ugh... woke up this morning and realised that i had missed the arsenal match.. decided to catch some shuteye before the match and next thing i know, it's time for work.. crap...

but it's good to see arsenal winning again, against a more physical side. the fact that we won without the talismanic fabregas is proof that we can cope when push comes to shove. however, as a few people have highlighted, i feel sad and slightly disturbed that eduardo dived to win the penalty. i'm an avid football player and supporter, but i've never liked watching anyone dive to get an edge. so even though i loved pires, i think his diving antics was a blot in his distinguished arsenal career. ronaldo, the less said the better. so yeah, wasn't too happy with the dive. and no, i don't buy the theory of we're due a dive ourselves, other players dive so why not us, etc. and i must say that i strongly disagree that diving is part of the beautiful game.. i think it's one of the things that is making this beautiful game not so beautiful...

and reading about how our fans also left the stadium without staying back to congratulate the arsenal players, i also feel a little saddened. granted, like what sigheart said, it's at night, got work the next day and all, but the players just managed to reach the promised land of the UCL group stages! but i suppose it's always easier to sit on my high chair and criticise them when i myself couldn't wake up for the match... heheh...

but all the doom and gloom aside, it's a happy day! we've reached the CL group stages and we've maintained a 100% start to the season in all competitions... our midfielders are free scoring alongside a certain french defender and our strikers are slowly finding the net, so yes, there is a lot to be hopeful and happy about. have a good day guys (and girl)!

EDIT: oh yeah, forgot about this not being able to keep a clean sheet... this is quite disturbing. but perhaps they've been working hard for 80 minutes to close down players and we've built up a sizeable lead, i guess a goal isn't too bad... although it definitely ain't good either... heheh...

This post has been edited by lostasylum: Aug 27 2009, 10:16 AM

its been a long time since Arsenal have such a impressive win streak.

I hope you gunner fans don't mind me giving my 2 bits worth.
Bit No. 1 - Prior to the penalty there was a potential goal opportunity by Eboue half volley as a result of Diaby's pass and effort. Off course the second goal was a result of the tandem passing and scoring. Diaby & Eboue have power and pace to counterattack. Both seemed to have renewed confidence and played with more flair this season.
Bit No. 2 - It was a penalty even though it look like Eduardo embellished it. Ten times out of ten times in this situation a forward will try to avoid being injured by 'flinging ' forward. Still I believe Boruc shoulder glanced Edu's sideway trailing leg/side. Usually when a onrushing goalie goes down collateral damage occurs unless the forward take or mitigate his collision. Hence as a referee I will call the penalty.

Watching the game I believe Arsenal is a team to be reckon with especially Arshavin!

This post has been edited by niuchin: Aug 27 2009, 11:07 AM

Grats Gunners ! Go through to Champions League Group Stage for the 12th consecutive season !
Worth stayed up last night
and pls note that we were playing with 10 men
when we conceded the goal because Ramsey been taking off due to injury.

p/s: if anyone missed the match there will be replay on astro ESPN at 1pm today.

It's another great morning with a fantastic result for the Gunners! Read a bit of the penalty that was given but then again it was a soft penalty claim. I didn't watch the match or the highlights so I won't be able to comment much.

Overall, it was a great results and I'm hoping we build on the momentum! Go Gunners!

so heres the team and were in pot 1 guys .. anyone for wishing list ?

Pot 1
1 FC Barcelona (ESP, holders)
2 Chelsea FC (ENG)
3 Liverpool FC (ENG)
4 Manchester United FC (ENG)
5 AC Milan (ITA)
6 Arsenal FC (ENG)
7 Sevilla FC (ESP)
8 FC Bayern München (GER)

Pot 2
9 Olympique Lyonnais (FRA)
10 FC Internazionale Milano (ITA)
11 Real Madrid CF (ESP)
12 PFC CSKA Moskva (RUS)
13 FC Porto (POR)
14 AZ Alkmaar (NED)
15 Juventus (ITA)
16 Rangers FC (SCO)

Pot 3
17 Olympiacos FC (GRE)
18 Olympique de Marseille (FRA)
19 FC Dynamo Kyiv (UKR)
20 VfB Stuttgart (GER)
21 ACF Fiorentina (ITA)
22 Club Atlético de Madrid (ESP)
23 FC Girondins de Bordeaux (FRA)
24 Beşiktaş JK (TUR)

Pot 4
25 VfL Wolfsburg (GER)
26 R. Standard de Liège (BEL)
27 Maccabi Haifa FC (ISR)
28 FC Zürich (SUI)
29 FC Rubin Kazan (RUS)
30 AFC Unirea Urziceni (ROU)
31 APOEL FC (CYP)
32 Debreceni VSC (HUN)

* from uefa website

This post has been edited by watever77: Aug 27 2009, 11:26 AM

i've already stated mine

too bad1, some diving incident happen
too bad2, gallas didn't score....

real eh for me the weaker the teams the better

This is the most promising part I see in our new Arsenal

Last two seasons were boring ones because of the overplaying the ball and square-passing without penetration in the box. This season, it's totally different.

Whenever the ball is reaching final third, there will be at least 2 players in front of the ball - while there will be more players running into the box.


The new formation forces the players to pass and run faster because there are little options on the flanks. With most players cramped in the middle, players have to move and move in order to get into positions to receive passes.

Well, as AW pointed out, this new formation requires some time for streamlining. We started with a bang and we have to maintain it... and end with a bigger BANG BANG BANG

Like the commentator on the night put it, "it was a penalty won rather than a penalty conceded". Boruc (Celtic's goalkeeper), the alleged offender never laid a finger on Eduardo.

The ref was conned

I have to admit though, Eduardo is one hell of a Centre forward. He was getting on the end of things and causing all sorts of problems for the Celtic defenders

This post has been edited by kazek: Aug 27 2009, 11:50 AM

Did you guys watch Lyon two-legged match? They scored 8. Although their opponent is considered weak, their qualities of goals cannot be underestimated. Some of their goals are really brilliant

I would avoid Lyon for the time being


Yes, facing RM on Group Stage is a good idea

Having only watched the goals, i must say we've got fantastic movement. The build up to the 2nd goal where NB52 took the ball and backheeled to Diaby who then squared it to Eboue to slot it home. 3rd goal was just class act by Arshavin. But then, it was a very good pick by Ramsey to side foot towards Arshavin and he cleverly tricked the defender by twisting and making a yard for himself before slotting it in much like Eboue's goal.

We're playing positive football now, that means alot of attacking movement, and we're abit less technical now, more straight forward and when we get the ball, we look for a quick thru pass or to release it fast, unlike the last few years where we tend to hold the ball, pass it around and wait for a good opening before scoring.

That being said, this is the typical English way of approaching a game, attack with lots of flair but you will leave yourself exposed for sure. So as much as i love to see us score lots of goals now, fact is, we have to watch our back. And even more when we play the UCL where teams are alot more technical.

That's the bad part, no?Now, they're calling for Eduardo's head.



Some quote from the article:
Full article:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...nalty-dive.html

yeah, i would like to see arsenal finish top of the group. I think if against "last year" real madrid
we could've been favourite agains them. But i want our team to meet "the new look" real madrid.
p/s their recent game against Dortmund & Rosenborg show how their attack have improved a lot.

*we could've drawn against Lyon, Inter @ Juventus(but i dont want both my teams drawn in
the same group lol ). But pls..i hope we dont meet porto again..booring...

walaweh, a lot of crap is being shoved on eduardo after that. i cant say much about it tho since i'm still downloading the full game, but wth is this? we do one dive and then one load of crap is shoved onto us. we're now doing what we refused to do in the past few years, and now opponents dont like it?
i wont be surprised if fergie uses this in his next mind game.

not just being top but maybe can rest important players also for other competition? and yeah the new look real madrid kind of scary too .. if draw against inter ill be happy since i have a grudge against jose back in his chelsea days i want arsene to kick his bu*tt this time

This post has been edited by watever77: Aug 27 2009, 12:11 PM

it was a clear dive, but in ref POV, the keeper was totally look like in eduardo way bcoz of his hand was on the ground and sliding towards eduardo. So the ref gave the penalty. I wouldnt be surprise if eduardo is ban for the next match.

the highlight is on the youtube. just check for the newest video "arsenal celtic"

agree wit u on dis. If i remember we've never beat chelsea under jose right? Inter-Arsenal going to be interesting too..
Eto'o,Militto,Quaresma vs Arsehavin,RVP,Fabregas

why on earth real madrid on pot 2?
aren;'t they are favourites too?