re: Champion's League 1/4 final: Barca vs Arsenal

I think today's match will go 'okay' for us, meaning that we still may lose by one goal.

I have confidence that Diaby (or Rosicky), Nasri, and Song will be able to competently handle the midfield. We will get a great deal of possession despite playing a team whose expertise lies in retaining the ball.

I think for us the keymatches will be Maxwell or Puyol (whoever will be playing LB) vs. Eboue/Walcott. Speed vs. discpline and technique. Eboue is having a good run of form. I hope to see him get the start over Sagna.

and then Clichy & Sol Campbell vs. Messi et al. Will one of these defenders famously frick up as they have a few times this season? Clichy seems more stable lately, and Sol's really only had one major blight -- that backpass in the Porto loss. Still, they have to deal with a speed and counter ability that is unrivaled in its potency. I do think that Tommy V and Sol are phsyically capable of keeping Nose Ibrahimavic in check.

I'm hoping for a Beowulf brace.

My prediction though is a 2-0 loss.

Great analysis Tiger King. As a Gunner, I'm not too optimistic about the tie as a whole, but I think we can nick a victory at the Emirates. Maybe along the lines of 2-1 or 3-2. Fabregas will be the key. The difference in the game could be which Manuel Almunia shows up for the game. It's pretty much obvious that overall he does not possess the quality to be a #1 at a major club like Arsenal, but one of the reasons he still has the job is that he has some brilliant games every now and then. He needs to play confident and not make any mistakes for Arsenal to have a chance in this game.

Hopefully Gallas will be fit, because Sol Campbell simply does not have the pace to play against Barca. Vermaelen hasn't played recently due to his red card against West Ham, so he should be rested and ready. I'm comfortable with either Sagna or Eboue at RB, although I'd prefer both play with Eboue getting the start at RW. Clichy has regressed this year after an injury-plagued campaign last season. That might be in part to a lack of competition from Kieran Gibbs, but whatever the reason, he has struggled. He was been great on the attack, but pacy wingers have bamboozled him which is not a good sign considering he'll be going up against Messi.

In midfield I would assume it will either be Song/Fabregas/Diaby or Song/Nasri/Diaby depending on whether or not Fab is fit. Song has been solid all year and is turning into one of the best CDM in the world. Nasri, after suffering a broken leg in the preseason, is finally rounding back into form. I love Nasri and think he is world-class and he's shown it in recent outings with his goal last time out against Birmingham and the spectacular effort against Porto being the latest examples. (As a sidenote, Domenech has to insert him into the French squad imo...) If Fab plays, he will be up front on the right. If Fab is injured, he will take that central midfield role. He brings a different dynamic to the game than Fabregas. He isn't quite as good a passer of the ball (few are), but he is pacy and is more keen to try and dribble past defenders. Diaby is a very useful player, and is on the precipice of being a world-class player imo, but he lacks consistency. Obviously we need a big game from him.

Up front Arshavin will play on the left and Bendtner through the middle. Arshavin is a big game player and I fully expect him to create some magic tonight. Bendtner, since coming back from injury, has aided our attack a lot. After RvP went down, we had no presence up front. Arshavin is too small to be a lone striker, Eduardo is still struggling to find his form after his injury, and Vela isn't strong enough yet either. Bendtner gives us a physical presence and a ball-winner in the air. He may not be the best goal-scorer, but he has acquitted himself decently well as a starter.

I would imagine that Fabregas plays today. I know Wenger says 40%, but I think there is no way Fabregas is missing this tie. If he is healthy enough, he will be an immense help to Arsenal's cause. With him, I can see the Gunners winning 3-2 today. Without him, I think Arsenal's best hope is a draw. Regardless of today's outcome, I think Barca will win by two goals or more at the Nou Camp and move on to the semis. Unless they play like they did against Rubin Kazan, in which case maybe we have a chance.

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Fabregas will be the key.

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In games without him our midfield has performed exceptionally. Especially in the Champion's League (Roma last season in the away leg, Porto this year). I'm not too worried about him missing. Sometimes we siphon the ball off to him too much. His absence is a change of pace that some teams don't expect after studying so much film with him in the lineup.

I'm really torn here, my favorite club for the past decade has been Arsenal followed by a close second Barcelona. Saying this of course I still hope Arsenal wins this draw, but if they were to be knocked out I could not have picked a better club to do it than Barca.

Most of all though I am just looking forward to witnessing these two clubs play the beautiful game. Both clubs are a joy to watch. It is only too bad that a good bit of that creative offensive quality exemplified by both clubs will be missing; seeing as Fabregas, Nasri, and Arshavin are not expected to feature in major roes for this first leg, and Iniesta is not expected to feature at all in either lef for Barca.

LINK

Cesc good to go

awesome!

laSt I read Wenger himself said Nasri and Arshavin would only come on as subs, but this was like Saturdayish. Definitely good to hear all 3 are a go.

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mrsmiller

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I said earlier that I wasn't going to see it live. I can't miss this match. Going ti Finn's.

Go Gunners, altough I am very hestitant about the outcome.

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Arsenal will officially start this tonight. Arshavin and Nasri may be switched

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I like that line up a lot. We shall see. I am pacing in my office, getting ready to head to Finn's.

very jealous. i shall be watching the replay on fsc tonight at my house. keeping up with it on gamecast today.

GO GUNNERS