What are the chances Arsenal can get a win or draw
- Thread starter chelseahotspur
- Start date
Yes, I'm an Arsenal fan. No, I'm not always objective. But that referee was disgraceful. The red card on van Persie for kicking a ball ONE SECOND after the whistle in the din of 95,000 at the Nou Camp. HORSE...****! That totally changed the game. I mean, I know Barca is probably the better team, but **** yeah, they're better when its 11 v 10 and you just lost your starting striker.<div>
</div><div>I get pissed about blown calls here and there. But missing a trip is one thing. Bringing out red under those circumstances is rash at best and petty at worst. I mean, this wasn't some league cup match.</div><div>
</div><div>And Dani Alves is the biggest cry-baby in the game - and that's saying something. Of course, he tripped 3 different Arsenal players on potential breakaways and didn't even get a whistle, much less a card. I think the fix was in... There I said it.</div><div>
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</div><div>I get pissed about blown calls here and there. But missing a trip is one thing. Bringing out red under those circumstances is rash at best and petty at worst. I mean, this wasn't some league cup match.</div><div>
</div><div>And Dani Alves is the biggest cry-baby in the game - and that's saying something. Of course, he tripped 3 different Arsenal players on potential breakaways and didn't even get a whistle, much less a card. I think the fix was in... There I said it.</div><div>
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That ref was absolutely awful. He missed the penalty on Messi in the first half, and the second yellow on Van Persie was a disgrace. Barcelona did dominate play and probably deserved the win, but it looked like Arsenal might have gotten the result before that red card.<div>
</div><div>I'm not really sure that parking the bus was the best strategy. There was almost an air ofinevitabilityduring the game. Sure Arsenal almost got saved by the own goal, but I would have much preferred to see Arsenal attempt to play their style of soccer like they did in the game at the Emirates.</div>
</div><div>I'm not really sure that parking the bus was the best strategy. There was almost an air ofinevitabilityduring the game. Sure Arsenal almost got saved by the own goal, but I would have much preferred to see Arsenal attempt to play their style of soccer like they did in the game at the Emirates.</div>
It looked to me like Arsenal was employing somewhat the same strategy today as in the first leg - defend in the first half and then open it up in the 2nd. I heard that Arsene Wenger believed his team would be stronger in the final 10 minutes (as they were in London) because they play in a tougher league week in and out. Everything, after the own goal by Barca, was working to plan until van Persie's sending off. Then, Arsenal really had no choice but to try and defend - since they didn't have anyone to threaten up top and were down a man. At that point, it was 1-1 and Arsenal was in okay shape.<div>
</div><div>The thing I can't get over is you have two teams renowned for their open style of play and the ref should know they don't play the "stomp and kick" games. Therefore, his only job should be to insure the game stays true to form. Instead, he interjects himself in a ham-handed way that totally killed what everyone wanted to see - attacking, open soccer. He was pretty awful all day and seemed to be in over his head.</div>
</div><div>The thing I can't get over is you have two teams renowned for their open style of play and the ref should know they don't play the "stomp and kick" games. Therefore, his only job should be to insure the game stays true to form. Instead, he interjects himself in a ham-handed way that totally killed what everyone wanted to see - attacking, open soccer. He was pretty awful all day and seemed to be in over his head.</div>
When I first read your post, I hadn't seen any of the match. So I just assumed you were exaggerating for effect. But I just caught the red card on the FSC replay. Saying he kicked the ball one second after the whistle may even be generous. It came, quite possibly, WHILE he was whistling. It was a disgrace.<div>NapoleonDynamite said:
</div><div>Van Persie's motioning and facial expression as he was pointing out the crowd to the referee was awesome, though.
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