Arsenal F C (Pride Of London)

[SE13]

Well, two shut-outs on the trot. Firstly Blackburn Rovers at Ashburton Grove, then PSV Eindhoven at The Philpis Stadion. Hardly a trophy winning formula.

Arsenal have slipped back into that mould of needing to score the perfect goal by passing the ball into the back of the onion bag, and seemingly only Tomas Rosicky is prepared to have a crack at goal, or get himself into a goalscoring position. Arsenal seem to go through these phases all too often, and it will cost dearly, especially if it were to happen again in the return leg at Ashburton Grove. What happened to the move and pass that has been so effective in the past?

Next up for Arsenal is The Carling Cup Final on Sunday 25/02/2007 against CSKA Fulham at The Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. It is already known that manager Arsene Wenger will kep to his policy of only using youth and fringe players in the tournament, meaning no Thierry Henry, although I fancy a couple of bigger names will be in the starting eleven. CSKA Fulham are almost certain to put out their strongest side available, subject to squad rotation. Once again, there is no real pressure on Arsenal to win the match and subsequent three handled trophy, more so on Chelsea to actually convert the millions of pounds spent on transfers and wage into honours.

Remember kids, before Roman Abramovic, Chelsea had no history!
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[Magpie]

Blimey! I'd forgotten it was the Carling Cup final this weekend. Looks like I might have the thinly-veiled excuse I need to go to the pub for a few beers and I can watch the match from there.

Any chance of sticking your neck out for a prediction? Bearing in mind my appalling record in the Champions League predictions thread, my opinion won't count for anything but I think this might be a close-run thing and could possibly go to extra time. I reckon 1-1 after 90 minutes and after that it's anyone's guess!
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[SE13]

Bearing in mind that Chelsea are certain to field the strongest team to hand, and that Arsene Wenger will stick to his policy of using Youth and fringe players, any sort of prediction would be hard to call. I believe I touched on this earlier in the thread, that Arsenal, in fact, have nothing to lose, and Chelsea have possibly their only chance of silverware this season, Champions League aside. Jose Moronho will be all out to win this Mickey Mouse Cup, where Arsenal and in particular Arsene Wenger will look at it as experience for those youngsters, and a bonus if they win, although maybe he does not expect the three handled trophy to come back to Ashburton Grove.

As yet, there is no news of the teams or squads travelling to The Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, or if there is, I have not yet spotted it. Chelsea have John Terry out, I think, and one or two other injury concerns, while injuries mean nothing to Arsene Wenger, as it gives further opportunities to bed other players into first team action.

Prediction wise, I will pass, but to be fair, I can see Arsenal making a nuisence of themselves against Chelsea, causing them enough problems to make life difficult, and make the game somewhat more exciting than if it were both teams putting everything on the line for a trophy. I would obviously like to see Arsenal scoop the honours, and bring the first trophy back to Ashburton Grove, but on the same token, Jose Moronho will be all out to ensure that this is not the case, and no doubt have World Cup stars among the substitutes, as well as the entire starting eleven!
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It feels so empty without a signature, so here is some mindless gabble to occupy the space

[mellymoo]

so when did arsenal play reading then? knew it was coming up, was it today or yesterday? what was the score?

sorry- but i kinda like reading - just thought it would be a pretty good game!

anyone?

[SE13]

Arsenal played Reading yesterday at Ashburton Grove. A game we dominated, yet failed to put to bed in a thorough manner. The result was a two goals to one victory, and given the defeat of Liverpool at home to Manchester United, means Arsenal are in prime poise to clinch third place in the table. Arsenal are a single point behind Liverpool, with two games in hand.

Next up, we face PSV Eindhoven of Holland in the second leg in The Champions League. A goal down already, the mountain could be quite difficult to climb, but given that we made it all the way to Paris last year, against all odds, perhaps the squad will regain some of the fight that so nearly took us to European glory last season. Well, let us hope so anyway.
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It feels so empty without a signature, so here is some mindless gabble to occupy the space

[Magpie]

Well, it's only just over 24 hours before what is going to be a vital game for Arsenal in the Champions League and I haven't heard of any notable abstentees or potential tactics. Am I too early? Does Arsene Wenger play his cards close to chest until the last minute?
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[SE13]

Arsenal Vs PSV Eindhoven

UEFA Champions League 2nd Leg

Wednesday 7th March 2007

Ashburton Grove 7:45pm

Aggregate: 0-1

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PSV Eindhoven grabbed an unlikely one goal victory over in Holland, so this tie is nicely poised. Any away goal would surely see last years beaten finalists fall at the first knockout hurdle, however Arsenal must be favourites to go through. Team news is a little scarse at present, although word on the street has it that Thierry Henry will be fit enough to start the game, plus Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor will be almost certain starters because their domestic bannings will not apply in The Champions League.

An early goal will settle the nerves, but knowing Arsenal, if they are to progress they will do it the hard way
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It feels so empty without a signature, so here is some mindless gabble to occupy the space

[StephenG]

[sebamagia]

jjejejeje

OUT OF THE CHAMPIONS !

BETTER LUCK THE NEXT !

OUT OF ALL ! !
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[SE13]

^^ Ouch! I think I am, deaf!

Well, another shocker at Ashburton Grove sees the demise of last years beaten finalists, Arsenal, though small comfort it might be, but last seasons winners, Barcelona also went out at the same stage this week.

Yet again, another case of trying to pass the football into the back of the net, wasted chance after wasted chance, the wrong pass selection at the crucial moment, and at the most important time late in the game, shocking, schoolboy defending allowing Alex, the best player by a country mile for PSV Eindhoven to rise unchallenged to nod the football into the back of the net, and allow PSV progression to the last sixteen at the expense of Arsenal.

And so to another grouse I have, in that Thierry Henry was clearly not fit to play, clearly not fit to even be on the bench, and yet Monssieur Wenger opted to play him for a few minutes in the hope of raising the crowd, and team spirits. Within seconds of him entering the field of play, it was clear to see that he could take no further part, and should have instantly been replaced. But no.... Thierry Henry was forced to play on, and as a subsequent result has ruptured the already torn stomach muscles, and aggrevated the initial back problem. This now means that Thierry Henry is now out of action for the remainder of the season, and at a time when we need him the very most. A poor poor decision, which failed to save the Champions League season, and ultimately could affect the chances or probability of qualifying for the competition next season. Now we have not got the talisman to run things when we need it the very most.

Should qualification for next years Champions League come into the slightest jeapordy, watch this space for the first news of a change in the coaching staff, because the million that Arsenal could lose over this decision could cost dearly, especially with a huge loan to pay off for the building of Ashburton Grove, and the reconstruction of Highbury.
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[Magpie]

I couldn't believe it when I heard about Thierry Henry. That sounds like something Newcastle United would do! They have a habit of bringing back injured players too soon, only to end up aggravating the problem and then being without someone for twice as long as they should!
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[SE13]

I will be honest, and say that this situation has riled me beyond belief. I fail to see where the go-ahead to play him in the first place came from, and I further fail to see why he was not instantly replaced once it was abuntantly clear that he could take no further part in the game.

But I see your link to Newcastle United there, Magpie.... We have suddenly run out of strikers, with Thierry Henry and Robin Van Persie both out injured. Theo Walcott can deputise up front, I suppose. Julio "The Beast" Baptista is firing blanks, although there seems to be an injury concern with him now as well.

In fact out injury room players could win a World Cup, such is the quality in there and not on the field of play!
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[StephenG]

It seems that it's getting worse for Arsenal, as Emmanuel Adebayor has been banned for another game, which means he will miss the trip to Merseyside to play Everton on Sunday. It relates to his reluctance (I have to say with some justification) to leave the field of play after being sent off during the Carling Cup Final. He also missed the game with Aston Villa on Wednesday night, but that didn't stop The Gunners from picking up all three points from the Midlands club, and leapfrogging Liverpool, into third place in the English Premier League table.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/h.....437189.stm

Strangely enough, Liverpool are the next visitors to Villa Park on Sunday, and both the Aston Villa v Liverpool and Everton v Arsenal games are live on Sky Sports 1 (and probably t' interweb) from 1:30 p.m.

[SE13]

A fully deserved one nil win over Aston Villa last evening in Birmingham at Villa Park, ensured Arsenal took third place in The Premiership table, and remember they have a game in hand over all those who are around, including Liverpool whom they relegated to the fourth place slot. That game in hand, which is at Ashburton Grove against Manchester City has finally been re-arranged, after several attempts in recent weeks, to Tuesday, April seventeenth.

Actually last nights match should have seen Arsenal win by a country mile, but once again the mis-chance ghost came back to haunt us. I would have settled for a single goal victory before kickoff, so I am reasonably pleased with the result, albeit courtesy of a deflected goal. Deflected off one of our own players, and not an onrushing defender.

With exits from all major cup competitions, The Premiership is all that is left to concentrate on now, so consolidating third position is high priority right now.
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[West_ham_hammer]

Even know you might finish off in third position SE13, don't you think it's a bit funny how you get to go into the champions league. Finishing third is hardly 'Champions'

In my opinion only the champions should go in it. The runners up etc should go into the UEFA cup.

I wonder what other peoples thoughts are on this?