Arsenal

 I woke up this morning thinking it's only half time and it doesn't count unless we do the business in Madrid.

Been a while, on many fronts! Unbelievable second half with so many excellent performances - thought Partey was even better than Rice across the game and Lewis-Skelly is an incredible talent, even shrugging off the hugely-overrated Bellingham's efforts to make a scene late one.
And Saka...what a difference he makes, won the two fouls that got us the free kicks.

Tough second leg still ahead but recent years efforts at the Etihad and Anfield give me confidence

Easy to make comments like this after a result like that, but...
I have been a bit uneasy lately with Arteta criticism, it seems a lot of the fanbase are either new or have very short memories. Where we're at these days is pretty amazing, and I just hope the lack of a PL title and various other minor disappointments don't get to the impatient types, or the new fans, and cause any fatal pile-ons of Arteta. I say give him 5 years from here before even considering any kind of major change. 
This comment I saw in one of the letters to the editor on F365 sums things up pretty nicely in my opinion.
"3 years ago Arsenal weren’t even in Europe at all, we got jumped 5-0 and 4-0 by City and Liverpool and lost 13 league games, now they’ve turned over virtually the entire squad of players and are beating Real Madrid 3-0."

Whilst I agree with the sentiment, I think 5 years is too long from here. We're about to finish 2nd for a 3rd season in a row. Progress has been massive and we're serious and competing again. But a trophy does need to come now otherwise we're just "putting the pressure on" like Spurs. 5 more years of finishing empty handed is too long and would take us to almost 3 decades without a league title.

With hindsight, I suspect Spurs regret getting rid of Pochettino, which they did for exactly the reasons you describe. They're now 84 years without a title and counting. 
If they persevered they may well have won it by now. 

I do agree, but another 5 years from here of finishing 2nd or 3rd and not winning even a cup would make it 10 years without a single trophy under the same manager and 26 years without a league title. Something would need to change then, whether it's manager, playing style or recruitment strategy, to get over the line instead of remaining the forever "bottlers." 

We're serious and challenging again and I suspect 90 of the other 91 teams in the English football league would swap current seasons regardless of how much they laugh at 2nd (or maybe 89 if Newcastle would prefer their League Cup as it was their first trophy for 70+ years). But the next step has to be winning something so at what point does that become the expectation/requirement? 

I agree that as a club we should be looking to win trophies or leagues and going for long periods without a win can be tough. In the EPL we'd easily be considered one of the big 5 clubs, along with City, Liverpool, Chelsea and United. Only City and Liverpool have won the league title since the 17-18 season, before that Chelsea and Leicester.
Arteta has been in charge since 2019. Early years he had to rebuild the squad after a few shambolic years, since then he has built a team that can push City with all their mega finances and only just be pipped for the title twice due to a dodgy red card or two and multiple injuries - this season has been much the same and we'll come second to Liverpool.
Give this current team a decent injury free run with no squad changes and we'll win multiple trophies next season.

I understand and agree with a lot of what you are saying Paul. But remember we are the Arsenal. We are a massive club. Our last trophy of any significance was in August 2020.

We can not be going on these lengthy trophy droughts as a club of our stature. I don't think we should be getting rid of Arteta, although this season has been monumentally frustrating. But this club needs to be winning trophies.

Even looking at our European record, it is piss poor. We have made 4 European finals in the past 30 years. We won none of them.

I'd give almost anything for a European Cup this season. This club deserves it.

First time in over a week as I’ve been a holidays in Italy, tough life soaking up that result in the Puglian countryside!

Great to catch up on the reactions to the game, I was genuinely shocked. Just about got the kids up to watch the real time replays! I don’t think we’ve had a better CL performance in the Emirates era.

I think reflecting on the last few seasons, lack of trophies etc, we’re really good as a fan base about bringing forward our discontent (myself included). We’re now favourites to win the CL and a very outside chance for the PL. Let’s see where we are end of season before the introspection - this moment is far too good to ruin with Arteta’s potential performance review.

Today's game clearly showed Arteta is focussed on the champions league now, 5 changes to the starting squad a would have been more had we had more fit players.

Given the difference between the way we play with the second stringers I was thinking we definately need to boulster the back up crew, Tierney and Jorginho going is a clear opportunity to do this - neither of them were really pushing the starting XI.

If Partey will take half as much cash maybe he is worth a 1+1 as a squad player. 

Know the title has been gone for a while but it's still very disappointing to see the league season just completely fizzle out so that Liverpool only have to limp home, possibly not even needing to win another game from here. This game felt very much like a last game of the season withing nothing riding on it. 

Starting to feel nervous 

Haven't been this nervous about a game in a while.

Extra nervous after this morning's results too. Any away game in the CL is tough. Dortmund put 3 past Barcelona and Aston Villa did the same to PSG. PSG showed the value of scoring away. Getting the first goal would be huge. I doubt trying to hang on for 0-0 will work out

The most important thing for us is keeping all 11 players on the pitch. 

The most important thing for us is keeping all 11 players on the pitch. 

Here we go!
Annoyingly, I have to go to work now and will miss most of the match. Fingers crossed!!

Taking it as a "work" from home day.  Feels like the biggest game in years.

Can't stand those penalties. Put your fudgeing foot through it. Worried that's the moment that changes everything.

And here comes the inevitable screwing. 

Edit: Wow

It's been pretty nervy at times but we've made it through the 1st half without conceding and with all 11 players still on the pitch.

Pressure increases on Real for the 2nd half - they may have to commit more players forward giving us more counter attacking opportunities

A big 45 to come

Idiotic from Saka. Just bury the fudgeer, such a daft shark pen.

Can’t believe the decisions have actually gone in our favour at the Bernabeu.

Made it to half time 0-0. To be fair although they've had all the ball they haven't threatened the goal and we've had the chances.  

You Beauty Saka!!

Edit: Damn might be offside

Edit 2: No we're good!

that'll do!!!

Buffon II

Idiotic from Saka. Just bury the fudgeer, such a daft shark pen.

Can’t believe the decisions have actually gone in our favour at the Bernabeu.

The yellow for time wasting from Raya at 36 mins was more idiotic for mine.

Turns out 90 minutes at the Bernabeu wasn't long enough for Real Madrid!

5-1.

Five-One.

Bring on PSG.

COYG.

It was an ordeal but we've done it. Another magical night at the Bernebau. A famous night in the club's history you can only dream about.  5-1 is a slaughter.

PSG obviously going to be tough but we beat them in the first round so no reason we can't go in with some confidence.  

I land in London at 3.45pm on 31 May. The final kicks off at 8pm. If everything runs on time I imagine it won't be far off kickoff by the time we get though customs etc and make it to our accommodation. It was so far away from being a concern when we booked the trip I didn't even realise it was the same day. Didn’t think about the possible last minute scramble to find somewhere to watch it straight after over 30 hours traveling until now.  But still a long way to go before that.

"they deserve it"
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360657548/arsenal-champions-league-semifinal-after-beating-read-madrid-var-plays-key-role

These two games confirmed we only paid about half price for Rice. The bigger the game the bigger the performance. Absolute colossus. 
Also a couple of heroic performances from Kiwior, particularly this morning coming in as the assumed weak link (admit I said him in for Gabriel gave us no chance too). 

just need to remove the Raya to Saliba pass which lead to their goal for future games.

I can't stand that passing it around the box when there are two attackers closing down the defender like that. In that situation having just scored, just hoof it up the fudgeing pitch so it's down their end again.

Did you miss Partey’s ban inducing yellow card?

theprof

Buffon II

Idiotic from Saka. Just bury the fudgeer, such a daft shark pen.

Can’t believe the decisions have actually gone in our favour at the Bernabeu.

The yellow for time wasting from Raya at 36 mins was more idiotic for mine.

It wasn’t the pass, it was Saliba being lazy and not getting his head up. Rarely does he do it, lesson learned and thankfully no cost!

theprof

just need to remove the Raya to Saliba pass which lead to their goal for future games.

Let me know if you need a hand with logistics closer to the time :)

ajc28

It was an ordeal but we've done it. Another magical night at the Bernebau. A famous night in the club's history you can only dream about.  5-1 is a slaughter.

PSG obviously going to be tough but we beat them in the first round so no reason we can't go in with some confidence.  

I land in London at 3.45pm on 31 May. The final kicks off at 8pm. If everything runs on time I imagine it won't be far off kickoff by the time we get though customs etc and make it to our accommodation. It was so far away from being a concern when we booked the trip I didn't even realise it was the same day. Didn’t think about the possible last minute scramble to find somewhere to watch it straight after over 30 hours traveling until now.  But still a long way to go before that.

brumbys

Did you miss Partey’s ban inducing yellow card?

theprof

Buffon II

Idiotic from Saka. Just bury the fudgeer, such a daft shark pen.

Can’t believe the decisions have actually gone in our favour at the Bernabeu.

The yellow for time wasting from Raya at 36 mins was more idiotic for mine.

I’m glad Rice gave him a serve for that as well. So stupid and needless and now he’s banned for the first leg.

I know Odegaard is our captain, but I’d have no problems with Declan taking the arm band next season. He’s the heir to Vieira.

Started strong but waaay to passive in defence.