Arsenal Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread

Green Hornet · 08-04-2009 07:34AM

Gallas may be out for the season with knee ligament damage.

Almunia for 2 weeks. Almunia is a big loss! It's a recurrence of the ankle injury from a while back.

Evil_Clown · 08-04-2009 08:53AM

Green Hornet wrote: »

Gallas may be out for the season with knee ligament damage.

Almunia for 2 weeks. Almunia is a big loss! It's a recurrence of the ankle injury from a while back.

Gallas is a loss alright but at least Djourou has had some playing time already this season so hopefully can step up to the mark. Apart from a little confusion with fabianski for a clearance I thought he was pretty solid after coming on early in a CL QF which is not easy.
A special mention to Fabianski also, he did very well last night, a quality double save very early after coming on and caught what crosses he had to. He should be able to stand in for a few weeks, fingers crossed

Is Almunia's the same ankle that got hacked by Diouf ??

Green Hornet · 08-04-2009 09:01AM

Evil_Clown wrote: »

Is Almunia's the same ankle that got hacked by Diouf ??

Yes, the same ankle. Fabianski did well alright but I've been impressed with Almunia this season.

He's been very calm and the defence and himself seem to have developed a good understanding. Very few goals conceded since Christmas.

Frisbee · 08-04-2009 11:00AM

Very bad time to lose Almunia considering we're playing Villareal, Chelsea and Liverpool in the next two weeks...

yahoo_moe · 08-04-2009 11:46AM

Frisbee wrote: »

Very bad time to lose Almunia considering we're playing Villareal, Chelsea and Liverpool in the next two weeks...

But do you really think Fabianski will be personally responsible for the loss of goals? I don't.

Obviously he might make a howler but generally speaking, you'd have to be an awful keeper (he's not) or behind a shocking defence/midfield (hopefully he won't be) for an injured keeper to make a huge difference.

I'd rather Almunia was fit obviously but I don't think it's a complete disaster.

DenMan · 08-04-2009 11:47AM

For anybody who missed the game last night (myself included), here is a nice highlights package I just found. Enjoy.

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=55401957

Frisbee · 08-04-2009 11:50AM

yahoo_moe wrote: »

But do you really think Fabianski will be personally responsible for the loss of goals? I don't.

Obviously he might make a howler but generally speaking, you'd have to be an awful keeper (he's not) or behind a shocking defence/midfield (hopefully he won't be) for an injured keeper to make a huge difference.

I'd rather Almunia was fit obviously but I don't think it's a complete disaster.

He's fairly inexperienced. Our best defender this season has also been ruled out.
So yeah, I'm not overly comfortable with Fabianski in goals.

Roaster · 08-04-2009 12:15PM

I think Fabinzki will be a capable replacement. However, the Gallas injury is more than worrying. As much as I hate him he's been very good in the last few months. I do rate Djourou but like Senderos he does seem to have a howler in him now and again.

On another note Clichy (to me) is looking more and more dodgy at the back.

Galvasean · 08-04-2009 12:48PM

arsenal.com have compiled a list of Arsenal's best ten European goals.
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/top-10-european-goals
Strange that Bergkamp doesn't have one.
My fave is Heny v Real Madrid

gosplan · 08-04-2009 01:06PM

Galvasean wrote: »

arsenal.com have compiled a list of Arsenal's best ten European goals.
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/top-10-european-goals
Strange that Bergkamp doesn't have one.
My fave is Heny v Real Madrid

They left out the best one - although against weaker opposition.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xs6pKQydisg

L'prof · 08-04-2009 01:14PM

gosplan wrote: »

They left out the best one - although against weaker opposition.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xs6pKQydisg

Amazing, was that in the qualifiers???

yahoo_moe · 08-04-2009 01:18PM

Frisbee wrote: »

Our best defender this season has also been ruled out.

At least we're finally on the same page there anyway - glad you got over the Gallas blind hate. I'd agree this is a much bigger concern but my hope would be that Arsenal can keep possession well and Toure and Djourou can be solid in the centre so Fabianski won't be all that exposed. And he's more than capable of covering the basics.

God, I'd forgotten how good that Henry goal was... beautiful.

EDIT: Gallas update: Arsene confirms it looks like medial ligament damage. Crap. http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/-these-young-players-always-find-an-answer-

L'prof · 08-04-2009 01:21PM

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

I quite liked this goal too!

gosplan · 08-04-2009 01:34PM

March

Tomas has fully recovered from the rare tendon injury that kept him out for over a year but the Czech star suffered a minor set-back in his rehabilitation. During an interview with Arsenal TV Online towards the end of the month Tomas stated that he was “boiling inside” to play again.

It's hard to be optimistic about Rosicky's return but if they're saying that the current setback is a completely different injury, then that can surely only be welcome news.

If we're going to continue with the 4-5-1 in the Champions League, then we really need one of Denilson or Song alongside Fabregas and Rosicky rather then Denilson - Song - Fabregas.

It's a formation that worked really well last year (went out to Liverpool cause of basic defensive errors) but the three midfielders were Flamini - Fabregas - Hleb.

Fabregas was pushed a bit forward last night because the other two obviously need to lie that bit deeper but he's a natural central midfielder and never really got up just behind the front man as you need that 3rd midfielder to do sometimes. Hleb was amazing at getting into that space and linking with other players, the thoughts of Arshavin doing the same next year in front of Fabregas is giving me major wood but this year the only player that can offer us that is Rosicky - perhaps Nasri but I don't think he'd be good enough at it for latter stages of CL. I guess I'm forgetting that Diaby could do it as well but I'd just way rather a fit Rosicky.

It's funny how this season is going. We've such a squad of midfielders and strikers this year that we should be spoilt for choice but though injuries and ineligibility, we only recently able to field a starting 11 that you could be happy about, and only just!! Now that the front end of the pitch is sorted out, we're down to our bare bones in defence - well the single bare bone that is Silvestre.

I mean, next year if we were to play 4-5-1 in the CL, you've got a possible starting formation of:

Denilson - Fabregas
Walcott - Arshavin - Nasri
Ade*

with a bench that contains Eduardo, RVP & Rosicky. Poor Diaby, Bendtner and Vela won't even make the squad.

*I'm officially announcing that I've alighted from the 'sell Ade in the summer' bandwagon. His indifferent start to the season made me forget about what a skillful big lump like him can bring to the team.

Frisbee · 08-04-2009 03:55PM

yahoo_moe wrote: »

At least we're finally on the same page there anyway - glad you got over the Gallas blind hate.

What are you talking about?
I was one of the people defending Gallas and saying he should stay on and that he had been our best defender by a country mile this year!

Pepe LeFrits · 08-04-2009 05:26PM

jasonorr wrote: »

Amazing, was that in the qualifiers???

Pre-season.

Green Hornet · 08-04-2009 07:10PM

Roaster wrote: »

I think Fabinzki will be a capable replacement. However, the Gallas injury is more than worrying. As much as I hate him he's been very good in the last few months. I do rate Djourou but like Senderos he does seem to have a howler in him now and again.

On another note Clichy (to me) is looking more and more dodgy at the back.

Yeah, I agree with you with regards Djourou. I always feel theres a bit of a howler trying to escape out.

Clichy was very slow to close Senna down last night for the goal and bombs forward a little too often for my liking. A bit cavalier sometimes. Still a good player though.

What little I've seen of Fabianski is that he appears to be a bit of a mixed bag. He's capable of making great saves but he seems a bit rash. A few times he's made great saves out of situations that he's created himself by making poor decisions. Manninger used to do the same thing.

tony1kenobi · 08-04-2009 07:34PM

gosplan wrote: »

It's hard to be optimistic about Rosicky's return but if they're saying that the current setback is a completely different injury, then that can surely only be welcome news.

Rosicky is supposed to be playing for the reserves against the spuds tomorrow night. I read that last week. Is this another setback since last week?

I can't wait for him to come back.

Royale with Cheese · 08-04-2009 07:44PM

Tomas Rosicky
Monday, April 6, 2009

Tomas has suffered a minor set-back in his rehabilitation. The Czech midfielder has not played since January 26, 2008 because of a troublesome tendon injury and his comeback is on hold for now because of a groin problem.

We won't see him this season. Probably better for him, gives him the whole summer to get fit.

tony1kenobi · 08-04-2009 08:45PM

That's what I read on Sunday. What the fcuk was he doing to his balls on Sunday night?

Arsenal, 14:22, April 5, 2009

Tomas Rosicky says he hopes to be able to play for Arsenal before the end of the season as he prepares to make his comeback.
The Czech Republic international could make his first competitive appearance in an Arsenal shirt for 14 months in a reserve game against North London rivals Tottenham on Thursday night.

The Gunners winger feared he would never play again at times during his recovery from a long-term knee injury but is now hopeful he can force his way back into the Arsenal squad after taking heart from Eduardo's recovery from his terrible injury.

"My only problem is my groin now," said Rosicky.

"The knee is OK and that is the most important thing for me. I hope that I will be able to play again this season.

"Before I picked up this groin injury, I was not far from being in the squad. I hope to play again.

http://www.clubcall.com/arsenal/rosicky-sets-return-date-884832.html

Wreck · 09-04-2009 11:51AM

Any news on Gallas and Almunia?

DenMan · 09-04-2009 12:27PM

Wreck wrote: »

Any news on Gallas and Almunia?

Just confirmed.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_5166205,00.html

keano_afc · 09-04-2009 12:37PM

And now Clichy out for 2 weeks with a back injury. Why do we get so many injuries at the same time?? So frustrating.

Roaster · 09-04-2009 01:08PM

keano_afc wrote: »

And now Clichy out for 2 weeks with a back injury. Why do we get so many injuries at the same time?? So frustrating.

As much as I think he's not been having a great season, I'd still have him there before Silvestre and Gibbs. i'm starting to get worried now.

Royale with Cheese · 09-04-2009 01:21PM

As soon as the attack starts to look strong after injuries, 3 of the back 5 get injured. Arsenal must have pissed somebody off somewhere along the line.

Potential team for this weekend...

Fabianski

Sagna

Toure

Djourou

Gibbs

Denilson----Song

Walcott

Fabregas

Arshavin

Adebayor

If van Persie's back I'd expect him to come in for Song in a 4-4-2.

thorbarry · 09-04-2009 01:28PM

keano_afc wrote: »

Why do we get so many injuries at the same time?? So frustrating.

Its not just us, its every team. Look at everton, striker after striker getting injured this season, and they have been fine.... i do think we have sufficent support for gallas in djourou/ silvestre. also i think gibbs can cope at left back... I seem to remeber fabianski playing the last 3/4 games of last season, when we had nothing to win, and i think he had been ok. Watchin him in the carling cup this year i wasnt overly confinced of his abilities, but he is a young keeper and has everything to prove, this could be his chance, albeit at a crucial time of the season

Royale with Cheese · 09-04-2009 01:35PM

I think Clichy out might be ok. He hasn't been amazing this season, seems to make a howler every now and then, and I've been fairly impressed with Gibbs when I've seen him.

Gallas out for the whole season is gonna be a problem, especially if Toure picks up anything. I'm not sure about Djourou either way, hopefully he'll come good.

Almunia is a loss, never been that impressed with Fabianski. Let's just hope he's not needed too often.

yahoo_moe · 09-04-2009 01:39PM

Frisbee wrote: »

What are you talking about?
I was one of the people defending Gallas and saying he should stay on and that he had been our best defender by a country mile this year!

Well you did say this

I'd like to see him dropped for Djourou but I cant see Wenger doing this for fear of upsetting him. He's a world class defender when on his game but his ideas seem a bit bucked up. Drop him for one game even and see if there's a change when he comes back.

this

Gallas is world class, he has been a bit off this season though.

and this

Gallas is world class. As I said though, he's not having the best of times this season.

but if you weren't one of the people arguing that Toure should be kept ahead of Gallas, then my bad.

As for Clichy being injured as well... :mad: At least Gibbs has had some gametime this season though so hopefully we'll be okay. A shift back to 4-4-2 might help protect him a bit more though, but if we keep enough of the ball we'll be okay either way.

Galvasean · 09-04-2009 05:23PM

Most of the delivery men that delivered to my shop today (part time pundits taht they are) believe Arsenal are gonna win the Champions League.

GuanYin · 09-04-2009 05:41PM

Galvasean wrote: »

Most of the delivery men that delivered to my shop today (part time pundits taht they are) believe Arsenal are gonna win the Champions League.

A man I once met on a ski-lift thinks Wenger is the best manager in the world....

But also insists on calling them "The Arsenal Gunners"...

Arsenal Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread

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