1. Time for Arsenal players to look in the mirror
AT THE START of last season, not for the first or last time, Roy Keane raised eyebrows with some controversial comments.
When asked about Arsenal’s title chances, he suggested they would suffer as certain players are more interested in selfies and six-packs.
“We’ve the same thing (every year),” Keane said.
“Instead of focusing on winning Premier League titles, it’s all about how their bodies look, how their hair is, more so than winning football matches, which is the way things are going.
“They’ve got good players, really good players, it’s just one or two of their players are more interested in selfies and six-packs.”
The criticism was undoubtedly flawed. After all, the likes of Neymar and Messi have been known to pose extravagantly and post selfies on social media after games, but it hasn’t prevented them racking up titles.
But there was still something in what Keane said, and it was apparent again this evening.
Arsenal’s main problem tonight, as it has been in big games for much of this season, has been their defence.
Even in the first half, it looked to be a question of ‘when’ rather than ‘if’ Bayern scored.
There was a lack of protection from the Gunners’ midfield, with the backline regularly being left one-on-one with Bayern’s attackers as a result.
The situation worsened after the departure of Laurent Koscielny in the second half, and by the end of the game, the visitors looked devoid of energy and enthusiasm, with Bayern’s forwards practically queuing up to score by the end.
Nevertheless, what’s perhaps even more worrying from Wenger’s perspective will be the body language of the players, which suggested there is obvious discontent within the dressing room.
When the situation started to go awry, both Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil threw their hands up in the direction of teammates in an exaggerated fashion to make sure fans noticed, suggesting a disillusionment that has seemingly been lingering for a while amid frustration over stalling contract talks.
But what those player protests suggest is ‘it’s not my fault’. Ozil and Sanchez are trying to show the fans that they care and that they are not to blame for what is unfolding.
Yet there is no need for these grand gestures — instead the duo and the rest of the Arsenal team need to stop worrying about their image and the public perception of the side, and instead start leading with their actions.
2. PSG too powerful for Barcelona
It is hard to remember another game in the last decade where Barcelona were so inferior to the opposition as was the case in last night’s comprehensive defeat by PSG.
The 4-0 outcome equalled the record defeat suffered by Barcelona in Europe — they have previously lost by the same result against FC Koln, Dynamo Kiev, AC Milan and most recently Bayern Munich in 2013.
Tuesday night’s game in Paris was just as crushing as any of those other aforementioned defeats, with Barca, who have dazzled on the European stage for years, for once looking distinctly mortal, as they were beaten by a far better team on the night.
On paper, Barcelona had the better footballers, but crucially, the hosts had the superior athletes. In midfield, the likes of Blaise Matuidi, Marco Veratti and Adrien Rabiot looked fitter, stronger and sharper than the ageing Andres Iniesta, Andre Gomes and Sergio Busquets.
Consequently, it was a rare quiet night in attack for Barca, with the Catalan side’s influential frontline isolated.
Down the other end, PSG fully capitalised, securing a 4-0 first-leg win that in no way flattered their performance.
3. Ronaldo’s goal drought continues
Despite Real Madrid beating Napoli 3-1 at the Bernabeu tonight, Ronaldo’s Champions League goal drought continued — an extraordinary situation for the competition’s all-time highest goalscorer.
The Portuguese superstar has now gone 523 minutes in total without scoring in Europe.
Yet for a player so often accused of selfishness and vanity, there have been recent signs that another element of his game has developed.
The 32-year-old registered his fifth Champions League assist — more than he has recorded in any other campaign — enabling Toni Kroos to give the hosts an early second-half lead this evening.
With the player’s notoriously egotistical behaviour in the past alienating him from some fans, perhaps he has finally realised the importance of complementing others as opposed to insisting on stealing the limelight.
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I’d say Van Gall is a very difficult man to work with.. He comes across so arrogant he even makes alex ferguson look humble..
I’m sure Giggs was happy with the win but just not in the manner in which it came
Never mind the relationship, who cares, where the fck do these generic incompetent reporters come from? You could get an app on a phone that would ask smarter questions….
I’m sure he’s delighted to have such an ambitious, ruthless and absolutely incredibly popular assistant manager.
Old Scholes didn’t exactly give him the vote of confidence the other day and I’m sure he’s still close with Giggs, I wonder did he know Paul was going to stick the boot in.
He seriously needs to chill out!
I always thought van gaal thought giggsy was a bit of a simp
He’s an awkward man!
Not sure about LVG. All arrogance and yet to back it up. Serious money spent and the team is a shambles. They create next to nothing. When they do score it’s more an accident than anything else. Terrible defence. Jones, Smalling & Fabio (is that his name?) are awful – should be playing with Derby or Burnley. Rojo way too rash. People go on about Falcao not scoring???? United create nothing for him. Give him some service and I’m certain he’ll put them away – he is proven quality. Di Maria? Don’t know what’s happened to him. Blind is as average as the day is long. He’s the dutch Glenn Whelan, every pass is sideways or backwards. LVG brings on Fellaini to dig him out of a hole every 2nd game? Unreal. I wonder does the chap realise how lucky he is to play for United – he’s absolutely rubbish. And I’m not jumping on the band wagon, I thought that from day one. Ever see him try to control the ball with his fee? He’s not able to. I suppose the only good thing is that they are 4th, but I fancy Liverpool to finish 4th. United with a lot of tough fixtures in the last 12 odd games. (Liverpool, Spurs, City, Chelsea, Everton)
Dutch Glen Whelan I love it
Ah the paper looks for angle
Man U are pure shite this season.