94: LU Arsenal Brigade

[Stonecutter]

Big injuries with a big game coming up. A win vs PSV is looking unlikely.

 

[CC_Eagle]

F*cking hell...

I'm very much dreading the PSV game after reading that.

 

[Macca_]

The important thing will be our defence. I'm sure we can get 1 or 2 goals so we need to keep the clean sheet.

Lehmann
Eboue / Gallas / Toure / Clichy

That's more than capable of not conceding to PSV. Gallas looked real strong the other night vs Blackburn. He and Kolo will be a good pairing. The 2 backs are quick in defence and will also be a threat going forward.

Now we just gotta find who's going to score the vital goals

I also reckon Diaby may play an important roll in the game.

Lets see what happens against Reading tonight though.

 

[NK Arsenal]

this is one of the worst weeks in the few years that i have been an arsenal supporter.

injuries, suspensions, losing in the carling cup, losing in the FA cup

please not a loss against reading!

 

[Macca_]

Chin up, there's been a lot tougher times than this

Been through the GG era, back then we would have chopped an arm off for whats happening at the club right now :lol:

 

[Macca_]

Good stuff, Diaby is back.

http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?...enger+-+I+only+have+14+players+to+choose+from

Wenger - I only have 14 players to choose from
Arsenal v Reading
Barclays Premiership
Emirates Stadium
Sat, Mar 3, 2007, 3pm
By Richard Clarke

Arsène Wenger has only 14 first-team players to choose from for Saturday’s game with Reading at Emirates Stadium.

At Friday afternoon's press conference, the Arsenal manager was boosted by the return of Abou Diaby after a foot injury. The other players returning from Wednesday’s defeat at Blackburn are Cesc Fabregas (rested) and Johan Djourou (ankle) but the injury list is still lengthy.

"I have no selection problems because I have only 14 players to chose from,” he joked. “We have Djourou, Gallas, Senderos, Clichy, Traore, Lehmann, Almunia, Hleb, Denilson, Ljungberg, Diaby, Walcott, Aliadiere and Baptista.

"The only good news is Diaby is back in the squad. Djourou is also returning."

The absentees are: Adebayor, Eboue, Toure (all suspended), Henry (foot), Rosicky (groin), Hoyte (hamstring), Flamini (foot) and Van Persie (foot).

I think it's 15 if you count Cesc...

Not sure where Gilberto is...

I'll go with -

Lehmann
Djourou / Gallas / Senderos / Clichy
Ljungberg / Fabregas / Diaby / Hleb
Aliadiere / Baptista

I think the back 4 pick themselves with who is available.

Up front, Aliadiere and Baptista are playing for the starting spot with Adebayor against PSV if Henry misses that game.

Midfield tonight has plenty of options still. Walcott or Denilson could start, and as I said, not sure where Gilberto is, he wasn't mentioned. Looking at the lineup he may play and take the skippers armband. Otherwise you'd say the Fred gets it.

 

[Macca_]

Incase you guys missed it.... It's on at 2am in the morning on Fox. After the Pool/Manc game.

 

[CC_Eagle]

Don't know whether to hit FM07 untill 2am or not...Hmm..Sp*rs are 1st atm and it's only December, but I'm fairly determined to get back to 1st

 

[Macca_]

Sounds like there's a bug in ya game mate.

 

[Macca_]

Team -

Lehmann
Djourou / Gallas / Gilberto / Clichy
Ljungberg / Fabregas / Denilson / Hleb
Baptista / Walcott

Bench - Almunia, Senderos, Diaby, Traore, Aliadiere

I like it. Theo finally a chance up top. Denno and Fab together in the middle. And Sendo outta there.

C'mon you reds!

 

[Macca_]

0-0 at the break.

Cut and paste a report from a heap of our others this season! :lol:

Plenty of possession, a few chances and not overly threatened at the back. The positive is that we haven't conceded which we've done first in 15 from 26 EPL matches.

Looking for that killer ball and then the finish at the moment. Plenty of patient build up, but we need some end product.

Lehmann - hasn't had a lot to do at all.

Clichy - hasn't got forward enough with his speedy runs. Needs to inject himself a bit more. To be fair, Freddy has been doing a lot of running in the space down that side.

Djourou - not overly confident at right back. He's done his defensive duties well, but nothing really going forward.

Gallas - very solid. Classy player.

Gilberto - couple of nice interceptions. Doesn't look out of place at CB.

Ljungberg - looking the most likely. Getting involved a lot down the left. Got on the end of one move and forced a good save.

Hleb - holding the ball and turning all over the shop like normal. Frustrates at times, but he can create something.

Denilson - been good in the middle. Keeps impressing.

Fabregas - having an 'off' day for his standards for mine. Should have scored when Baptista put it on a plate for him. Needs to get his head up.

Baptista - started lively. Looks ok dropping deep for the ball. He's coming along, but we need something from him now.

Walcott - another who started well. Reading are closing the space well and are happy for us to have the ball. Theo finding it hard to get the space. Watch out on the counter though, he'll only need a half chance with his speed.

If Reading are so happy to sit back and let us have it, I'd contemplate sending Diaby out there for Djourou. Not really Wengers go though. I'm sure we'll see Diaby and Aliadiere at some stage in the second half.

Lets put a chance or 3 away lads!

 

[Macca_]

Bugger. Brilliant save from a Fabregas effort from long range.

 

[Macca_]

1-0!

Thank you Gael Clichy. That's we we needed! Darting forward onto the end of a Freddy pass and gets bought down.

Gilberto nice spot kick.

C'mon lads, finish it off!

 

[Macca_]

Julio delivers!!!!

2-0.

Reading stretched this half.

All over them, they're there for the taking now.

Lets have another.

 

[Macca_]

Sendo on in the 87th minute when Reading have a corner. It flicks off his head and Fabregas puts it in our own net. 2-1.

Wake up lads.

 

[Macca_]

FT 2-1.

Well deserved win. Had most of the possession and the better of the play. Reading to their credit kept fighting and when the game opened up they looked better going forward.

We need to go ahead against PSV. If we do that on Thursday morning I fancy us to get through. I reckon it'll be a lot like the game this morning. Need to keep the clean sheet though!

Lehmann - Not a lot to do again. Claimed the highballs well, couple of easy saves to make. Like always was happy to wave the arms and have a shot at people. Just wish he'd tone it down towards our own :lol: Gallas and Hleb copped a spray.

Clichy - much better second half. Got forward more and earnt the penalty for the opening goal.

Djourou - solid game. Ain't no right back, but defensively sound.

Gallas - as per half time, class! Good to have him hitting his fitness levels now since returning.

Gilberto - good game skipper. I fancy he's ahead of Sendo in the pecking order for CB now...

Hleb - same as the first half. He'll run all day and twist and turn. Good player to have when you've got good movement off the ball.

Ljungberg - ran hard again. His through ball was the killer one for the penalty. He's coming back to full fitness.

Denilson - more please. This kid is quality!

Fabregas - much better second half. Unlucky with the own goal, was a reaction after the ball was flicked on. Ran hard and got stuck in.

Walcott - good game up top. Gave Reading plenty to think about and when the game opened up he had more space. Remember he's 17. He's TH's replacement!

Baptista - good game Beasty. Good strength and finish for the second goal. Could have had another with a couple of chances, one he sent in the rear of Aliadiere :lol:

Subs -
Diaby - gotta see more of him! This guy is going to be a key player for us in coming seasons. He;s got some real talent. He's got plenty of strength and he's only 21. Always unfair to liken players as replacements (even though I did it with Theo :lol, but Abou is very much like Vieria.

Aliadiere - worked hard once again. Should have had a goal when ruled offside. He was no more off then Drogba was in the Carling Cup Final last weekend. One of those that some times the flag goes up, sometimes it doesn't.

All up, a good result. Reading are a good side and they made us work hard today. But we always looked the more likely. Good win.

We're now just 1 point out of 3rd with 2 games in hand.

Now... Let's have a big one vs PSV. Step up lads!

 

[Macca_]

Forgot about Senderos as a sub... I don't want to sound like I'm picking on him, but I think he's slipped in form this season from what he showed early on since arriving.

For mine, he's not mobile enough for Arsenal. And his distribution has always been poor. He has the turning circle of a mac truck and he's not the quickest of players.

Toure, Gallas, Djourou then Senderos is how I'd rate them and as seen tonight Wenger is even happy to play Gilberto back there instead. So he's essentially 5th choice.

With the abundance of young talent coming through n the middle (mainly Denilson and Diaby) Wenger will use Gilberto there like tonight when needed. Which hopefully won't be much and we can see Toure and Gallas form a good partnership at the back.

 

[fish eel]

 

[Twizzle]

I'd say thats about a 10 out of 10

 

[Tom Shines]

Ouch. Drogba would be proud of that one.