AC Milan -v- Arsenal KO 16 1st. leg

Frisbee

Wouldn't mind seeing us line up as so, I reckon TV will be shunted to left back again though and Djourou will start in the middle:

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Szczesny

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Sagna---Koscielny---Vermaelen---Coquelin

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Song

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Arteta

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Ramsey

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Walcott

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RvP

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Chamberlain

Not too sure what the rumblings are form Milan but it would seem KPB and Pato are both back an possibly fit enough to start. Have seen this touted as a possible line up but wouldn't be at all sure tbh:

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Abbiati

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Abate---- Mexes

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T. Silva

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Antonini
---Emanuelson--Van Bommel---Nocerino---

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Seedorf

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Ibrahimovic

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Robinho

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Chamakh and PArk haven't even travelled with the Arsenal squad afaik which is hilariously pathetic considering we only have Henry for one more game.

I'd be delighted with a score draw tonight, I reckon Milan will edge it 2-1 tohugh which isn't the worst result in the world.

Rekop dog

Hoping Mesbah starts ahead of Antonini, we'll get a good indicator of Allegri's mentality for tonights game from who he chooses there. Can see it being low scoring tonight.

1-1

keano_afc

Hmmm, hopefully the players will have motivated themselves for this one. We all know what happens when they aren't at the races.

I can certainly see us scoring, but not keeping a clean sheet. Any sort of score draw would be great, but can see us going down 2-1.

GavRedKing

Ibrahimovic 2 - 0 Arsenal

gosplan

gavredking wrote: »

Ibrahimovic 2 - 0 Arsenal

Ja, stop him and you stop them I think.

Anyone else get the horrible feeling that Arsenal are due another big smack of the injury stick any day now? I mean, apart from Wilshire, we've almost got our first 11 available.

Mr. Presentable

I think you'll see El Shaarawy instead of Robinho and Boateng for Seedorf.

Wolf Club

It's a pity Mertesacker is injured, I think he would've flourished in this game. All the same, very excited about a Koscielny-Vermaelen partnership (if it happens that is). It'd certainly be a big ask to stick Gibbs in on his first game back, Coquilin should be up for it though.

MrJoeSoap

What's with the thread title?

Frisbee

MrJoeSoap wrote: »

What's with the thread title?

?

Rekop dog

Mr. Presentable wrote: »

I think you'll see El Shaarawy instead of Robinho and Boateng for Seedorf.

Possibly Boateng if he's fit enough but El Shaarawy won't start tonight.

GavRedKing

A lot will depend on the Milan midfield, at times this year they've been unable to link well with Ibrahimovic and hes being isolated upfront and left trying to link attacks, which hes generally very good at but it leaves Milan missing a central attacking presence.

If Arsenal can dominate midfield they'll have a real chance at the San Siro and a score draw would be good for Arsenal, even a 1 goal lose wouldnt be the end of the world if Arsenal can nick an all important away goal.

I do fancy Milan to beat Arsenal but unless its convincingly and by 2 goals Arsenal will have a chance at the Emirates to turn it around.

Its a very well balanced tie IMO and should be a good game to watch for the neutral.

Nuri Sahin

gavredking wrote: »

Ibrahimovic 2 - 0 Arsenal

Hopefully the curse of February doesn't affect Ibra tonight (he renowned for his poor performances this month). Love to see Milan wipe the floor with them but if I'm honest, I think Arsenal might sneak the first leg by hitting Milan on the break whenever possible.

Drexel

Wolf Club wrote: »

It's a pity Mertesacker is injured, I think he would've flourished in this game. All the same, very excited about a Koscielny-Vermaelen partnership (if it happens that is). It'd certainly be a big ask to stick Gibbs in on his first game back, Coquilin should be up for it though.

Heard on the radio at lunch that TV is starting in the middle. No links to back it up tho!

GavRedKing

El LoCo Ade wrote: »

Hopefully the curse of February doesn't affect Ibra tonight (he renowned for his poor performances this month). Love to see Milan wipe the floor with them but if I'm honest, I think Arsenal might sneak the first leg by hitting Milan on the break whenever possible.

Its defiently an interesting one for tonight. It is really finely balanced.

Ibrahimovic is the lynch pin for all Milan attacks since Cassano's health problems as Robihno is more likely to go missing in these games.

If KPB starts it will provide Milan with a great catalyst to push on, he is after improving since joining Milan and is an important player for them.

On a side note, did anyone see the Sky report on Seedorf the other night? Brillant player and one of Europe's finest ever players. some of his performances over the years have being top quality.

Rekop dog

gavredking wrote: »

A lot will depend on the Milan midfield, at times this year they've been unable to link well with Ibrahimovic and hes being isolated upfront and left trying to link attacks, which hes generally very good at but it leaves Milan missing a central attacking presence.

This is where I really worry for Milan over the tie, midfield is really low on creativity especially without Aquilani and they've struggled against the bigger sides like Juve and Inter this season but consistantly getting results against the smaller teams. Win at Udinese at the weekend was the first win against a top 6 team this season, they've a touch of the flat track bully imo. Considering this and Milan's injury troubles I'd make Arsenal slight favourites over the two legs.

Seaneh

I can actually see Maxi Starting beside Ibra tonight, Milan will feel that Arsenal will be suspect in the air with the big fella out so might use the strength of Maxi leading the line to exploit that.

Seaneh

Arsenal fans causing ****e in Pliazza Duomo this afternoon.
Hopefully it was only a handfull of dickehads.

From here.

There have been clashes in Milan between around 200 drunk Arsenal fans and riot police in which one supporter suffered a slight head injury.

The clashes occurred ahead of tonight’s Champions League game between the Gunners and Milan at San Siro.

This afternoon at around 16.00 local time (15.00 in the UK) the 200 English fans were drinking in Piazza Duomo when there was an exchange of insults with two passing Rossoneri supporters.

According to the Italian news reports, they started chasing the pair into the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele before they were ordered to stop by a plain clothes police officer.

This riled up the Arsenal fans, who began hurling beer cans and glass bottles, leaving debris all over the Piazza.

Riot police were called in and there were pictures of the Arsenal supporters drinking around a large pile of beer cans, squaring up to the police and chanting slogans.

The Italian media report police charged at one stage and one fan suffered a minor head injury.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQclomHl91E

Galvasean

I predict a 2-2 draw tonight.

NinjaK

C'mon AC!!

Royale with Cheese

C'mon AFC!!

HazDanz

2-1 to the Arsenal for me. Fair excited for this one!

KaiserGunner

I put a fiver on Milan halftime/Arsenal fulltime at 40/1. Just have a feeling that tonight we will go a goal down but will have one of those memorable european comebacks. Come on the Arsenal!

gnfnrhead

Arsenal fans who know my history recently will be pleased to know I wont be watching.

Just make sure you's keep updating the thread so I dont get tempted :pac:

amacachi

KaiserGunner wrote: »

I put a fiver on Milan halftime/Arsenal fulltime at 40/1. Just have a feeling that tonight we will go a goal down but will have one of those memorable european comebacks. Come on the Arsenal!

Where you getting 40/1 from? If there's any goals I would fancy Milan to get the first one alright.

KaiserGunner

Got it on my PaddyPower online account. Thought it was decent odds alright and worth putting a fiver on.

Raskolnikov

Wolf Club wrote: »

It's a pity Mertesacker is injured, I think he would've flourished in this game. All the same, very excited about a Koscielny-Vermaelen partnership (if it happens that is). It'd certainly be a big ask to stick Gibbs in on his first game back, Coquilin should be up for it though.

Mertesacker would have been made mincemeat out of by Ibrahimovic.

G.K.

Szczesny, Sagna, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Gibbs, Song, Arteta, Rosicky, Walcott, Ramsey, Van Persie.

Abbiati, Mexes, Abate, Thiago Silva, Antonini, v Bommel, Seedorf, Nocerino, Boateng, Ibrahimovic, Robinho

Raskolnikov

That looks pretty defensive from Wenger.

Pepe LeFrits

Rosicky over Chamberlain. Sigh...

gosplan

G.K. wrote: »

Szczesny, Sagna, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Gibbs, Song, Arteta, Rosicky, Walcott, Ramsey, Van Persie.

Wenger obviously not totally happy with the idea of Arshavin starting or throwing Ox in at the deep end this time. Nice to have 3 pretty good attacking options from the bench though - well two once Gibbs has been stretchered off.

amacachi

Raskolnikov wrote: »

That looks pretty defensive from Wenger.

Ya think? Bit narrower looking than usual with plenty in midfield.

Pepe LeFrits

haha, well that's one way to combat Arsenal's width...

G.K.

I'd say the sigh should be Walcott over Chamberlain. Rosicky's been consistently decent at worst this season

djan

Good plan to play rosicky as Milan play very narrow and we dont want to get overrun in the middle as thats where I feel this gaem will be won. As for Walcott you never know with him and if hes bad he can always pop on Alex.

gnfnrhead

I'm a little surprised at that line up. Rosicky has been brilliant playing in the middle, dont see the sense in putting him or Ramsey out wide. Unless Arteta is starting out wide with Ramsey and Rosicky in the middle with Song?

When is the last time we have had a first choice back five playing from the start? Counting Gibbs and Santos as level since neither really got the chance to lay claim to being first choice. Think this is the first time in quite a while.

G.K.

amacachi

I don't think we'll have wingers as such, it's a very narrow-looking 4 in midfield to me with Walcott and VP up front.

Almost the 4-4-2 people have been crying out for him to play :pac:

Renn

Got a good stream for this guys?

DenMan

Confirmed line-ups for tonight.

MILAN: Abbiati, Abate, Mexes, Thiago Silva, Antonini, Seedorf, Van Bommel, Nocerino, Boateng, Ibrahimovic, Robinho.

ARSENAL: Szczesny, Sagna, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Song, Arteta, Walcott, Ramsey, Rosicky, Van Persie.

Come on Arsenal!

Blatter

Mertesacker out for the season according to @1DarrenTulett

KaiserGunner

Is always the way, as soon as we get Gibbs back then another defender gets injured for a long time. So when Gibbs inevitably gets injured again Djourou will slot in in place of Mert and Vermaelen will be switched back out to left back again.:rolleyes:

Marty McFly

Im going foe a 2-1 Arsenal win .

Put a fiver on 2-1 Arsenal win with Van Persie to score anytime and got odds of 50/1 not bad at all.

DenMan

Renn wrote: »

Got a good stream for this guys?

It is on rte two tonight after The Simpsons. You can watch it online here.

http://www.aertv.ie/#rte-two

keano_afc

So Gibbs starts. We should open a competition on what minute of the game he'll go off injured. Gonna say the 26th.

keano_afc

keano_afc wrote: »

So Gibbs starts. We should open a competition on what minute of the game he'll go off injured. Gonna say the 26th.

38th

amacachi

Blatter wrote: »

Mertesacker out for the season according to @1DarrenTulett

Not surprised, couple more and we'll be back to where we were 6 weeks ago.


Nice that this is on RTE2, lovely HD!

Frisbee

keano_afc wrote: »

So Gibbs starts. We should open a competition on what minute of the game he'll go off injured. Gonna say the 26th.

5 minutes after HT having complained of a niggle at the break.

MagicMarker

Nice appetiser for the big game tomorrow night.

Marty McFly

Jesus it took Eamon Dunphy all of 30 seconds to annoy me.

Ill go with 14th minute for Gibbs.

Renn

DenMan wrote: »

It is on rte two tonight after The Simpsons. You can watch it online here.

http://www.aertv.ie/#rte-two

Won't load properly for some reason Plays a second and then stalls...

theteal

It's (only) times like these that I miss RTE

Adrian Chiles is no Bill