(The not-so-temporary quite-official) Gooner Thread (Part 2)

I hope they're not too down...

That was pretty crushing because of the fine performance we put in for 99% of the game. 

The first goal was a bit unlucky, we were right on them at that point and looked like we would score, only to be caught on the break by that front 3. I was down but not that down from that.

Flamini however... f*cken hell mate, what the crap, caught cold and f*cked us over. I thought it was a half decent sub myself, just keep it tight, go for the equaliser on the break a bit, and try going to the nou camp at either 1-0 or 1-1, thus giving ourselves a sniff. For him to do that, I mean jaysus, woulda been better bringing Chambers on to fill that role. 

Flamini is done at the end of this season.

Hope the injury to Ox isn't too bad but being Arsenal he's probably out for the season. Of course we won't, but I'd rest a few players for the 2nd leg. What's the point of battering our key players in a lost cause when we're still in the title race?

The depth of the squad with guys coming back now means we can probably 'rest' some guys without really losing quality (aside from ozil and sanchez).

There were 4 guys vying for the only role in the team that wasn't locked down this morn, great situation, if one of them's injured we can handle that right now, especially with Cazorla's return imminent (and perhaps Wilshere too). 

Was impressed with Welbeck when he came on today. Start this weekend? He'll be well motivated against his former employers. 

All the best ajc, hope your partner recovers well mate.

Thought we did really well up until the first goal then melted a little. Barca showing what world-class centre forwards get you.

Move onto the real stuff Monday morning.

So frustrating. We defended so well then threw it all away by pushing too far forward - really, really dumb when 0-0 would've been a great result. Stupid.

Spewing. Just spewing.

But who cares, hope your missus is on the road to recovery AJ.

I managed to see up until the 80th before I had to get moving for a meeting. Thought we did well. The Flamini one was especially frustrating but lets give him a little bit of grace. It's started by Mertesacker not putting his boot through a clearance. Flamini has then tried to do what Per should have done and I would argue had no visibility of Messi coming in like that.

It was clearly a foul, but the annoying thing is had he simply pressured Messi the touch he got dropped it to Pers feet so he could have cleared.

At the end of the day running our bollocks off only got us so far, the guys should take heart from that effort.

Sorry we couldn't put in a Liverpoolesque performance for you.

Give us a shout when your mob are in Europe's elite again.

While Flamini will cop the blame for the penalty and go down as the worst sub ever, the Walcott/Ox sub also hurt us. It was Walcott/Bellerin mucking around by the right hand corner flag which created the space for their counter attack to begin. Take nothing away from their execution, but the absence of the Ox supporting Bellerin, and Walcotts desire to cut inside dragging Bellerin further forward highlights the difference in games like this.

Good call, but I'd argue the Ox should've put that chance away... and his poor touch cost us another huge chance, and got him injured. 

I like the Ox, but he's still a bit young to deliver in the crucial moments. It will come with experience though, and hopefully soon. Sanchez, Walcott, Giroud (most of the time), Ozil, I reckon they all would've got at least one of those two big moments right.

Unfortunate that Ox got injured

Also unfortunate that he didn't bloody score. It's becoming all too common with him to miss chances like that.

Yea really hoping it just clicks for him soon. He's got the whole package except that bit of composure. I forget he's still only 22. 

A pretty well executed 70 mins, a not so well executed 20 mins. They took their chances, we did not.

Back to the Premier League and I, for one, can't wait. 

Noone else did this?

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/ar...

Oh I agree completly. It's a catch 22. If Walcott was on he would have scored, but probably would have exposed us earlier. If the Ox is on he misses but we hold out longer.

So how do we line up for united?

Back 4, Ozil, Sanchez, and Cech are all locked in for me.

Ramsey should start, and hopefully a fit again Coquellin? If Coquellin is struggling perhaps Elneny? Although Wenger still has a woody for Flamini.

Wide right I'd start Walcott given Ox's injury/knock/absence of form, and I like the thought of seeing Welbeck get a crack up front, however Giroud is in good form & didn't play the full 90.

                    Cech

Bellerin Per Kosc Monreal

      Ramsey Coquellin/Elneny

Walcott/Welbz Ozil Sanchez

            Giroud/Welbz

So Ox is the latest on the long term injury bandwagon. As usually happens with us, one player back (Welbeck), one player out.

Ox gone for the season by the sounds. 

FFS.

We should be able to comfortably handle that though, plenty of options in his position(s) and cazorla's return imminent, which may see Rambo back out on the right in any case. Not always a fan of Rambo out there but his quality is such that we have to fit him in somewhere. Plus his workrate is massive, and I think Bellerin plays best with him there.

I think Coq and Cazorla  in mid with Ramsey out wide offers the best balance with what we've got.  We have missed Santi badly. 

Whole package really? Agreed that he's young, his decision making and passing is pretty average......in my opinion.

Even a 1-0 would have been nice heading to Barca......as a team i thought we really defended our hearts out for 70mins. Was really expecting Campbell to start this game considering his form for us so far this season. 

Is it just me or is Welbeck looks sharper and faster then before his injury 

Welbeck is looking good; but has only had cameos so far. We'll see how he looks after his first start. Encouraging signs, though I was a fan of him prior to injury also.

He'll never be the greatest striker ever but his pace is a great asset. He's the closest we've got to a mix between Theo and Giroud.

Would probably start Welbeck. Can't shake the feeling that the usual capitulation is starting and we'll go out of everything in the next 2-3 weeks though. I may be feeling extra negative though, it's been a tough few days.

Is your missus getting on ok ajc?

I've also loved the look of Welbeck since his injury return. I think that boy could be great still, he has great pace, technique and workrate, the base to work from is better than the likes of Giroud, who will always be slow. 

Wenger has a great history with strikers so if Welbeck's gonna make another step up it will be here. 

Nah, i'd hazard a guess that Wenger is thinking that too.

Thanks for the concern guys. On the road to recovery now. They were able to wake her and she's been talking today and tonight was moved out of ICU into a general ward. Still can't eat or drink as her throat is too inflamed from having the breathing tube in for 2 days so she's still in tonight.

Funny how the body works. The other couple of big seizures she's had since we've known each other she was ok to go home after a few hours in ED but for 2 or 3 days had basically no memory of anything, even her own name. This was by far the worst one having to be kept asleep in ICU for 2 days yet she's fine mentally. The only thing she can't remember is going into the scan and having the seizure.

well that barca game ended a bit shark didnt it. Then seeing Song posting videos online afterwards in the barca changing rooms, bit of a Twit move - but i suppose he still is a barca player (isnt he??)

anyway on to this week. Ool, to be honest im not worried about our defence, i think we have enough to manage them. but i think its a bit of where are our goals going to come from. No one at the pointy end is in a good vein at the moment. Lets hope they change that this weekend. 

The irony being that he wouldn't start for either side currently and would be lucky to make the bench.

Another massive game. Must win really, lose and beating Leicester was pretty much pointless. On paper we should beat them, but we haven't won there in the league for a long time and winning would mean beating them 3 times in a row which I just can't see. 

They are currently 1-1 with Midgetland, going out as it stands. Extra time would be nice for us though.

They'll be bouyed but tired after that match. The extra day for recovery for us is imperative given we had to play a first string side while they could afford to start some youngsters.

Lets hope we can f*cking score a few.

She came home yesterday afternoon and ridiculously we went to the game last night! Probably wasn't the best thing to do, but we enjoyed a good win and her favourite player (Fenton) even scored an extremely rare goal. Please she's home for her birthday today.

Great that the Nix could give her a win. 

COYG! Absolutely fudging fired up here

Oh for fudges sake

What is going on.