Arsenal vs. AS Roma Discussion Thread

First Leg: Tuesday 24 February (Emirates Stadium)

Second Leg: Wednesday 11 March (Stadio Olimpico)

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Arsenal: DWWDWL

Roma: LWLWWW

arsenal ftw

Should be an interesting game between two attacking teams.
Both teams can win, Arsenal have a little edge because of all these years playing in the C.L. Experience does count in C.L games.

Alive and Kicking wrote:Should be an interesting game between two attacking teams.
Both teams can win, Arsenal have a little edge because of all these years playing in the C.L. Experience does count in C.L games.

Roma now have got some CL experience behind them as well. So I don't think that will be the differentiator. This one is too close to call, but I would give slight advantage to Roma - they play the second leg at home.

I have no idea what some Arsenal fans are so confident about.... I guess they have only seen Roma play against english teams (ie ManU) in the CL, and hence don't really know what they are up against. If Roma mantain their current form till feb-march, this is their tie to lose.

bluenine wrote: This one is too close to call, but I would give slight advantage to Roma

you surprise me.

Rosicky wrote:

bluenine wrote: This one is too close to call, but I would give slight advantage to Roma

you surprise me.

You don't surprise me at all... still can't see past your nose, can ya?

bluenine wrote:

Alive and Kicking wrote:Should be an interesting game between two attacking teams.
Both teams can win, Arsenal have a little edge because of all these years playing in the C.L. Experience does count in C.L games.

Roma now have got some CL experience behind them as well. So I don't think that will be the differentiator. This one is too close to call, but I would give slight advantage to Roma - they play the second leg at home.

I have no idea what some Arsenal fans are so confident about.... I guess they have only seen Roma play against english teams (ie ManU) in the CL, and hence don't really know what they are up against. If Roma mantain their current form till feb-march, this is their tie to lose.

Weren't they 3-0 down to catania today ?

I don't know enough about roma but have never seen them even play remotely well (which is probably confirming your point above).

Maybe we will finally get to see what all this hype over the past few years is actually about

Well tbh it really isn't that hard to play against Arsenal at the moment.

ill go for roma

bluenine wrote:

Rosicky wrote:

bluenine wrote: This one is too close to call, but I would give slight advantage to Roma

you surprise me.

You don't surprise me at all... still can't see past your nose, can ya?

I think what Arsenal might struggle against is the prospect of playing 11 world class players.

Tweedle wrote:I think what Arsenal might struggle against is the prospect of playing 11 world class players.

Yawn... Tweedy, you are like a stuck record, only we can't turn the switch off

If you came around my house and shot me you could

Some people like scratched records anyway - especially old people. Its reassuring to here the same noise again and again.

Anyway...

Agree that having the home game 2nd is an advantage but disagree that Roma are the favourites. I think you're underestimating us Bluey. We may not be doing particularly well in the league but against the other big teams we've raised our game - and even yesterday, if Ade hadn't been sent off I think we would have been favourite for the win

Tweedle wrote:If you came around my house and shot me you could

Some people like scratched records anyway - especially old people. Its reassuring to here the same noise again and again.

Anyway...

Agree that having the home game 2nd is an advantage but disagree that Roma are the favourites. I think you're underestimating us Bluey. We may not be doing particularly well in the league but against the other big teams we've raised our game - and even yesterday, if Ade hadn't been sent off I think we would have been favourite for the win

Your record against top teams is the reason this game is so close to call. Roma have almost nothing to play for in this season, and the CL represents a chance for them to redeem themselves. They will come at Arsenal with all guns blazing, so the gunners need to thrash them at Emirates to take this tie. With Roma, there always is a possibility that they get a goal or two against them and crack up under pressure... like in the 0-4 thrashing Inter gave them this season. But there also is a chance that they play well over 90 minutes at Emirates, and are full of confidence in the return leg at Stadio Olympico. It is very difficult to take down a Roma side full of confidence at home.

Tactically, the key will be the Arsenal defence. If you can frustate their strikers, half the battle is won. Coz Arsenal have the exact style of pacey attacks that can unhinge Roma. But your defence needs to hold up. A friend of mine likened it to animal behaviour sometime back which explains it beautifully - in africa, if a lion charges at you, you just need to stand your ground and the lion will pull back at the last minute confused.... Roma are a lot like that. A confident defence and pacey relentless attack is something Roma cannot handle. Thats why I always said that ManU will be too much for Roma, they are exactly the kind of team Roma cannot play against.

With Arsenal, the only question mark I have is the defence. If the lion smells blood at the Emirates, then he will go for the kill at Olympico.

Anyways, its too early to talk about it, lets re-asses nearer to the date looking at the form and available players.

Our defence is shite

Totti out for 2 months!!! Expected to return before the second leg.

That would really hurt Roma, they derive most of their inspiration from their captain... perhaps Arsenal are slight fav's for this one now.

Totti the bottler gets injured for another important European tie.

Arsenal lose Fabregas . So the Totti effect on Roma is balanced out now.

Anyway I expect us to progress

Arsenal to go through, because they don't need to worry about domestic league games.

For those who think we can sleepwalk our way into 4th place, we wont. Villa mean business this season.

Exactly, I was wondering wher on earth Kas got that one from.

I was thinking more in terms of the title race being over. But I'm still sceptical about Villa getting 4th just like everyone is about Liverpool winning the title. Until they actually do it, most people will say "yeah they'll fade at some point". With Villa, they're just 3 injuries away from not putting up a season long challenge.

I'd like to agree and obviously I think we're a much better side than Villa. But if we lose on Thursday we'll be six points behind them. Unless we somehow manage to make top four seem safe by February (while still being out of touch with the leaders), the Prem will continue to be just as important.

bluenine wrote:

Tweedle wrote:If you came around my house and shot me you could

Some people like scratched records anyway - especially old people. Its reassuring to here the same noise again and again.

Anyway...

Agree that having the home game 2nd is an advantage but disagree that Roma are the favourites. I think you're underestimating us Bluey. We may not be doing particularly well in the league but against the other big teams we've raised our game - and even yesterday, if Ade hadn't been sent off I think we would have been favourite for the win

Your record against top teams is the reason this game is so close to call. Roma have almost nothing to play for in this season, and the CL represents a chance for them to redeem themselves. They will come at Arsenal with all guns blazing, so the gunners need to thrash them at Emirates to take this tie. With Roma, there always is a possibility that they get a goal or two against them and crack up under pressure... like in the 0-4 thrashing Inter gave them this season. But there also is a chance that they play well over 90 minutes at Emirates, and are full of confidence in the return leg at Stadio Olympico. It is very difficult to take down a Roma side full of confidence at home.

Tactically, the key will be the Arsenal defence. If you can frustate their strikers, half the battle is won. Coz Arsenal have the exact style of pacey attacks that can unhinge Roma. But your defence needs to hold up. A friend of mine likened it to animal behaviour sometime back which explains it beautifully - in africa, if a lion charges at you, you just need to stand your ground and the lion will pull back at the last minute confused.... Roma are a lot like that. A confident defence and pacey relentless attack is something Roma cannot handle. Thats why I always said that ManU will be too much for Roma, they are exactly the kind of team Roma cannot play against.

With Arsenal, the only question mark I have is the defence. If the lion smells blood at the Emirates, then he will go for the kill at Olympico.

Anyways, its too early to talk about it, lets re-asses nearer to the date looking at the form and available players.

Now that we are closer to the date, what do people think of the chances for Roma and Arsenal??

Roma have since got back their form, and are looking good. They have probably got more points in Serie A in the last 8-10 matchdays than anyone else. And Totti has recovered, which kind of puts a spring in the steps of each Roman player.

I stick with my earlier assessment, Roma are slight favourites for this one.

Arsenal for me, I think they will beat Roma, Adebayor and Van Persie against Juan and Mexes, will be tough for Roman defenders.

It depends what Arsene does. This season we have been much stronger at home in the CL. We thrashed Porto 4-0 at home but then lost 2-0 away. Depends which side turns up really. Saying that Roma don't have the best away record in Europe.

Could also help we may have people like Walcott and Rosicky available for the 2nd leg which will be a major boost.

Ray Parlour wrote:It depends what Arsene does. This season we have been much stronger at home in the CL. We thrashed Porto 4-0 at home but then lost 2-0 away. Depends which side turns up really. Saying that Roma don't have the best away record in Europe.

Could also help we may have people like Walcott and Rosicky available for the 2nd leg which will be a major boost.

Roma have "blow hot blow cold" kinda record in away games, so a lot also depends on which Roma side turns up at the Emirates. Their form has improved considerably since the group stage, so there is a good chance that you may finally see a strong Roman performance on english shores...

I'll put my money on Roma a.k.a Totti

Difficult to tell who is going to win. Roma do have a little advantage though because they will play the second game at home.