Arsenal Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread

gosplan · 27-04-2009 04:11PM

Papa S wrote: »

Right. I've been a very cagey fan all this season. The word "Transitional" comes to mind when I think about this season.

But, I think we'll surprise a lot of people on Wednesday.

3-0 to Arsenal.

Clean sheet due to no fabianski.

Going to stick a tenner on it.

Not sure abbout the 3-0 but I think we'll do very well. It's been a while since Man U had a good game. Spurs collapsed on the weekend like a team with nothing to play for but when they were trying, they caused Utd huge problems.

All that said, I'd be more confidant about the scoreline if we had a full defence.

4-1 so

Frisbee · 27-04-2009 04:36PM

I'll be more than happy with a score draw, or even a narrow scored defeat.

Im gonna say 2-1 to United

FearDark · 27-04-2009 05:35PM

Interview with Silvestre on going back to Old Trafford.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/8021211.stm

Im getting a feeling we are going to win tomorrow night, possibly 2-1 or 3-2.

itsjaybud · 27-04-2009 06:47PM

yahoo_moe wrote: »

Diaby left side is horrible though. If it's that front 6 (and I don't think it will be), I'd rather Nasri left side and Diaby in the hole I think. But I think it'll be Cesc off the front again, Nasri left side and then Song + either Denilson or Diaby.

I dont think it will be the front six either but i would be fairly happy if it was tbh. Its a pretty realistic line-up instead of sticking in Eduardo when we know theres not a hope he will start if even feature.

Diaby on the left for me is something i would be pretty comfortable with and he could maybe produce something similar to what he done away to Villa albeit that was from the right!

Diaby starting there and interchanging with Nasri is also possible but I would agree and will be completly shocked if Wenger doesnt go with

Walcott---Song---Denilson---Nasri

Cesc

Ade

edit: il give my prediction : 2-2
would settle for 2-1 aswell, but hopefully score a few!!

gosplan · 28-04-2009 09:35AM

So what think we of Brede Hangeland?

The noise about him leaving Fulham has steadily increased. He's still only 27 and wouldn't cost too much.

IMO, he'd be the prefect defensive signing. Toure, Gallas, Hangeland and Djourou - 4 players for two positions, 2 stoppers and 2 ball playing centre backs. We know he can do a decent job in the premiership even against the best teams. There's no settling in period, he already lives in London.

With his defensive performances (and ours) this year, I'm sure he wouldn't see himself as third choice defender and would be confidant that he could compete for a starting place.

Couldn't see him complaining too much about our wage structure. It'd only take a tiny amount from our transfer budget and would surely be covered by selling any of our attacking players, one of whom I'm sure will go in the summer.

Personally, I'd much rather sign a competent premiership defender than someone from abroad. We need to hit the ground running at the start of the season with a squad of players who can go straight into the starting 11. IMO, picking from the non-big four defenders (as you won't get anyone else), one has got to go for either Hangeland or Laursen. There are doubts over whether Laursen will ever play again so that rules him out.

This is obviously all conjecture but at his age, his next contract will be the defining one of his career and the guy clearly would want a move to a bigger club. Liverpool, Utd and Chelsea are all OK for CB's so you'd imagine if we came in with a decent offer, he couldn't resist.

gosplan · 28-04-2009 10:54AM

gosplan wrote: »

IMO, he'd be the prefect defensive signing.

Ha, just re-read this. Obviously 'perfect' might be stretching it a bit but you know what I mean.

eZe^ · 28-04-2009 10:55AM

See you in a few games lads. We need to beat you again to prove that the last time wasn't a 'fluke'....

itsjaybud · 28-04-2009 12:56PM

Wenger has instilled plenty of confidence through out the club!

Even the fixtures guy at Arsenal.com is showing it compared to his counterpart at manutd.com!!!

I prefer the look of Arsenals May fixtures towards Uniteds!:)

we're one nil up already!!!

L'prof · 28-04-2009 02:49PM

eZe^ wrote: »

See you in a few games lads. We need to beat you again to prove that the last time wasn't a 'fluke'....

Last time we outclassed ye and were let down by dodgey goalkeeping. If we both get there this year, I hope the opposite happens and we walk away with the cup

eZe^ · 28-04-2009 02:53PM

jasonorr wrote: »

Last time we outclassed ye and were let down by dodgey goalkeeping. If we both get there this year, I hope the opposite happens and we walk away with the cup

Outclassed us? Sigh, Eto'os goal was wrongly disallowed anyway, we should have won 3-1 with your keeper sent off.

L'prof · 28-04-2009 02:58PM

eZe^ wrote: »

Outclassed us? Sigh, Eto'os goal was wrongly disallowed anyway, we should have won 3-1 with your keeper sent off.

Right...should have, would have...ye had a couple of good chances, but apart from Almunia throwing the match away, we had the better of the game even when we were down to 10 men...we squandered everything, but always looked dangerous!

EDIT: That's how I remember it anyway, of course I could be wrong...maybe!

Pepe LeFrits · 28-04-2009 04:42PM

Nope, Eto'os goal should have stood but Lehmann should have only been booked. Still, water under the bridge now.

I hope Arsene gets the selection right tomorrow. If we have a Denilson-Song CM pairing I think we'll get battered in midfield.

L'prof · 28-04-2009 04:45PM

Pepe LeFrits wrote: »

I hope Arsene gets the selection right tomorrow. If we have a Denilson-Song CM pairing I think we'll get battered in midfield.

Song on the bench for me, but knowing Wenger lately he'll talk up the attacking game we're going to play and start with Song and Denilson!

Pepe LeFrits · 28-04-2009 04:51PM

You'd have Denilson play instead of Song?

Galvasean · 28-04-2009 09:15PM

I'm gonna back Song to score. Not sure why, just seems like a decent bet.

Frisbee · 28-04-2009 09:24PM

Galvasean wrote: »

I'm gonna back Song to score. Not sure why, just seems like a decent bet.

I already have, 13/1 anytime scorer

Royale with Cheese · 28-04-2009 10:10PM

Good to see Hleb hasn't lost his goalscoring touch.

OPENROAD · 28-04-2009 11:04PM

Fever Pitch just starting on Film 4+1. Always worth a watch.

L'prof · 29-04-2009 07:08AM

Pepe LeFrits wrote: »

You'd have Denilson play instead of Song?

Definitely! Song is far too slow, which isn't a great quality in a defensive player. I like Song, but I hate nothing more than starting with both of them, it's far too negative!

DvB · 29-04-2009 08:24AM

I have a horrible feeling about this game, a feeling i havent had since before MU ended Arsenals 49 game unbeaten back run in 2004 at OT, back then of course it ended up pretty much as i had been nervously expecting beforehand, ie that they'd win by a couple of goals with the odd questionable decision going their way thrown into the mix. Despite this being a great chance to get one over them i have a horrible feeling they'll win by 2-0 (or god forbid more than that) due to our own errors/poor defending leaving us with an insurmountable task for the second leg, obviously i hope i'm wrong but cant shift this bloody feeling of dread!!

My heart says Arsenal can win this & go on & win the thing outright but my head is telling me we'll fook it up like we did in the FAC.

Hyzepher · 29-04-2009 10:18AM

The one thing we have going for us is that this is the CL and that means no chicken-siht referees taking the easy options and letting ManU away with everything

gosplan · 29-04-2009 11:45AM

Argh, too nervous to anything constructive. Reading about it on the web but none of the articles are telling me what I want to hear(a sound case for why Arsenal will surely win). Can't concentrate on work. Luckily have packing to do as I'm moving Friday. Gonna start fixing boxes together and filling them with stuff and emerge at 7:45.

See you after the game.

Come on Arsenal!!!

L'prof · 29-04-2009 11:51AM

gosplan wrote: »

Argh, too nervous to anything constructive. Reading about it on the web but none of the articles are telling me what I want to hear(a sound case for why Arsenal will surely win). Can't concentrate on work. Luckily have packing to do as I'm moving Friday. Gonna start fixing boxes together and filling them with stuff and emerge at 7:45.

See you after the game.

Come on Arsenal!!!

You won't find one...here's a depressing stat though! Uniteds players have 103 medals, while Arsenals have 11!

Link

keane2097 · 29-04-2009 12:00PM

gosplan wrote: »

Argh, too nervous to anything constructive. Reading about it on the web but none of the articles are telling me what I want to hear(a sound case for why Arsenal will surely win). Can't concentrate on work. Luckily have packing to do as I'm moving Friday. Gonna start fixing boxes together and filling them with stuff and emerge at 7:45.

See you after the game.

Come on Arsenal!!!

Does it make you feel any better to know that a lot of United fans (e.g. me) are just as nervous as you?

L'prof · 29-04-2009 12:03PM

keane2097 wrote: »

Does it make you feel any better to know that a lot of United fans (e.g. me) are just as nervous as you?

No, not really! I think this tie could go either way, so if United fans weren't nervous too, I'd be very surprised!

yahoo_moe · 29-04-2009 12:35PM

jasonorr wrote: »

Definitely! Song is far too slow, which isn't a great quality in a defensive player. I like Song, but I hate nothing more than starting with both of them, it's far too negative!

On recent form, I'd prefer Song - he's had a few really good games and should be well rested (I'd imagine because Wenger has had him in mind for this game for the last couple of weeks).

Plus against Chelsea and 'Pool, Denilson seemed to have picked up a worrying habit of giving the ball away really cheaply in bad areas - his passing stats have been mostly excellent this year but he might just be tiring a bit from all the games he's played.

I think they might both play though.

L'prof · 29-04-2009 12:38PM

yahoo_moe wrote: »

On recent form, I'd prefer Song - he's had a few really good games and should be well rested (I'd imagine because Wenger has had him in mind for this game for the last couple of weeks).

Plus against Chelsea and 'Pool, Denilson seemed to have picked up a worrying habit of giving the ball away really cheaply in bad areas - his passing stats have been mostly excellent this year but he might just be tiring a bit from all the games he's played.

I think they might both play though.

I dunno, Song is just far, far, far too slow. Especially against United! I dunno about playing them both, probably will happen, but I'd much prefer to see Diaby in there!

L'prof · 29-04-2009 04:54PM

Right, enjoy the match tonight lads...come on you gunners!!!

Royale with Cheese · 29-04-2009 05:01PM

Agghhhh I can't watch, I'm too nervous. But I can't not watch.

I'm screwed either way.

Is it fair to say this is Arsenal's biggest match since the final in 2006?

Pepe LeFrits · 29-04-2009 06:21PM

Song isn't particularly slow at all. Certainly no more so than Denilson, and he isn't a weed.

Anyway, questionable decision by Wenger to play Silvestre. Let's see where Fabregas plays...

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