march 20th
22.39 – Juventus Ringers 1-0 Arsenal. Deportivo Ringers 1-3 Bayer Leverkeusen.
Lucky socks my hole. Had the dubious pleasure of watching the Deportivo game whilst listening to the Arsenal game on the radio. Deportivo rang the changes, and played like they didn’t give a shit. Which of course they didn’t. Makes no odds to them finishing 1st or 2nd in the group, when they play their best team and actually try, they know they can beat anyone. So, they went through the motions, and Leverkeusen beat them quite convincingly – because they had something to play for. Deportivo’s fans booed them off at half time, and they were a bit better in the 2nd half, but all in all, you could see they couldn’t care less.
As for our game, we had loads of chances by the sounds of it, TH went back to his old club and missed a penalty, and they nicked a goal from a corner. In the end it wouldn’t have mattered if we’d won anyway. You have to look at our away form in Europe and say that’s the reason we’re out.
For a team that’s gone this far in the domestic season without being beaten away, it’s a bit odd. I don’t suppose there can be any complaints about the side Deportivo put out when you look at the side Juventus had out. If we couldn’t beat them tonight, we didn’t deserve to go through.
Personally, while I’m always disappointed when Arsenal lose, I’d rather be out of the Champions League than out of the title race. Sure, I’d like us to win it, but I’d much rather we won the league. We still have the FA cup as well, and I hope the boys do as well as they normally do when they bounce back from disappointing nights like this one.
Adios Champions League – I suppose the only positive thing is that it takes two games off our hectic schedule. Scant consolation all the same.
09.00 – So tonight we’ll find out if Arsenal can join Liverpool and Man Utd in the last 8 of the Champions League. What a result last night for the scousers – that’s 2 seasons running they’ve knocked Roma out of europe.
Thierry Henry returns to Juventus where they wasted his talent and potential by playing him at left wing back. I hope he shows them what they’re missing. Of course, Arsenal’s qualification depends more on the result between Deportivo and Bayer Leverkeusen. If the Spaniards win then the result in Turin doesn’t matter a jot. It’s gonna be nerve wracking stuff later on.
Planet Football says we’re giving a trial to another Japanese player. Makes sense. After the sensational impact of Junichi Inamoto…..er……..ehm…..well, you can read about it here.
I’m off to put on my lucky socks. More later.
