We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
It's the undisputed tie of the round - the two best footballing sides on the planet pitted against each other. Arsenal and Barcelona. If you aren't excited about this one, you don't have a pulse. Join me for all the action from 2:45 onward.
posted by The Blue Devil @ 1:14 PM
We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
98 Comments:
In the other CL match, a suspension depleted Inter Milan host CSKA Moscow. The Russians have a chance in this tie.
Here are the line-ups for tonight's big match:
Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Clichy, Fabregas, Song, Diaby, Nasri, Bendtner, Arshavin. Subs: Fabianski, Rosicky, Eduardo, Walcott, Denilson, Eboue, Campbell.
Barcelona: Valdes, Dani Alves, Pique, Puyol, Maxwell, Messi, Keita, Busquets, Xavi, Pedro, Ibrahimovic. Subs: Pinto, Marquez, Bojan, Henry, Milito, Toure Yaya, Jeffren.
TH-14 is enjoying a warm reception but he'll have to enjoy it from the bench where he starts tonight. Pep Guardiola has gone with Zlata and Pedro up front and of course the danger man Messi roaming wherever he bloody well pleases.
That's interesting. I've been dialing up a stream from something called Sport 3 for some time now and noticed that they have coverage from a number of sources. Last night it was the Sky team of Martin and Andy. Tonight we've got the Auntie Beeb team of Lineker, Shearer, Ruud and El Tel. Gaz just revealed that it's Al Jazeera Sport Plus 3 channel. Wow - I had no idea. Hope that doesn't get me put on a watch-list.
The link I'm on is a bit stop/start but the picture and sound is brilliant when it is working:
http://www.anaimgr.tv/
So Arsenal get us underway in this first leg of the CL quarter final. A match to really savor, I hope.
An early corner and Arsenal are under the cosh already. Cleared off the line!
Barca are really going straight at Arsenal from the first kick. Arse will have to work hard to get the momentum back.
Messi is linking up with Danny Alves already on the right side. That's got to be shut down.
Song seems to be picking up Zlatan. I was hoping that he'd be in Messi's shorts all afternoon, but apparently not.
Messi produces a terrific save from Almunia.
Wow! What a gilt-edged chance there for Zlatan! A slide rule cross over from Alves and Zlatan somehow contrived to pop it over the bar. What a let-off!
The commentators are noting the CL champs could already be three up and they're not exaggerating.
Arsene looking a bit grave right now.
Arsenal have barely had the ball yet. How is that possible?
This is better from Arsenal. A few passes strung together but then Diaby gives the ball away. Barca run it up the pitch and Zlatan hits one in the side netting when he could have squared it.
The commentary has died off now. Just as well - I was tiring of their gushing about Barca's play.
Come on, the Arse!
Almunia was thought to be one of the weak links, but he's kept the Gunners in it, if anything.
Another fabulous save by Almunia! Zlatan was played in by Alves again and somehow he stuck a hand out and kept it out.
And again! The Spanish waiter has been awesome tonight. And then it's saved off the line by Song! Arsenal are being battered!
Fifteen minutes gone and somehow it's still 0-0, mostly due to Almunia's heroics. He's really up for this one tonight.
One hundred and eight dollars!!!!!
Vermaelen fouls out wide right and now there's a free kick opportunity. Xavi over it.
Hey, WHR! I know, I know. I was hoping to use the book with my students but I'm not sure at that price. Maybe I can use my author's discount and buy a bunch of copies for them. In any case, it buys me tenure here at Fredonia, so I'm chuffed with it.
This would be an excellent point for a sucker punch goal from the Gunners.
Arshavin picks up a yellow card for a typical attacker's tackle.
I'm going to save up me wages and buy one for my sis-in-law as a graduation present. She's getting her Master's in Education from University of Louisville in May and starts teaching middle school social sciences in the fall at a middle school in KY.
Tenure. Sweet.
The last five minutes have been better for Arsenal. Almunia hasn't had his hands warmed in a few minutes.
Thanks, mate. I really appreciate it.
Nasri, who's really on form right now, curls one from distance but it's just wide. Best effort for the Gunners so far.
If your sister-in-law is going to teach middle school ss in KY, she'll definitely need some strategies for how to deal with controversy.
And some classroom management tips as well!
Messi goes down looking for a penalty but nothing doing.
Arshavin has trotted off with a knock. Eboue on in his place, getting the "Seven Nation Army" treatment from the Emirates' faithful.
Half an hour gone and things have settled a bit after that first fifteen minutes of intense attack from the Spanish side.
Zlatan pulls the trigger again but Vermaelen did just enough to put him off.
I am here
How has it been going?
Bendtner has a chance here but he's ruled offside.
I just got an ITV link from VSS
Barca been on top?
WOW!!
What a scramble!! Bendtner off side but what a scramble!
Heya, Dave! It's been all one-way traffic for Barca, to be fair. Zlatan in particular could have had a hat-trick. It could be 3 or 4-0 Barca, but somehow it's goalless. Almunia has been bloody heroic. Lots of highlights at half-time, no doubt.
I have read your comments and it looks like it has been all Barca
You're not at home? It's on FSC, no?
Just got home and didn't have control of the TV
I do now!
I have both on now
Gallas needs a stretcher.
What happened?
Looks like Gallas is in trouble here. Campbell and Denilson warming up. Who will Arsene turn to?
Just lost the TV to Nickelodean!
Good man! Show those kiddies who's boss!
Tell them they're too old for the Nick!
Still no real news about Roon. Some say 2 to 4 weeks
That is devastating!
He would miss the second leg
Chelsea, Citeh, Spurs!!
Nearly half-time now. What will Arsene tell the players at half-time?
Oh, Nasri did well but just couldn't find Bendtner.
Fab gets a yellow and is out of the second leg!
Half time and it scoreless
Fab is pleading his case to the ref
COME ON ARSENAL!
I'm off to set up my class at half-time. Enjoy the highlights.
STRUTH!!!
Just saw all of Barcelona's chances!! Where is the Gunners' defense!!!
15 shots to 2 in favor of Barca!
Still nil nil though
I know - it was intense!
Teams back out after the interval. Unfortunately, I'm going to have to pop off to teach my class in a moment or two.
They 're off
Barca score after 22 seconds!!
ZLATAN!!
GOAL! Zlatan has opened the tie right up in the opening seconds of the half, looping a ball over Almunia and into the net.
0-1 Barca!
And my screen goes dead right on cue as he celebrates. I'm off to class, mate. Enjoy!
What a bummer!
Almunia was in no man's land!
Take care mate
What a rotten week so far for the Premier League
Barcelona goal: Eleventh time lucky then. Less than 30 seconds into the second half, Gerard Pique (I think) sends a long ball down the right for Zlatan Ibrahimovic to run on to and the Swede delicately lobs the ball over Manuel Almunia and inside the far post. Maybe a question mark over Almunia's positioning but a magnificent finish in Zlatan's 11th game against English club opposition.
No European team has won at the Em.
Arsenal and Costa are the teams that knocked of the Arse in the last two seasons
Free kick chance right on the edge of the box
Got all ball again!
Messi range and angle
HOPELESS!
Hit the wall's shins!
Rebound saved by Almunia
ooh, The Arse almost get the goal back
Nice header by Bendtner but keeper saves well. Either side of him and it was in.
Barca go straight down and almost score again!
Two nil
Zlatan again is left wide open cracks it passed Almunia
Bugger
The game has reached the hour mark and it is not good news!
I really thought they would give them a better game!
Tie over?
I really wanted someone to knock off these buggers!
I wouldn't want these guys or the Special One to win.
United better get through!
Arsenal fans wanting to see Henry
Nasri coming off for Wallcott
Nope it isn't
Sagna goes off instead
Fabio Capello is in the stands! Why?
Theo is the first Englishman on show!
good sprint by Walcott to get a cross in but comes to nothing
YES!!!
Walcott slots one home!!
1-2
Great pace!
Nice pass by Bendtner
Very spirited play by the Arsenal
Free kick just outside the D
Ex United Pique is booked and out of the second leg
Inter take the lead in Italy
Walcott has really made a difference!
Fab to take the free kick...over the top
This display by Theo will have pleased Fabio
The tempo of the match has changed.
17 minutes to go
Th 14 about to come on
Almunia saves at the near post from that Messi bloke
TH coming on for ZI... big cheer
Just like Becks at OT
Big cheer and then his first touch... booed
Arsenal seem very slow with their passes. They are normally but Barca are doing it to them
Diaby in the book
Come on Arsenal... get the tying goal
Win 1-0 at the Nou Camp and you're through!
10 to go
PENALTY!!!!
TO THE ARSENAL
RED CARD TO PUYOL!!!
Fab to take.... come on Cesc...YES!!!!!!!!
2-2!
Great come back!!!!!
Go for the win!
He looks like he hurt himself when taking the pen
They have no subs left!
In the second leg... Barca won't have Puyol or Pique!!
Fab is badly limping
Messi is being taken off!!!
4 minutes to go
Fab is just limping around outside
Theo has changed this game!
The crowd is roaring every time Theo touches the ball
Three minutes of added time
I thought a cross was going to get to Fab at the back post!
Into the last minute of the added time
Come on Arsenal!
It is over!
What a comeback for the Arsenal!
A one nil victory in Spain and they are through
From the Beeb about the Arsenal comeback
Arsenal goal: I have no words to describe this game. As Cesc Fabregas shapes to shoot, his leg is caught by Carles Puyol. The Barca skipper is sent off and after he eventually leaves the pitch, Fabregas steps up to smash in the penalty. Fabregas picks up the ball to run back to the halfway line, but he is limping very badly now. Arsenal have made all their substitutions though. I'm still trying to figure out how it's 2-2. Astonishing game.
So, both English clubs are still in it but not in great positions
Of course, both team's fortunes could have been very different just before the final whistle
Positive change for the Arse but not for United
Inter won 1-0
BBC 5 live's Graham Taylor: "It's one of the most one-sided 2-2s many of us will have seen, but I do blame Barcelona for taking their foot off the pedal at 2-0. When I see that, I think they deserved the result. Arsenal go to the Nou Camp with some hope, not a lot, but some."
Take care everyone.
UWS
Thanks for the coverage, Dave. It sounds as if the Gooner will have to rethink his opinions on The Spanish Waiter and the Sprinter - they were the stars for the Arse tonight.
It's not a great situation to take back to the Camp Nou, but we've seen odd results there before. It's not over.
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