Arsenal vs. Villarreal - CL quarterfinal discussion thread

Nice to see Gonzalo back though. I wasn't aware that he had returned from injury.

De Guzman wrote:Thanx. they're dead wrong about the Arsenal line-up. They've Clichy & Gallas starting

And Almunia!

Someone was probably being lazy and just reinserted the one from the first leg.

Oh dear.

Getting quite nervous now. The people I'm watching the game with aren't available till gone 7 either so I'm going to have to sit at work for another two hours

Calidad wrote:I didn't see the first game, but I can't see Arsenal losing this. With Cazorla (their best player this season) out + Senna, their midfield looks very weak.

They are definitely better with Carzola and Senna in there, but the above midfield is very competent IMO. It looks very similar to the one that got a draw at Old Trafford earlier this season(Senna didn't feature too).

Ibagaza doesn't have Senna's long range shot nor defensively ability, but he's far trickier with the ball at his feet. A very dangerous player coming through the centre(better there than out wide).

I'm not happy about Pires starting, he's a player that could hurt us. Probably feels he's got something to prove to Wenger.

I'm expecting a very tight game, and I'm getting nervous. can't wait!

Yeah, I think the midfield is fine. Obviously they are missing some quality players but all of Villarreal's midfielders are very technical, good on the ball, etc.

I think Villarreal's biggest problem is who is going to get the goal? Llorente still doesn't convince me as a CL quality striker and Rossi, who is very dangerous, is still quite young. They created enough chances in the first half of the first leg to have a commanding lead but they couldn't finish anything.

Jaime wrote:

De Guzman wrote:Thanx. they're dead wrong about the Arsenal line-up. They've Clichy & Gallas starting

And Almunia!

Someone was probably being lazy and just reinserted the one from the first leg.

that's what I thought too

After a few beers I feel quite comfortable, will probably disappear when I see our line-up

Sagna out of the match according to Talksports

Hope they are joking

The Professor wrote:Sagna out of the match according to Talksports

Hope they are joking

They better be.

Arsenal team according talksports:

-----------Fabianski
Eboue--Toure--Silvestre--Gibbs
Walcott---Song--Cesc-----Nasri
-----------RVP---Ade

The Professor wrote:Arsenal team according talksports:

-----------Fabianski
Eboue--Toure--Silvestre--Gibbs
Walcott---Song--Cesc-----Nasri
-----------RVP---Ade

So Sagna IS out

Nethertheless, there's enough quality in attack that we should definately be the favourites.

The left side of defence is a worry though. Thank fuck Cazorla is injured.

unconfirmed still though right?

According to uefa.com Eboue in stead of Sgana

Eboue--Touré-Silvester--Gibbs
-------Cesc---Song-----------
Theo--------------------Masri
----------RVP
-------------Ade

Valium, anyone?

Interesting, Pellegrini has changed his tactics.

-------------------D. Lopez

Angel-----Gonzalo-----Godin-----Capdevila

--------------Eguren-----Bruno

Pires-----------Mati Fernandez--------Cani

---------------------Rossi

Bruno really is a more natural replacement for Marcos Senna but I'm really surprised Ibagaza isn't in the XI. Mati Fernandez is a decent goal scorer though so him playing behind Rossi (though I suspect there will be quite a lot of interchanging between Mati, Cani, and Pires) isn't a bad idea.

The Professor wrote:Arsenal team according talksports:

-----------Fabianski
Eboue--Toure--Silvestre--Gibbs
Walcott---Song--Cesc-----Nasri
-----------RVP---Ade

Decent lineup. Should be strong enough to win

No denilson of course is a major bonus

COTR wrote:

The Professor wrote:Arsenal team according talksports:

-----------Fabianski
Eboue--Toure--Silvestre--Gibbs
Walcott---Song--Cesc-----Nasri
-----------RVP---Ade

Decent lineup. Should be strong enough to win

No denilson of course is a major bonus

Did you look at the defence ?

Decent apart from the defence.

We have no defenders left in no time if it goes on like this.

Reason for Sagna's absence is 'cos he has a virus.

T-27

Tweedle wrote:

The Professor wrote:Arsenal team according talksports:

-----------Fabianski
Eboue--Toure--Silvestre--Gibbs
Walcott---Song--Cesc-----Nasri
-----------RVP---Ade

So Sagna IS out

Nethertheless, there's enough quality in attack that we should definately be the favourites.

The left side of defence is a worry though. Thank fuck Cazorla is injured.

The whole back 5 side is a worry as this is the 1st time they are playing together(I think). I'm not that worried about their individual qualities(save 1 or maybe 2), but more how they'll defend as a unit.

Bold move by Wenger to go with 2 strikers(considering how dodgy looking our back 5 is). I'd have personally gone with a more cautious approach, but that could also backfire. Hope we are 2-0 up before the last 10-15mins otherwise I 'll definitely pee my pants watching us trying to play for the 0-0.

COYG!!!

The Professor wrote:

Tweedle wrote:

The Professor wrote:Arsenal team according talksports:

-----------Fabianski
Eboue--Toure--Silvestre--Gibbs
Walcott---Song--Cesc-----Nasri
-----------RVP---Ade

So Sagna IS out

Nethertheless, there's enough quality in attack that we should definately be the favourites.

The left side of defence is a worry though. Thank fuck Cazorla is injured.

The whole back 5 side is a worry as this is the 1st time they are playing together(I think). I'm not that worried about their individual qualities(save 1 or maybe 2), but more how they'll defend as a unit.

Bold move by Wenger to go with 2 strikers(considering how dodgy looking our back 5 is). I'd have personally gone with a more cautious approach, but that could also backfire. Hope we are 2-0 up before the last 10-15mins otherwise I 'll definitely pee my pants watching us trying to play for the 0-0.

COYG!!!

Nah, that's no fun. Hopefully we'll get another 6-7 goals tonight.

COME ON ARSENAL

Jaime wrote:

The Professor wrote:

Tweedle wrote:

The Professor wrote:Arsenal team according talksports:

-----------Fabianski
Eboue--Toure--Silvestre--Gibbs
Walcott---Song--Cesc-----Nasri
-----------RVP---Ade

So Sagna IS out

Nethertheless, there's enough quality in attack that we should definately be the favourites.

The left side of defence is a worry though. Thank fuck Cazorla is injured.

The whole back 5 side is a worry as this is the 1st time they are playing together(I think). I'm not that worried about their individual qualities(save 1 or maybe 2), but more how they'll defend as a unit.

Bold move by Wenger to go with 2 strikers(considering how dodgy looking our back 5 is). I'd have personally gone with a more cautious approach, but that could also backfire. Hope we are 2-0 up before the last 10-15mins otherwise I 'll definitely pee my pants watching us trying to play for the 0-0.

COYG!!!

Nah, that's no fun. Hopefully we'll get another 6-7 goals tonight.

I'm usually all for entertainment, but not on this occasion mate. We are missing almost our whole back 5!! so fuck entertainment!

Ok 4-3 to Arsenal would suit me fine

I was going to watch Porto-Man. Utd, but seeing this lineups, I think Villarreal can do it, so I'm definitely watching this to start with

Diaby isn't fully fit yet; Denilson allegedly couldn't start either, that's why we play 2 up front.

I have not been this nervous before a match for a long time

Really hope we don't fuck this up

decent stream

http://www.channelsurfing.net/watch-sports-2.php?w=617616

kas wrote:I was going to watch Porto-Man. Utd, but seeing this lineups, I think Villarreal can do it, so I'm definitely watching this to start with

I like Pellegrini dropping Llorente, I think he is a waste of space. I think Cani-Mati-Pires can cause a lot of trouble to the backline of Arsenal.

De Guzman wrote:decent stream

http://www.channelsurfing.net/watch-sports-2.php?w=617616

Cheers!