Kinda surprised at some of the posts here. I thought AC Milan were the team to avoid at this stage in the competition. Im delighted with the draw though, not cause Milan are an easier side to face but cause a Milan scalp will do tremendously for the club and the confidence of the squad and I want us to be successful where the manure failed last season. But make no mistake about it, this will be the toughest possible game for us. This whole Milan side being too old talk has been going on for a while and in that time they kept winning things. The truth is theres not one side in Europe and probably the world who are more professional than Milan, specially when it comes to big games. They have a habit of raising their game in cruch matches, as was apparent last season. The likes of Maldini, Seedorf, Inzaghi might be in the wrong side of their 30s but they are quality quality players at European level. What they lack in speed, they make up for experience and professionalism and more.
And then theres the whole Kaka factor, on his day theres no stopping him and he will win games for Milan single handedly. But as much I love the guy, i love the Flamster more lol and lets hope he will curb the Kaka threat.
Champions League Draw
Number 5, in answer to your question my answer is an emphatic no. What you are suggesting is that instead of our whole game plan being based around henry we should now base it around van persie with our successes based on the fittness(which is not good as he is often inj) & performances on rvp 
This ethos is totally unacceptable for a big club who pretensions of winning silverware and if we do not invest those aspirations will go down the flusher.
This ethos is totally unacceptable for a big club who pretensions of winning silverware and if we do not invest those aspirations will go down the flusher.
Let me assure you I am certainly not advocating basing our entire game plan around one player whatsoever, this would demonstrate a very one dimensional (and stupid) level of thought. My question was if you could see any correlation between our slight dip in form and the fact he's been out of the team for 6 weeks, would you call it a mere coincidence then? Because it is clear that before he went out the results were much better. I personally would put this down to the formation being employed during his absence and not the fact we are a one man team. My argument on the return of RVP is that some times when a player has been out for close to 2 months or more, the return of said player can seem like a new signing. You call for AW to invest in new players or our aspirations will go down the flusher? So let me ask who you think can be signed to rescue us? And who in our first choice XI will make way for the new superstars? For me, the back four are untouchable, the middle four ditto (I cannot agree that Flamini on current form should be replaced), Up front, Number 25, before today, is the top scorer in the league and RVP again, for me, is as good as any of the top forwards in the league. So that just leaves a new keeper, and which team is going to sell a top class goalie who isn't cup tied for the CL? Or should we just sign up some more benchers, who when not picked, will start moaning to the press and further upset the team spirit, a la Diarra? Hmmm.augie wrote:Number 5, in answer to your question my answer is an emphatic no. What you are suggesting is that instead of our whole game plan being based around henry we should now base it around van persie with our successes based on the fittness(which is not good as he is often inj) & performances on rvp
Is it coincidence that our blip has occured with the absence of rvp number5 I cant say but i do agree with your suggestion that the choice of tactics has had an effect. Who should we sign that would improve our current 1st 11 ? Where do I start ? I have stated my thoughts on another thread about the fact that a top quality keeper is a necessity of we are to push on from here. Obviously I would prefer a keeper that is not cup tied for europe(buffon would be nice) but as the league is my priority then I would be deeply pissed if we were to lose out on a league due to wenger deciding to stick with a sub standard keeper rather than sign a keeper ineligible for europe. I know you are going to come back with all this malarky about players not being available to buy but that was the statment GG got hammered with all those years ago - the truth is that if you are a really a big club with the necessary funds at your disposable then the likes of buffon should never be out of reach but on the other hand if you have a tightarsed board and manager that want to do ALL their buying at 1980's prices then you are obviously in a different ball park
To throw a question back at you now number5, do you feel that wengers change of tactics since injury to rvp suggests a lack of confidence in his replacements ? Surely if he believed that bedtner & eduardo were good enough he wouldnt change from the 4-4-2 line up ? Surely if he had faith in theo we wouldnt see eboue as a regular starter in the team ? To me these are obvious concerns and if le boss in not convinced by these players then they are areas that we can strengthen RIGHT NOW. I do agree that flamini is having a decent run of form this season but his poor distribution(especially yesterday) cant have escaped your notice ? They say form is fleeting but class is permanant and I am sorry to say it but flamini will never be class and I have this feeling that he has every intention of testing the free agency market in jan as his contract runs down.
To throw a question back at you now number5, do you feel that wengers change of tactics since injury to rvp suggests a lack of confidence in his replacements ? Surely if he believed that bedtner & eduardo were good enough he wouldnt change from the 4-4-2 line up ? Surely if he had faith in theo we wouldnt see eboue as a regular starter in the team ? To me these are obvious concerns and if le boss in not convinced by these players then they are areas that we can strengthen RIGHT NOW. I do agree that flamini is having a decent run of form this season but his poor distribution(especially yesterday) cant have escaped your notice ? They say form is fleeting but class is permanant and I am sorry to say it but flamini will never be class and I have this feeling that he has every intention of testing the free agency market in jan as his contract runs down.
IHH, isn't you being happy about the draw a sign of doom in itself 
Ok yes, AC Milan, the European champions are a fading force but are very expirenced and packed with players who know how to win a game. We ourselves are not at our peaks either, we are a team stuffed with potential but it is at this stage just that, potential. AC Milan can also rest players in the weeks ahead, a huge blip aside there is no way we can do that. Whoever doesn't raise their game will lose but if both do, we should be wary of AC.
If, just for these two games I could improve anywhere in the 16 then out of Arsene's probable line up, better keeper, better cover at cb, cover at left wing or maybe even an upgrade for Mozart and a fourth choice striker to bring off the bench. Even then I would still worry about the backline and Flamini
augie, as long as the transfer wouldn't point us into debt then I don't see why the board would refuse Arsene funds now of all time. I know it annoys some of us that Arsene doesn't splash the cash but he prefers to mold players, I think he has earned the right to do it his way. Besides, was £13 million or £17 million prices being paid in 1980?
Ok yes, AC Milan, the European champions are a fading force but are very expirenced and packed with players who know how to win a game. We ourselves are not at our peaks either, we are a team stuffed with potential but it is at this stage just that, potential. AC Milan can also rest players in the weeks ahead, a huge blip aside there is no way we can do that. Whoever doesn't raise their game will lose but if both do, we should be wary of AC.If, just for these two games I could improve anywhere in the 16 then out of Arsene's probable line up, better keeper, better cover at cb, cover at left wing or maybe even an upgrade for Mozart and a fourth choice striker to bring off the bench. Even then I would still worry about the backline and Flamini
augie, as long as the transfer wouldn't point us into debt then I don't see why the board would refuse Arsene funds now of all time. I know it annoys some of us that Arsene doesn't splash the cash but he prefers to mold players, I think he has earned the right to do it his way. Besides, was £13 million or £17 million prices being paid in 1980?
thats the spirit kaqak,KAQAK wrote:lets start from thougest and leave the rest for the end.
But with some coments u r under estimating ARSENAL, we will smash tham bad.
milan were beaten again on sun by inter and are so far behind at the mo so winning the cl might be there only way back in next season,
but i stand by my first post and this is still the worse milan team and are there for the taking
I think we're starting to sing from the same hymn sheet now. I wouldn't disagree for the sake of it regarding player availability, in the modern day with player power higher than it's ever been, I would say any player is available, providing they want the move and lets face it, who wouldn't think twice if Arsenal came calling? But AW's track record with 'keepers ain't the greatest.augie wrote:Is it coincidence that our blip has occured with the absence of rvp number5 I cant say but i do agree with your suggestion that the choice of tactics has had an effect. Who should we sign that would improve our current 1st 11 ? Where do I start ? I have stated my thoughts on another thread about the fact that a top quality keeper is a necessity of we are to push on from here. Obviously I would prefer a keeper that is not cup tied for europe(buffon would be nice) but as the league is my priority then I would be deeply pissed if we were to lose out on a league due to wenger deciding to stick with a sub standard keeper rather than sign a keeper ineligible for europe. I know you are going to come back with all this malarky about players not being available to buy but that was the statment GG got hammered with all those years ago - the truth is that if you are a really a big club with the necessary funds at your disposable then the likes of buffon should never be out of reach but on the other hand if you have a tightarsed board and manager that want to do ALL their buying at 1980's prices then you are obviously in a different ball park
To throw a question back at you now number5, do you feel that wengers change of tactics since injury to rvp suggests a lack of confidence in his replacements ? Surely if he believed that bedtner & eduardo were good enough he wouldnt change from the 4-4-2 line up ? Surely if he had faith in theo we wouldnt see eboue as a regular starter in the team ? To me these are obvious concerns and if le boss in not convinced by these players then they are areas that we can strengthen RIGHT NOW. I do agree that flamini is having a decent run of form this season but his poor distribution(especially yesterday) cant have escaped your notice ? They say form is fleeting but class is permanant and I am sorry to say it but flamini will never be class and I have this feeling that he has every intention of testing the free agency market in jan as his contract runs down.
100% agree that AW has no faith in the replacements he signed, but for now I'm swayed by the argument that he is setting out first not to lose if he doesn't have his first choice XI available. Still though the players you highlight strengthening are the subs and stand-by's, if we did make signings I would want instant first teamers otherwise all I see will be disharmony from disgruntled subs
Again with Flamini, I support your argument, but until his performances drop a long way or a long term injury, AW just won't drop him, his loyalty to players who perform is legendary and it's why so many players futures are directly linked to the Boss man.
