Arsenal build-up thread

[The_weatherman]

my son couldnt say mo sissoko as first and called him moomins coco. Hence the name stuck. It was pretty funny as he looked nothing like the moomins (the little puffy white mash mallow thingies on ITV about 20 years ago)

People can say whatever they like about mo, there is nobody in world football who is a better ball winner than him. Mascherano is the best defensive midfield in the world without any doubt and a better player but mo is the best ball winner.

We really needed him sitting on fabregas denying him space, getting the ball off him and getting it forward.

I know im gonna get slated for this one.

My team would have been

reina, finnan, carra, skrtel, riise, alonso, masher, momo, gerrard, babel and torres.

Where gerrard replaces kuyt on the right.

I wouldn't swap Momo for Mascher and I wouldn't let Riise in the XI and Finnan might have to be content for a seat on the bench.

Reina Carra Skrtel Hyypia Arbeloa Mascher Alonso Gerrard Babel Kuyt Torres

The only questionmark is over Arbeloa - Aurelio but I want to have the team as mobile as possible so I went for Arbeloa.

[el matador]

That's quite endearing

And my only criticism would be the selection of Riise.

he played really well against everton. he offers something aurelio doesnt in that he has running power and is physically stronger.

Aurelio doesnt seem to do enough for me during games. I dont know if he's under instruction to hold his position or he just coasts through games but he doesnt really convince me.

Saying that, his brain does actually work and he is much more composed on the ball. Whether that's important against arsenal where we probably wont have a lot of it i dont know.

[Marky]

Yeah whatever mate. I'm sick of your pro Arsenal and anti Gerrard posts. Armchair fans like you wind me up. We'll **** on your beloved Arsenal and get through to the semis.

Ok then Walcott, Hleb and RVP are no threat whatsoever. Arsenal play **** football and are never like to tear any team apart ie the likes of AC Milan esp at big stadiums such as the San Siro.
FFS you can't be honest around these forums half the time without getting ****ing slated for it.

[Morten_nogamst_Pedersen]

Ok then Walcott, Hleb and RVP are no threat whatsoever. Arsenal play **** football and are never like to tear any team apart ie the likes of AC Milan esp at big stadiums such as the San Siro.
FFS you can't be honest around these forums half the time without getting ****ing slated for it.

Only serves you right!

[el matador]

Ok then Walcott, Hleb and RVP are no threat whatsoever. Arsenal play **** football and are never like to tear any team apart ie the likes of AC Milan esp at big stadiums such as the San Siro.
FFS you can't be honest around these forums half the time without getting ****ing slated for it.

you could hardly say they tore ac milan apart.

[tufty]

looking forward to the game and supprisingly not at all nervous, though probably change by this time tomorrow

only thing is I don't think the second leg at home is the advantage it used to be, especially when the home team wins or even draws the first leg

thats why we'll batter Chelski in the semi

[The_weatherman]

you could hardly say they tore ac milan apart.

:handshak: Kaka has been carrying an injury the whole season, Pato was also getting back from an injury, the team is getting too old and they have been abysmal at home all season, I think the media made too much of their San Siro victory.

[Marky]

you could hardly say they tore ac milan apart.

Well in the 2nd leg they came close too, they dominated the majority of that match. Particularly the 2nd half.

[Reece]

This would have been nipped in the bud long before now If I was mod

[Rich]

Ouch!

Reece for Mod! :dancingpanda:

[dww]

I have deleted a couple of posts and while criticism of views and posters is fine needless bitchiness is pointless and derails discussions so please leave it out.

[Roboklopp]

tsk

[Kenneth]

I have deleted a couple of posts and while criticism of views and posters is fine needless bitchiness is pointless and derails discussions so please leave it out.

Is it time for an EST Civil War forum where posters can lay into each other as much as they like? Could be called 'The DJS Open Season forum'.

[Marky]

I have deleted a couple of posts and while criticism of views and posters is fine needless bitchiness is pointless and derails discussions so please leave it out.

Although it is disappointing when you mention that Arsenal have a few dangerous players and get dogs abuse thrown back at you.
It's a bit unfair if you ask me but i'll get over it.

[dww]

So back to the issue at hand. I would think Arsenal will play effectively a 4-1-3-2 with either Hleb or van Persie playing off of Adebayor up front (a 4-1-3-1-1 seemed like a ridiculous formation to claim although possibly more accurate). Flamini holding.

I think that a two man midfield screen in the shape of Alonso and Mascher would make it hard for the likes of Fabregas and the wide midifelders to run the game. They do have the talent though to break quickly and decisively so we need to keep them thinking at the other end and hopefully force another one of their midfielders deep where they aren't comfortable.

Gerrard has to hold a high position or we are in trouble. Kuyt's positioning is also important to us as he lacks the pace of say Babel to counter attack with the ball at his feet. He may need to interchange with Gerrard and or Torres to make our 4-2-3-1 formation work.