Arsenal @ Home Build Up

[SB]

So now that the CC is safely in our hands there's the small matter of the Arsenal coming to visit, in what surely is a must win game to keep any real chance of a top 4 finish alive.

In between the CC and the Arse some players will be called upon for international friendlies as well. At least that may help refocus any players who overindulged the celebrations

Uruguay has only to travel to Romania which is a bonus. How many of our players will be away? That may affect Kenny's team selection I suppose?

Any injuries from the CC win?

[McDermotX]

More than likely not gonna have Agger for this, but Carra will put in a shift for us.

One things for certain, amongst all the celebrating/moaning at our Cup win, we'll need to play a lot more effectively against Arsenal if we want our 3 points.
Good thing is, they'll attack and are next to hopeless at the back, so if we apply ourselves correctly, I don't think a home win is too much to ask.

Downing has probably earned himself another start, and Sagna isn't exactly a disciplined FB, so its a good opportunity for him to endear himself to a home crowd........probably give Henderson the bench for this one.
Midfield will need to be careful though, as Arsenal's deep runners could be a problem for a midfield performance similar to what we saw on Sunday from Adam and Gerrard.
Arsenal have won their last 3 League games, and will be bouyed by their comeback against Spurs.............time to put them back in their box.

[SB]

A game for Jay to play in ?

[McDermotX]

Possibly.....depends how the week goes for both sides.
I don't think you'll find anyone here who is entirely comfortable with Adam and Gerrard together (Christ.....they even ran into each other at one point on Sunday). There's just not enough defensive responsibility there. or even terrier-like energy to fall back on.............Spearing, limited though he is, can offer the latter, but probably not on a consistent enough basis to ever be anything more than a good squad player, and IMO, his distribution hasn't been up to the required level in his recent run-outs.
Will leave that one for the Boss to figure out

[Daffy Duck]

Arsenal's 5-2 win against Spurs worries me, they score goals, we don't... and without Agger it will be hard to deal with Van Persie. Henderson needs to be replaced by Maxi/Kuyt or even Spearing (so Gerrard can get into a more advanced position) and Carroll needs to start in my opinion, since Mertesacker who's injured is probably the only defender they have capable of handling him. We need to use the cup win as a confidence boost (though I still think it was a **** win) and get the 3 points by all costs.

[Exiled_red]

This is a massive game for us and we really need a win to get right back in it, a win would put us 4 points behind Arsenal with a game in hand where as a defeat would see us 10 points behind them.

As for the team if Agger's out presumably Carragher comes in. Spearing has to come in for Adam IMO as Gerrard and Adam doesn't work as a partnership. Downing deserves to start this one on the left and hopefully Kuyt will get the nod ahead of Henderson on the right. I hope both Carroll and Suarez start as I think that they can both cause the Arsenal defence problems.

[Tee]

Real test now of our progress. If we can put in a convincing performance and win, well I think it will give us real belief that we can get 4th. Just worried about our CM not being mobile enough to cope with their movement.

[Muddled]

For me:

----------------- Reina
Johnson -- Carragher -- Skrtel -- Enrique
---------------- Spearing
------- Gerrard --------- Adam
Kuyt ------------------------- Downing
---------------- Suarez

[Shaggy]

Didn't know where to put this so here'll do:

Bitters at home scheduled for Tuesday 13th March, live on Sky. Night time derby game

[Vermilion]

Brave.

[Chazza]

3 Days after Sunderland away

[doogle]

Hopefully us parading our CC trophy before the game will damage Arsenals player mentality somehow

[Lee]

Coates or Carragher then chaps?

I reckon Carra will get the nod, but I'd like to see Coates step in for Agger on Saturday.

[Gingawaria]

Carra for me, this one's a bit too big for Coates.

[Lee]

Carra for me, this one's a bit too big for Coates.

I don't know.

Coates isn't a mug, and if we bring Carra back in then it'll mean Skrtel switching to the left side of defence which I'm not keen on.