Arsenal build up

[little dave hedgehog]

no idea how likely it is we'll actually sit in 3rd at some point this season, but it could certainly happen. i'd be chuffed. but yeah, won't hold my breath.

[SB]

no idea how likely it is we'll actually sit in 3rd at some point this season, but it could certainly happen. i'd be chuffed. but yeah, won't hold my breath.

Look if we can beat them on their own patch, it will give our lads an enormous amount of belief and could quite possibly cause them to implode with 3 losses on the trot. Here's hoping hey !

[little dave hedgehog]

we'll see. i'm not sure anything will really make much sense this year, apart from the top 2.

[SB]

we'll see. i'm not sure anything will really make much sense this year, apart from the top 2.

Totally agree about the top two. The scum are not as good as last year IMO without the show pony and Tevez (when used). The Chavs have a good manager and they seem to have harmony within the camp which makes them stronger. We, on the other hand, have suffered from inconsistency and we defo miss Xabis form from last year. The Arse are not the same as in years gone by and are 3rd or 4th at best right now.

City are the team we expected to be in the mix but time will tell. Villa usually start well but tend to fade and the same is expected of Spurs. So IMO, that leaves 5 teams vying for 4 spots but it sure ain't over yet.

[tiktu]

I have a sneaking feeling that they will play Bentnerd today to provide some aerial support for their hoofing.

[Carras_Shin_Pads]

In 2007, Johnson set up the Glen Johnson Soccer School alongside Sam Taylor, a former player of West Ham United. The soccer school is based in Dartford, Kent, and its primary focus is training and development within local schools and one of his students is currently at West Ham United.

My home town, that's the B&Q he got caught nicking toilet seats the loon!

Shame about Aqua's getting ill, guess masch and lucas in midfield??

[Craig_H]

I've got a bad feeling about this one.

[Scratch]

SB - Pony comes from the rhyming slang Pony and Trap, meaning crap.

[SB]

SB - Pony comes from the rhyming slang Pony and Trap, meaning crap.

Cheers mate. Never would have worked that one out

[SK]

as you say yourself though, there is no creativity in that team and the arse would exploit that by man marking gerard out the game and cutting off our only outlet. to stick perhaps maxi and riera wide left and right would add more creativity but then i'd be worried about the arse attacking our flanks. tough one.

my shrewed tactical analysis was based on what chelsea did on sunday - flood the midfield, put two walls of defenders around 35m from goal, and then hit them with quick counter attacks, and in the mean time, let then use the flanks as they'll get nowhere with their crossing.

degen and insua are both quick enough to handle the running down the flanks, and the trio of gerrard, kuyt and n'gog should have the brains to pull of some attacking moves.

i'm not the manager though, and that's probably a good thing

[Craig_H]

I cant see us keeping a clean sheet, unfortunately.

Arsenal always break through our defences, especially at their place.

[Darkon]

I am really looking forward to this match today, and think we stand with a decent chance of getting away with the three points against them.

Arsenal will be a threat against our back, but we are getting back to the solid defending, and if we manage to put in an effort resembling that against everton, arsenal will have a though time getting through. And as sloveniankopite points out, we have a very good example of how to play arsenal just this weekend.

My main worry is actually that Arshavin seems to score against us at will, but besides that the other goal threats are there to contain.

I hope Maxi have the energy for a runout again today, but could see Riera getting in instead. Otherwise I see little point in changing anything from saturday except putting in Skrtel instead of Kyriagos or perhaps getting Carra in central, but we have few options on the RB right now.

It's been quite some time since I have looked forward to a match with as much excitment as this one and eventhough it's "only" the third/fourth place in it it's still something to look to.

[Craig_H]

Maxi will start.

[the rev leeroy brown]

my shrewed tactical analysis was based on what chelsea did on sunday - flood the midfield, put two walls of defenders around 35m from goal, and then hit them with quick counter attacks, and in the mean time, let then use the flanks as they'll get nowhere with their crossing.

degen and insua are both quick enough to handle the running down the flanks, and the trio of gerrard, kuyt and n'gog should have the brains to pull of some attacking moves.

i'm not the manager though, and that's probably a good thing

prob the best way to go is to do a chelski / manure and pack the defense but at least chelsea had anelka, drogba and malouda and manure had rooney / nani to break quick. for us, degen has a bit of pace but i've seen constipated people **** faster than insua can run. kyut and ngog aren't exaclty blessed either and at the risk of starting another long running babel thread ( sorry ) i'd be tempted to stick him on so we could at least have some pace in the attack.

[Craig_H]

I dont know why people think N'Gog isnt quick.