Arsenal on Saturday

[einar]

Rafa will play his strongest team and we will twonk the arse.

Well spoken.

[AFII]

Reina

Finnan
Carra
Agger
Riise

Pennant
Alonso
Gerrard
Garcia

Bellamy
Kuyt

Crouch would be unlucky to miss out after his goal and all round performance last week, but if Bellers is fit I think we'll opt for his pace.

This will probably be starting XI and a totally different one in the Carling Cup.
Maybe Gonzalez instead of Garcia but I doubt that.

[Shaggy]

Pennant against top opposition worries me.

And me. Personally I'd stick Garcia on the right and play Gonzalez on the left. Rafa might reckon Pennant will be extra pumped given the opposition. Point to prove and all that. I dunno.

[einar]

Depends doesnt it?

Van Persie and Adebyeor (sp?) are out, Henry's just come back from a long term absence and played midweek, how sharp's he gonna be?

I think we should be taking the initiative in this game.

And we can do that with a 4-4-2

IMO would be safer.

[REDSCOUSER]

Well spoken.

[El Jefecito]

Dont see it that way, because when they have the ball, it's 5-3-2. When we have it, it's 3-5-2.

Your expecting that the wing backs will be able to get back before Thierry

[Craig_H]

And we can do that with a 4-4-2

IMO would be safer.

5-3-2, if done properly, can almost act as if we've got an extra man.

[REDSCOUSER]

And me. Personally I'd stick Garcia on the right and play Gonzalez on the left. Rafa might reckon Pennant will be extra pumped given the opposition. Point to prove and all that. I dunno.

Yes that is the best option. Rafa been praising Pennant all week for his efforts against fat sams pansies. Garcia on the left offers a better option than Gonzo.
Garcia is a big game(s) player so I would not be surprised if he started and scored.

[Craig_H]

Your expecting that the wing backs will be able to get back before Thierry

No, but there'll be 3 CBs to hold him up.

How sharp will he be and how easily will he be able to run into space?

TBH, spending our time worrying about Henry, in the run up to a home game, is pathetic.

[Shaggy]

5-3-2, if done properly, can almost act as if we've got an extra man.

Correct - and I remember it working perfectly at Newcastle away last season. It really did seem as if we had 12 men.

However, it hasn't always work out like that for us.

I'd be amazed to see Rafa change the formation for a big game like this.

[Craig_H]

Correct - and I remember it working perfectly at Newcastle away last season. It really did seem as if we had 12 men.

However, it hasn't always work out like that for us.

I'd be amazed to see Rafa change the formation for a big game like this.

He probably wont, but i'd definitely go with it.

[Red_Polo]

Finally someone is in agreement with me in relation to Luis Garcia
he's an awfully careless, indisciplined player isn't he?
The sooner we get rid of him, the better is all i say.

My God. I gave you the beneift of the doubt re Garcia on a thread the other day but now I can see you are clearly insane. The sooner we get rid of him the better? ****ting Christ.

[einar]

5-3-2, if done properly, can almost act as if we've got an extra man.

We would have to stick to 5-3-2 because Henry is gonna plant him self in the left corner if we play that.

And for me, 5-3-2 is to defensive at home.

[einar]

No, but there'll be 3 CBs to hold him up.

How sharp will he be and how easily will he be able to run into space?

TBH, spending our time worrying about Henry, in the run up to a home game, is pathetic.

Ferguson, Mourinho, and every one else do it. Why not us?

[Craig_H]

Ferguson, Morinho, and every one else do it. Why not us?

They dont gear their system towards coping with him.

Adapting how we play to suit the 'better' sides has been our undoing.