Arsene Wenger knows when to dial up a season, and when to put on a show. His band of temperamental misfits pulled it together to a very empty stadium, and dropped CSKA from a great height onto a slab of polished concourse concrete.
Not even Arsenal can fuck up a 3 goal advantage.
The performance was dominated by Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil. The Welshman was in full on ‘give me the Ozil money’ mode. He absolutely dominated the game with his energy and attacking instincts. He popped up with two goals and was unlucky to have an early attempt disallowed. Our German superstar was in his element, he was given free rein to pick out space and runs all evening. His three assists and an asisst to the assister gave him the MOM.
The first goal came when he found Bellerin on the right. The Spaniard fizzed a searching low first-time cross into the penalty area, it found Ramsey at the back post where he cooly smashed his shot past Akinfeev.
The second didn’t take long to arrive, and it went the way of CSKA. A shoddy Mustafi clearance, a weak header by Xhaka, and an aggressive clear up operation from Koscielny led to a freekick being given about 20 yards out. Golovin made no mistake, masterfully looping the ball over the wall and dipping it under the bar. Petr Cech had no chance.
It didn’t really feel like a game changer, we had all the momentum. Arsenal looked comfortable on the ball, we were definitely fitter, and we had way more talent. CSKA played the way Wenger needs teams to play to win. Totally open, zero agression, with no clear plan.
Our second came from a penalty after Ozil was felled in the box for the second time in a week. This time, the penalty was a bit more justified and the contact came before the ball was touched. Lacazette took the kick and scored his second of the week.
Our third was so good that I’m still waiting for my excitement to subside, you know what I’m saying, right?
Mesut Ozil picked out a Ramsey late run into the box with a diagonal lofted ball into the CSKA area, Ramsey pirouetted mid-air and turned the ball over the keeper with the side of his heel. Ballerina beauty. A Puskas nomination is surely forthcoming. Give him the keys to north London while you’re at it. Also, force him to sign a new deal.
The night was capped off with a slick move. Xhaka played a great ball down the left, Ozil put in a sprint of exceptional gusto, then rattled a ball across the box, he found Lacazette about 10 yards from goal, he controlled the ball with one touch and rattled home a precision strike back across goal. A real fox in the box strike.
The only shame of the night is we didn’t really make sure of the result (you know, to properly safe levels), but to be honest, CSKA were so off the pace, it’s hard to see how they’d come back into the game.
There were no major upsets in the other games. Leipzig beat Marseille 1-0 at home. Atletico dealt easily with Sporting with a 2-0 victory, they’re certainly in the semifinals. Lazio beat Salzburg 4-2. All the strongest teams look very likely heading into the next round.
… Just pray we don’t meet Atletico.
Right, that’s all I have, see you in the comments. x
Pretty sure this is not the first time utd despite being shite but being clinical and snatch a win. They certainly did the same against us.
The pundits on legroom went overboard with all the superfluous praise of city. That’s my point. There was a time when they seemed invisible in the season but recently they have beeb grinding out some results. This is like out invincibles team. We were untouchable until united bullied us off the park in the FA cup semi-finals at Villa park. That bursted our momentum and we lost the next game to Chelsea in the CL quarter finals. That season we were the best in Europe but once momentum is gone, you’re back to ground level grinding it out like everyone… Read more »
Sane last few games hasn’t been his dominating self I wonder if teams are now doubling up on him.
“Ramsey was being played as a B2B CM last season, not as a CAM, so it makes no sense to assess him on goals and assists — and certainly not that alone. I just explained this; you have to look at his total contribution (all stats, both sides of the ball).“
He’s played alongside Xhaka this season plenty of times, you’re unreal.
Last season he averaged 0.9 tackles per game and 0.5 interceptions per game.
Basically youre talking total rubbish
WHAT A SAVE
Champagne
THAT IS WHY DE GEA IS THE BEST GOALIE IN THE WORLD.
Great save Dea Gea
De Gea what a save, he is the best in the league
Sterling single handedly winning it for Utd lolz…
I shouldn’t have shouted with all caps, my apologies. 🙂
Dissenter
They’ve earned that praise, you’re being precious about it for no reason at all.
Big deal if Spurs and Liverpool have been in better form for the last month, they’re 80 points behind City because City have been unreal all season.
Citeh are Champs regardless but just makes proud of us winning the League at Anfield, OT and WHL all those years.
Will be a bitter sweet moment for Citeh fans tonight.
Yeah it’s to premature to elevate Ederson onto Dea Gea level yet he’s been here two minutes. Yes potentially see greatness but Dea Gea world class.
Sterling ruined it for City
Pointless discussing things with some people.
Champagne
You’re kissing my point though.
I’m referring to the band wagon effect of people going overboard to excessively praise the team of the moment like form is permanent.
Last season it was Conte that could do no wronging Guardiola was over-rated.
There are ebbs and flows all through the season, city have been grinding out results lately, maybe they don’t have to work as hard I guess.
I remember saying that the odds for Liverpool vs city being 50-50 and being laughed at. Liverpool progressively got better unlike city that surged like an elite sprinter.
That was a the match winning save.
Knee jerk De Gea fawning after a Hollywood save, it was a foot left of his head haha
Also a bit premature was all the talk of Pep improving Sterling’s finishing. Yes he has scored a few goals but never looked like his technique has improved.
Champs would of loved to see you save that ; )
City in last 2 games have shown an air of complacent arrogance which has been rightly punished. They need to spank Liverpool now as the only means of redemption…. I’m sure they’re capable.
@ CC Dissenter has a point. Yes Citeh have been the cream of the crop this season in the league, but make no mistake this loss and that against Pool will hurt Pep and his team badly. I doubt they will go through against Pool mid week. Its like after Chelsea lost to us in the FAC (more the manner they lost and not the loss itself) and Comm Shield, things went belly up for Conte as it showed they were beatable. (See how they never beat us this season in any game) Citeh have to pick themselves up…winning is… Read more »
“Pointless discussing things with some people.“
You typically.
You don’t like being wrong about things and that much is evident, lest we forget.
Charlie
True but he had to adjust his body. It was u orthodox and not a world ie save but still a top quality one.
And rating dea gea is hardly knee hero he has been one of the top keepers in Europe for the last couple of seasons.
Ederson is not even the best Brazilian goalie.
Allison Becker is widely rated by watchers of Brazil to be the best goal keeper Brazil has produced in the past 1-2 decades. The Brazilian goalkeeping coach, Taffarel has watched both and publicly stated this over and over again.
Ederson will go to Madrid since De Tea has taken the 350k weekly deal from united. He will get his big stage there.
As I remember it, he was good last season, esp. towards the end.
Ramsey decent in the worst two year period in the last 20+ years? Sounds about right.
Champagne,
There’s a reason the game has to be played; football makes big fools of ALL of us.
Just admit that you under-estimated United and stop all excuses. It’s not city taking off their foot off the gas or being distracted. by the game next week.
You got it wrong this time, we all get stuff wrong sometimes.
So What I can gather is that Ramsay doesn’t have a great goal scoring or assist record. Nor does he have a good assist or interception average. But still to some he is the second coming of Zidane!
Diss
I could see Ederson going to Barca.
London
I didn’t say rating De Gea was knee jerk, but the fawning over him is predictable because he makes Hollywood saves.
He also gave the ball away to Gundogan for City’s second which quickly gets swept under the carpet.
Ederson is leagues better with the ball, and a more dominant/commanding figure. He’s a better GK for me.
Haha
Jeez, reading my posts.
It seems I’m trying to re-invent the language. I’m being haunted by auto-complete.
I know Mystic will come after me for using this excuse again.
Pointless discussing things with some people.
If it’s about Ramsey or Neymar with you then we’re absolutely in agreement
Berg
“But still to some he is the second coming of Zidane!”
Really dumb. No one here says anything of this sort re Ramsey.
“Just admit that you under-estimated United and stop all excuses. It’s not city taking off their foot off the gas or being distracted. by the game next week.
You got it wrong this time, we all get stuff wrong sometimes“
What are you talking about?
City were tearing them apart first half. They came out second half, got sucker punched, and never recovered.
Credit to United for holding out, but that loss was down to City and not United being “underestimated”. You trying to angle it as a United masterclass or something? Lol
Samesong,
Ederson is the perfect Guardiola goalie.
He has better ball playing skills than Welbeck and he’s going no where.
Barca haven’t based their successes on goal keepers to be honest, they win by the sheer mass of there attack.
Allison Becker is the one making the big move this summer. He’s headed to Madrid.
Not sure who has been going ‘overboard’ with praising City.. They’ve been the in-form team of the league, not Liverpool or Spurs. City are almost 20!! points ahead of both Pool and Spurs.
Unless, wait, are we celebrating the Wenger “We Played the Best Football in the 2nd Half of the Season” Trophy? If yes, then praise be to Liverpool/Spurs.
City deserve plaudits for their form over the course of the entire season. They’ve smashed the league, and they’ve played some delightful stuff at times, including the 1st half of this game.
**thier attack**
***their attack***. omg
Charlie
Dea gea has better reflexes and has world class saves and is better at collecting the ball from corners.
Ederson is better with the ball and distrubition is top notch but he isn’t an elite saver and is a bit rusty at collecting the ball from corners.
Apples and oranges.
No way Alisson is a better keeper than Ederson. I’m sorry but there’s a reason City paid a fortune for the lad a reason they targeted him instead of Alisson
Barca are fine for GKs, Ter Stegen has been one of their best players this season.
I find Allison to be over rated. I don’t understand the fuss around him.
I’ve never seen this Allison a woman best keeper in the world fair play ; )
“Not even Arsenal can fuck up a 3 goal advantage.“
Oh sure…. jinx us
London
Don’t share your view about De Gea with crosses. I rate Ederson more here, he’s decisive, crazy brave, and physically massive.
De Gea is a shotstopper predominantly, I think his footwork is suspect and he’s merely good with crosses. He’s top drawer clearly, I happen to rate Ederson as a better overall player.
Give me the choice of both and it’s Ederson. Though I’m hardly sad at the options.
Champagne
“You trying to angle it as a United masterclass or something? Lol”
Oh dear
City needed a good response to the disastrous result at Anfield. This was not some insignificant game, it was a derby. They had to clear their heads. Now they are going into the second leg against Liverpool with two consecutive results.
You don’t think ANY TEAM coming back from 0-2 down in the first half to beat the champions-in-waiting is a special result?
Samesong noice boi noice
Marko
“No way Alisson is a better keeper than Ederson. I’m sorry but there’s a reason City paid a fortune for the lad a reason they targeted him instead of Alisson”
When did you start watching Edelson?
Claudio Taffarel, the Brazilian national team goal keeping coach and WC winner has seen both players all through their careers and he disagrees with you.
Will you change your mind when Madrid pay Roma a world record fee for a goal keeper in the summer?
Dissenter
Obviously it’s a good result for United.
Not sure why you’re failing to see in what I’m saying though. It was self inflicted on City’s part, they were playing party football going in at half time and quite visibly re-emerged thinking game over.
United upped their intensity and after two goals in two minutes City were rocked. That being said, United never dominated the game at any stage, they scored from nothing and any further chances ame from City pushing up for the win.
Idk what we’re even discussing frankly. City fucked it up is my point.
Both Liverpool and City today put more of an emphasis on Tuesday and both their respective performances suffered because of it. The only difference is whereas Liverpool were playing a piece of shit Everton side City were playing a United side with more of a backbone than Fat Sam’s team. They were very lucky if we’re being honest though prior to that Pogba smash and grab they not once looked like scoring
Banford
Nothing to say re: Ramsey after I shared his defensive numbers from last season?
Curious what your ‘reasoning’ is.. or are facts still something you dismiss when it suits?
Watching the old codgers knock their balls around Augusta with their walking sticks for hours on end sill to come
Gawd bless Sky Sports
Claudio Taffarel, the Brazilian national team goal keeping coach and WC winner has seen both players all through their careers and he disagrees with you
Sure he disagrees with a certain Pep Guardiola too. No one’s denying that he’s not a good keeper too but I just think Ederson is better from what I’ve seen. I think if Madrid end up signing Alisson it probably means they weren’t as arsed getting DeGea honestly more than Alisson being an elite keeper. Imo
Hillwood
Bit of rain last night, that should play very much into Rory’s hands with how far and high he carries it
United should never have been in position to come back in that match. City should’ve had a penalty and Young a red card for the latter’s early hand ball in the box, and Sterling should have finished one of those good chances to put it out of reach. A false dawn of sorts, IMO, for United, who still still seem less than the sum of their parts to me.
The leaderboard at Augusta is seeing the cream rise, quality top 15 battling it out here.
What a weekend ahead
Charlie
I’m a bit moist myself
Enjoy
Champagne
Four stats tell one very little. I’ll take a look at some of his other numbers and some specific matches and get back to you. In the meantime let’s remenber that he played well and scored the winning goal in the FAC final against Chelsea. Guardian article below.
“Aaron Ramsey fires Arsenal to FA Cup final win over 10-man Chelsea”
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/may/27/arsenal-chelsea-fa-cup-final-match-report
Banford
Ahhh, off you trot and find some to suit your narrative then.
No, I won’t base my judgement on one game thank you. I also remember Per was superb in the cup final but he did nothing all season.
I’ll say again, so you don’t confuse (or rewrite the argument), Ramsey was largely ineffective last season. I say this because you’re only mentioning this season as a point of judgement when discussing Ramsey.
So if we’re remembering things, let’s also remember that in case you try and are this somewhere else entirely.
🙂
*try and take this somewhere else entirely.
Hillwood
Nothing like a geriatric twirling his shaft.
Enjoy also!
Yes of you trot to your CULTURELESS VOID.
Bamford
One odd game doesn’t make a career. Would Ramsay get in to one of the top teams?
@ Berg,
Well we would never know that, but why can’t he?
Delph plays for Citeh, Ox and Henderson play for Liverpool? Or are we saying Spurs midfield could not do with a Ramsey if he were available?
Even teams like Barca have players that might not be special as long as they do a job for them….Jeez Alex Song played for Barca if your memory fails you.
Could we stop with the Rambo bashing please.
Loyika. Have you ever seen delph play in midfield for Man City?
Would Ramsay have the free role at Liverpool? Would just get in the way of Salah and Mane!!
Alex song didn’t last long at Barca now did he and there a reason for that but was in Arsenal midfield for years
Your statement said would he get in and that holds no water as Managers don’t think like we punters. The fact that Barca bought Song alone speaks volumes to this, even if it was only 1 game he played for them makes no damn difference, its on his resume (with the trophies he won there) Ok let me give you anothet name – Vermaleen!? The point is, folks are hard on Rambo (and most of our players) because he plays for us. Does he have his faults? Yes plenty, but lets not make it seem as if a Top Manager… Read more »
Any good Manager will be able to fit Rambo into his plans if he do chooses too. Aaron might not be first choice, but are you telling me if given a chance he would not jump to a team like Citeh even if to be part of the squad? The thing is any Manager that buys him will give him his chance and might even coach him properly on the defensive part of his game. Ox wasn’t trusted by Arsene to play in the middle where he wanted to play but Klopp gives him the chances. If Klopp didn’t go… Read more »
Loyika
Ramsey is quality, but how many teams would put him on 200k+ do you think?
I’m not sure any would do that (bosman aside), and my hesitation comes in tying up funds by doing exactly that.
Champagne charlie
“Ramsey is quality”
Lol lol lol lol lol lol
Ramsey is a bog standard player.
Golf is a pastime not a sport
What do you do for a living Red?
Anglican priest
“Ramsey is quality, but how many teams would put him on 200k+ do you think?” I’m a big critic of Ramsey. He has that whiff of Hollywood about him; he loves the limelight. Sometimes you just want him to be the one to make the gears work properly. He has to sho that he’s capable of making other’s around him better not just seeking stats. [This will make the Ramsey-lites mad] That said, If Ozil is on 300-350k weekly and Myki is on 170k weekly, then Ramsey is bang on to push for a 170-200k weekly wage. That’s his dues… Read more »
**”WILSHERE is holding back to avoid injury – that’s a no-no that good managers shouldn’t tolerate..”
Red
11 million US Dollar purse at the Masters says golf ain’t a pastime
Ramsey produced his best spell with Arsenal before falling foul with injury in December 2013 yet Arsenal still went on and made their customery top 4 and added an FA Cup too.
Ramsey is another in a long list of Arsenal players who add nothing to Arsenal’s game …begone i say….
Red
“Ramsey produced his best spell with Arsenal before falling foul with injury in December 2013 yet Arsenal still went on and made their customery top 4 and added an FA Cup too”
Who came on to score the winning goal against Hull city?
Red
Amen(corner) to you
Opponents say that golf better meets the definition of “game” than “sport,” does not require rigorous physical activity, and can be played professionally by people who are overweight, injured, or non-athletic.
Red
I imagine your life has been influenced heavily by a priest in some capacity
Red copied and pasted that from google.
Samesong
That’s all he does. Pretty questionable mental state for someone to do that daily as a form of interacting with strangers imo.
Red
Are you a member of the National Kerrplunk League
No way Red wasn’t touched by a priest. No way
Those of us who are enlightened automatically become priests.
Marko
Plot twist: he was forced to touch them
I don’t like this movie Charlie
PhD07April 8, 2018 18:05:44
Bamford10April 8, 2018 16:03:31
One, please cite these many games and moments when Ramsey was “cluelessly” out of position to the detriment of the team. We would all like to review and scrutinize these.
————–
Look to the last decade-dick head..