Arsenal vs Villarreal

Pepe LeFrits

Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas has recovered from a bruised foot in time for Wednesday's Champions League semi-final at Highbury.
Jose Antonio Reyes is suspended, while Freddie Ljungberg is expected to return to the squad after missing Saturday's Premiership win over West Brom.

Villarreal's first-choice centre-backs Gonzalo Rodriguez and Juan Manuel Pena are both ruled out.

Mariano Barbosa replaces suspended goalkeeper Sebastian Viera.

The Gunners are unlikely to rush England defender Sol Campbell back into action after he had surgery on his broken nose last week.

I'll be very surprised if Wenger moves away from 4-5-1 for this one. I think it is important to suffocate Villarreal's midfield, Gilberto has an important role in shackling Riquelme and protecting the back-four from deep runners from midfield.

I think Henry in particular can get in behind Villarreal's back four as their full-backs like to push up. With 2 backup CBs in place in front of their 2nd choice keeper (who looked dodgy on Friday), I think there are goals to be had. I've avoided predicting Arsenal's results thus far and will continue to do so.

Getting nervous already, if Deadly Diego scores I could cry

mr_angry

Its a pity that Reyes is suspended. His pace really made a difference in the quarter final first leg against Juventus, but at least he'll be back for the second leg. I have a hunch that Pires will start after making the difference against West Brom at the weekend. I wouldn't be surprised to see Dennis Bergkamp at some stage too, but his lack of fitness and Adebayor's absence will probably lend itself to a 4-5-1 formation to start with.

Its gonna be a big week!

mike65

If they can keep Riquelme and Forlan quiet they should be fine.

Mike.

besty

Come on the Yellow Submarine!

Chong

I hope Arsenal win cause Barca have also tonight. Arse Vs Barca final wud be great.


This is my 3000th post , 4 years and 3000 posts.

PHB

Just like if Villareal can keep Henry and Fabregas quiet they should be fine.

This is a much tougher game than some people are making out, and I think it'll be very tight.
Two young hungry teams going up against each other, but Villarreal's injuries to key players might just cost them.

jank

Its going to be tough but arsenal have to start well and keep the momentum going. They have to get something tonight Id settle for a 1-0. They cant let them score at all!

jesus_thats_gre

Hopefully Arsenal can put more than 1 in the net.. Wil set them up perfectly for the second leg..

county

hopefully the gunners can do it,english team and all that

jesus_thats_gre

PHB wrote:

Just like if Villareal can keep Henry and Fabregas quiet they should be fine.

Arsenal have slightly more depth than that in fairness..

ErinGoBrath

I'm heading over to the match so hopefully we can get a good result at Highbury. I'd be delighted with a one nil lead going into the second leg.

I just hope with all the talk about Riquelme that Senna isn't left to his own devices. He's a world class player in the making and one to be very careful of.

Come on you Gunners!

PHB

Arsenal have slightly more depth than that in fairness..

Indeed, so do Villarreal. They are a very good team and I would not be suprised to see them get a scoring draw tonight and take it back to Spain with the advantage.
Also Arsenal aren't playing well since the United loss.
It's gona be a tough tough game.

MrJoeSoap

I'll be taping the match and hopefully posting the goals, so if anyone wants any of the other incidents just gimme a shout and I'll do my best to get them up.

C'mon the Arsenal!

Big Nelly

For a change I will be supporting Arsenal. I hope they win and get a Arsenal v Barca final. WOuld be a great game with two great attacking sides

Roddy23

Senna isn't left to his own devices

Thought I heard this morning that Senna is out. Hopefully he is.

I can't wait for tonight. Biggest European game we've ever had. Should be some game. If we play as well as we did against Juve in the first leg, I'd be confident of a win. But thats a big IF, as Villareal look a sterner challenge.


C'mon The Arsenal!!

AnCapaillMor

Last european game in highbury too, sniff sniff. It's going to be a tough one, reyes will be missed, as well as attacking reyes gets stuck in and provides some cover for the flamster. Hope pires will do this too.

Lemlin

Villarreal are a tougher proposition than alot of people think. Hopefully Arsenal will shade it though.

BaZmO*

Lemlin wrote:

Villarreal are a tougher proposition than alot of people think. Hopefully Arsenal will shade it though.

Well if anybody is underestimating a team that's in the semi's they are just being silly.

Roddy23

Just over 3hours to go, and I'm a nervous wreck here. The countdown continues....

Kingp35

Villareal are a top side and will cause Arsenal quite a few problems. Arsenal like it better when a team comes at them a bit but Villareal dont play like that. they like to sit back a bit which I think is the way to play Arsenal at Highbury. The crowd can get frustrated at times which is what Villareal will try to do.

Saying that though I think Arsenal will score. Villareal are missing 2 defenders and their goalkeeper and against an atttack like Arsenals, that spells trouble. Arsenal just have to keep their concentration at the back and I think they will go to Spain with a 1-0 advantage.

Vokes

Yup, Villareal are missing their first-choice centre-backs. Henry will doubtlessly take advantage of that.

This one is gonna be tight - perhaps a 2-1 win to Arsenal with Riquelme scoring a freekick.

Garret

But one must remember that often Henry doesnt bring his A game to the most important matches

kippy

Going to be a decent game for the Neutrals hopefully.
I'd like to see Arsenal go through but I think over too legs Villareal will be too strong.....
If they manage to get an away goal against Arsenal I fancy them winning easily at home.
Kippy

redspider

This is as good as chance for Arsenal getting to the final as anyone would hope for. Having said that, no team is easy at this stage of the competition, an in a football game anything can happen. Villareal will probably be hoping to keep it 0-0 and go for goals on the break. Arsenal will want to up the tempo in the game considerably, as only Arsenal can (Wenger is the Sean Boylan of the English league) so I think we should all expect a blistering game. There has to be at least one goal in this game, and perhaps several.

redspider

TheMonster

Wonder will Wenger go 2 up and go for it or play 4-5-1.
going for a scoring draw - with Villareal to score first.

Have a good feeling about Villareal - got them at 10-1 earlier the week to win the competion.

gracehopper

redspider wrote:

Wenger is the Sean Boylan of the English league

Sean Boylan!! ha ha. He couldnt motivate a serial killer.

MrJoeSoap

Garret wrote:

But one must remember that often Henry doesnt bring his A game to the most important matches

If he scores a goal like the one he scored at the Bernabeu then I don't think any Arsenal fans will give a hoot!

wheres me jumpa

No disrespect to Arsenal, but I think they will bottle it tonight. Im leaving myself open to a right roasting here, but I feel they have peaked a bit too soon. Villareal will try n frustrate them tonight and not sure Arsenal will enjoy it.

county

never off side

Necronomicon

Play stopped, squirrell on the pitch!

Pacifico

Eh....Book some of the divers please!

county

goal

Mossy Monk

should be 2-0

1 will do

Pacifico

Get in!

1-0 Toure

county

that looked a penno

Davei141

Think the ref is trying to be too clever, obvious free kick.

KdjaCL

You dive and you dive and you dive and then get fouled and ref laughs at you, football justice? Jose Maria dives then gets fouled and ref laughs at him. That was a peno

Excellent 1st half both sides doing very well to stop each other. Can see Villareal scoring too.


kdjac

Jivin Turkey

It was definitely a foul but I thought the original contact was made outside the boz to be honest.

PHB

It was a foul, and a defo yellow, but it was outside the box.

Pepe LeFrits

Phew, good game, very tight.

Toure is having a mare and looks tired again, he doesn't have his usual burst of pace or spring in his jump. Scored his first goal at Highbury though, good man!

Villarreal's game plan seems to be to slow the game down as much as possible and fall over any time they get over the half way line. It's not done too badly thus far mind you.

Aquos76

I would have to say I felt it should also have been a penalty

A Dub in Glasgo

Villareal have played Arsenal off the park for most of the half. Disallowed goal should have stodd and you will never see a better stone wall penalty than that one that the ref bizareely did not see

county

A Dub in Glasgo wrote:

Villareal have played Arsenal off the park for most of the half. Disallowed goal should have stodd and you will never see a better stone wall penalty than that one that the ref bizareely did not see

played off the park,not,very even game imo

Mr. Presentable

Arsenal on top, but not by much. Everything is going their way - the ref, the bounce of the ball, everything. Reminds me of (shudder) 1999.

Aquos76

PHB wrote:

It was a foul, and a defo yellow, but it was outside the box.

I think a trip to spec savers is needed here PHB

county

just seen the replay again and it was a peno,arsenal got away with that big time

Mossy Monk

just watched it over and over in slow motion, outside the box

KdjaCL

Lol 8 different people 8 different views Jose was in the box so the foul must have been too


Wouldnt say Villa have outplayed Arse more stopped them and built on it, and doing a very good job at it too. Shame maria is trying to win the game by getting Riquelme free kicks.


kdjac

PHB

I think a trip to spec savers is needed here PHB

I'm very sensitive amount having to wear glasses.
























































Nah seriously, you need to get glasses, and if you have them, get new ones four eyes.

:P

But seriously if you look at the replay, which you should have by now, you will see that the kick to the inside of his left thigh is without a doubt outside the box. The rest of the foul is inside the box.

county

But seriously if you look at the replay, which you should have by now, you will see that the kick to the inside of his left thigh is without a doubt outside the box. The rest of the foul is inside the box.[/QUOTE]
???

county

should be 2