Arsenal -v- Leeds United, January 9, 2012 7:45 PM GMT

Brendan97

Arsenal -v- Leeds United
January 9, 2012 7:45 PM GMT
Emirates Stadium — London
Referee:‬ M. Clattenburg‎

Thierry Henry will go straight into Arsenal's squad after signing on loan from New York Red Bulls, with captain Robin Van Persie set to be rested. Ivory Coast forward Gervinho is absent at the start of international duty ahead of the African Nations Cup, but Morocco striker Marouane Chamakh is available before his delayed departure.
Defender Johan Djourou is suspended after his red card at Fulham, while Kieran Gibbs (groin), Thomas Vermaelen (calf), Bacary Sagna (ankle), Carl Jenkinson (back), Andre Santos (ankle), Abou Diaby (hamstring) and Jack Wilshere (ankle) are all out.
Leeds were rocked ahead of the trip with news Paddy Kisnorbo will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury.
The defender suffered the problem in the 2-1 win over Burnley and scans have shown ligament damage which will require surgery and sideline him for at least six months.
Fellow defender Alex Bruce is struggling with a hamstring tear and will be assessed ahead of the journey to the capital.
However, United's defensive worries could be eased after Tom Lees (concussion) and Darren O'Dea (hip) returned to training following recent injuries.
Winger Robert Snodgrass remains sidelined following his appendix operation last Thursday, as does skipper Jonny Howson, who has missed the last five games due to a knee injury.
On-loan winger Andros Townsend has been given permission to play by parent-club Tottenham, with boss Simon Grayson confirming he is targeting new signings ahead of the clash.
Taken from Sky Sports
Arsenal (squad): Almunia, Miquel, Mertesacker, Squillaci, Koscielny, Walcott, Rosicky, Song, Ramsey, Coquelin, Arteta, Henry, Benayoun, Szczesny, Arshavin, Chamakh, Oxlaide-Chamberlain, Park.
will add leeds' squad when i find it

Mushy

How long into the match before its ruined?:pac:

Nah, wouldn't mind a win for a laugh, but Leeds form is dire so expecting nothing.

Brendan97

Should expect an arsenal win with maybe a Henry goal!

cson

Leeds have huge problems at the back because of injury/suspension I believe? Also Snodgrass and Howson are out too I think?

Frisbee

---

Woj

---

Yennaris---Song----Toto----Miquel

---

Coquelin---Rosicky

---

Ox

---

Yossi

---

Shava

---

Park

---

would be my preferred starting XI.

RVP, Arteta, Per, Koscielny and Ramsey need to be kept well away from this game.

G.K.

cson wrote: »

Leeds have huge problems at the back because of injury/suspension I believe? Also Snodgrass and Howson are out too I think?

Correct. Those defenders mentioned in the OP are the only 2 CB's we have fit, bar players on youth contracts.

Snoddy, Howson gone too.

Hoping for

Lonergan, Thompson, Lees, O'Dea, Pugh, Townsend, Vayrynen, Brown, Sam, McCormack, Becchio

Bench: Taylor, Gimple, White, Clayton, Nunez, Forssell, Turner/Turner/Payne/Hatfield/McCann/Poleon/Lenighan <-Rest White and Clayton

Mushy

cson wrote: »

Leeds have huge problems at the back because of injury/suspension I believe? Also Snodgrass and Howson are out too I think?

FYP:(

cson

Tough ask going to our place without your two best players never mind a makeshift back 4. But we are Arsenal, at our most vulnerable when we're 1-0 up.

Brendan97

Brendan97 wrote: »

Winger Robert Snodgrass remains sidelined following his appendix operation last Thursday, as does skipper Jonny Howson, who has missed the last five games due to a knee injury.

cson wrote: »

Leeds have huge problems at the back because of injury/suspension I believe? Also Snodgrass and Howson are out too I think?

Redzer7

Come on Henry The Gunners!

Brendan97

WhenIf we beat leeds we play aston villa, not a terrible draw

Noo

Brendan97 wrote: »

WhenIf we beat leeds we play aston villa, not a terrible draw

Only to be met by utd in the following round

Hank Scorpio

Cannot wait to see Henry in action for Arsenal again!

Squall19

Cant wait for this, I know he is old now and not anything like the man he was 10 years ago, but I don't care.

I will always remember him as he was, even he doesn't do anything in his time here now.

Reception he gets when comes off the bench will be incredible, Leeds fans will all be up too, he was at the peak of his powers when he demolished them in his last game against them 8 years ago scoring 4 goals.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWmB6IZWeQc

Back where he belongs!!

HazDanz

He's coming home

KeithAFC

3-1 Arsenal win for me.

cson

More in keeping with the occasion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBHD0BHxQPE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ow1ynU_2br0

He does like against them. There's more but they've got all that ****e music dubbed over them.

Fuzzy_Dunlop

Is fabianski still injured?

Yennaris trained with the first team today so he might play at right back.

cson

Fuzzy_Dunlop wrote: »

Is fabianski still injured?

Yennaris trained with the first team today so he might play at right back.

Must be if Almunia is in the squad. Even then I'd be more inclined to have James Shea as sub keeper.

I don't even want to contemplate a jokeshop decision from AW of starting Almunia in that game.

Drexel

Just read on bbc that van Persie has been let go on a family holiday to Dubai! Strange one but he deserves it!!

Noo

HazDanz wrote: »

He's coming home

He is too close of a proximity to squillaci, Arshavin and chamakh for my liking in that video. He better not catch the crap off them!

Brendan97

noticing a lack of leeds supporters posting

Mushy

Brendan97 wrote: »

noticing a lack of leeds supporters posting

Not expecting anything, and not overly excited about it. This has the potential to be a demolition, unlike last year where the team wasnt as ****.

cson

Mushy wrote: »

Not expecting anything, and not overly excited about it. This has the potential to be a demolition, unlike last year where the team wasnt as ****.

Should have beaten us last year in the first game. Chez made an unreal save from Beccio to stop you going 2-0 up.

Noo

Mushy wrote: »

Brendan97 wrote: »

noticing a lack of leeds supporters posting

Not expecting anything, and not overly excited about it. This has the potential to be a demolition, unlike last year where the team wasnt as ****.

The arsenal fans arent exactly oozing over confident here either. Both sets of fans playing it cautious. Arsenal obviously expected to win but no fan would be surprised if they didn't. The Henry thing allowing arsenal fans to avoid giving a prediction. Something which i too want to avoid.

oldyouth

Brendan97 wrote: »

noticing a lack of leeds supporters posting

Nothing game for us. We're never going to win the cup and promotion is the only thing that we should be focusing on. After all the Christmas games, I'd field the reserves

Mushy

Noo wrote: »

The arsenal fans arent exactly oozing over confident here either. Both sets of fans playing it cautious. Arsenal obviously expected to win but no fan would be surprised if they didn't. The Henry thing allowing arsenal fans to avoid giving a prediction. Something which i too want to avoid.

Ricardo Vaz Te got a hattrick against Leeds...I cant imagine what much better players will do.

Know Arse fans not being optimistic, possibly fear/respect Leeds more after last year, but def cant see anything positive for Leeds, bar Aidy White doing well(possible Irish call-up i hope)

tim_holsters

cson wrote: »

Tough ask going to our place without your two best players never mind a makeshift back 4. But we are Arsenal, at our most vulnerable when we're 1-0 up.

Cocky. So you think you'll score then?

We Are Leeds. And you're probably right.

TheSpecialOne

Hoping for a good Arsenal Performance with plenty of goals, 4-2 to the Arsenal.

HazDanz

Noo wrote: »

He is too close of a proximity to squillaci, Arshavin and chamakh for my liking in that video. He better not catch the crap off them!

Haha! Wenger probable wanted Henry to know first hand what sh*te he's had to put up with since he left :pac:

HazDanz

oldyouth wrote: »

Nothing game for us. We're never going to win the cup and promotion is the only thing that we should be focusing on. After all the Christmas games, I'd field the reserves

Completely agree with this. Whats the point risking injuries for a cup run that Leeds don't need. Getting a good run of form in the league would be much better for them.

tim_holsters

HazDanz wrote: »

Haha! Wenger probable wanted Henry to know first hand what sh*te he's had to put up with since he left :pac:

I lol'd at that.

G.K.

I'm 99% sure you'll play Yennaris at RB against us.

greendom

I really hope Song doesn't play tomorrow. I think he needs a rest as much as any other player. his form has really been dipping recently and we need him at his best for tougher challenges ahead. (No disrespect to Leeds obviously).

Brendan97

greendom wrote: »

I really hope Song doesn't play tomorrow. I think he needs a rest as much as any other player. his form has really been dipping recently and we need him at his best for tougher challenges ahead. (No disrespect to Leeds obviously).

if only frimpong's loan to wolves was put off for 2 weeks

gnfnrhead

Is it on TV?

greendom

gnfnrhead wrote: »

Is it on TV?

ESPN I believe

cson

tim_holsters wrote: »

Cocky. So you think you'll score then?

We Are Leeds. And you're probably right.

Not cockiness at all, just so used to Arsenal bossing a game, getting a goal and then going to ****e. The point I was trying to make is that even if we do score you're very much in it.

Having said that, considering you're missing Snodgrass, Howson and will have to play a makeshift back 4 I think we'll win.

2-0 with Henry getting the second.

cson

Frisbee wrote: »

---

Woj

---

Yennaris---Song----Toto----Miquel

---

Coquelin---Rosicky

---

Ox

---

Yossi

---

Shava

---

Park

---

would be my preferred starting XI.

RVP, Arteta, Per, Koscielny and Ramsey need to be kept well away from this game.

Snap on the line up but I'd start Mertesacker instead of Song at the back. We'd have to play a little deeper though as Toto and Mert aren't exactly blessed with pace.

ImpossibleDuck

Not exactly confident about this one.

Just realised I'm gonna miss Henry's return (if he plays)

I am actually distraught about this. The man is my personal hero

G.K.

Who is Toto?

tim_holsters

cson wrote: »

Not cockiness at all, just so used to Arsenal bossing a game, getting a goal and then going to ****e. The point I was trying to make is that even if we do score you're very much in it.

Having said that, considering you're missing Snodgrass, Howson and will have to play a makeshift back 4 I think we'll win.

2-0 with Henry getting the second.

I know mate. We gave you a good game at your place last time but I don't expect us to do as well tomorrow we've been pretty dire of late. Still there's no pressure on us and I think the players feel a little more comfortable playing away from ER at the moment. Hopefully the stick that Townsend will get will spur him on rather than stifle him.

And believe me if Leeds do score first you'll still be very much in the game!

I really hope Henry doesn't score he's got way to many goals against us already.

cson

G.K. wrote: »

Who is Toto?

Seb Squillaci, its a play on Toto Schillaci of Ireland-Italy fame.

couerdelion

Mushy wrote: »

Ricardo Vaz Te got a hattrick against Leeds...I cant imagine what much better players will do.

Know Arse fans not being optimistic, possibly fear/respect Leeds more after last year, but def cant see anything positive for Leeds, bar Aidy White doing well(possible Irish call-up i hope)

Lets hope Arshevin starts

Frisbee

cson wrote: »

Snap on the line up but I'd start Mertesacker instead of Song at the back. We'd have to play a little deeper though as Toto and Mert aren't exactly blessed with pace.

Both Song and Mertesacker need a rest badly imo. The reason I'd play Song ahead of him is that Song jsut had a game off because of his suspension.

iMuse

Henry on the bench

Redzer7

iMuse wrote: »

Henry on the bench

Thought this was going to happen, can't wait to hear the reception he gets when he comes on

iMuse

Arsenal: Szczesny, Coquelin, Koscielny, Squillaci, Miquel, Song, Arteta (c), Ramsey, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arshavin, Chamakh.

Substitutes: Martinez, Yennaris, Benayoun, Ryo, Walcott, Park, Henry.

G.K.

Lonergan, Thompson, Lees, O'Dea, White, Townsend, Clayton, Vayrynen, Pugh, Nunez, Becchio

cashback

That's a stronger team than I expected. Still no Park. Hoping Chamakh takes his chances tonight.

ASOT

Townsend to rip arsenal to shreds