Arsenal -v- Udinese, CL Qualifier, 1st. Leg

Frisbee

Huge huge game for Arsenal and Wenger tonight. Another poor performance and the fans are going to be on his back even worse that they currently are. No RVP (suspension), Nasri (suspension/gone), or Wilshere, Diaby or possibly Rosicky (injury). So I'd expect us to line up something like:

---

Woj

---

Sagna

---

Koscielny----Vermaelen

---

Gibbs

---

Song

---

Ramsey

---

Walcott

---

Arshavin

---

Gervinho

---

Chamakh

---

Pretty damn uninspiring and when you look at our bench it gets worse:

Fabianski, Djourou, Jenkinson, Frimpong, Lansbury, Chamberlain, Bendtner.

None of those are players you'd want to come on if you needed to chase the game, and most likely Bendtner won't play to avoid cup tie-ing him for any potential buyers.

Considering that our only real key players who are missing are Wilshere and van Persie it's really really worrying how poor and without depth our squad is looking already.

Udinese have lost three big players in Sanchez, Zapata and Inler however they are still a good side and in Di Natale they have a great goal getter.

dahat

This tie is a massive moment in Arsenal's season,go out here and god knows how the fans will react.
I thought they played pretty poorly Sat,lots of possession but little or no creativity...

Fancy Udinese to go through over the 2 legs even without Sanchez...

wandatowell

Cant see the Italians doing Arsenal over the two legs, Arsenal have a better squad.


2-0 nil to the Arse tonight

L'prof

Fairly confident we'll do enough over both legs, a clean sheet tonight is very important.

keano_afc

I think we'll do it, but only just. we dont look capable of scoring goals at the mo and without van Persie its gonna be difficult. Wish he's just go 4-4-2 tonight, play Walcott and Arsh on the flanks and go with Gerv and old man Chamakh up top.

You'd worry for that Arsenal team if they go a goal down.

IRISHSPORTSGUY

A lot of Arsenal fans want Wenger out, I wonder how bad the fan pressure would get if they fail against Udinese?

Joeyjoejoe43

Massive game, I think we will go through over the two legs. I can see Ramsey having a man of the match performance tonight. 2-0

Kess73

Frisbee wrote: »

Huge huge game for Arsenal and Wenger tonight. Another poor performance and the fans are going to be on his back even worse that they currently are. No RVP (suspension), Nasri (suspension/gone), or Wilshere, Diaby or possibly Rosicky (injury). So I'd expect us to line up something like:

---

Woj

---

Sagna

---

Koscielny----Vermaelen

---

Gibbs

---

Song

---

Ramsey

---

Walcott

---

Arshavin

---

Gervinho

---

Chamakh

---

Pretty damn uninspiring and when you look at our bench it gets worse:

Fabianski, Djourou, Jenkinson, Frimpong, Lansbury, Chamberlain, Bendtner.

None of those are players you'd want to come on if you needed to chase the game, and most likely Bendtner won't play to avoid cup tie-ing him for any potential buyers.

Considering that our only real key players who are missing are Wilshere and van Persie it's really really worrying how poor and without depth our squad is looking already.

Udinese have lost three big players in Sanchez, Zapata and Inler however they are still a good side and in Di Natale they have a great goal getter.

I'm no Arsenal fan but that starting XI looks like it has goals in it.

Maybe swap Arshavin and Gervinho from time to time during the game. Plenty of pace and trickery in the front four and Chamakh is a good finisher.

Ramsey and Song is not a bad pairing in the centre.


Not sure about KOS but the rest of the back four range from good to very good in my eyes (yep even Gibbs )


Would be very surprised if Arsenal did not come through both games in a comfortable manner, but as a Liverpool fan I will be hoping that Arsenal finish tonight's game in a position where they need two goals or more in the second leg to go through as it may result in Wenger resting a player or two for the game at the weekend.

My head says two nil to Arsenal tonight though.

IRISHSPORTSGUY

Oh, and c'mon Udinese. Would be intriguing to see what would happen at Arsenal if they don't make the CL.

greendom

Really nervous about tonight - bearing in mind the calibre of players missing, I'd be delighted with a 1 - 0 win to keep us in contention for next week

rossie1977

i would put these guys about same level as napoli who looked very average against liverpool last year in the europa league, 2-0 win tonight for the gunners and 0-0 or 1-1 away should see them through without much fuss

Maybe the reason we haven't bought anyone yet is that the board will offset any money lost from not getting CL this year.

I'm not looking forward to tonight and see a 0-0 in the game

Marty McFly

Very nervous about tonights game, feels strange having a nail biter of a game so early in the season.

Soups123

IRISHSPORTSGUY wrote: »

A lot of Arsenal fans want Wenger out, I wonder how bad the fan pressure would get if they fail against Udinese?

If Wenger left Arsenal the club would implode! As an Arsenal fan this is the worst thing that could happen us.

Kess73

Quite surprised at some of the comments by Arsenal fans to be honest. Udinese should be a little off the pace tonight as they are most likely further back than Arsenal in terms like fitness etc as the Serie A does not start until August 27th so they are still in their pre season. Plus their pre season started later than the English clubs.

They should be a bit rusty compared to the Arsenal players.

Drexel

Kess73 wrote: »

Quite surprised at some of the comments by Arsenal fans to be honest. Udinese should be a little off the pace tonight as they are most likely further back than Arsenal in terms like fitness etc as the Serie A does not start until August 27th so they are still in their pre season. Plus their pre season started later than the English clubs.

They should be a bit rusty compared to the Arsenal players.

that just goes to show the feeling of Arsenal fans with the squad they have now. Not expecting much this season unless we get some players in.

Raskolnikov

I think if Arsenal can win tonight, they won't be beaten at Udinese. Huge game for Arshavin, with the experience he's got, he should be dictating the game.

Mr. Presentable

Kess73 wrote: »

Quite surprised at some of the comments by Arsenal fans to be honest. Udinese should be a little off the pace tonight as they are most likely further back than Arsenal in terms like fitness etc as the Serie A does not start until August 27th so they are still in their pre season. Plus their pre season started later than the English clubs.

They should be a bit rusty compared to the Arsenal players.

This is it. Game comes too early for Udine. Having said that, in Di Natale and Handanovic they have the potential to shock if Arsenal don't bring their A game.

Arsenal should progress handily enough.

FYG

Arsenal's starting XI:

Szczesny; Sagna, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Gibbs; Song, Ramsey, Rosicky; Walcott, Gervinho, Chamakh.

Pepe LeFrits

Huge game. Come on Arsenal.

Galvasean

FYG wrote: »

Arsenal's starting XI:

Szczesny; Sagna, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Gibbs; Song, Ramsey, Rosicky; Walcott, Gervinho, Chamakh.

Subs: Fabianski, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Djourou, Arshavin, Jenkinson (AKA Mr. T), Frimpong, Bendtner

Interesting to see Arshavin on the bench.

He'll be on and I can see him getting a goal or an assist

greendom

Deleted User wrote: »

Interesting to see Arshavin on the bench.

He'll be on and I can see him getting a goal or an assist

Think I would have preferred to see him starting with Walcott's pace having more effect later on against a tiring defence.

Galvasean

I'm quite nervous about this encounter, but if arsenal cant beat Udinese over the two legs they dont really deserve to be in the Champions League proper anyhow.

Pepe LeFrits

Galvasean wrote: »

I'm quite nervous about this encounter, but if arsenal cant beat Udinese over the two legs they dont really deserve to be in the Champions League proper anyhow.

Screw that. It'll be a disaster if we don't qualify.

Blatter

I felt sorry for Wenger during that interview. Very frank and honest talking from him there.

Frisbee

Pepe LeFrits wrote: »

Screw that. It'll be a disaster if we don't qualify.

If we don't qualify I reckon Wenger will be gone by Christmas sadly.

Hank Scorpio

weird feeling about this game, hopefully arsenal win 2-0 or so though

ShamoBuc

Frisbee wrote: »

If we don't qualify I reckon Wenger will be gone by Christmas sadly.

and I think that would be a serious step backwards for Arsenal.

Blatter

It's a bit of a cúnt for Arsenal that the penultimate game is in Italy.

Reckon you'll win comfortably enough tonight though, 2 or 3-0.

Mr. Presentable

Blatter wrote: »

It's a bit of a cúnt for Arsenal that the penultimate game is in Italy.
Reckon you'll win comfortably enough tonight though, 2 or 3-0.

I don't understand. How do you mean?

Blatter

Mr. Presentable wrote: »

I don't understand. How do you mean?

The second leg of the tie is in Italy. It's always an advantage to play at home in the second leg.

ShamoBuc

Blatter wrote: »

It's a bit of a cúnt for Arsenal that the penultimate game is in Italy.

Reckon you'll win comfortably enough tonight though, 2 or 3-0.

thought that would be tonight??

Blatter

ShamoBuc wrote: »

thought that would be tonight??

It's on in the Emirate tonight?

Frisbee

Blatter wrote: »

It's on in the Emirate tonight?

Yup.

Penultimate means second last though :pac:

Raskolnikov

According to Fox Soccer, Wenger might be in the market for Tevez

ShamoBuc

Blatter wrote: »

It's on in the Emirate tonight?

penultimate game = the second last game i.e. penultimate game is not in Italy.

Blatter

Frisbee wrote: »

Yup.

Penultimate means second last though :pac:

ShamoBuc wrote: »

penultimate game = the second last game i.e. penultimate game is not in Italy.

Thought it was a fancy way of saying the final game.:pac:

greendom

Raskolnikov wrote: »

According to Fox Soccer, Wenger might be in the market for Tevez

Yes that rumour has been doing the rounds. Putting to one side his wage demands, I'm not sure that his family (his reason for leaving Manchester) would be any happier in London ?

shano_88

Come on Arsenal. Time to show some big heart.

ShamoBuc

Alot of tension surrounding tonights game - and rightly so. Wenger not being on the sideline probably won't help. Arsenal should be good enough to go through over the 2 legs though.

mike65

Blatter wrote: »

Thought it was a fancy way of saying the final game.:pac:

Lexicon fail! w00t

Frisbee

Wow, a LOT of empty seats at the Grove.

gnfnrhead

Frisbee wrote: »

If we don't qualify I reckon Wenger will be gone by Christmas sadly.

I highly doubt that will happen. Who would you get in mid season to do what is needed? Pat Rice? If Wenger is to leave, it'll be during the summer period. The club arent stupid enough to sack him and I dont think he'd walk out mid season. He's put too much effort in to walk away like that.

Even then, the only way I see Wenger going is if we go out of all the cups at the first match and finish outside the Europa league spots. The former is a possibility for every club, but I dont think we'll be finishing any lower than fourth this season.

MagicMarker

Wenger Out, Martin O'Neill in.

edit: Jesus, there's an embarrassing number of empty seats.

shano_88

Frisbee wrote: »

Wow, a LOT of empty seats at the Grove.

Tickets were on general sale during the week and there was lots of seats left.

Jax Teller

Bit harsh booking after 50 seconds

gnfnrhead

50 seconds gone and already a yellow card. I'm a little glad van Persie isnt playing if thats that we're in for.

flahavaj

rossie1977 wrote: »

i would put these guys about same level as napoli who looked very average against liverpool last year in the europa league, 2-0 win tonight for the gunners and 0-0 or 1-1 away should see them through without much fuss

It would be wrong to judge Napoli on their EL showings last season. They played excellent football at times in Serie A and have some cracking players.

Likewise Udinese are very entertaining to watch. if this was a few weeks later in the season I'd really fancy them, but this might come a bit early for them and they'll have to adjust to the loss of Sanchez as well.

Should be a good game between to good footballing sides. I don't think things are quite as bad as Arsenal fans think, hats a decent side on paper with the potential to score goals. Big night for Ramsey.

shano_88

Theo Theo Theo

gnfnrhead

All that doom and gloom looks to have been for nothing.

Hopefully we do what we failed to do last week and finish it when we get the chances.