How the hell have Arsenal done it?

[sean]

So pathetically weak and mediocre not so long ago to this powerful unit that defends well and are excellent on the attack also.

[smicer07]

They're not through yet though..

[Guest Anders Honoré]

they were playing at home. let's see how they do away.

[MarkD]

I don't think they were ever pathetically weak and mediocre. They were fitting new, young players into their team play, changing their approach (5 man midfield in Europe!), playing without key figures at the back and had sold their midfield leader. The transition took longer than expected but the constant was the belief and strength of their manager.

 

They have been in Europe for a number of years and it is about time the knowledge and experience accumulated from such matches was put to better use. The speed of thought and passing has always been there and now it is paying off.

[sean]

I don't think they were ever pathetically weak and mediocre. They were fitting new, young players into their team play, changing their approach (5 man midfield in Europe!), playing without key figures at the back and had sold their midfield leader. The transition took longer than expected but the constant was the belief and strength of their manager.

 

They have been in Europe for a number of years and it is about time the knowledge and experience accumulated from such matches was put to better use. The speed of thought and passing has always been there and now it is paying off.

 

 

They were s**** at Anfield and a lot of other grounds in the middle part of the season.

[John am Rhein]

This Touré is an exceptionally good player.

 

This pass-and-move sh*t will only take them so far, though

[sean]

This Touré is an exceptionally good player.

 

This pass-and-move sh*t will only take them so far, though

 

 

Aye, not a patch on the mighty blues though.

[MarkD]

They were s**** at Anfield and a lot of other grounds in the middle part of the season.

 

 

They were - as we were at their ground. Fabregas has grown into his role, Toure ands Eboue have improved since the African Nations, and Flamini has developed into a stronger left back.

[Ombudsam]

They were - as we were at their ground. Fabregas has grown into his role, Toure ands Eboue have improved since the African Nations, and Flamini has developed into a stronger left back.

 

I don't think Toure has improved since the ACN. He's been very good for quite a bit now

[The Hitman]

Eboue looked very good,my gooner housemate doesn't think Lauren's gona get back in the side.

That said,this gooner housemate never even watches the games,so what does he know?

[Cobs]

still think arsenal are well beatable if you rough them up though. that juve didn't do that was probably down to their age and lack of pace.

so what was our excuse a few weeks back?

[John am Rhein]

still think arsenal are well beatable if you rough them up though.

 

Absolutely right. They're still going to struggle against Bolton, Chelsea, etc. until they sort that out. It's a bit like us last season - and we went on to WIN the European Cup - but Sissoko/Crouch seem to have made a big improvement there.

 

They bought this Diaby to be a pseudo-Vieira but he doesn't seem to have worked out yet. Likely will do at some point if Wenger's past history is anything to go by, though.

 

 

so what was our excuse a few weeks back?

 

No Sissoko?

[Cobs]

No Sissoko?

one man team...

[yellow jumper]

champions' league has become their focus. it's tougher and tougher to win or compete for the major european leagues and the european cup in the same season, especially for a side with limited resource like arsenal.

 

4-5-1. seems to work in europe. s**** in the prem. as we know.

 

the madrid performance has hardened the resolve and confidence of not only a lot of talented young players, but also the likes of pires and henry.

[fred milne]

they were playing at home. let's see how they do away.

I agree.

 

Their home form has been largely decent this season. Its on the road where its all gone pear-shaped for them.

 

If Juve get an early goal, it could get interesting in Turin.

Edited March 29, 2006 by fred milne

[John am Rhein]

one man team...

 

Maybe so?

 

But without that kind of player in there - I'm not sure Gerrard has the dogged determination to do it for a full game - we basically end up playing the game on Arsenal's terms and it's hardly surprising that they proved better at it.

[Ombudsam]

I agree.

 

Their home form has been largely decent this season. Its on the road where its all gone pear-shaped for them.

 

If Juve get an early goal, it could get interesting in Turin.

 

they better play better than they did at highbury then and better than i've seen them for much of this season

[John am Rhein]

4-5-1. seems to work in europe. s**** in the prem. as we know.

 

Don't Chelsea often play 4-5-1?

[Cobs]

Maybe so?

 

But without that kind of player in there - I'm not sure Gerrard has the dogged determination to do it for a full game - we basically end up playing the game on Arsenal's terms and it's hardly surprising that they proved better at it.

i think it takes more than one man to pressurise/rough up the opposistion

 

as Pires, Fabregas, Gilberto et al proved last night

[matty]

Who cares how they've done it? Let's just.....

 

point and laugh, point and laugh, point and laugh

[Cobs]

Don't Chelsea often play 4-5-1?

they don't count - they're over-rated

 

 

forum rules

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

'how the hell have Arsenal done it' applies equally to us last year where we couldn't get started on the League campaign

[yellow jumper]

Don't Chelsea often play 4-5-1?

 

they do. bolton too.

 

i think you need a lot of goals from midfield and a certain kind of striker for it to be truly effective.

[yellow jumper]

That's about right, IMO.

 

Needs a Drogba, Davies, Crouch, etc.

 

Certainly Juventus's 4-4-2 looked a bit tired last night - even though in Ibrahimovic they possibly have the player for the 1-up-front job.

 

i actually like it. and advocated it for a long while.

 

not now convinced crouch's quite dynamic enough. i think that lone striker does need to threaten to run in behind once in a while. also think we lack the personnel in midfield; gerrard's a better player in that position than either nolan or lampard, but isn't quite the natural finisher. width helps too.

 

ibrahimovic would be my choice, despite being s**** last night and not scoring for ages. needs to simplfy his game though. stop the flicks and tricks and look to keep the ball when his side is under pressure.

[Guest Anders Honoré]

they better play better than they did at highbury then and better than i've seen them for much of this season

 

Juve have a germanesque ability to sneak results though. As evidenced by the very existence of David Trezeguet.

 

I wouldn't bet against them doing one over Arsenal against the odds.