So it’s Villarreal up next in early April. Crucially the second leg is at the Emirates – that could give us the edge.
Villarreal will be tough opponents, certainly, but if you look across the other teams we could have drawn, you’ve got to be pleased with that one. I always say we play better when given big draws, as our run to the 2006 final bore out, but when it comes down to the draw itself I’m always desperately hoping we avoid the bigger fish.
If we get past Villarreal (and let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves, it will be tough) then we will most probably face Manchester United in the semi-final.
There will be those who will have dreaded such a draw. United are extremely strong, with a mighty squad and a whiff of invincibility. Sure, they lost to Liverpool, but will that result really matter in the final Premier League reckoning?
Better, you might think, for Arsenal not to have to play them at all. Better that if they are to win the European Cup back to back, it should be without having conquered Arsenal along the way. Better for us to be able to pretend we would have beaten them, but never got them in the draw.
You won’t be hearing anything like that from UpForGrabsNow.
I am right now drooling uncontrollably at the prospect of United in the semis (distant as I will try and keep it in my mind). Why?
Because it gives us the chance to be the ones to wreck their season, the season which the pundits have already decided is to end with 5 trophies.
Because it gives us the chance to turn this season – their season – into our season, the season we will always remember as the season when we triumphed over (let’s face it) one of the best English club squads ever assembled when no-one thought we could do it.
Because whatever the hype about them, and however good their players actually are, and however formidable a foe Alex Ferguson will be for Arsene, there is always the fact that WE ARE THE ARSENAL.
There is no team in the world who we cannot meet, beat, and outplay, when we play as well as we can.
Finally, because when we were Invincible, the cheat Wayne Rooney and that sad coward of a referee ended our unbeaten run at Old Trafford and did immense damage to our incredibly talented squad. That defeat cannot be properly avenged without beating United when it really matters, when it really hurts.
We can do that now. We have that chance. And nothing would feel better.
Tags: Arsenal, Champions League, Manchester United, Villarreal
March 20th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Up and at ‘em, indeed.
March 20th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Bring ‘em ON!
March 20th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Villareal is an excellent draw quite simply because as hard as they are to break down, they’re not a free scoring team either. Furthermore, they are a shadow of their 2006 selves with Riquelme gone and most of their squad from that time intact but 3 years older, the team is the Spanish equivalent of AC Milan – full of experienced players who are getting too old to run with those in their prime. They took the league by storm over the years but this season they have been below expectations in La Liga.
On a side note isn’t it strange that the team Bobby Pires left for because he was upset at the 2006 CL Final sub is up to face us in the quarters. His return to Arsenal grounds will be interesting.
I would love to destroy the Mancs in the semis – we’ve shown that we have and can beat them and Liverpool has shown us that they are not so untouchable and there’s weaknesses in their game. If Arsene reads this – Vidic hates pacy players going to his left-side. Attack him on the ground, not in the air – he’s a weaker player when it comes to technical ground ball play.
March 20th, 2009 at 4:36 pm
I am feeling funny about all these gungho gooners who think that all we need to do is turning up against Villareal. Its that silly mentality that lost us games. I hope the team does’nt behave like the supporters. Lets go there and get a goal at the very least then the return game would be enjoyable.
Mancs will be a different preposition when thel glory is in sight and that will show us what our boys are made of. Its a beautiful thing to. Not like last season when our challenge ended way too early.
Speaking about challenge, is everybody sure of who will be 2nd, and 3rd in EPL this time round? I think we should wait and see.
March 20th, 2009 at 5:06 pm
I don’t think we’re being gungho about Villareal and I don’t expect Wenger to be planning for Mancs just yet. I simply think we’re somewhat confident in our squad’s ability to press any top level opponent. They’re still 4th in La Liga which could or could not mean much depending on who you ask about the state of that league but they will challenge us but I don’t think we’ll falter on that challenge.
March 20th, 2009 at 11:21 pm
Happy with the draw. didn’t want to draw bayern. team that could cross and score from headers, with ribery crossing and klose and toni knocking em in. awful draw if that came off! i reckon on our day we can beat anyone that plays on the ground footie. i’d have preferred barca to bayern ! not too happy to have to play utd twice (if we get passed villareal of course) as i think utd have an unreal squad. still have this champions league hunch for us gooners as i have all season. (just like my ‘pool mate that rang me when the draw happened and yelled, you’re f**kin right ya c*nt!!). Heres to thjat 60-1 fa cup champions league double
March 21st, 2009 at 5:15 am
Good draw, but Villareal will be tough with very few goals scored over the two legs.
Having got to this stage of the CL, I can’t but wonder at the prospect of having Arshavin playing in the CL. It is so easy to imagine him scoring a wonder goal, (assisted by Fabregas and Rvp) to win the game 2-1 against Barca with 4 minutes to go. If he was playing, I could see us as a equal 3rd favourite with Liverpool, behind Man U and Barca.
March 22nd, 2009 at 4:35 am
I can’t wait for the return of Pires. He is a Gunner for life that has earned my respect. True legend.