Arsenal FC, we're by far the greatest team, the world has ever seen! And it's Arsenal!
The match's just kicked-off- 4 minutes on, now. I think my nerves have gone, now. It was probably the wait that was killing, but now WE'RE ON! So this is actually a love blog. Well kinda. I have no idea how it's going to end!
It's been so easy in the build-up, to forget that we actually have the lead. 2-1 it finished at the Emirates, just in case you forgot. So as it stands, we're going through, woohoo! I'm just rambling now, as I really cannot think straight. What's my name? Not sure I know. Is it Arsenal? Maybe, seeing as that's all that's on my mind now. Anyway I'm sure I'll remember at 10pm!
Can't believe Robin's actually starting, you know. After all the talk about him being out for 4-6 weeks! I wonder if Arsene knew all along that it would only be a short spell out, after he picked up an injury during that game.
It's been an underwhelming game so far, though, with 12 minutes gone. Whoa, spoke too soon! Messi was kinda clean through, but Koscielny did brilliantly! A wrong move and it would have been a penalty and a Red! Phew! But as I was saying, there haven't been any shots on goal, yet. To be honest, I don't mind it staying that way! Barca have had about what, 90% of the possession so far? Just a guestimate, by the way.
Oops, first yellow of the game. Koscielny. Bang on 15 minutes. Can he hang on for 65 minutes without picking up another booking? Well, he better!
Ooh, from the resulting free-kick, Szczesny seems to have picked up an injury! Dani Alves fired it straight at Szzesny and he gathered it, but he looks like he did something to his fingers. The medical team is at work now. Not sure what he did to it, though. OH NO! Almunia's warming up! And HE'S COMING ON! OH GOD! PLEASE SAVE US! And it seems everyone on my timeline feels the same. But hey, Szczesny can say he kept a clean sheet at the Nou Camp! Just don't ask him how long he played...
Oh no, is Nasri down, now? Not for long, though, thank God! I am actually shaking. I guess the nerves aren't really gone... I've got my laptop on my lap (haha), hope I don't drop it, especially if we score...
Koscielny, be careful! You're on a yellow already! Oh right, that was Robin with the foul. No fluency to this game as of yet. Neither team keeping possession. But Pedro just had a curling effort, but wide of the post! It's building. Sagna with a yellow now. What did he do!? No idea!
Ooooh! Messi just tricked his way past a few players into the box, but the awesome Mr Djourou was there at the vital time to boot it away! Haha, he just fell in the box, but no penalty! You gotta appreciate the small things at this point. Oh wait, it LOOKED a penalty! Oops!
And now Villa just had the chance to score, but his effort was weak and easy for Almnunia. Who still managed to spill it, but only about an inch in front of himself. There was someone covering anyways. Oops, he's just booted the ball against the back of one of us! But Jack was there to mop it up! Phew!
Apologies if anyone is reading this post, as they don't come any more disjointed than this! We keep losing the ball! 10 minutes to go until halftime. It's almost like a game of chess! Ooh, Adriano just hit the bar! Now free-kick to Barca. Wave after wave! But we're doing enough. Just.
Gawd, Almunia scares me. They just showed a close-up of him. Scary!
We need Arshavin.
What, a free-kick?! That so wasn't one! They better not score from here. Defended well.
Finally we attack! But a Barca player is down. Will the match ever get going?
Haha, Robin just got a corner from a ball that came off, umm, him! I told you, the small things. WILSHERE DOWN! Iniesta challenge. Whoa, handbags! Robin getting involved. Not really sure what's going on.
5 minutes of added time. Jack's back in! Yellow for Robin now. It's getting hot now.
Messi with a shot, STRAIGHT at Almunia! Bloody hell, this looks like one of those games where 1-0 will do. Hope WE score that goal!
And Messi scores. Feck. Who on earth was trying the clever back-heel on the edge of the box? Nor so clever. It was Fabregas. Straight to Iniesta, who found Messi, who found the back of the net. Wow, what a reaction from Pep. Could have done his back there! Did the commentator just say "Messy with a y for Arsenal. Messi with an I for Barcelona"? AWFUL!
Half-time. As it stands, Barca are through. Ah, TIMELY stat from Opta! "4- The team that has opened the scoring in the last four encounters between Arsenal & Barcelona have failed to win. Comeback?". I love you OptaJoe. Seriously. Will love you even more if we win!
Just seen a replay of the goal. What a pre goal-attempt flick by Messi! I've just been umm, reliably informed by Twitter that it's called a "Sombrero"!
31% possession in the first half. Umm, BLATANT lie. It was so less then that!
Oh soz, second half's started. More of the same, really. Djourou with an interception! It's all about our defence today, isn't it?
Woohoo, a corner to us! Won by Nasri. AND A GOAL! Hahahaha, Busquets! AS it stands, we're through! Oh hell, and we almost conceded straight away! And Almunia's got a kick in his face for his troubles! Right, our goal. The corner was swung in by Nasri, on to the head of Busquets, and into the net. Simple as! except ofcourse, Busquests plays for Barca!
WHOA! Red for Robin! WHAT THE HELL! He was offside, but carried on, but the ref then sent him off for having a shot! Unjust.
We're in for it now. Wave after wave, again. Almunia's just had to make a save.
Not sure if I can continue this. Dani Alves should just have scored, but he blazed it! Squeaky bum time, and we still have 30 minutes to go. Everything's shaking, now.
Save by Almunia from David Silva!
I think I can only manage to type in short bursts. Gawd, it's 67 minutes on the clock, and I just thought it'll soon be 80 minutes gone. That's how dire it is. Oh, Xavi just scored. But it's not over! Extra time and penalties as it stands. See-sawing, much?
Sigh, penalty. Koscielny on Pedro. Come on, be a hero again, Almunia! Scores. Game, set, match? This could get even messy. But Arshavin's coming on! For Rosicky. But we aren't even attacking. Not getting the chance to, really. There's been an inevitability about the game since the Red. Such an undeserved Red. In the words of Cesc, "how much are they paying you?" I jest, ofcourse. One must learn to find humour even in the deepest of pains. See, football's turned me philosophical. Cesc is off?? Understandably, really. Bentdner on. Almunia's just denied Messi his hattrick. Small mercies.
Almunia again!
5 minutes plus added time remaining. Haha, Pedro should have scored! Empty net, but he rolled it wide! Still some hope left in me. Ohhhh! Bendtner almost won it for us! But poor first touch=Barca recovery=chance gone.
Out of interest, I wonder how many efforts Barca have had. Full-time, by the way.
Not the greatest of spectacles. Felt subdued all game, but especially after the sending off. There really wasn't much more we could have done. Credit to Barca.
19 attempts, 10 on target. No attempts, none on target by us. There it is. Amazing.
Can I just end this post here? Can't really say much else right now. But as I just tweeted, "Credit to Barca. But extra credit to our boys. Played their hearts out. Champions League's only a luxury, anyway. Time to focus on league.".
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