To what, the red. Arsenal didn't even come close all match. It was an own goal that placed them close to the win. But Arsenal decided to play it safe. And safe does not work against the best team in the world.
An offensive team like Arsenal all leaning back trying to defend a lead. Against Barcelona, that's just not going to happen.
We could use the excuse that the red card changed the game, but TBH, it didn't. Van Persie had been shite all night long, so basically Arsenal were already playing with 10 men, plus 1 guy making a couple of ridiculous immature fouls (Van Persie).
Wenger should have started with Arshavin so he would have some pace up front, and Bendtner, so you'd have a forward which could actually be played in and hold a ball and keep some defenders busy.
I love Wenger for his attitude towards giving young players a chance, and insisting on attacking positive football, but tactically he's a bit naieve and an idiot, plus in the most important games he suddenly goes chicken on his beliefs of attacking football, and opts for a defensive cowardly tactic.
No it did change the game massively, as soon as Van Persie left Arsenal lost their forward man, he was meant to hold the ball up there and keep the ball. Did you not notice how Barcelona had the ball pretty much in Arsenal's box for the rest of the game after that? It tired Arsenal out, you need someone to release the pressure.
It defiantly changed the game. Arsenal would've been rocked psychologically. As heroicjanitor says, there was nobody to hold the ball, and there was a rare break on the right side, where arshavin had nobody to cross to, where Persie should've been. Also Bendtner is shite, and he missed the final chance with an atrocious first touch that should've been a goal, and would've sent Arsenal through.
Now, with that said, Barca did play fantastically, dominated the entire game, and deserved to go through. But to say that the poor refereeing didn't influence the game is just silly.
... because apart from some misbehaviour on his part, I really haven't seen him all match.
And yeah, ofcourse bad refereeing influences the game, but yesterday he also could have given Messi a penalty earlier on, plus he could already have sent off Van Persie for that dirty tackle on Messi's ankle.
It was a lousy referee, but he was bad, not biased. He got calls wrong for both sides.
I was hoping Arsenal would win, but when they play like they did last night, which was very defensive, tactically weak, and again very naieve, then you will lose when you play against a team like Barca which will not give the ball away and can slice through your defense all night long.
Also, the reason I'm saying Bendtner should have played, is very simple: He's better at being reached. He is better at holding the ball. In a match against Arsenal you KNOW that Barca will havemost of the possession and that they'll mostly be playing on your half. When that's the case, you need someone up front that you can play in and who can hold on the ball till teammates arrive. Van Persie can't do that, and Bendtner can.
I'm not a Bendtner fan, and I don't think Van Persie is crap, but as a deep lone striker when Arsenal isn't playing on the opponent's half, Van Persie is useless.
When Arsenal IS the better team and IS playing on the opponent's half and IS creating chance after chance after chance, OBVIOUSLY I would prefer Van Persie up front. But in a game like this, you might as well not have fielded him at all.
Plus, like I said, Arsenal needed a guy like Arshavin as well, so you have that threat of speed upfront, which Arsenal were missing (also because Theo is out, sadly)
No shame in getting knocked out by the best team in the world. That second yellow was bull$#!+ though. Anyone not wearing 'certain' goggles could have seen that he genuinely didn't hear the whistle.
Current Real Home record this season, the best in Europe. Lyon don't have a great chance, plus Mourinho's Madrid was the first to score against Lyon at Stade de Gerland. The away goal is massive and probably the biggest in the last 16 games.
Indeed forgot about that one, much more of a penalty than Pedro's. Alumina played well to say he's only played several games all season. Could of look embarrassing if it wasn't for some good saves.
why was he stupid enough to get the first. I mean, should he have gotten the second? ofcourse not. But if he didn't fuck up and gotten the first yellow than he would have been o.k. Its a game of give and take. And plain and simple he fucked up. I was watching the replay, and whlie watching the game they said it took one second from when the whistle blew to when he kicked the ball. It was obvious that he actually looked at the flag raised then decided to kick at the goal in frustration.
Of course, I just have a sour taste in my mouth, and I must admit at half time I was already thinking we'll be able to focus on the premiership now. :(
Barcelona outplayed arsenal today, im an arsenal fan and ill concede that, but I think that sending off completely corrupted the outcome of the tie.. Theres no doubt Barcelona deserved to win the battle tonight but Arsenal shouldve been the ones to win the war
barca had a ton chances but for arsenals keeper it would have been 7-1 and that arsenal goal was an own goal too so barca fully deserved it. having said that bendtner had an amazing chance to make it 2-3 and win the tie but he's is an average player.
If Van Persie wasn't sent off, it would've been him taking that chance and he most likely would've scored. Then its 2-1, Arsenal goes through even if Barca still score the two goals that they did. It's always single, individual things like that that do us in, regardless of how the rest of the match goes.
But, at the end of the day, we lost to the better team.
Don't know why Man U fans are gloating, it wasn't Man U playing Arsenal yesterday... Let' see how they get on if they face Barca, will it only be a 4-3 agg?
0 shots on target... 0 shots on goal... the stats speak for themselves, arsenal where never going to go through without song in midfield and walcott's pace pushing barca back..
3-1 to the referee.
Good game for Barca but Arsenal was shocking fatigue must be taking it's toll they did not shoot on goal for the whole game
We're getting closer...
No shame in getting knocked out by the best team in the world. That second yellow was bull$#!+ though. Anyone not wearing 'certain' goggles could have seen that he genuinely didn't hear the whistle.
Barca deserved it no questions, though why the hell did RVP get a second yellow?
Its a shame that this match, like all 'big' matches these days will be remembered for the refereeing, rather than the football.