FEATURES
THE ARSENAL AGM - FULL WRITE UP
FIVE REASONS: ARSENAL COULD WIN IN BARCELONA
CARLTON AND ITV UPSET US AGAIN
JEKYLL AND HYDE PLAY THE NOU CAMP
Ray Kane
Riversdale Road Bafta
ray.kane@ramasset.co.uk
Battigoal
Let's face it, you are out of the Champions League not because of a fantastic goal (it was good but not the best ever - not even the best this week!) but because you havn't evolved defensively. I know it's not easy to hear but there is no-one else in top level football in Europe who has so many old, slow blokes in their team.
It was a wonderfull swansong two years ago, and who's to say this year? (it might even be a blessing in disguise that there is no Champions League distraction this year) however playing in Europe against the best players in the world (not including Sweden!) exposes every teams faults and the Goons are not up to it, neither are any English team other than the Mancs.
Good luck in the EUFA, but you're a good few years away from making an impact in the pan-European league Midweek/Floodlit League (or whatever they call it when it becomes 30 matches a season).
Phil Tsamados
ptsamados@olehansen.co.uk
Arsenal v Fiorentina
I have read your match report. You seem to be saying that Dixon was on the pitch when Batustuta scored. However, was that the problem: he wasn't. Vivas came on for Petit (presumably because we need someone hard in middlefield and without a yellow card), Suker came on for Dixon, and Vivas moved back into Dixon's position. Then they caught us on the break when Vivas was still out of position!
Ed:
Fair point. I had an obstructed view, and reported it was Dixon
- whereas it was Winterburn - subsequently corrected the same
day as the report. But still, this is an astute tactical point.!