Arsenal build up

[Reece]

Aurelio has looked pretty dire the last few times he's played in that position mate.

[JohnDoe]

Aurelio has looked pretty dire the last few times he's played in that position mate.

Not saying what I want but what I think will happen.

[Reece]

Gotcha

[Ben_Itez]

Arshavin's the main danger. Missed a glorious chance today at 1-0.

He'll get a couple of chances against us and no doubt score them both

I'd be more than happy with a draw. A win would be a superb result.

[Molby]

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. Babel?? ??
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

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.

I don't think that team will be far away, and i agree totally about your comments about pace. I've got a gut feeling about Babel for this game, i think he should be given a chance to lead the line, the man has bags of pace, not even opened yet. Maybe N'Gog should be on the bench here?

If we can beat the gooners and get a result at Eastlands, the table will be really different - ****, i hope we all bouncing this time next week.

[Craig_H]

I don't think that team will be far away, and i agree totally about your comments about pace. I've got a gut feeling about Babel for this game, i think he should be given a chance to lead the line, the man has bags of pace, not even opened yet. Maybe N'Gog should be on the bench here?

If we can beat the gooners and get a result at Eastlands, the table will be really different - ****, i hope we all bouncing this time next week.

Babel's shockingly bad and, worst of all, a lazy so-and-so with zero football intelligence.

[Molby]

Babel's shockingly bad and, worst of all, a lazy so-and-so with zero football intelligence.

It's been well documented about Babel on this site and many other forums, but if he is serious about wanting a move to another top side (maybe even the Gooners?) then he needs to put a shift in, if he is given a chance. Maybe, the potential for playing on a stage like this one on Wednesday night is the reason why Rafa didn't move him on to Birmingham in January?

Don't get me wrong, i agree with your comments, and i hope he isn't with us next season; but, if he could play a major part in getting us three points at the Emirates, would you complain?

[Craig_H]

Of course i wouldnt complain. But i wouldnt complain if Rafa popped up with the winner for us on wednesday night either. And that's about as likely as Babel doing anything that requires effort.

[SB]

Basically, if we score more than them - we should win.

I had to think about that for a while, then we had a family discussion, I phoned a friend and we've all come to the conclussion that you are indeed a very thoughful and wise person.

I shall be awaiting your next insightful instalment old wise one!

[the rev leeroy brown]

given his decent showing against the small team on saturday, i'd like to see us attack arsenal on wednesday with all guns blazing and give babel a chance from the start up top with ngog.

ngog showed some good hold up play at the weekend but he hasnt got the pace or the skill to be a real attacking threat on his own. babel showed he can control his natural game and do a defensive job as rafa obvioulsy asked him to do and just chase down defenders and track back but he is more naturally suited to an open attacking game. he is instn suited to a defensive lone striker role and as such with ngog doing the target man stuff and babel doing the speed / skill / attacking stuff they would cause arsenal quite a few problems IMO.

reina

degen
carra
agger
aurelio

mash
aqua
kyut
riera

ngog
babel

[SB]

given his decent showing against the small team on saturday, i'd like to see us attack arsenal on wednesday with all guns blazing and give babel a chance from the start up top with ngog.

ngog showed some good hold up play at the weekend but he hasnt got the pace or the skill to be a real attacking threat on his own. babel showed he can control his natural game and do a defensive job as rafa obvioulsy asked him to do and just chase down defenders and track back but he is more naturally suited to an open attacking game. he is instn suited to a defensive lone striker role and as such with ngog doing the target man stuff and babel doing the speed / skill / attacking stuff they would cause arsenal quite a few problems IMO.

reina

degen
carra
agger
aurelio

mash
aqua
kyut
riera

ngog
babel

No Stevie

[the rev leeroy brown]

given his decent showing against the small team on saturday, i'd like to see us attack arsenal on wednesday with all guns blazing and give babel a chance from the start up top with ngog.

ngog showed some good hold up play at the weekend but he hasnt got the pace or the skill to be a real attacking threat on his own. babel showed he can control his natural game and do a defensive job as rafa obvioulsy asked him to do and just chase down defenders and track back but he is more naturally suited to an open attacking game. he is instn suited to a defensive lone striker role and as such with ngog doing the target man stuff and babel doing the speed / skill / attacking stuff they would cause arsenal quite a few problems IMO.

reina

degen
carra
agger
aurelio

mash
aqua
kyut
riera

ngog
babel

No Stevie

yes thats right, the rev leeroy is a ****!!

let me re-address that team then by dropping aqua to the bench and sticking ste in alongside mash.

[S-RED]

given his decent showing against the small team on saturday, i'd like to see us attack arsenal on wednesday with all guns blazing and give babel a chance from the start up top with ngog.

Ngog showed some good hold up play at the weekend but he hasnt got the pace or the skill to be a real attacking threat on his own. Babel showed he can control his natural game and do a defensive job as rafa obvioulsy asked him to do and just chase down defenders and track back but he is more naturally suited to an open attacking game. He is instn suited to a defensive lone striker role and as such with ngog doing the target man stuff and babel doing the speed / skill / attacking stuff they would cause arsenal quite a few problems imo.

Reina

degen
carra
agger
aurelio

mash
aqua
kyut
riera

ngog
babel

is gerrard banned ????

[SB]

yes thats right, the rev leeroy is a ****!!

let me re-address that team then by dropping aqua to the bench and sticking ste in alongside mash.

You had me worried mate. I thought he must be banned

[SB]

is gerrard banned ????

No but if the Good Rev keeps giving us a heart attack like that we might have to ask the mods to ban him