Playing in Torquay, apparently.
Arsenal arrived in Bavaria missing Jack Wilshere and the Sky promptly fell in at that announcement, more concerned about England’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers than any Premier or Champions League commitments of his club. The news was not unexpected with rumours abounding that Wilshere was out, so too Szczesny and Sagna. Never fear, Abou’s here. Or is he in Munich, he might actually play.
There are precedents for the unlikeliest of victories tonight. Panathinaikos with a very mixed team succumbed to their first home defeat to an English club, Real Madrid, Internazionale and Milan. Progress this evening would be more akin to Juve in 1980 than any Champions League heroics. To be honest, I cannot see Arsenal getting the required number of goals to achieve that; a win is not beyond them by any means but three clear goals or scoring more than four whilst conceding two less, is just stretching credibility. Even with Schweinsteiger, Boateng, Ribery and possibly Robben missing, there is too much experience in the Bayern defence to fail to see out the tie. And in a sense, that’s a good thing; expectations are low, pressure is off to a certain extent. I am sure that Arsène and the players will be going all out for the win but probably happy in one sense with a confidence boosting win classed as heroic failure ahead of the trip to South Wales.
Lukasz Fabianski is likely to start tonight for the first time in over a year; Vito Mannone might feel somewhat aggrieved at that but the Pole is a better goalkeeper. His problem is that confidence underpins his game and what state that is in, who knows? But if there is one player that you want to have a good game, it is Fabianski if for no better reason than giving his digital dexterity the chance to shine in the general direction of his numerous detractors. Possibly a case of wishful thinking since Fabianski seems destined for the exit door this Summer. It is strange how his career has turned out as he has consistently been rated by coaches and other goalkeepers, as the best at the club. Something happens on match-days, rushes of blood or teenage fumbles occur regularly, almost as if the initial intention behind the acts is to convince himself that he is confident in his abilities. The footballing equivalent of stage fright, if you like. It is this lack of depth in the goalkeeping department which is fuelling the stories of interest in Valdes and Reina although the latter is doing his damnedest to prove himself the Spanish Fabianksi. Succeeding too.
The match offers a chance for some sharpness to be acquired from players who have been injured or curiously omitted. In the former camp will fall – although hopefully not literally – Kieran Gibbs and Abou Diaby. For the England youngster, it is a welcome return for no better reason than actually having a specialist left back in the side, rather than a makeshift and make-do solution. When Gibbs eventually gets back up to full fitness, Arsène has an interesting choice to make for whilst Monreal is not infallible, he has been consistently reliable, more than any other left back this season. Diaby? I am not convinced I would play him this evening, not from the start at least. According to Wenger, he is waiting on a fitness test which suggests an imminent breakdown the minute he trips over the white line. Tomas Rosicky offers a more experienced, if no less injury-prone, alternative and to be fair to the Czech, he has not let Arsenal down this season in his performances. As with last season, his experience in Wilshere’s absence may provide the spark and some sorely missed leadership in the centre of the park.
At yesterday’s press conference, Wenger stopped short (just) of saying this was a dead rubber and that Saturday’s trip to Swansea more important in the wider context of the season. Truth be told the preparation for this is more like that of the last pre-season friendly before the big kick-off in August; eyes are on the bigger prize. Champions League participation next season relies entirely on others failings as well as Arsenal negating their own so little blame can be attached to the manager for resting any player whose fitness is dubious. A shame that he had not done that earlier with Jack Wilshere if reports are true that this injury is the same as his last, albeit on the other ankle.
The line-up I expect at kick-off is:
Fabianski; Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs; Rosicky, Ramsey, Arteta; Walcott, Giroud, Cazorla
It would be little surprise to see Oxlade-Chamberlain drop in for either Walcott or Giroud, possibly Diaby for Cazorla as well, just to complete the League Cup feeling. As it is, hope springs eternal but whether the flicker of victory is dimmed by looking ahead remains to be seen. Barcelona yesterday became the first club to overturn a two-goal deficit in Champions League history according to some. I don’t know if it is true but there seems little expectation of Arsenal joining them. Mind you, this season’s knockout phase has been strange with only Dortmund and Juventus progressing so far of the teams in a good position after the first leg. The rest have been less expected. Never say never…
Enjoy the match wherever you are watching it.
’til Tomorrow.
Barcelona hold a high line
We can’t
Lennon’s goal was embarrassing
we couldnt hold a clothes line….
i’ll get harrys coat.
I agree Dukey, Lego head must let his hair down
look these players can fight
so let them
sit deep and go to war and hit them on the break and on set pieces..
against the better teams it will look scrappy but so fucking what and against the weaker teams we’ll wipe the floor with them…
SUPER PROUD O MY GUNNERS…
by far the better team over both legs. And a clean sheet to boot.
See that chelski.
That is how you take it to the enemy. Not like you cowards .
Very frustrated with going out on away goals rule..
UP THE GUNNNSSSSS!!!!!!!!!
FORWARD………..
Well said JJ
lol i love it if stupid fans who read the daily mail before the game cancelled their fight to munic beacuse “aw does not take the CL seriously”.
if you are that thick as a fan you bloody deserve to sit in London now with a long nose wishing you were in munich…
Arsenal reborn-New Pope. …
Coincidence?
i wonder if you could sue the paper for misleading info if you were a fan that cancelled your ticket based on facts from a paper?
then again i guess you cannot sue others for taking advantage of your own stupidity…
It is after all not the Mails fault that people are thick….
yep most if not all our goals are from our players getting caught in no mans land. or desperatly trying to get back into position and falling on their arses.
what are you banging on about poodle.
we had them germans in no mans land tonight eh!
Ha ha Dukey they were only obeying orders
time to let bould go to work on these players.
we’d be one mean ass unit.
@dukey did you not read the mail today? some fan had read in the paper that AW was not gonna start a strong line up. He got disgusted, hated wenger, hated the team and cancelled his plane ticket. then he had a rant in the mail about it all.
Then it turns out we play a strong line and win the match….ouch, how stupid must he feel?
MInd you that story is probably also fabricate by the mail…
however my little story is irrelevant COS WE WON!!WHOOHOOO!
They don’t like it up ‘em Dukey
Didn’t Lineker say something similar on twatter poodle? Doh.
Anyway I better go ‘cos I found myself in agreement with JJ for a moment there. Must be the lateness of the hour.
Night night y’all.
A strange game really. I don’t actually think we played that well, yet we got a good result and nearly the one we needed. The attack didn’t really click, but I thought we defended pretty well.
Unfortunately the damage was done in an insipid first leg. Good result tonight though. Props to fabianski; nice and solid despite being thrown into a big game. Our “big players” were not at the rates tonight, but jenkinson had a great game I thought. Good lad.
serious? did a fan really cancel his ticket on the basis of the daily fail!
I agree JonJon – I don’t think Wengers footballing philosphy is wrong or that it’s been figured out, I just think it doesn’t work that well with this current squad, you tailor your tactics to the players available to you like we did tonight and perhaps you give yourself a better chance.
Before the match, I couldn’t believe that the bookies were offering 6-1 for an Arsenal win…..So I indulged myself….with a £10 bet.
I’m not a betting person, it’s the 1st bet I’ve ever made on football, but I couldn’t believe that everyone had written us off!
More fools them!
Can’t we all agree that, fuck The Daily Mail?
You know, like fuck racism?
And fuck homophobia?
And fuck all lying right wing piece of shit publications who peddle hatred & propaganda?
guess yogis headline time.
out with a bang not a whimper.
or.
pride restored now lets restore our 4th.
Nothing wrong with this crew. Nothing wrong with tactics. 0-2 to the ARSENAL. THIS team would do so much better with their efforts if they could somehow play all their games away From home.
Away from the crap fans who sap all their confidence with their actions and boos.
Fu••••••• ingrates.
on if Fabianski will become No 1…
You are never No 1 forever and you are not on one game as well. He did well and you can only congratulate him.
Not all of us fans who go to the home games boo the players.
very true
nothing wrong with this crew
weve been saying that all season..
the tactics? well other than the start of the year thats the first time weve seen them employed this season.
the george graham neandrathal defend and knick a few goals tactic that everyone hates?
we saw that last night
and we walked away with heads held high.
go figure.
its the fans fault is it? thats not what arteta said t’other day was is it
i think ppl need to stop making things up and we should all try to get along..
And my hats off to you and your kind WAVEY. folks who know they have a major role to play in this drama and back the team on the field at all times. Its just that I think we as a club have lost our home court advantage. Which is truly sad seeing we are playing in one of top five stadiums In all Europe. After all the hard work and sacrifice. All due to a vocal minority of creeps.
HIGH PEAK GUNNER
6 to 1 hay. Enjoy the win and the money.
I didn’t bet on the game but im proud to say I did not write this team off or this coach. Never crapped on their abilities and desire to win. Hold your head up. ARSENAL. YOU ARE A LIGHT ONTO OTHER CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS. WELL DONE.
anyhoo..
very proud of the lads last night..
we can still make top for if arsene would like to put the club and the fans before his philsophy for a few months..
ta very much
This was the highlight of a bleak season.
It all comes at the end and easily surpasses the campaign’s previous highlight a couple of weekends ago: namely watching The Arsenal players continue the game nonchalantly after Spuddybayor went down writhing in pain like the sack of rancid $£$£ that he is.
It occurred to me that they may have reached a watershed in passion and pride at that point.
Proud to be a RASER!
Great to see our boys put in performance that validates AW’s decision to pick them for the red & white.
Great to see Per & Kos @ their best together again.
Though our captain has had to hold things down for most of the season while Kos was sorting his head/body out, this is the preferred CB combo.
Corporal Jenks more than anyone really showed why one shouldn’t be quick to doubt AW. What a game! He was my MOTM.
Is this not the first game Mozart has gotten to play with Santi for 90 mins? Oh how I got an old wish validated by their performance, as scrappy as it was.
Rambo’s nickname is growing on him. The boy’s spirit is unbelievable.
Gerv & Ox came in and didn’t look too shabby @ all.
OG was all effort as usual. Can’t wait for him to be a tad calmer. He could become clinical.
Our weakest link , if there was one at all, was master Theo. Still seen seeking the perfect pass instead of making the best of any situation.
“You must learn to get more stuck in it, pretty boy. Take a leaf from handsome man”
Fabianski was immense. Positionally astute, made NO wrong decision.
His maturity showed he’s still got a lot to offer ahead of Szcz & Vito.
Well done.
Gibbs gave us a balance we’ve been missing. Looked bigger too.
Finally to El capitan for the night, Mikel Arteta. Played an almost perfect game. Really de-emphasized Kroos. Showed what Arsenal could be like with a quality DM.
A true pro…a real pro.
Glad the 10-day break was put to good use.
Practice makes perfect, this summer’s training camp (season before a world cup) should be something…
Oh well, on to the Liberty stadium for another showdown.
@ least its clear now that all 4 places will play in the 2013/14 CL…
10 games left…COME ON YOU GUNNERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nice to see Jenkinson put smarmy twat Geoff Shreeves in his place in the post match interview.
Thank god for AW and his philosophy. The achievements of the past 16 years from this club speak for themselves. For those who have eyes to see.
we are talked about and praised by most worthy coaches in lower divisions. More and more clubs are following our example as the proper way to build a team and organization.
uefa the ruling head for European football has picked ARSENAL above all other clubs as the example others should pick to follow.
NOT BARFA.
NOT REAL.
NOT MANURE CHELSKU Or SHITTY.
ARSENAL………
so go on with your fence sitting and nitpicking.
WE ARE THE ARSENAL.
WE ARE THE GUNNERS…….
http://www.aclfarsenal.co.uk/?p=10815
Today’s thoughts