Official Arsenal FC Supporters Thread

[sh4rpz]

i have a feeling arsenal will be more patient than barca tonight. barca will want to put the tie to bed early due to the home crowd and the fact that they surrendered last week. i agree with you on the point that a few players like diaby, denilson and almunia will have to pull their shift tonight if we are to have any chance to progress. i think our best chance(s) will come on the counter attack where barca didnt look comfortable at all dealing with the power and pace of both eboue and walcott.

also, we could do without stray passes and dallying on the ball from the back 4 especially the fullbacks. barca are good enough as it is without us assisting them!

 

[Cantera]

The reason for the stray passes is because of the pressure Barca's midfield puts on teams. I hope to see alot of stray passes from Arsenal tonight.

This game is so evenly balanced. Arsenal cannot defend and wait for a counter attack, they might as well pack their bags and head back to London if they are thinking of playing that way tonight. Barca will hold possession for long periods and Arsenal wont be able to defend every wave of attack.

They are forced to score tonight and that will create crazy space for Barca.

 

[sh4rpz]

The reason for the stray passes is because of the pressure Barca's midfield puts on teams. I hope to see alot of stray passes from Arsenal tonight.

This game is so evenly balanced. Arsenal cannot defend and wait for a counter attack, they might as well pack their bags and head back to London if they are thinking of playing that way tonight. Barca will hold possession for long periods and Arsenal wont be able to defend every wave of attack.

They are forced to score tonight and that will create crazy space for Barca.

If you actually played football at ANY level you would know that any good number of passes are made while being pressured. Sure barca didnt give arsenal time on the ball. i wasn't taking the mickey out of barca, just merely suggesting that in order to beat barca tonight, our passing would have to be a lot better than back at the Grove last week. Less mistakes. Barca don't need invites to pick up the pieces.

and, arsenal were forced to play on the counter attack last week - and once walcott came on, you could see that he fitted the system of catching barca cold on the break. it will be arsenal who will again have to depend on that sort of game to break barca down, and with their defence weakend, we must believe it to be possible.

and cantera, i would love messi to score a hattrick tonight. barca 3 nil up at HT - only for someone like Clichy to score a 30 yard pelter in injury time to make it 3-3 and send you lot out on away goals! meh!

aah, football.

 

[nivek]

clichy... lol
he hasnt scored a single goal for arsenal in his entire career, him shooting from 30 yards out when we're 3-2 down in injury time would make most arsenal fans cry but yeah a goal tonight from him would be magic

 

[sh4rpz]

clichy... lol
he hasnt scored a single goal for arsenal in his entire career, him shooting from 30 yards out when we're 3-2 down in injury time would make most arsenal fans cry but yeah a goal tonight from him would be magic

hehe...i think he has bundled in a goal vs stoke last season in a 2-1 defeat sadly.

an injury-time 30-yarder a-la Winterburn and Silvinho would kill! :wtf:

 

[Cantera]

If you actually played football at ANY level you would know that any good number of passes are made while being pressured. Sure barca didnt give arsenal time on the ball. i wasn't taking the mickey out of barca, just merely suggesting that in order to beat barca tonight, our passing would have to be a lot better than back at the Grove last week. Less mistakes. Barca don't need invites to pick up the pieces.

and, arsenal were forced to play on the counter attack last week - and once walcott came on, you could see that he fitted the system of catching barca cold on the break. it will be arsenal who will again have to depend on that sort of game to break barca down, and with their defence weakend, we must believe it to be possible.

and cantera, i would love messi to score a hattrick tonight. barca 3 nil up at HT - only for someone like Clichy to score a 30 yard pelter in injury time to make it 3-3 and send you lot out on away goals! meh!

aah, football.

Relying soley on a run from Walcott will be ridiculous. Barca was caught out yes, dont you think they are going to be better prepared this time around?

Its getting pretty tired, everybody thinking that Barca's weakspot is down the left flank.

Considering Theo ran passed our second choice left back and Abidal is now fit for tonights game, Id like to see Walcott try running around Abidal. Im pretty confident that we have that position covered.

The positions i am worried about is that of Busquets and Marquez. That is where Arsenal can make Barcelona supporters cry.

 

[sh4rpz]

I think that pace is always a worry for any attacking full back.

 

[RanzB]

Considering Theo ran passed our second choice left back and Abidal is now fit for tonights game, Id like to see Walcott try running around Abidal. Im pretty confident that we have that position covered.

Depends whether Wenger starts Walcott or brings him on as an impact sub. If it's the latter then the combination of fatigue and Walcott's pace might be a problem for any left back.

 

[sh4rpz]

Gutted that our 1st choice central midfield (and integral part of the spine of the team) aren't there 2nite. Song and Cesc are immense losses. I'm hopefull on the Nasri-Denilson-Diaby combo with Eboue/Rosicky and Walcott on either side supporting Bendtner going forward. I don't see too much on the bench as far as game-changers go - unless of course Fran comes on to have the game of his life or something - maybe Armand Traore's pace late in the game down the left... who knows - I'm getting that edgey feeling in me again!

I hope we at least turn up and fight till the end unlike the Semi last season when we never gave ourselves a chance.

 

[sh4rpz]

if Sol isn't fit, I think AW should go with Syvestre. He isn't a favourite of mine - and I *** myself whenever I see him back-off players - but he did OK enough on the weekend to suggest he might have some form as opposed to starting a half-fit centre-half who hobbles off again after 20-30 mins and miss the rest of the campaign.

Gotta love football day. Come on you goooners!

 

[Cantera]

I am wondering if Walcott will start or if he will be used as an impact player.

Any news if Sol is going to start at CB? Heard he was also a doubt for the game.

 

[sh4rpz]

I am wondering if Walcott will start or if he will be used as an impact player.

Any news if Sol is going to start at CB? Heard he was also a doubt for the game.

I'm thinking AW will start Theo, as he did at the weekend.

Sol and Rosicky are both doubtful. Sol has a hamstring issue and Rosicky has the wounds from Henry's tackle vs Wolves. Late fitness tests for both.

 

[Cantera]

Just read. Iniesta was passed fit for tonights game.

 

[nivek]

if Sol isn't fit, I think AW should go with Syvestre. He isn't a favourite of mine - and I *** myself whenever I see him back-off players - but he did OK enough on the weekend to suggest he might have some form as opposed to starting a half-fit centre-half who hobbles off again after 20-30 mins and miss the rest of the campaign.

Gotta love football day. Come on you goooners!

Silvestre maybe Sagna at CB and Eboue at RB, but it'd never happen
Unless Silvestre pulls something in training

Just read. Iniesta was passed fit for tonights game.

****

 

[sh4rpz]

Iniesta is a danger, but I would like to think he won't manage any sort of form for more than 45-60 minutes. By which time hopefully, we will still be in the tie.

 

[Cantera]

He has only been out for 10 days. I think he will manage fine.

 

[nivek]

He has only been out for 10 days. I think he will manage fine.

Isnt it el classico this weekend?
Pep might have 1 eye on that

 

[sh4rpz]

no one is expecting us to win, so hopefully we will play without the handbrake as AW puts it.

 

[Sting]

1-0 to the Gunners (Bendtner!!)

 

[Sting]

damn, a minute later and it's 1-1 (Messi)