Arsenal vs. Villarreal - CL quarterfinal discussion thread

Villarreal absolutely cannot penetrate the Arsenal defence once they get to around 20-25 yards from goal. They should try to start shooting from distance because it is like they are just running into a wall.

Second time Godin has gotten on to the end of a set piece. Just couldn't get the header down.

Could perhaps do with another striker in those situations, someone who can make runs...right now both Arsenal CBs can mark Rossi.


Pires trying to outrun Eboue

HT Arsenal 1 Villarreal 0

Walcott's really well taken goal the difference.

Interestingly poised. Come on Pellegrini, produce some magic...

So far so good. Still tricky.

What happened to RVP's direct freekicks? he hasn't scored 1 for ages

They're about equal on ability but Arsenal can close Villarreal down twice as quick as the spaniards can do to them.

Disappointed with Villarreal and absolutely terruble performance by Pires, he should be taken off at HT.
Villarreal should try to explore more their right side, not only because Angel looks decent offensively, but also because Nasri is doing an awful job helping his full back, and it's not like he's leaving Clichy alone, it's only Gibbs...

Pierre Littbarski wrote:They're about equal on ability but Arsenal can close Villarreal down twice as quick as the spaniards can do to them.

that's an ability too, so we're better

Ibagaza for Pires at halftime and I'd also consider Llorente for Cani. Llorente is pretty useless but he would provide a bigger body up front because like kas said, Rossi is trying to battle the two Arsenal centre backs by himself and he's losing it every time.

Villarreal only need a goal.

Ibagaza needs to be on the field, as well as nihat/llorente

Good 1st half. But as the De Guz said above, it's still tricky. I'm kinda worried we'll gift them a goal and bring them into this game. Silvestre giving away a needless free kick in a dangerous area just increased my worries. I hope we continue playing with the same positive attitude till we get the second goal before trying to consolidate our lead.

I'm expecting more from our front men.

Godin and Gonzalo(in particular) are having a mare.

RVP V Eguren the 1st time I saw a player nearly lose consciousness by a piece of skill.

Walcott's finish - class! Pace merchant

The Professor wrote:RVP V Eguren the 1st time I saw a player nearly lose consciousness by a piece of skill.

The tip of his fingernail CLEARLY scratched the man's retina.

The Professor wrote:Good 1st half. But as the De Guz said above, it's still tricky. I'm kinda worried we'll gift them a goal and bring them into this game. Silvestre giving away a needless free kick in a dangerous area just increased my worries. I hope we continue playing with the same positive attitude till we get the second goal before trying to consolidate our lead.

I'm expecting more from our front men.

Godin and Gonzalo(in particular) are having a mare.

RVP V Eguren the 1st time I saw a player nearly lose consciousness by a piece of skill.

Walcott's finish - class! Pace merchant

Adebayor and van Persie really need to improve their passing and shooting. They're playing shit and letting the team down when we should be dominating. Nasri is very quiet.

As much as I don't like Arsenal, good to see young Theo getting a goal

Villarreal miss Senna so much...there's no leadership on the field for them.

Another dangerous free kick for Villarreal. Oh, it's further out than I thought. Still a good opportunity.

Jaime wrote:Another dangerous free kick for Villarreal. Oh, it's further out than I thought. Still a good opportunity.

Silvestre again

And why did Cani get a yellow

kas wrote:

Jaime wrote:Another dangerous free kick for Villarreal. Oh, it's further out than I thought. Still a good opportunity.

Silvestre again

And why did Cani get a yellow

For bitching I think.

Fabanski is looking very nervous during Villarreal's free kicks, he also doesn't look to confident that he did a good job preparing a wall.
But he's reading a game well, when guests are trying a through balls.

There's Fabianksi very alert once again.

This is just poor from Villarreal...even on the few occasions when Arsenal don't pressure them with the same intensity as usual, the Villarreal players contrive to lose the ball.

Yeah, they are playing with no real conviction.

Villarreal looks like a junior team

There's only about 20 Villarreal fans at the stadium

And a few people sitting around them staring at them like they're crazy.

kas wrote:There's only about 20 Villarreal fans at the stadium

And a few people sitting around them staring at them like they're crazy.

That is like half the town though.

After I saw Angel trying to receive a pass, I have enough, moving to Porto-MU game...

Bye bye Villarreal

GAME OVER.

I'll give this a few mins more then switch over to the other game.