QUOTE(c_calvin @ Mar 9 2011, 08:37 PM)
I don't really remember Cesc saying that before, maybe it's quite a long time ago. But i won't be too surprised if he said that because Arsenal players dislike playing against ultra-defensive team.
I might be bias here but I don't really agree that we are anti-football, anti-football would mean that we are not interested to get the ball and just kick the ball out of our own half when we have it, it might also involves a lot of kicking of opposition player. Of course that is just what i think of anti-football, other people might have different interpretation. But you can see we tried to pass it out of defense when we have it, which also lead to their 1st goal because Cesc tried to pass to Wilshere with a backheel in front of the penalty box
Anyway i get what u meant, when you're facing a far more superior team, you would have no choice but to focus on defending.
the article is
HERE, i also din know Fab said that to be honest, though i know someone from Arsenal did say that and my initial thought was Arsene, coz i do think he is also irked with these ultra defensive teams. yeah, its quite long time ago.
well if u wikied "anti-football" (yes, there's even a wiki page for it

) it basically says that anti-football means putting all players except the lone striker behind the ball. of course there are many definitions according to who used that term, for example i do agree many would take the meaning to be including excessive tackles to literally break opponent's momentum. from my memory of watching last night's game half asleep

, i think Arsenal also did a lot of clearance, which is why Barca continue to get the ball and continue their press. Of course every team does that when under pressure, even MU did when playing 451 against big teams (which annoy the hell out of me). Obviously Arsenal isnt a team that practices anti-football, but for that 1 match last night i guess u guys really have no choice but to defend. MU did so too when we played Barca at camp nou, we managed to hang on for a scoreless draw.
Anyway, my intention isnt to highlight anything, but just to discuss a bit about this term because in the wake of Xavi saying this about Arsenal (defend all the time), and Arsenal also did comment on it about other teams, but more towards the tackling part. Just a similar theme which i noticed
Oh yea heard that Arsene and Nasri got charged? well now i think u guys know why Fergie is so stubborn and continue to "harass" the FA about decisions, its not lack or respect or anything but when things really is unfair, you gotta make a point. And more often than not these footballing bodies used their power to punish the critics, simply because they have to back up the referee (whether the ref is right or not). Similar with Chelsea back in 0809, complain about a terrible decisions but handed bans instead. Referees have the FA behind them whether they make a mistake or not, but when refs make mistake, who is there to back the clubs? Think about it

Well hopefully technologies implemented in the future (i hope) can reduce the numbers of such issues.