Arsenal build-up thread #3

[Kenneth]

i think thats probably a blessing in disguise. i quite fancy playing benayoun in this match. we need to keep the ball better up at their end and babel can give it away far too much.

Yossi's ball retention was worse than Babel's on Saturday. Really poor performance from him and not what I expected of him. Always thought he was more tidy with the ball.

[bobbyfallon]

i recon were looking at 3-0 , maybe 4-0. very confident

[Kenneth]

i recon were looking at 3-0 , maybe 4-0. very confident

I'm a lot less confident, but I think we'll get through to play Fenerbahce.

[Angry Dan]

I think we will get through but am sure the Arse will score.

[bobbyfallon]

arsenal looked tired the last day - we have the kop torres and steve.. feel like **** myself and cant eat... even though im so confident

[Angry Dan]

Just remember if things don't go our way at the beginning we are LFC we don't do things the easy way!

But we will come through in the end.

[barnes10]

Yossi's ball retention was worse than Babel's on Saturday. Really poor performance from him and not what I expected of him. Always thought he was more tidy with the ball.

i do agree that benni wasnt on form on sat but that, based on what i've seen of him, is the exception. usually he's a very tidy and clever player and that's what i think we need. babel is playing like heskey at the moment.

i would also play crouch. i'd drop alonso and put gerrard alongside masher. that'll flummox em and with gerrard and masher terrorising a lethargic fabregas/silva, they won't touch the ball...

one problem is a reduced pace to our attack. but with crouch and torres wreaking havoc in their defence, stevie and masher tearing their midfield to pieces and carra, sami and skittles standing firm as the wall in front of reina, they'll do well to overcome that. oh and its anfield on a must win european night...

[MrMichael]

My First attempt of a Video upload .... video quality is a tad on the ****e side ,, but the music is all Nicey .... Behold Torres !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tO0yR88894o

As Skillz said, the music disappears after 4 mins or so, and there's quite a lot of pixelation, especially at cuts between clips, but nonetheless...



Buzzin now, time for another special night......

[Exiled_red]

A goal to Liverpool doesn't really make a massive difference though that's the annoying thing.
Arsenal know thy have to score whether we score or not.

Yeah that's the problem, everyone was making us favourites after first leg but we still need to win as any draw other than 0-0 would see extra time or an Arsenal win.

Hopefully we'll start with a high tempo and get a couple of early goals. If we sit back and defend or allow them to dictate the tempo it will be a very long nervous night!

I can see Arsenal scoring so we need at least 2, Hopefully we'll start with a high tempo and get a couple of early goals. If we sit back and defend or allow them to dictate the tempo it will be a very long nervous night!

[Xabi_is_God]

Its ****ting bricks time!

[Elvis]

A refreshingly biased article in our favour for once from ITV.com....

Two old English foes meet for the third time in a week in the Champions League quarter-finals, second-leg at Anfield.


Liverpool and Arsenal square off in the unfamiliar purlieu of continental football after many years of domestic rivalry.


The hosts have the edge on their Premier League rivals after scoring an away goal in the first leg in London.


That goal came from the unlikeliest of sources in Dirk Kuyt. As a result the Gunners' primary objective will be to cancel out the Dutchman's goal, which is certainly worth its weight in gold for the Reds' European hopes, as well as Kuyt's stock on the Kop.


In many ways the forward's performance last week is a microcosm of Liverpool's philosophy in Europe.


The grit, determination and passion coupled with an AC Milan-esque ability to put in a performance when it really matters has served the club well in the Rafael Benitez era.


Obviously such pragmatism is lost on the romantics of Arsenal and Cesc Fabregas decided to up the ante by slamming the Benitez philosophy.


"They defend very well and at 1-1, I think all they will want to do is defend and try to catch us on the break," the Spaniard told The Sunday Telegraph.


"We have to stick to our policy of playing football, attacking and trying to create opportunities. Just because the other team refuses to play doesn't mean we have to do the same thing."


The midfielder's sentiments are far from surprising, but it is important to note that this is the Champions League and not a beach soccer kickabout.


And moreover, Fabregas might want to peruse the statistics on UEFA's official website which indicate Liverpool have scored 22 goals (the most of all clubs) to Arsenal's 17. Arsene Wenger's men have also had the least shots at goal of the clubs remaining in the competition; just 95.


The stats are of interest because it indicates how the Merseysiders' brand of football allows them to thrive in Europe. Arsenal may play more attractive football, but doubts remain about its efficacy.


Wenger, the doyen of attacking football, must try and imbue his side with a measured patience in order to be successful.


Along with the away goal and home-ground advantage, Liverpool are also boosted by their performance on Saturday.


In the Premier League encounter Benitez rested eight regulars and departed London with a draw. His two most important players Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard played less than half-an-hour between them, while Wenger chose not to rest his stars.


Whatever the result we can expect whining from Wenger. If Arsenal lose he will bemoan the fact that 'the better side lost' and if the north Londoners go through, he will surely criticise Liverpool's style, or purported lack thereof.

[Roboklopp]

Starting to brick it now. Is Babel confirmed as out?

C'MON REDMEN!!!

[Xabi_is_God]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11MQnQ8QjJs

[Marky]

Im ****ting them.

[Nicey]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFMfzDFTdRI

Into Battle we go once again....