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Arsenal Transfer Rumours And General Chat

1…7778808283…142

Comments

  • #2372
    Pepe LeFrits
    Users Awaiting Email Confirmation Posts: 15,001 ✭✭✭✭Pepe LeFrits


    If Sagna does indeed miss the Milan game then our chances will be vastly reduced. It's no exaggeration to say that he has been an absolute revelation for us this season. Richard Williams of the Guardian says that his brother has died suddenly so he should certainly take as much time as he needs.

    I think I'd rather a back four of Clichy-Gallas-Toure-Eboue than Senderos with Toure pushed to right-back. I'm more concerned about Milan's pace on the counter than their aerial threat or their ability to break us down from slow build-up, so I'd like to keep Toure and Gallas together. Eboue is of course a worry defensively, but he offers a lot going forward and I think we'll need that.

    Gilberto has been woeful this season but I think we'll need him for this one. He was similarly poor all season until the Real Madrid game in 2005/06, which kick-started his form, so hopefully this will do the same. I'd put him behind Flamini and Fabregas and leave him to shield the defence from Kaka. Eduardo and Hleb can float around the flanks and in behind Adebayor. Less than ideal, particularly for Eduardo, but we're not exactly bursting with options right now.

    I'm a lot less confident now than I was when the draw was made - players seem to be getting injured and tired at the wrong time, and part of me thinks that beating Milan would spoil our title challenge anyway. Unless the injuries start to subside soon, it'll all be irrelevant regardless.


  • #2373
    gosplan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,828 ✭✭✭gosplan


    Agreed but we haven't seen Eboue play as a defender in quite a while, hopefully he'll do well.

    If Berto can mark Kaka but of the game then he'll be worth playing(not much choice). Hard one to call though. The main thing I've been worried about lately is that he seems to constantly give the ball away and that just can't happen.

    Eboue Gallas Toure Clichy
    Gilberto Flamini Fabregas Hleb
    Eduardo, Ade.

    Such a strange setup but I think Clichy and Hleb can make some inroads on the left and maybe we can nick it 1-0 or 2-1.

    edit: just realised eduardo will have to play on the left. We're really going to struggle for shape.


  • #2374
    PHB
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,617 ✭✭✭✭PHB


    Wenger has adopted a 4-5-1 in most European ties in recent years.

    I expect a line up like

    --Eboue---Gallas---Toure---Clichy--
    Flamini---Gilberto
    -Hleb
    Fabregas
    Eduardo-
    Abedyour

    Which I think is pretty decent. Sagna would make a big difference. Flamini and Gilberto might be able to contain an on-form Kaka.
    I think it'll come down to how Milan attack, but I think Arsenal can score.


  • #2375
    Sqaull20
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,044 ✭✭✭Sqaull20


    Gilberto is clearly not match fit, asking him to mark the worlds most dangerous attacker (kaka) is madness imo, the guy has been awful all season and is way off the pace.We have to take the game to Milan at home, letting them worry about us instead of the other way around, is the only way we will go through...

    If Sagna doesnt make it then Eboue has to play,I rate Phil but this is not the game for him, Kaka has super pace and Pato is pretty quick/tricky too.Milan will try to play on the counter and I dread to think what could happen if they get the ball back while we are are pushed up...


  • #2376
    AnCapaillMor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,920 ✭✭✭AnCapaillMor


    Eboue can pull out a good defensive game every now and then, bert i dunno, he can have some great games and then some really bad stinkers. I'd like to see diaby in the middle, good tackler and can make some good runs. Gallas out on the left?


    Arseblogger saying Sagna trained yesterday and could play.


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  • #2377
    Galvasean
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30,746 ✭✭✭✭Galvasean


    If agna and Clichy are both unavailabe Id like to see (from left to rght) Gallas, Senderos, Toure, Eboue. I know Gallas prefers ot playing on the left but e will need as much experience at the back as possible againsta team like Milan.

    Any hope of Flamini covering at left back? He did a great job when we did our cup final run a couple of years back.


  • #2378
    AnCapaillMor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,920 ✭✭✭AnCapaillMor


    He did but i would'nt want the flamster out of the centre of midfield.


  • #2379
    Galvasean
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30,746 ✭✭✭✭Galvasean


    AnCapaillMor wrote: »
    He did but i would'nt want the flamster out of the centre of midfield.

    I think Diaby is well suited to covering alongside Fabregs in CM. I don't really think he's up to much on the wings but his physical presence compliments Fabregas in CM. Not that I wouldnt have Flamini as Fabregas' first choice partner, its just desperate times, yunowotimsayin'?


  • #2380
    gosplan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,828 ✭✭✭gosplan


    Sagna and Diaby in but Clichy out - so says arseblog.

    Sagna Toure Senderos Gallas
    Diaby Fabregas Flamini Gilberto Hleb
    Ade


    ....or drop Gilberto and stick eduardo up front as well.

    I'd be happy with either of those.


  • #2381
    yahoo_moe
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,397 ✭✭✭yahoo_moe


    is diaby fit, though? Even if he is, I'm really not sure throwing him into the centre out of nowhere would be right. If any team concentrates too hard on Kaka, Seedorf will exploit any small amount of space (and Kaka is willing to drag defenders and midfielders out of shape to let him do it)...

    In that situation, I'm not sure Diaby will have the discipline not to overcarry the ball and get caught too far forward when Milan break - he's hugely out of practice in CM

    Also, in terms of left-back, I was under the impression that Clichy's going to make it, no? On that basis, I'd go with PHB's team above, obviously with Sagna if possible


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  • #2382
    AnCapaillMor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,920 ✭✭✭AnCapaillMor


    At home so we need 2 up forward or one playing behind the forward, Eduardo's a must he's been pretty impressive in europe.


  • #2383
    Evil_Clown
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,253 ✭✭✭Evil_Clown


    AnCapaillMor wrote: »
    At home so we need 2 up forward or one playing behind the forward, Eduardo's a must he's been pretty impressive in europe.

    Agreed, if we don't play 2 up front in the home game then we have no one to blame but ourselves if the result is not favourable. I feel gAWd has to go with 2 up top.

    Home Leg: Sagna Toure Gallas Clichy
    Hleb Flamini Fabregas Diaby
    Eduardo Adebayor

    Maybe Eduardo out Bert in and Hleb behind ade for the second leg like we played at the start of season, if we win home leg


  • #2384
    MBC
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,502 ✭✭✭MBC


    My team for the home leg

    Lukic
    Dixon Keown Adams Winterburn
    Parlour Merson Thomas Limparr
    Wright Smith

    Reckon the total age would be around the same as the milan old lads :eek:


  • #2385
    gosplan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,828 ✭✭✭gosplan


    yahoo_moe wrote: »
    is diaby fit, though? Even if he is, I'm really not sure throwing him into the centre out of nowhere would be right. If any team concentrates too hard on Kaka, Seedorf will exploit any small amount of space (and Kaka is willing to drag defenders and midfielders out of shape to let him do it)...

    In that situation, I'm not sure Diaby will have the discipline not to overcarry the ball and get caught too far forward when Milan break - he's hugely out of practice in CM

    Also, in terms of left-back, I was under the impression that Clichy's going to make it, no? On that basis, I'd go with PHB's team above, obviously with Sagna if possible


    Think Diaby would play on the left.

    He's been hit and miss a bit this year but he's up to the task.

    I'd like Arsne to say '**** it, we can beat these' and play Flamini Fabregas Diaby Hleb with two up front - we'd see a great game.

    But...I think he'll go one up top and stick Diaby on the left or Eduardo if Diaby can't make it.


  • #2386
    PHB
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,617 ✭✭✭✭PHB


    "Sagna is back of course. Clichy is back to play, Flamini and Adebayor is back. Apart from that no one else will return," he said on Sky Sports News.

    Not ready

    "Almunia is not completely ready to play tomorrow. He's getting there. He's very close now."

    Wenger is putting the weekend defeat firmly behind him and says his team will continue to play their brand of football despite the setback.

    "We'll focus on our game. It's a big game," he continued. "It was a bit quiet following our disappointing result.

    "Today we're approaching a big game. You can see that we're focused on the way we want to play the game.

    "We'll continue to be guided by the way we want to play the game and the way we want to play football.

    "More than have a reaction we want to play football like we can play it and this is a good opportunity to do that."

    Wenger confirms Sagna, so I think we can expect for sure
    Lehmann
    --Sagna---Toure---Gallas----Clichy-
    --RW
    Flamini--Fabregas--Hleb--
    X
    Abedyour

    RW could be Eboue, could be Eduardo even with Hleb switching.
    X could be another midfielder, could be another striker.
    Personally I expect a 4-5-1. Eboue on the wing would add defensive cover to Arsenal, especially in terms of pace on the break.


  • #2387
    Pepe LeFrits
    Users Awaiting Email Confirmation Posts: 15,001 ✭✭✭✭Pepe LeFrits


    It'll be:
    Lehmann
    --Sagna---Toure---Gallas----Clichy-
    Gilberto
    --Eboue
    Flamini--Fabregas--Hleb--
    Adebayor

    IMO.


  • #2388
    keano_afc
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,713 ✭✭✭keano_afc


    I reckon

    Lehmann

    Sagna Toure Gallas Clichy

    Eboue Flamini Fabregas Eduardo(why I dont know)

    Hleb

    Adebayor


  • #2389
    Fuzzy_Dunlop
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,531 ✭✭✭Fuzzy_Dunlop


    Phew thank christ Clichy and Sagna are back anyway! I agree that it'll most likely be Pepe's lineup there, would prefer the one PHB has with Eduardo up front and Eboue on the right i guess


  • #2390
    Sqaull20
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,044 ✭✭✭Sqaull20


    Sagna playing for his brother, cant praise the guy enough for that, has been been our best player this season with Ade..

    I have a fiver on Sagna to score anytime @20-1, can you imagine the scenes if he scores for his brother tomorrow?

    Can someone photoshop Sagna with the Rambo gear?


  • #2391
    yahoo_moe
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,397 ✭✭✭yahoo_moe


    i exepct a 4-5-1 in one form or another because of Milan's 4-3-2-1 (the 2 won't be picked up properly otherwise imo)... i know eduardo on the left ain't ideal but i'd rather eduardo on the pitch than eboue, who annoys me more and more every time he plays (he's certainly got some talent but contributes nothing most of the time and has a pretty poor attitude/temperament to boot)

    also, if we want to try a 4-4-2 at any stage (though I'm not sure I'd fancy it from the off), we could go a Blackburn-style

    Fabregas-Flamini-Gilberto-Hleb

    Eduardo-Adebayor

    whereas the Eboue right, Hleb left 4-5-1 doesn't really shift into a 4-4-2


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  • #2392
    GuanYin
    Closed Accounts Posts: 15,552 ✭✭✭✭GuanYin


    CHARTER UPDATE

    Regarding Superthreads

    Please read and be familiar everyone.


  • #2393
    Galvasean
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30,746 ✭✭✭✭Galvasean


    http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?thisNav=news&article=487792&lid=fixture_323076&Title=Wenger+gets+six-strong+fitness+boost+for+Milan

    Good news Re: injuries


  • #2394
    Royale with Cheese
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,489 ✭✭✭Royale with Cheese


    It's just Almunia, Rosicky and Van Persie out then... plus 2 of them are hardly ever fit so it's almost a full squad to choose from.


  • #2395
    AnCapaillMor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,920 ✭✭✭AnCapaillMor


    Decent 1st half, beautiful turn by the flamster towards the end. Ade looks very lonely up front.


  • #2396
    Mossy Monk
    Closed Accounts Posts: 28,128 ✭✭✭✭Mossy Monk


    That was a fantastic performance. Much better than last Saturday. How did Adebayor miss that header. Solid performance from Senderos again :)


  • #2397
    Fuzzy_Dunlop
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,531 ✭✭✭Fuzzy_Dunlop


    Aye twas a very good performance alright. Tis a cryin shame they didn't manage to put one of those chances away but no away goal and if they can put in a performance similar to that at the san siro i think we can go through, plus Rosicky and Van Persie might be back?(fingers crossed)


  • #2398
    Pepe LeFrits
    Users Awaiting Email Confirmation Posts: 15,001 ✭✭✭✭Pepe LeFrits


    It is going to be very tough to get the right result at Milan. That said, a score draw will do us, which is certainly possible.


  • #2399
    AnCapaillMor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,920 ✭✭✭AnCapaillMor


    San Siro 04 again.

    Was hoping mad at eboue, he had a case for a peno but the dive was ridiculous. Besides that he'd a great game. Big phil filled in well for kolo too. Seems to have gotten his confidence back.


  • #2400
    gosplan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,828 ✭✭✭gosplan


    Bummer, really should have put one away.

    They played really well and Milan weren't giving them much room but if only one of those shots at the keeper was a yard to either side or Ade's header 2 inches lower.


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  • #2401
    herbieflowers
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,604 ✭✭✭herbieflowers


    I think the second leg will be a stern test for Arsenal, if Milan score first they'll be very hard to break down


This discussion has been closed.
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