No chance!

Hi folks, Optimistic Gooner here.
Anyone remember 1971? The Arsenal had to go to White Hart Lane and not concede a goal in their final league match of the season to clinch the championship on goal average (as it was in those days). It was considered highly unlikely - "No Chance" read the headlines.
How about 1989 - final match of the season. The Arsenal had to win 2-0 at Anfield to snatch the championship away from Kenny Dalglish's Liverpool - not concede a goal and score twice to prevent Liverpool being champions, on their patch, an impossible task said (just about) everyone.
And now we have 2012. The Arsenal have to recover from a 0-4 loss in Italy, have to beat AC Milan 5-0 at The Grove to qualify for the next round of the Champions League. No chance!
Well, I'd agree it's a hefty challenge but think on..........in Italy, on the San Siro pitch (which didn't allow fast or accurate play on either wing due to new turf having been laid) we played at the pace that Milan set and got well and truly stuffed. At The Grove we'll have a proper, playable surface and can attack AC Milan with pace - two early goals and we're well in with a chance. I'm thinking it's not impossible - I'm hoping the players agree!

You need to score 5 goals.... whilst not impossible, hardly likely...

jpr60 wrote:Hi folks, Optimistic Gooner here.
Anyone remember 1971? The Arsenal had to go to White Hart Lane and not concede a goal in their final league match of the season to clinch the championship on goal average (as it was in those days). It was considered highly unlikely - "No Chance" read the headlines.
How about 1989 - final match of the season. The Arsenal had to win 2-0 at Anfield to snatch the championship away from Kenny Dalglish's Liverpool - not concede a goal and score twice to prevent Liverpool being champions, on their patch, an impossible task said (just about) everyone.
And now we have 2012. The Arsenal have to recover from a 0-4 loss in Italy, have to beat AC Milan 5-0 at The Grove to qualify for the next round of the Champions League. No chance!
Well, I'd agree it's a hefty challenge but think on..........in Italy, on the San Siro pitch (which didn't allow fast or accurate play on either wing due to new turf having been laid) we played at the pace that Milan set and got well and truly stuffed. At The Grove we'll have a proper, playable surface and can attack AC Milan with pace - two early goals and we're well in with a chance. I'm thinking it's not impossible - I'm hoping the players agree!

jpr, our problem is that we just don't attack at pace. We now slow the game to walking pace just to make sure that we give the opposition time to get all 11 of their players between us and their goal. Milan will just let us do what we've become so good at, play the ball back and forth across the face of their defence. They have no reason to attack us at all.
No, the damage is done. What we should concentrate on is staying injury free in this game, we're down to the bare bones as it is.

Optimistic gooner is obviously also a smackhead

You could well score 5 goals, god only knows how many you will concede though!!! That Scillachi played well on Saturday didnt he

villanfromluton wrote:You could well score 5 goals, god only knows how many you will concede though!!! That Scillachi played well on Saturday didnt he

Top players the lot of them..... just misunderstood....

FrenchSpur wrote:

villanfromluton wrote:You could well score 5 goals, god only knows how many you will concede though!!! That Scillachi played well on Saturday didnt he

Top players the lot of them..... just misunderstood....

I've only seen the last 15 minutes or so of the Sunderland game and what I've heard I've certainly not gone out of my way to seek out the full 90 minutes.
Trust me, all is not lost. Optimistic Gooner is on to something with his analysis regarding Arsenal's "no chance" matches!

Well you have to be right on one occassion JP, cos you do seem to be lose quite frequently recently

So. it's come-back time! 4-0 down, eh? Let's see what can be done!

I've read a few things today suggesting Arsenal are in with a chance tonight! If anyone will score 5 tonight it'll be the opponents eh.

villainies wrote:I've read a few things today suggesting Arsenal are in with a chance tonight! If anyone will score 5 tonight it'll be the opponents eh.

You may well be right - ordinarily I'd be happy if we simply won the match if not the tie but I've got Optimistic Gooner on my back and he does seem to have been calling the shots just recently!

2-0 you could actually manage to pull off a remarkable comeback

3-0 and its not even half time

Gonna be a great 2nd half

MrMagoo wrote:Gonna be a great 2nd half

It will be 4-0 with a minute to go.... and someone will score.....

Incredible fight from Arsenal. Problem is, if Milan even score one, they'll have to score another 3.

After seeing the first half.. can see Arsenal scoring six

That's fcuked it now

villainies wrote:I've read a few things today suggesting Arsenal are in with a chance tonight! If anyone will score 5 tonight it'll be the opponents eh.

Your worrying me Villanies.. wanting to keep Mcminge.. Silly youtube posts and now Ringo-esue posts

Well good, but not good enough in the end. Seems to be the story of Arsenal in the last 7 years.

Fantastic game.. what a chance for RvP to score a fourth..

Arsenal tired last 20 minutes and Milan kept the ball well..

Optimistic Gooner was soooo close to his predictions..

Ezekiel 25:17 wrote:Well good, but not good enough in the end. Seems to be the story of Arsenal in the last 7 years.

Is it seven years already ??

FrenchSpur wrote:

Ezekiel 25:17 wrote:Well good, but not good enough in the end. Seems to be the story of Arsenal in the last 7 years.

Is it seven years already ??

2005 was the last trophy they won, I think? I'll hold my hands up if I'm wrong.

Ezekiel 25:17 wrote:

FrenchSpur wrote:

Ezekiel 25:17 wrote:Well good, but not good enough in the end. Seems to be the story of Arsenal in the last 7 years.

Is it seven years already ??

2005 was the last trophy they won, I think? I'll hold my hands up if I'm wrong.

The Goons will know they seem pretty up on dates at the moment....

Ok they may not have got through tonight, but they have had e great results in a row now.

Coming into form at the right time for the champions league places