The Soccer Blog: Braga - Arsenal Match Thread

Wednesday, 24 November 2010

Braga - Arsenal Match Thread

Braga – Arsenal Match Thread - - The Offside - Arsenal Football Club Blog

« Ramsey And Almunia Return for Reserves — What Now? | Home | Braga 2 – Arsenal 0: For Shame »Braga – Arsenal Match ThreadBy: Sairax | November 23rd, 2010

Lineups are in:

Braga: Starters: Felipe, Alberto Rodriguez, Moises, Miguel Garcia, Lima, Elderson, Aguiar, Leandro Salino, Alan, Vandinho, Matheus Bench: Artur, Mosorro, Andres Madrid, Silvio, Hugo Viana, Anibal Capella, Elton

Arsenal: Starters: Fabianski, Eboue, Squillaci, Djourou, Gibbs, Denilson, Wilshere, Cesc, Rosicky, Walcott, Bendtner Bench: Szczesny, Sagna, Koscielny, Nasri, Vela, Song, Chamakh

No real surprises in the starting lineup except for maybe Song being on the bench. Not that I will be missing his imitation of Kaka as of late. Bendtner gets the nod over Chamakh who could use a rest. Hopefully Nick can put his money where his mouth is and continue our goal scoring in the Champions League which has been so high this season. Cesc has been deemed fit enough to start. If he continues to regain his form, that will only be a positive for us, though I hope he doesn’t get any tweaks to his hamstring today. Also, Vela makes a return to the bench, though he may not see much time, if any, on the pitch. Overall, I feel like this is a good lineup who have the ability to get a result out of this game.

Basically, if we get a draw, we qualify for the next round. If we win, we have a good shot at winning the group, though like I’ve mentioned before, that’s never been Wenger’s top priority. If we lose, god help me I’ll skip Mugabe Media Lockdown and go the full Kim Jong-Il. More importantly, I think the fans would like to see a good performance today, where we fight till the very end.

Come on Arsenal!

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Category: Arsenal News, Champions League, Fixtures

Tags: Arsenal News, Champions League, Fixtures
« Ramsey And Almunia Return for Reserves — What Now? | Home | Braga 2 – Arsenal 0: For Shame »JordanThis didn't make me feel any better from the Spurs game...

You're such a drama queen Sairax.JGOh great. My Fox Sports affiliate is just about to start showing the replay of this shitty nightmare and one of the commentator is probably the biggest Arsenal hater in the entire North Hemisphere. Can't wait.Darren_VThe best part of this result? Wenger can spout off all the stats he likes about having 73% possession, and having over 500 completed passes to Braga 200. But when you look at shots on goal, its dismal.
I am SO SICK of seeing every forward player not named Walcott look to come to the ball in the final 3rd instead of trying to go direct and behind the defence. Wanna know why RVP is so fucking valuable to this squad when healthy? HE LOOKS TO GET BEHIND THE DEFENSE!
It's a shocking concept, I know, but it actually works.
Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Bobby Pires, Marc Overmars and Freddie Ljungberg taught me!PeevishIts alright, just read a quote from Wenger, post-match, and he is complaining about the fucking officials. Man up for god's sake, yes the officials were piss poor, but not as piss poor as your OWN PLAYERS.JGWould he be saying the same drivel if the bad call happened after the two goals?? Of course he would, he obviously doesn't want his precious projects to be harmed by harsh words. Similarly, Saturday after the 3rd Spurs goal he was on his knees with his hands on his face instead of screaming at his players.
Arsenal lost their backbone when Vieira, Henry, Jens and Gilberto left. Let's hope to god/gods that our current crop of players have it in them to grow one.JGI think all that useless tiki-taka is vastly overrated when you don't have someone like Xavi in midfield and, y'know, competent forwards.
Shoot, I wouldn't mind long ball, Roy Hodgson style football if it meant RESULTS.Darren_VWhat makes tiki-taka work is that you have players who like to play it, but they also like to try get behind the defense and try take people on one on one. Barca have Messi, and now Villa, that do this.
Spain had Villa and, when he came on, Fabregas doing this.
Everyone knows Arsenal don't even look to do this, and it's easy to defend.TurtleBayArsenal didn't play that well, but that ref really threw the game and was a complete joke. Braga fouled every time an Arsenal player dribbled, but you could tell from early on that the ref would never send anyone off for professional fouls. The game got really out of hand with the injuries and the Vela yellow for diving. How did the ref ever think Vela could get past the defender who threw himself into Vela's legs. I can't fault Vela for throwing himself in the air rather than standing firm through that crunching tackle.PeevishWhile I agree with you in principle, I cannot for the life of me use the non-penalty as any kind of excuse. Yes we should have had the chance to go 1-0, but can anyone really say that we would have absolutely won with it? Oh yea, because there's no chance that whoever took it wouldn't have just casually strolled up and kicked the ball directly at the keeper. No we would have scored, gone 1-0 up - and we all know how good this team is at staying ahead when we get a lead, right?SairaxSo maybe I should just go full out rant for this one?Mugabe"If we lose, I'll skip the Mugabe Media Lockdown and go the full Kim Jong-Il."

Whatever that is...I can't wait!PeevishHow about a break from tradition Sairax? Forget about a recap post, just put an empty post with a single image, perhaps a crudely drawn penis with "FUCK" scrawled all over it. Just a thought.JGI would have said a crudely drawn pile of shit with random traces of vomit drawn all over it.
But that's a good idea.Darren_VI will be bitterly disappointed if you don't in all honesty. Good thing you are writing this and not me.JGYes please, some catharsis would be sorely needed :/
At this moment the only Arsenal player I like is TV5 and RamseyJGFUCK fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck.
I am weeping, this is the WORST arsenal have played in my LIFE.
I really wish we lose to Partizan and crash out to Europa League, these over paid "creative, free-flowing" ARSES need a REALITY CHECK.
I need to tune out, screw this I'll follow fucking Derby County from now :/Darren_VFUCK ARSENAL
what the hell is wrong with this club. Somebody needs to kick each and everyone one of them up the ass for fucks sake
TJI hate to say this, but at the moment: Spurs>Gunners.PeevishHow embarrassing.

How is this looking on VHS Darren? A silky smooth Arsenal classic? Because my DVR is taking the piss out of me.Darren_VMy wife and I took a perfect week to decide not to watch TV for a week. Fucking hellPeevishThe only shred of comfort I can take is that Martin is still sitting somewhere with his fingers in his ears, and will have to sit through the game later on. Poor Fool.Darren_VAtleast he still has his Sp*rs tomorrow?TJholy fuck me.SairaxIf I don't get the review up in good time it means I have given myself a concussionPeevishAnd Chelski come back from a goal down to lead 2-1, like a PROPER FUCKING FOOTBALL TEAMTJThis referee is a damn joke. What an awfule free kick Jack Wilshere, he's been shit today.Isabel_GThere are times when I really wish I didn't support Arsenal...momoYou dont have to mate, there's a whole world of teams out therePeevishIs this game a piss take? Seriously, its a piss take, right? Right? *smacks stupid faulty satellite box*mrChamF*CK! First no penalty and now this? This is shit.JGYOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.TJI hate my life.JGAnd now Eboue's injured. Frustration embodied.TJWe take off our most dangerous player in Walcott, and leave Rosicky, who has done nothing, on the pitch. jesus. And what is the point of the referees on the end line if they dont call anything. And i'm very interested in whether Vela dove or not. HE HACKED HIM! What the fuck? He hacked him, he hacked him down, and you book Vela? Who the fuck is this worthelss center ref is? And again what is the use of the end line referee is he can't tell the center that Vela got cut down in the box, unbefuckinglievable.Homey_MillsUgh... and then we get cheated by the ref. Not our day so far.PeevishWow apparently its a bookable offense to be blatantly fouled in the box.JGHorrible call by the ref. Vela was cleared. Terrible.JGFabregas injured and still no scored.... crapDarren_VCesc did his Hamstring. Again. Yipee!!!JGShakthar are currently winning 1-0 against Partrizan, we are now in 2nd and unless we win, hopes of winning the group will rest not in our handsGigi_manStupid Panamanian Fridays with thier Real Madrid games..I sit, eat ask for the Arsenal game and they say they dont know how to switch the channel!!!

Well apparently I didnt miss anyhting great but still,KhosroConfusing game; Some Portuguese guys are dressed up like Arsenal and an even shittier team are playing as them!Darren_VSomebody wake me up when Arsenal decide to actually play please.
Thank you.PeevishAgreed. Admittedly I'm sick atm, but I think thats the first time I've ever nodded off watching the Arsenal.Homey_MillsYeah, it has been a bore. But then, that's half good. Sometimes when we're exciting, it's because we're giving up goals. How's that for a positive spin?Darren_VYellow kits. What's our record in this kit? I think it's poor, but I could be wrong.SairaxI think we're worse when wearing yellow on yellow rather than yellow on burgundyJGWe beat Partizan and lost to Shaktar wearing yellow. We were wearing yellow when we gave up the last minute draw at Sunderland. All of our losses have been wearing red/whiteHomey_MillsI missed the first few minutes of the game, then turned it on to see a team wearing white shorts, red shirts, with white sleeves. I accidentally started pulling for Braga for a minute.JGHahaha :D. There is a reason they are called "O Arsenalistas" in Portugal...MartinOkay, peeps, let's get 3 points. I'm getting off the internet, closing my eyes, and putting my finger in my ears until I can get home from work and watch it.

Come on Arsenal.SairaxBtw, Chelsea and Marseille are both through in their groupHomey_MillsI know absolutely nothing about the Braga team... were there any surprises in their lineup today?MartinI made a crazy, baseless prediction on Twitter, and I'll make it again here: Tomas Rosicky to score his first first-team goal in what seems like forever today.SairaxMe likeyblog comments powered by Disqus