(12-03-2010 03:25 )seth Wrote:  I don't see why many are opting towards Arsenal. They beat a decent Porto side, but have been outclassed by both Chelsea and Utd at home, who have both done the double over them in the league. Barcelona must be slight favourites but don't seem to be playing so well as last season. I think they miss Eto'o. I'd have Utd 2nd favourites because they've been to the last two finals winning one, have players who know how to get there and are in great form at the moment. Then 3rd would be between Inter/Chelsea, who both have the teams capable of beating Utd or Barca, but seem to somehow always fuck it up in the CL.

I'd have Bayern ahead of Arsenal, and maybe even Lyon. I think Arsenal aren't good enough to knock any of Barca,Utd,Inter or Chelsea out over two legs.

(10-03-2010 22:39 )m100 Wrote:  Can anyone else hear sepp blatter kicking himself - no matter what obstacles he throws in english teams way they put them out and then lyon go and do some of the dirty work for them. He'll engineer the quarter finals so that two english teams get each other and the third, think chelsea will get through, get barcelona.

(12-03-2010 06:58 )colino Wrote:  

(12-03-2010 03:25 )seth Wrote:  I don't see why many are opting towards Arsenal. They beat a decent Porto side, but have been outclassed by both Chelsea and Utd at home, who have both done the double over them in the league. Barcelona must be slight favourites but don't seem to be playing so well as last season. I think they miss Eto'o. I'd have Utd 2nd favourites because they've been to the last two finals winning one, have players who know how to get there and are in great form at the moment. Then 3rd would be between Inter/Chelsea, who both have the teams capable of beating Utd or Barca, but seem to somehow always fuck it up in the CL.

I'd have Bayern ahead of Arsenal, and maybe even Lyon. I think Arsenal aren't good enough to knock any of Barca,Utd,Inter or Chelsea out over two legs.

The blueprint for beating Arsenal is always the same, be it in the Premiership or the ECL. If you can withstand their pressure for the first 1/2hr and accept the fact that in that period you won't be seeing much of the ball, most top european teams are eventually too powerful for them. Chelsea have almost got it down to a fine art, we ran all over them in the 2nd half at the Emirates earlier this season, the last 15mins of the game was almost embarrasing, men against boys.