In Ross we Trust
A great response after the United game, although we lost to Stoke in the 5th round of the FA cup we have been on a great run, and Man City have slipped up heavily leading us to reclaim top spot... we beat Leverkusen 4-1 on aggregate in the last 16 of the Champions league and have just beat Dortmund 3-1 at home. Nothing is for granted in football and the tie is not over. The most important thing I feel is the transfer of Luis Gustavo did not go through due to Zenit not being able to free up enough funds. He has been solid in the centre of midfield.
Great win lads!!! To come away here and get a 3-1 win in which we were so dominant is pleasing! it's the business end of the season and we're flying we got to keep it up now. This isn't a long talk you lot know what to do and we're not going to throw it away this year! get showered I have the press to deal with
Mr Ross with that win it makes it 5 straight wins in all competitions do you see this continuing?
I can yes, we've done well in the last few games and we need to keep going if we want to win the league and Champions League.
What did you make of Santi Cazorla's performance? there are reports that the board is pressuring you to play younger players does he fit into your plans next year?
Santi played well and I expect to see more of the same... The board want good youth coming through and so they should, we have excellent facilities and top coaches, Santi is in my plans as are all of my squad this year, you shouldn't see him go in the summer.
Have you had time to think who you would like to play in the next round?
No, as long as we beat them I don't care! *laughs*
Finally Louis, do you feel for Adrian? seeing him move as part of the deal for Lewandowski in the Summer he hasn't settled in at Dortmund and hasn't performed whereas Lewandowski is firing you to the top of the Premiership and possibly Champions League glory.
It's a shame Adrian hasn't settled yet but I'm sure he will, I respect him a lot and his first year at Arsenal he was brilliant, injuries haven't helped him but he'll come good for Dortmund.
UPS AND DOWNS
Progression to the semi-finals against Real Madrid was followed by wins over Villa and Swansea. We then faced the tough task of Real Madrid away before an away trip to West Brom...
We were 2-0 down in the first 10 minutes and I felt physically sick, all the preparation thrown out the window, and Rob had took a knock, We looked flat, no purpose about us. Games are said to have key moments, turning points if you will and that turning point was when I replaced Lewandowski with Walcott, his pace caused Madrid problems and we played to that, a more direct approach lead to us getting one back, then an equaliser on the stroke of half time!! After the break it continued and we piled on the pressure, only for Walcott and Wilshere to miss key chances. The counter attack undid us and a 5-2 loss was the end result... games DO have turning points, and this unfortunately had more than one.
We were feeling sorry for ourselves the following weekend and a 4-2 loss at The Hawthorns now left us 1 point behind Man U as they won later on in the day. So we had shipped 9 goals in two games and had to somehow claw a 3 goal deficit back if we were to get to my 2nd Champions League Final.
I always walk around The Emirates on game-day, the silence of the stadium calms me, helps me gather my thoughts, "tonight could make or break your season" was all I could think about though, how could one game mean so much? If we went out tonight the team would be devastated going into the Man City match, it wasn't even a matter of winning, we had to win by 3 goals.
But the time had come:
Boys, you know more than anyone that we need a result, a fucking good result! the last two games have been a blip, but you've let yourselves down. We had chances to win both games but we didn't take it, now more than ever we need to take our chances; this is a chance in itself, a chance to get our season back on track, to keep on fighting, now show me you are fighters!
I went with a 4-4-2, Walcott and Lewandowski up front, I could hardly leave Theo out after he terrorised them at their place and Rob has been on fire this year. In the 15th minute Theo limped off... forcing me to make a change, Abel Hernandez who has been crying out for first team football got his chance, we stayed at 4-4-2.
*voice of Gary Neville in Red* - 23 minutes played and we have a corner, swung in by Wilshere and headed clear only as far as Oxlade-Chamberlain... he shoots through the crowd of players and THERE IT IS!!! 1-0. There's a long way to go yet!
- Half Time
Boys this is it, we've got the lead but we need more goals, we've created chances and although they've got the extra body in midfield they can't break us down! the shape is good now keep it tight and feed the boys up front!
- 50 minutes on the clock and Wilshere receives the pass from Gustavo just inside Madrid's half... he gets the ball out his feet and slides Hernandez in who is being chased down by Kompany.... Hernandez gets there first and Casillas rushes out........
GOAL!!!! 2-0 The comeback is well and truly on!!!!!
- 58 minutes ... Cristiano Ronaldo picks up the ball from inside his half, he skips past Chamberlain, past Ramsey, running at Smalling and centres the ball..... met by Benzemaaaaaa OOOOW tipped over the bar by Sczcesny!!! A fine stop by the keeper. The resulting corner comes to nothing.
As time ticked on I brought Ramsey off for Isco and Lewandowski off for Wellington Nem, with the instructions to push Wilshere and Chambo on forward and for Wellington Nem and Chamberlain to run at the tiring Madrid defence, Nem would act as our 'false 9' drifting into space and taking defenders with him. It was my final throw of the dice and as I made the substitutions Mourinho shouted across: You finally are going for it? Now we'll score.
Was it another mind game? or was The Special One being serious? I do not know him well and I do not want to get sucked into his games, truth is I was sucked In and I had to hope my changes were better than his....
-80 minutes... The referee looks at his watch and the game has quietened down, with substitutions disrupting the flow...
- 83 minutes... Wellington Nem receives the pass from Smalling, he lays it off to Chamberlain who takes it out wide, shrugging off the challenge of Ronaldo he takes on Marcelo now, carrying the ball to the byline he gets a cross in, across the 6 yard box and....... WILSHERE THERE IT IS!!!!!!!! 7 minutes from time the gamble pays off for Louis Ross!!!!!! now what do they do?! sit back and soak up pressure?! or go for another which sees the game completely killed off?!
- 89 minutes... Santon advances with the ball, I'm impressed with him and Smalling tonight Martin... they've filled in well for the injured Sagna and Baines. Slipped through for Hernandez now... OH- OH... Casillas saves but Wilshere follows up it must be?! IT IS!! OOOOOOOWH Wilshere seals it for Arsenal!!! Another final!!! Ross' boys have done it!!!
Groundhog Day
Arsenal 6 - 0 Bolton
Machester United 3 - 0 Stoke
"The players and myself feel distraught, that performance you just saw was a performance of champions, we were in control from the first to the last whistle and we left everything on the pitch, Manchester United have won the league yes, but next year I can assure you it will be different. The Champions League final is in 5 days time and we must make sure we are prepared for that. That's all for today.
Thomas tomorrow night will see you lead the team out to it's 3rd Champions League Final, it's second under Louis Ross, after not being able to secure the Premiership is there more pressure on you to win ?
Of course, to have a team so talented and not to win major trophies is a shame, we are wanting to win everything possible and The Premier League is one that we will come back and be even stronger in next year. Tomorrow is big for us, the boss is under pressure from fans, the media and himself to do well, he wants to make this club the best and so do we.
You have been a the club 7 years this Summer Thomas and with Varane and Zouma being so impressive do you see yourself wanting to stay at Arsenal and finish your career? Even if it isn't a regular first team spot?
Raphael and Kurt have been fantastic, and I want to help them as much as I can, they are young and when I can help them I will, and when I can help the team I will too, Unless the boss wants me to go I will stay.
Finally Thomas, what happens if you lose tomorrow?
We wont.
Arsenal seal second Champions League
It took 120 minutes but eventually Arsenal came out 2-0 winners at The San Siro...
Abel Hernandez saw his 12th minute strike chalked off for offside and from then on Arsenal controlled the first half, with Steve Mandanda putting in an exceptional performance. Marseille looked dangerous on the counter once or twice and their best chance fell to Remy in the second half but he blazed it high and wide after good work from Andre Ayew.
So came extra-time, Ross' boys came out controlling the possession like they had done all match but the central defence of Marseille Kjaer and Douglas refused to wilt under the pressure from Hernandez and substitute Mason Bennett. Finally the high pressing worked and forced Kjaer to pass back to his keeper, only to sell him short and Hernandez seized on the weak pass to slot home Arsenal's first goal!!! As Marseille pushed on a swift counter attack lead to an opening for Hernandez again only for Mandanda to save but the rebound fell to Bennett who scored the second goal of the game. Arsenal's season was not all for nothing.
After the match... Journalists overheard the conversation Ross and his assistant were having...
Mario, has this season been what you expected?
Yes and No Louis, I expected us to win the league, and after our loss to Madrid I couldn't see us winning the Champions League. We were always playing catch up in the Premiership from after January.
True, but now where do we go? who do we buy? who do we sell?
In my honest opinion we need to get rid of Akpom, Nelson Oliveira, Reus and Coquelin...
Akpom has been out for 8 months and he won't be the same prospect he was. Oliveira has notched 18 in 30-something games for Wolfsburg but he is no better than what we have here, Reus has struggled to hold down a first team place and Coquelin is becoming frustrated with the lack of appearances.
We want players that will add something to the squad and I can only see James Rodriguez adding that quality, our defence is sorted, I'd see how Sagna reacts to his injury and look to sell him too. This clear out will help the likes of Smalling become our regular right back, and Ademilson and Hernandez and Bennett will get more chances next year if we carry on playing a 4-4-2.
Pre-season is going to be interesting, hopefully the funds will be in place next year to help us. It's been a pleasure having you around this year mate you'll be a great manager one day. My agent has informed me there are places at MLS teams for us when and if we want them Mario, after achieving this in your first season here I'm sure you want more... Because I do.
Ross is here for his Post-Match Interview
Journalists from FMScout.com who overheard the conversation are licking their lips at the chance to ask Ross about transfer policy, team selection, what the future holds for him and much more.
Congratulations on your Champions league win, it must have been nerve-racking to have to wait till after 90minutes to finally score a goal. Congrats anyways
Hey Mr Ross, Michael from the Killymoon Daily here, Who are you gonna pick up as a replacement for losing multiple strikers? I mean, you really need someone who get's into all the holes, and don't making their hands dirty.
2012-12-06 14:58#71165 dan4rmnaija :
Congratulations on your Champions league win, it must have been nerve-racking to have to wait till after 90minutes to finally score a goal. Congrats anyways
Thank you, it was yes but I knew the goal would come we deserved to win and did exactly that
Ross commits future to Arsenal
Louis Ross who was reportedly thinking of ending his Arsenal career to go and manage in the MLS has seemed to have done a U-turn after originally delaying the deal for a week he has put pen to paper on the 98k a week deal until 2021.
"My work at Arsenal is not and never will be done, I love this club so much I don't think I could ever walk away until I feel the time is right. It is no secret that I want to be invincible at Arsenal and this year like every year I have been here that is my goal.
Ross' first contract was filled with clauses to encourage attacking football, possession football and to bring youngsters into the first team... this contract is only said to have the latter, the board have trusted Ross with near total control of the club in the last year or two and it shows he has become a real icon.
Ross has signed 21 year old Yassine Benzia from Lyon for 25m whilst he looks for new clubs for:
-Reus
-Coquelin
-Nelson Oliveira
-Wellington Nem
-Koscielny
-Ademilson.
First team places are hard to come by at Arsenal, some players come in with great potential and cannot fulfill it here, I do not want to stop them playing football and if they are unhappy here I wouldn't stop them going. I am looking at bringing people in and Yassine has already joined up with the squad in America... A winger and a full back may come in but it's early days. We have a lot of youth coming through that can challenge, Craviotto will challenge Gustavo for a first team place, we failed in our efforts to sign Yann M'vila but it will prove a blessing in disguise i'm sure.
Pre Season musings
Reus has parted with us, so too has Koscielny and Coquelin. The first two going to AC Milan and the latter to Dortmund. Akpom has moved on loan to Championship Swindon and I hope he gets back on track. Mutombo has been loaned out to Stade Rennais also.
