Excellent analysis, you've said practically everything I was going to say.
I thought the back four were great today, even Bosingwa had one of his better games. Terry and Cahill seem to be forming a solid partnership, and Bertrand had probably the best game I've seen him play.
Romeu had a good first half, Malouda was ok, but sadly Essien still remains a shadow of his old self..in my opinion.
Our midfield is still a massive problem, we are crying out for someone like Yaya Touré or Alex Song..who I thought was tremendous for Arsenal today.
Up front we were awful today. Kalou followed every bit of good work with a woeful pass, but at least he looked like he was trying.
Sturridge had the worst game I've seen him play. As you say, he just looked lazy and disinterested. When it came to 50/50 balls, he just didn't want to know.
I've finally lost patience with Torres, so I think your analysis of his contribution was rather kind. This was a chance to step in and repay the faith we've shown in him. He just seemed miserable and (like Sturridge) disinterested. I don't care if he doesn't score but there's no excuse for the lack of effort. As Ruud Gullit said afterwards, I can't see him ever being the player he once was, and he might be happier returning to Spain.

you do realise that Chelsea play Newcastle in a couple of weeks I reckon that will be the game that will decide whether or not you get 4th place you do have a better G.D then Newcastle but it will be a game that you simply can't afford to drop any points.

Just looking at their fixtures, they have Wigan away, you lot away, City at home and Everton away.

I think you have a great chance still.

I realise that, but our league form is still very poor. We haven't played well in any league game under di Matteo, and we've only won 3 in 7. We also have Liverpool to play as well and, IMO, that's 2 difficult games too many for us. I don't see us getting 4th with players like Kalou, Torres, and Sturridge misfiring so badly/typically.

Madrid show that Barca are not unbeatable at the nou camp. Barca did not play well today, Madrid defended well and countered them very efficiently, could well have been 4 or 5 by the end. Defensively Barca are vulnerable. I generally believe one goal for us would be enough to see us through. I think we can stop them scoring 3 anyway.

I agree, i dont think he is going to get much better for us, sadly. I would cut our losses in the summer and sell him off to Spain, i am sure Athletico Madrid would take him back for 20 mil.

Decent performance and good point today. Think we will still pay for those 2 dropped points against Fulham.
Just one more clean sheet on Tuesday please

Early goal + Our wall of defence = Jetting off to Munich.

I hope that you sell him directly to Ath Madrid, rather than say do a swap deal involving the much more impressive Falcao.

Sounds like a good idea, get on it Abramovich

No, please don't do that!

£20m + us paying half of his wages, probably.

Sturridge has gone backwards since AVB left. Looks way off form.

I know it's quite frustrating. After being benched for a few games, I thought he would be up for this game but I was wrong.

All three up front were pretty poor today.

At least our defence was solid and Essien is looking better.

QPR next Sunday. That should be an interesting match

I think we can still overtake Newcastle based on their run in but stil relying on Spurs to drop points.

Well, Spurs losing to QPR really does throw it wide open.
Newcastle have a four point advantage, but have to play us at The Bridge, and have a tough last couple of games.
Tottenham have just a one point advantage, but seem to have a bad case of the jitters.
I would say we are very narrow favourites for 4th spot, but I wouldn't put money on it.

Barcelona did look a tired team tonight. They often appeared to be on auto-pilot..a lot of nice moves, but it was all fairly predictable. They appeared to be just waiting for a few moments of magic from Messi..with no plan B.
But unfortunately, we don't have the recources of Real Madrid right now. A couple of years ago, and I would have been really confident going into this second leg.

Now behind Spurs And Newcastle as far as the bookies are concerned for top 4 finish. do the FA cup runners up get EL as Lpool already there?

Not a bad result, never easy away at the Emirates, and seeing we had made 8 changes, it was an ok result. Our defence is looking back to Jose days which is very encouraging but Sturridge is getting right on my whatsits, so infuriating!

Anyway, 4th spot isn't over yet, we still have to play Newcastle and they still have to play Man City. I have prepared myself for Ch5 football next season, but I want us to finish this season all guns blazing.

What bizaare results, Utd drawing...it's back on now, exciting for those of us not in the title run in.......and Spurs and Liverpool losing always cheers me up....oh dear, Roy Hodgson's lot winning at Anfield...I missed Kenny's post match interview...I can assume he was all sweetness and light again?

It's David Luiz's Birthday today! Check out this cake Mata tweeted:

https://twitter.com/#!/juanmata10/st...25550149836800

^ Such an amazing cake!!! Try looking at that pic without a smile on your face!!!

It's also Mikel's birthday too!!

Kyle Walker wins the YPotY award.

Kyle Walker has been better than Aguero.

You reserves are playing our reserves live now on your tv channel, and our tv channel if anyone is interested.

Lukaku is playing up front for you guys as well.

I agree, it is a strange choice. Even some Spurs fans have expressed their surprise.
The only thing I can think is that his fellow professionals found it difficult to accept Aguero as a "young player". He is nearly 24, and has been playing top flight football since he was 15 (the youngest player to appear in the Argentine first division.
But that begs the question, why nominate him in that catagory ?