Koscielny really worries me these days. Did anyone else notice how seriously outpaced he was with a Valencia through ball about three or four minutes into the game? Whether it's age, injuries or a mix of both, he's lost his pace and doesn't have the ability to read the game and the organisational skills that enabled Mertesacker to get away with a lack of pace.

I agree with DHD. He won't even be an adequate squad back up next season and I hope he retires.

Before extra time, Chelsea gathered in a huddle, players and all staff, except Sarri. Azpilicueta gave the pep talk as Sarri walked up and down near the tunnel. Eintracht coach Hutter right in the middle of their huddle, talking demonstratively.

Let’s sack Emery cause he didn’t improve the defence and appoint Sarri

All the 3 centre backs were short paced. I thought Monreal looked a rabbit in headlights

These games are beyond those guys

Chelsea and Frankfurt going to pens. Come on Frankfurt!

Germans on pens.

I thought Kos was the pick of the bunch (albeit a fairly ordinary bunch) out of the three CBs tonight. Monreal's ball watching is a big issue and Sokratis is a bit headless.

So which CB do you play in he final?
Sokratis must be first choice.
If it’s a back 4 it’s with Koscielny
If it’s a back 3 do you bring in mustafi and hope his pace and aerial ability outweigh his tendency to mess up. Or play Monreal?

Yessssss come on Frankfurt

Damn. It so very nearly wasn’t Chelsea, but they got out of jail.

*%^@*** Chelsea

Bollocks

Oh well, we can beat them

You're right, take out Aubameyang and Lacazette and we are an incredibly average side.

However, we got there and that's all that matters.

20 days til the final. Two clubs 6 miles apart are travelling 3000 miles to play a game of football. It better bloody be worth it.

Great performance from us tonight. Just wish we weren’t playing Chelsea in the final. Still you have to be in it to win.

So if it goes to a penalty shootout we have Čech rather than Leno ?

Surely a massive mistake ?

50/50 lottery for the final.

So Chelsea in the final.
When we beat them 2-0 we played a 4-3-1-2
Leno
Bellerin, Sokratis, Koscielny, Kolasinac
Guendouzi, Xhaka, torreira
Ramsey
Aubameyang, Lacazette

I feel like we need to play 4 at the back again. Chelsea will play 3 central mids. Hopefully Kanté isn’t fit.

You’ve got to pick Leno haven’t you? Pretty sure we’ll go with Čech, I felt bad for hoping he couldn’t play in the final for some reason.

I wouldn't complain - Kiwi and I have a lot longer distance to go if we want to attend.

Great night, we can beat them.

Mama Mia .... this is like the Democrats with Russiagate ..... mention Mertesacker and these wonderful organisational skills often enough and you'll convince someone other than yourself .

For the younger forumites let's sort this out once and for all in the centre half rankings...... Mertesacker was slightly ahead of Mancini , Gus Caesar , Nelson Vivas and Blockley
.... and three light years behind Adams , McLintock , O ' Leary , Keown , Simpson , Bould and Young

So now we can answer the question: Has Emery been better than Wenger last season?

Yes we got to the final.

Did you? I thought he was weak.

kiwipete, have you been drinking? I statistically showed how much better we were with Mertesacker. Just because you couldn't be bothered to read the post isn't my problem.

Not really, if he wins the final I'd say yes but we played a fairly average Valencia in the semi's, Atletico Madrid are a much better team.

Indeed ........ would have been a damn side better if we'd faced Frankfurt .The locals would be barracking for us remembering the last time the Germans decided to visit Baku ... in their Panzers

Our form against English sides of late doesn't inspire a lot of confidence
...still anything can happen in a final and I didn't think we had a prayer in the cup final against them a couple of years back

I thought he was the best of three also. Monreal had a poor game and Sokratis wasn't great either.

No, four light years behind Peter Simpson...

I just can't see what you saw in him today.

never saw it I have to admit . Stats can be made to prove or disprove anything .

Just tickled how you manage to shoehorn a mention of Per into every post .

Thinking on I wonder if Henry would have scored more goals if Mertesacker had been around back then ..... Bergkamp too might have risen to greater heights .

.
After being distracted skyping the son .... now watching the replay .... great isn't it knowing the result

Here's all their fans in full voice , their team looking all staunch and meaning business

...and yet all the while I know they are all going to be thoroughly pi&%sed off and distraught at the end .

I enjoyed this comment on the Valencia vs Arsenal write up...

"Where their opponents showed intensity, incisiveness and mutual awareness, Arsenal looked more like a charity side who had been introduced to each other just before kick off than a team contesting a European semi-final"

He said he was off the rum after his last bout ... I didn't think it would last long

We will be when we are playing the final. Many miles.

Can't see any reason for thinking that. His influence was on the defensive side of the game.

Alexis's goals to games ratio was 5 times as good for us as utd. So far in wages, he's cost them £10m per league goal. And has another 3 years left on his contract. Thats another £75m in wages!

Mhkitaryan may be overpaid and inconsistent, but he's got twice as many goals and 3 times as many assists in the same time.

I would advise you to lay of the rum and the Fox News, Kiwi. As we age, we need to keep our brains, like our livers, off the piss.

No chance. Barcelona walked the Spanish league this year. Messi has had another season of more goals than games, including 12 in 10 in the Champions League.

Ajax have not yet won the dutch league, and most of their squad have yet to win a domestic trophy, let along a European one, and their entire squad cost them about £60-90m. And as soon as long balls went to Llorente they couldn't cope and their heads went. Plus Ajax totally outplayed Spurs in both first halves, and were only outplayed in the last half of the tie. Liverpool were unlucky to lose in the Nou Camp (they got Messi'd) and played Barca off the park for the entire second leg.

If both teams match their semi-final performance levels, Spurs will get killed. Sadly it is unlikely...

Arsenal and Chelsea are both only getting around 6000 tickets each for the final. Disappointingly low, although assuming I can get a flight I will be going.