Well done Scooby Doo.

Arsenal showed Liverpool how to play football for 30 minutes, men v's boys during that time and I feared the worst. I have to say though, it was a penalty...like Arsenal shoulda' had one in the first leg.

Im not gonna sit here and gloat, its not the thing to do...cracking game with a good result for Liverpool fans.

Onwards to the rent boys of Chelsea....again

LMFAO

Arsenal have only had 5 penalties so far this season ....Robin Van Persie scored 3 and Adebayor scored the other two .

The Sun had a good back page today showing pictures of the two penalty decisions ....the Arsenal one showed clearly Kuyt had his arm in front of Hlebb ...the Liverpool one showed just flailing arms from bothe Toure and Babel ....

I think the referee last night would have given Arsenal a penalty if he had been in charge last week ..

But thats the luck of some games ...they are given in one game , in another its wave play on ..

Funny how?

It's pretty simple... I even put it in bold. Try taking the red tinted glasses off and maybe you'll see it better.

Ah, I have an opinion that differs

That is worthy of tinted glasses innit

From a hell of a lot of other people too....

Oh no, I am upset over that. an opinion that differs from others?, how selfish of me.

Finally seeing sense.... With your VERY biast opinion.

Crashed out of europe did you? Impossible for you to actually give Liverpool any praise like we did when you lost?

Oh yeah, you're bitter.

If you're not, prove it.

I thought it was a pen...here's a novel idea, let me make my own mind up on it without calling me "very biast"

No? thought not

What a load of same old boring sh|te.... Change the record mate.

As I thought.

Case closed.

Ahhh at last!

are you sure you two are not the same person ...

I would admit it was not a pen... So no conner m8

*WARNING* Long post alert.

I would have come on here last night to post, but all i'd of been able to summon would have been 600 lines of "ARGH!" HOW THE HELL ARE WE THROUGH?!

Before the draw was made, the side i desperately wanted to avoid was Arsenal - i think my reasoning was seen quite clearly at the beginning of this match. They battered us for the opening 20 minutes. We'd set out to be very attacking by our standards, with Crouch and Torres both up front together, but the shape was wrong with Gerrard struggling on the left and we started slowly - Arsenal doing the comparative opposite. They were perfectly good for their goal, although their was a case for Flamini handling it (funny how no-one mentions it when citing how lucky we are) and Reina really should have gotten to it - yes there was power but that was it, with it being right by his side and at the near-post. Nevertheless, we couldn't touch them and it was coming.

After that we gradually began to get into the game. We created a few chances down either wing and one preceded the eventual corner, via Aurelio, which paid dividends. I've said it before and whenever i watch Senderos he always manages to Little Johnny up, low and behold he does it again to allow Hyypia in - now, i don't watch as many Arsenal games as J-Axe, obviously, but whenever i've seen the Swiss defender he's not impressed me at all. Then again, i don't think Arsenal are the best side defensively anyway.

Some have said that Flamini was the turning point - well, i disagree, because we'd gotten into the game some time before he exited - but it was indeed a huge incident in the game, with the importance he carries to that Arsenal side. The game did not pivot on that moment, but it did play a notable part in the tale. Alonso, Mascherano and, when there, Gerrard, weren't controlling the midfield, but Gilberto's introduction helped that cause considerably.

With it at 1-1 i was expecting us to be cautious, see if we can hold out and hit on the break... What i expected was Arsenal to come out after the break resurgent and batter us for at least a brief period of time. It happened at the Emirates last Wednesday, and to some extent at the weekend. That however didn't happen and we started much the better side, which was a recurring theme for the early parts of the second-half. Up until the hour mark we dominated really, Gerrard moving inside more and Torres drifting out wide - after a very quiet first half the Spaniard managed to enforce himself a little more on the game albeit only really peaking after the goal, which gave him a huge boost of confidence. Arsenal had, at around the 60-minute mark, returned to dominating possession but the slow pace failed to culminate in a goal. For the Gunners, anyway.

Usually in European games i scream each goal until my throat bleeds, but i didn't as much for the Hyypia one nor El Nino's world class strike (probably loud enough, mind). Against Arsenal it just felt that the goal was never enough, not to certify anything - or not meaningful enough to get too excited, or carried away, about. You sort of new they could damage us at will if they tried, so i was more reserved.

And, with that goal, i watched the resultant scurry of white shirts with fear. Personally i was awaiting a 20-minute onslaught, but despite getting at us for a few minutes - Adebayor having that glorious chance where the ball seemed to scythe through everyone, coming from the far left - their attack became stagnant and i fancied us to hold out if it continued.

Until, that was, that Theo "pea-sized-head" Walcott decided to take the tie upon himself. Picking up the ball in our half and running at pace at our weary, tired, panicky side he somehow managed to escape about four challenges, from Alonso, Mascherano, Aurelio and Hyypia, the penultimate of which should have seen Aurelio (a booking away from suspension) sacrifice himself for the good of the side. It wasn't to be and the result was Skrtel vs. about four of Arsenal's attacking players. When that went in it was half-expected, and just a disappointing groan surfaced. They didn't in my mind deserve to go through, or rather score, based on that second-half performance, and it would've been harsh on us to succumb in that manner. Had Torres held his line, running a fraction earlier, we would've been 3-1 up and out of sight (given that Gerrard was running side by side and Fernando could've squared to him easily), and Arsenal did little to earn their supposedly winning second (much i guess the reverse of them doing everything to conjure nothing in their home leg).

My brother said at the time "Right, let's get another", but i, knowing our side all too well, knew we'd had it.

Well, you can't blame me. This is the side that waves the white flag when faced with needing just two goals against a Reading side to salvage a valuable point, still having 30 minutes on the clock. Before there was much time to contemplate the situation Babel was running through and it was a penalty. Whether it was is debatable, but i'm inclined to believe it was (gasp).

The Dutchman had beaten what defenders stood in front of him and Toure was very clumsy, with arms flailing, making a slight tug and basically jumping into the side of his back. After watching the replay you can see him off-balancing Babel. With the Dutchman turning, his right hip moving forward and his left back, Toure does (if only faintly) jump into the right side of the Dutchman's back, which, using my limited knowledge of physics, would be enough to send a pacey winger to the ground. At the end of the day he was in the penalty area with the ball and Toure denied him any chance of creating something by off-balancing him. In actuality it was stupid by Toure, with Gallas still in the path of Ryan, but that changes nothing. Maybe you could say it's touch-and-go but to say it was definitely not a penalty is silly.

From the initial view, in real-time, it looked a blatant penalty so i wouldn't call it "luck" either, because from the referee's view it will have looked very dodgy from Toure's part. Also, the ref set his precedence in the opening minutes by offering a soft free-kick in the favour of Arsenal - you have to play by the laws, but you also have to play by the referee and his established leniency. The way Babel fell made it more convincing as well - with him going down quite naturally (let's face it, you'd have to spend weeks practising in training to be able to pull of a supreme dive like that). Contrast that to Hleb and you see how players' reactions can influence the ref's decision, also.

Standing over the ball i had little doubt, if slightly nervy, that Gerrard would beat Almunia. His composure is second to none from the spot and i can't remember him missing a pen this season. Arsenal responded by throwing everyone forward which essentially was all or bust - and they received the latter. I can't disagree with CFCBhoy though on our fourth... Where the hell was Almunia? Babel just had to keep momentum going and kick it forward 'cause the Spaniard was horribly positioned in his goal. When that went in it was the only point in that night where i thought, "We're through". At 1-1 it was contentment to have equalised, knowing we'd only done the minimum that was required in this match; at 2-1 it was both ecstasy but concern that we had 20 minutes to hold on against a potentially lethal Arsenal side; at 3-2 it was a mixture of disbelief, jubilation and, as per throughout the game, uncertainty that we could withstand another Arsenal barrage for what could've been up to 10 minutes. 4-2 was, to use a cliché, game, set and match.

Even after the whistle had been blown i still chunnered 'How are we through?' because at no point was i confident we'd get through, not before the ties, not after the first leg and definitely not during the second leg. The fashion in which we exacted progression was phenomenal. A night to rival Juventus, Barcelona, Chelsea (x2), Inter Milan and, dare i say it, AC. That result against English opposition, regardless of what happens in the Semi's, should give us a huge mental boost for next season. Okay it's one thing to beat Barcelona, but to do that to Arsenal, to come back from staring elimination in the face with 5 minutes to go... I did not think we had it in us. Our European feat's seldom blossom into much on the domestic stage but i feel this will help us a lot for next season.

The result people will say is unfair, that Arsenal outplayed us over the two legs and that it hinged on penalty decisions. Well, the result was perhaps unfair - Arsenal didn't deserve to go out; they played mesmerising football at times and could have slain us if they'd of had more about them in the final third, but then again i don't think over the two legs we deserved to lose either. And Arsenal did not outplay us. In the first leg, first-half, the game was fairly even; in the second-half they battered us. In the second leg, first-half, they started tremendously for 20 or so minutes but we gradually got back into it, and the course of the 45 minutes was even by the end; the second-half was dominated by Liverpool, Arsenal having only sporadic attacks. Perhaps Arsenal edged it but to call it an 'injustice', based on performances, would be excessive. As for "luck", this disappoints me somewhat. Their were two penalties during the 180 minutes in my mind (albeit plenty will disagree), whilst we got ours yet Arsenal didn't... The pandemonium people try to attach to it, you'd think it would of mirrored the October Merseyside Derby! (Sarcasm, by the way, for the mass overreaction - them almost claiming some sort of conspiracy despite only two decisions going against them) We could just as easily wag our finger towards Flamini's possible handball building up to the opening goal. Each decision, rightly or wrongly, would've affected the course of the game so to rashly say Arsenal were 'had' because they weren't given a penalty at the Emirates is quite a simple way of thinking. It was a brilliant two-legged game of football and it's saddening when people are so quick to cite refereeing decisions (and that goes for you, Messr. Wenger) - if the game was so finely balanced that it hinged so largely on those penalty decisions then it's inescapable to admit that each attitude taken by either side during the course of either leg would have differed as a response to those key incidents being different. (I'm aware it's easier for me to say this being on the winning side, by the way.)

Speaking of Wenger, this seems an apt time to evoke my post from before the tie had begun.



Whilst commending Arsenal's side for partaking in what was an epic battle, i stand by the bit in red. I've never minded Arsenal as a club but over the past few years, that i've noticed anyway, they've developed into a bunch of unbearably graceless, smarmy, mouthy and arrogant egotists. In no other than their club 'idol', Henry, seen evidently after the 2006 Champions League Final. And then with Wenger's antics after the game it hardly makes you wonder where his players get it from, being nurtured by that horrendous loser - okay, these are competitors and you know they won't be happy to lose by any means, but to spout the rubbish he has shows a distinct lack of tact and, as said, grace. Puts his Taylor comments into further perspective; that it wasn't a unique outburst from a man otherwise the epitome of class. No siree.

The fact Toure said we were afraid of them, when if anything they were the ones who crumbled when heading out (2-1 compared to us for 2-2). And the best comes yet, Fabregas attacking our defensive style of play, for us to then outscore his free-flowing, adventurous Arsenal side. Bit of mutual respect isn't too much to ask for. There are no laws saying we have to play openly at all times, and we defend when we need to and attack as such, which we did on the night. Which we've always done, to devastating effects frankly (in Europe anyway). It just makes things all the sweeter, though, to effectively end their season within the space of three games. But i'll refrain from too much of a rant, as this tie was for the most part well-spirited and one that will grace the Champions League Hall's of Fame forever as a classic.

To not end on a sour note, there was one exceptional performer on our side - Dirk Kuyt. Say what you like about his work-rate, that's expected, but over the two ties he was one of our best players in terms of football also. On the night he was as effective as anyone in attack, and of course scored the goal in the other leg... That's whilst covering the ground he did, from back to front, and barely tiring. The other man i'd like to praise is Skrtel, who after little over two months has settled in perfectly... His ability has never been in question for me, but mentally a man can capitulate on such a big stage. He didn't. Agger has a tough job in attempting to displace the Slovak en route to earning back a starting position. The way he's performed has been far beyond what any of us anticipated really.

Torres was quiet over both the legs, and i think that was almost inevitable with the attention he'll of got from Arsenal's defence. In the second leg Crouch, sharing the focus, eased the shackles on him and it culminated in a special goal. People have said that Peter was quiet but his presence alone was worth him being there, as the likes of Gallas will have had to take an eye of The Kid - let's not forget he also assisted Torres. Gerrard on the night was also quite poor, by his own admission too. That's largely down to position i suspect.

In the first leg Mascherano was excellent but he went a bit missing in the second, as our entire central midfield did at times (meaning him and, well, Alonso ). Such quick, precise passing of the Gunner's means intercepting was merely a fantasist’s possibility. Both were not at their best in the finale.

Less said about Reina the better i feel, as well. He should have done so much better for the opening Anfield goal which was soft. Luckily he is mentally strong and will return from this slump, as we've seen in the past.

To be honest, the individual performances were scarce last night as our overall performance has been better. The spirit and "character", as Benitez said, rose well above any talent we had to offer i feel - albeit the mentality offers very little if you're technically unable to exert your state of thinking. Luckily, the likes of Torres, Babel and Gerrard were present.

After we played in the group stages i was just pleased to progress after a big scare; after the Last Sixteen with Inter Milan, i was just relieved to be in the draw for the Quarter-Finals; after the Quarter-Finals, i was ecstatic and proud to have overcome a side we can do and have done so poorly again, yet still merely pleased to be amongst the last four; now in the Semi’s, whatever happens will be a bonus. Each step is a bonus from the knockout rounds for me, considering we haven't nearly the best side amongst the contenders, in comparison to others - we're overachieving to have become the joint-best European side along with AC Milan in the last four years, and that is more than good enough for me.

Now we face Chelsea, and thank bloody hell for that! I don't think i could really take such another open set of matches like the ones we've witnessed. As per usual i consider ourselves the underdogs, and if we get to the final i'll be ecstatic - if we don't, i'll have been ecstatic to be this far. From now on you can't really 'lose' in my opinion, not when so many historic European nights have been cast into memory, and as i say, we're amongst the four best sides in Europe, without actually being just that!

Congratulations to anyone who managed to reach this point, by the way. You deserve a medal.

I hope I never get stuck in a lift with you!