Massive game, and as things are at the moment, we're full of confidence whilst they're on a major downer. Great opportunity for us. Gutting that Nando's out though.
We've been so defensively sound of late, completely organised at the back and brilliantly drilled. Arsenal's last two games against United and Chelsea have exposed how difficult they find it to play through such a defensive setup and how vulnerable they are to quick, incisive counter attacks.
We're perfectly equipped to go and do that to them, as did Chelsea and United.
Our only problem is that, without Nando, we lack that thrust, power and pace to hurt them on the counter.
United had Rooney - powerful, quick and clinical.
Chelsea had Drogba - exactly the same.
We have Nando - but he's out. That's where we'll struggle.
We can contain them and frustrate them, but when it comes to hitting them on the counter, we lack the necessary tools to make it count. N'Gog's quick, but not powerful enough, clinical enough or experienced enough to hurt them.
It's a real shame, because at full strength, we could've gone there and turned them over.
I'd go with
Subs:
Cavalieri, Degen, Darby, Aurelio, Aquilani, Maxi, Babel
It'd be tempting to play Gerrard alongside Mascher, leave out Lucas and play Aquilani off the front man. But Lucas has proven to be very useful when you're looking to be solid, well organised and difficult to beat. He's very competent in this system, with this kind of game.
We've been so defensively sound of late, completely organised at the back and brilliantly drilled. Arsenal's last two games against United and Chelsea have exposed how difficult they find it to play through such a defensive setup and how vulnerable they are to quick, incisive counter attacks.
We're perfectly equipped to go and do that to them, as did Chelsea and United.
Our only problem is that, without Nando, we lack that thrust, power and pace to hurt them on the counter.
United had Rooney - powerful, quick and clinical.
Chelsea had Drogba - exactly the same.
We have Nando - but he's out. That's where we'll struggle.
We can contain them and frustrate them, but when it comes to hitting them on the counter, we lack the necessary tools to make it count. N'Gog's quick, but not powerful enough, clinical enough or experienced enough to hurt them.
It's a real shame, because at full strength, we could've gone there and turned them over.
I'd go with
Reina
Carragher Skrtel Agger Insua
Mascherano Lucas
Kuyt Gerrard Riera
N'Gog
Carragher Skrtel Agger Insua
Mascherano Lucas
Kuyt Gerrard Riera
N'Gog
Subs:
Cavalieri, Degen, Darby, Aurelio, Aquilani, Maxi, Babel
It'd be tempting to play Gerrard alongside Mascher, leave out Lucas and play Aquilani off the front man. But Lucas has proven to be very useful when you're looking to be solid, well organised and difficult to beat. He's very competent in this system, with this kind of game.
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