Sicario2 - Tier 1 What I don’t like is your consistent shrug of the shoulders of taking zero accountability and using external factors as a way to justify not winning anything.

I haven't said the club are exempt from criticism and just a few posts up I've acknowledged we've been below par this season. Clearly, mistakes have been made but I don't think everyone associated with the club deserves to be castigated every time we don't win a game. Particularly when there's plenty to be optimistic about. I see no reason why we can't rectify our problems next year but I'll assess the situation based on whatever 'the latest available data' is.

I think you've misinterpreted my pragmatism for something else...

Sicario2 - Tier 1 You have no ambition so please don’t talk to me about ‘football doenst work in a vaccum’.

...and that something else is a 'lack of ambition'

Alright, you got me. All I care about is the 4th place trophy and beating Spurs twice a season.

Sicario2 - Tier 1 Using external factors for one year is fine but you can’t keep using this excuse for going 5 years trophyless..

I haven't...we've been on a broadly upward trajectory for the last five seasons. This season we've taken a step back (if you want to call it that) but it doesn't necessarily change the direction of travel. And yes, I know that means nothing if we don't win anything etc.

        Just imagine how much time could have been wasted of Arteta faced off vs Simeone. Now we'll never what's the least in play time you can have in a CL knockout tie.

          That's such a sucker punch for them. Var cancelling an obvious goal, gk wasn't even jumping that way

          CBS claiming VAR leveraged semi automated technology which measures touch points which confirmed the double touch.

          Decisions need to start being explained, though.

            Claudius

            Arsenal this season are like that TV show you have on in the background. It's not like that tie could've been any worse than the Forest game.

              VAR bloody stupid sometimes. Like penalties aren't hard enough for everyone involved just let it continue naturally morons.

              So harsh on Alvarez, I mean they had to use sensors to pick it up and clearly it was a slip, watched the replay and can't see a second touch.

              Make him retake it if you really want to be anal but crossing off his penalty was harsh. We'd be fucking fuming if that happened to us.

                Qwiss "Coffee is for inverters"

                Man, VAR is just hilarious. I can't see much of that double tap even in slow motion.

                  daredevil If you're going to try this shit on, you need visualisations as compelling as the tennis or cricket's snickometer. Can't even see this one on the replay, we're talking about a decision a match referee would never have made.

                      Three years later still true, other managers probably tearing their hair out over fine details and Carlo gives a few major pointers and is like fuck it they'll figure out the fine details themselves.

                        JazzG Three years later still true, other managers probably tearing their hair out over fine details and Carlo gives a few major pointers and is like fuck it they'll figure out the fine details themselves.

                        Helps to have a wet dream team on that front.

                          Claudius Yeah, but which came first, the cigars or the managerial success? It's a bit like Ancelotti's chilled his way out to the top. Never really saw what he was like before he managed in England ...

                              Villa versus PSG, that's a huge deal for a certain former Arsenal manager. Emery is full of vengeful game-raising efforts ...

                              Burnwinter Yeah, but which came first, the cigars or the managerial success? It's a bit like Ancelotti's chilled his way out to the top. Never really saw what he was like before he managed in England ...

                              Eh I'm sure you've lived through his past iterations?
                              There was a time when he did give a fuck.

                                That penalty decision is just unfathomable. Can't be seen on the replay, in fact there looks like daylight between the left foot and the ball. How does VAR take half an hour to decide everything else but makes that call in 5 seconds? Maybe I'm too cynical but do we really think that decision would have happened the other way? In the unlikely event our tie is close they'll find some way to fuck us.

                                  If you think it would have been given the other way too then fair play.

                                  Anyway, looking forward to it. They are at least a club we've knocked out in living memory instead of having to play Bayern again like every other time we get this far. We were possibly even bigger underdogs that time too, although when you had Henry there was always a chance. They were also the opposition for my first (and only) game at Highbury - Lee Dixon's testimonial in 1999. Have we ever played them in a real game in other time?