As we're unlikely to see terraces again at football, this is the virtual equivalent where you can chat to your hearts content about all football matters and, obviously, Arsenal in particular. This forum encourages all Gooners to visit and contribute so please keep it respectful, clean and topical.
could be an interesting week, city and chelsea with kiev in the middle, which arsenal will show for those games
city playing crap the last few weeks so maybe they are there for the taking, need a strong midfield to counteract robinho and ireland from attacking our defence, guess wenger will go with 5 in the middle with the same 5 he has used against man u, would like to see vela get a start and maybe ramsey but cant see wenger changing too much
Last edited by REB on Sun Nov 23, 2008 4:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Cesc is out and I think I read that Diaby isnt travelling to France now so it could be the mighty midfield combination of Denilson and Song (and Song is travelling to Africa this week I think). When's Eboue back??!
Having said that, Man City tend to let us play a bit more than other North West teams so I'm hoping the trip will be worthwhile.
City will raise their game, We won't, Wenger will get team selection wrong, ie Song in the middle with Den, as for Chelsea they will be too strong! will need utd to beat Villa otherwise we could find ourselves playing catch up for 4th place by the time we go to Villa at xmas, and i dont fancy our bunch of chuckers in that situation, but it will all be down to our rotten luck and other teams defending and other such unsporting antics, Least thats what Wenger will say, bet he is already writing his post match comments, or he could just play a recording of any previous interviews as it's always the same old tosh!
ramon wrote:If you want to look at someone who complemented Cesc well, look at Flamini - he was our player of the season last year, above Fabregas. But, already Denilson is beggining to fill that role, Song looks an able replacement when Denilson is out and Diaby gives us yet another option in Midfield. Not to mention Wilshere and Ramsey who have not only played in European fixtures but looked great against internationals twice their age.
Let’s face it, despite flashes of brilliance Cesc hasn’t been the same since this time last year - his blistering performances at the beggining of last season haven’t been matched since. Sure he was still good for the rest of the season but he hasn’t hit anywhere near the giddy heights of last seasons start, and if anything this season has turned in some dire performances. He didn’t really look all that against Utd to be perfectly honest but we all glossed over that in light of the fantastic result.
The squad lacks consistancy which is a symptom of lacking experience. When Gallas is on top form such as against United we do ok - his marshalling of the youngsters against the Mancs was brilliant and probably won us the game in the final 6 minutes. When he’s disinterested we lose the game.
Arsenal don’t need a midfielder really - we need a fucking centre back who’s not injured (Toure), not old and shit (Silvestre), not inexperienced (Djourou) and not a moaning moody fucker (Gallas).
We also need a captain with a bit of heart. When Almunia captained us in Europe he meant every word, and you could see his passion. How often do you see that passion in Gallas when the game isn’t on Sky or against a big team?
Arsenal need a captain who cares about every match, a captain who can help the youngsters find consistancy and who get get the teams heart beating on a cold wet day against Villa. We don’t need an arrogant smoker who couldn’t give a toss unless its against Man U or Chelsea.
Which brings me full circle - Hleb patently never gave a toss, which is why we’re better off without him. The way he’s behaved since leaving, courting Cesc the way he has is disgraceful and underlines how little he cared for our club. If you think he is the type of player that Arsenal need to help them win against Villa on a cold wet winters day you’re mental in the head.
REBEL GOONER wrote:could be an interesting week, city and chelsea with kiev in the middle, which arsenal will show for those games
city playing crap the last few weeks so maybe they are there for the taking, need a strong midfield to counteract robinho and ireland from attacking our defence, guess wenger will go with 5 in the middle with the same 5 he has used against man u, would like to see vela get a start and maybe ramsey but cant see wenger changing too much
id love to see vela and doujou START rathe rather than be on the bench
i think 442 v city as they leave big holes in their defence
Vela away with mehico this week ? If so thats wenger's built in excuse straight away For all the fans, me included, who are hoping for djouru to get a chance 3 words spring to mind......not a chance. I do not see wenger dropping either his blue eyed captain or his other fellow frechie silvestre unless either gets injured this week but knowing our luck it is far more likely that djouru will get inj for the swiss thus giving wenger excuse no.2 To be honest I am really getting fed up of us all coming on here nearly every week saying the same fcuking things and wenger picking the same fcuking players with the same inevitable fcuking excuses following after another shocking performance and/or result
I dont mind talking about the citeeh situation though and it is one that intrigues me at the mo tbh. Last season they looked to be a club very much on the rise with both their results and performances improving drastically. Then when you factor in their new found riches you really thought that they would put all sorts of pressure on the likes of ourselves and the thieving scousers. However far from kicking on I would suggest that they have regressed and while that is very much a blessing for us Gooners right now I am still wondering why it has happened. Yes they have changed their gaffer but old sparky is supposed to be a good manager as well aint he ? Is it that old sven is proving to be a big loss for the players cos we all know that the swede is very much a players man ? Their failure to utilise elano and his undoubted talent has def been a factor too and maybe the pressure of the multi million pound signings is proving to be too much for these players to bear. Anyway for whatever reasons they have disappointed we all know that their team will rise themselves for the big games, much like our own rabble ( ), and will be ready for us so we will need to be ready for them but we have said that so many times this season so far it is ridiculous