Porto Vs Arsenal | Champions League 17/02/10

[Fordy]

Dont say this often but i agree with inch, i cant believe people are trying to say it was not sol's fault at all lol

[absolutely_fabregas]

sol was a bit to blame

if in doubt, kick it out

rule number one.

[Massa]

Too far?

Nope, I like the sound of 'Massa's love tunnel'

[Briggsy]

Lets gets this straight Campbell didn't concede the free kick the keeper did! Campbell didn't give the ball allowing them to take the free kick quickly it was 99.9% Joey flapyourarmski's fault

[StLGooner]

It was partly Sols fault man, he could've held off the attacker like most defenders do and let the ball roll to Fabby, he didn't make the best choice either, therefore its partly his fault.

[Briggsy]

Tbh I understand where Wenger says it wasn't a pass back but I would of gave it on a sunday but not on a wednesday

[StLGooner]

Seeing the replay Sol barely got any of the ball and it almost looked like he didn't mean to, but who knows what was going through his head, I think he was stuck in between, "do I pass it, kick it, or hold off the attacker".

[Massa]

Proper Referee.

[Libertine]

Two goals conceded through playground-like mistakes.
Fabianski must've taken his eye off the ball with the first one.
The second was a ridiculous chain of events.
Campbell should've stuck the ball in Row Z, Fabianski shouldn't have picked it up, he then shouldn't have just handed it to the ref and Campbell should've used his experience to stand over the ball, rather than go walk about with his head in his hands.
The most disappointing thing for me was our reaction to going 2-1 down.
We had 40 mins to get back at a team that we'd dominated for much of the first half but we looked completely lacklustre.
It was only when Walcott and Eboue got on that we started playing in and around their back four again.

All that being said, i think we'll win the second leg comfortably.

[Libertine]

Keepers acting like muppets, Clichy getting raped and Theo putting in a useless 20min cameo. Just a normal day at the office right?

It was far from useless. He made several key interventions and also carried the ball up the field during a period where we needed an outlet. It wasn't thrilling by any means, but one thing it certainly wasn't, was useless.

I agree, i thought Walcott did ok when he came on.

[Galls]

Two goals conceded through playground-like mistakes.
Fabianski must've taken his eye off the ball with the first one.
The second was a ridiculous chain of events.
Campbell should've stuck the ball in Row Z, Fabianski shouldn't have picked it up, he then shouldn't have just handed it to the ref and Campbell should've used his experience to stand over the ball, rather than go walk about with his head in his hands.
The most disappointing thing for me was our reaction to going 2-1 down.
We had 40 mins to get back at a team that we'd dominated for much of the first half but we looked completely lacklustre.
It was only when Walcott and Eboue got on that we started playing in and around their back four again.

All that being said, i think we'll win the second leg comfortably.

I think it was Steve Coppell who said that fabianski should have kept hold of the ball but that he expected the ref to behave like a PL ref, and out of respect he gave him the ball. Hindsight is a lovely thing tho isn't it.But hopefully we'll learn from this and not be as niaive again.

I agree that the response to going 2-1 down was very disappointing, especially when they had reacted so well to being 1-0 down. But heads went down, probably because they felt that the goal was injust andthey had been cheated. Must admit I was ranting away like a good 'un adn was still moaning about it 15 mins later. But then these are professional people and should be able to just get on with the game, moan later!! It wasn't going to change the poutcome.

Am hoping for a good result now at the Emirates. Revenge needs to be taken I feel.

[northerngooner83]

Over the past ten years, the first legs of 11 Champions League knockout round matches have finished 2-1 to the hosts but on eight of those occasions, it's been the team with home advantage in the second leg who have progressed - a whopping 73 per cent advantage for the initial loser.

Full story here.

There is hope for us yet then!!