The only two controversial decisions Arsene Wenger has to make is regards to Senderos/Campbell and Flamini/Cole.

If Senderos is fit enough and ready then for me there is no contest. Senderos has been at the heart of the European campaign and must start if he can. Sol Campbell has been an awesome defender for us but the fact is that he hasn’t recaptured the form of the last few seasons.

Our indifferent display against Villarreal in the 2nd leg was mainly due to Campbell and his lack of confidence in his pace. We played far too deep and Villarreal piled on the pressure for 90 minutes. Only a fantastic penalty save from Jens Lehmann got us out of jail.

Barcelona are going to be much more of an attacking threat than Villarreal will be, and with Campbell at the back I would be worried. Jason Roberts easily bullied Sol in the Wigan game and if it wasn’t for the worst referee in the Premier League we would have conceded a penalty.

Ask most Gooners and surely it has to be Senderos every time.

Luckily as we saw with last years FA Cup Final, Wenger is not afraid to make difficult decisions and drop Campbell for Big Phil.

Then we come to Ashley Cole.

Three to four weeks ago Cole would not have had a look in for tomorrow’s game. But the injury to Flamini has made Cole the favourite to start tomorrow, as he has started the last few games and seemingly got his fitness and sharpness back.

Recent interviews also indicate that Cole is more than happy at Arsenal – he’s joking with Henry and speaking positively about the club.

But with a Champions League Final coming up then you have to wonder – has he really put everything behind him after running off to Chelski?

Arsene has a couple of major decisions to make tomorrow and I hope he can make the right ones!

This Is It! And I Can’t Wait!


Come On Arsenal!

This is what life is all about – the highs, the lows and everything in between. Wednesday night is going to be one of the best nights of any Gunners life. This is what dreams are made of.

We’ve known since we progressed against Villarreal on the 25th April we would be in the final.

But for me, it just hasn’t sunk in yet.

I’ve been nervous about the game for the last few weeks now, not because I don’t think we can beat Barcelona – of course I think we can. I’m nervous because we are on the brink of something special. And that something special is the biggest night in Arsenal’s history.

It has been a rollercoaster season for The Gooners, and for it to end in the Stade de France is stuff fairytales are made of. As you can tell I’m getting pretty emotional and it’s still a couple of days away!

The players might have been inconsistent in the league, but in Europe they have been simply outstanding. Even though the British media might be underestimating our achievements, I think what Arsenal have done this season is exceptional and you cannot overstate what has been achieved.

Remember before we met Real Madrid? Arsenal had no chance. Real had won their last 10 games and scored god knows how many. Once we beat them at the Bernabeu Real were ‘a faded force’.

Then against Juventus, we didn’t have a chance either. The Italian giants were 18 points clear in Serie A. And we beat them as well. Afterwards people would say that Juve were full of old players who were past their prime!

Apparently in Spain, Barcelona are expecting to beat Arsenal easily and lift the cup.

But Arsenal have been fantastic in Europe – Jens Lehmann has yet to concede a goal in the Champions League this season. And I don’t think he’s going to start doing so on Wednesday!

Yes, we have to face Eto’o and Ronaldinho, but we’ve shut out Zidane, Beckham, Ronaldo, Robinho, Raul, Ibrahimovic, Trezeguet, Nedved and Adrian Mutu.

We’ve got nothing to fear.

The cocky Catalans think Arsenal will be a walkover. They can think what they want.

As the Real Madrid and Juventus ties showed us, Arsenal are a better team when they are the underdogs.

Through adversity, comes great strength.

We all know Barcelona have a great attack, but so do Real Madrid.

Their weakness is in defence.

Gio van Bronkhorst is a decent player but Eboue & Hleb should have some luck down that side of the pitch, and Belletti or Oleguer at right back won’t scare Cole/Flamini and Reyes on the other flank.

And Marquez and Puyol won’t be a match for Thierry Henry.

Arsenal will be confident going into the game against Barcelona, and if Arsenal manage to score the first goal Barcelona with have a hell of a job braking down our defensive unit.

That’s if Senderos returns, but that’s another story…

Liverpool Win FA Cup & I Get Those Funny Feelings. Again.

Yesterday saw Liverpool win the FA Cup in probably one of the best FA Cup Finals in a long, long time. It was an entertaining game and Steven Gerrard showed again what an awesome player he is and for me he is the best English player in the league – some of the stuff he does is simply outstanding.

But after the huge favour West Ham did for us last week I wanted the Hammers to win it – and they almost did.

But it was wierd watching an FA Cup Final without Arsenal being involved, especially with our excellent record in the competition over the last 10 years.

And with the Champions League Final just around the corner I got those funny feelings again.

No, it’s not because I had lasagne for lunch.

Last season Arsenal won the FA Cup on penalties. Last season Liverpool won the Champions League on penalties. This season, the FA Cup in won on penalties by Liverpool. This season, the Champions League is won on penalties by…?

You never know.

There’s been so many similarities between ourselves and Liverpool this and last season, you wonder if it’s meant to be…

Or is it just me?

Things Get From Bad To Worse For Sp*rs?

My initial thoughts when Sp*rs wanted the game against West Ham delayed on Sunday was that it was an attempt to cheat the system. After all, it’s clear that if Alan Pardew has a congested fixture list then he has no problem fielding the reserves and give his big players a rest – so if the game was pushed to Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday then West Ham would play their reserves with the FA Cup Final only days away.

But then we find out the Sp*rs decide to play the game. Martin Jol tells us that after doing a quick warm up that the players WANTED to play. So the food poisoning that you and I get must be different to the illness professional footballers get – you can run around and play football. When I get food poisoning… Well, I won’t go into details!

So the game finishes and West Ham play excellently and do Arsenal a favour – Arsenal are in the Champions League next season!

And that’s the end of the story right?

When there is time to reflect on the situation, the media paint out Sp*rs to be unlucky, and somehow Arsenal are the bad guys for ‘stealing’ 4th place in the Premiership!

But then Sp*rs do us a favour and make themselves look like utter fools.

Chairman David Levy decides play with the idea that they will sue the Marriott Hotel for food poisoning. After all, it’s their fault right?

Sp*rs are hell bent on finding out the exact reason for the ‘food poisoning’ because then there will be someone to blame!

Hmmm.. There must be foul play afoot…

And in the meantime, David Levy sends an open letter to the Premier League, demanding that the fixture should be replayed – and all pretty convenient really, since West Ham would field a reserve team. Would they ask for a replayed fixture if it was Chelsea? I doubt it.

Another open letter later, Mr Levy decides to complain again, this time questioning the rules of the Premier League.

We are the victims!

Now we find out there are major doubts that it was food poisoning in the first place!

BBC News Link

Now there are rumours that The Marriott Hotel are considering suing Sp*rs for defamation! Sp*rs should have just left it alone and accepted it but now they’re looking like proper fools.

Maybe they should look at their own players before blaming everyone else!

It’s been a good week so far! 🙂