Chelsea Vs Arsenal FA Cup Semi 18/04/09

Surprised this wasn't up here already.

Both teams will be a little tired from their midweek Champions League games, but Chelsea arguably had the tougher game.

Very tough to call, with Arsenal losing 80% of their defence, but Chelsea are leaking goals at the moment.

2-1 to the gooners

selpher

God 1-0 to Chelsea please. Don't think I can handle another game like the ones we had this week. Just a dull boring game with a Lampard deflection and I'll be happy.

That_Guy

I reckon both teams will still give it their all. Not as if they had to travel any great distance midweek.... In fact neither team did.

I think it'll be a tight game but I wouldn't be surprised to see Arsenal nicking it due to a Cech mistake.

cson

Or Lampard poxing it with a Fabianski mistake

Depends on how Drogba gets handled by the Arsenal defence. He's found a bit of form at last and he ruined poor old Phil Senderos on us. I also fear for Gibbs if Malouda gets the run around on him.

Think the Arsenal defence is too weak for this one tbh and 3-1 to Chelsea wouldn't surprise me. (the '1' being a Cech mistake with RVP pouncing!)

Soby

Ye your lack of defenders could prove your downfall..Say drog will handle whoever is CB..who played there on wednesday actually..Sure alex and terry will sort Ade out no prob aswell..

Frisbee

Soby wrote: »

Ye your lack of defenders could prove your downfall..Say drog will handle whoever is CB..who played there on wednesday actually..Sure alex and terry will sort Ade out no prob aswell..

Drogba and Adebayor are probably (physically) the most unplayable forwards in the league.
Adebayor is capable of causing Terry and Alex/Carvalho problems.
Drogba is capable of causing Toure/Gallas problems.

However the problem is it will be Toure and Silvestre at the back. I expect Drogba to reduce Silvestre to tears

2-1 Chelsea

itsjaybud

It looks now that it could be Toure and Song who will have to deal with Drogba saturday evening with Gibbs a doubt for the match.

Wenger has a few possible solutions according to the article.




eboue

---

toure

---

silvestre

---

sagna


or


eboue

---

toure----song

---

silvestre



edit: im hoping Gibbs will be fit enough to play had a decent game against Villarreal and would also prefer to keep Song in alongside Fabregras.

He had top top game last night and another performance like that would be much needed against the likes of Ballack and Fat Frank!!

tony1kenobi

selpher wrote: »

God 1-0 to Chelsea please. Don't think I can handle another game like the ones we had this week. Just a dull boring game with a Lampard deflection and I'll be happy.

I think it will be just like the midweek games. In that Chelsea will let in lots of goals but Arsenal won't.

Royale with Cheese

itsjaybud wrote: »

eboue

---

toure----song

---

silvestre

Drogba up against that?

Oh dear.

Barr

An appetiser for the CL final prehaps I'd normally say Chelsea but the mid week game probably knocked the stuffing out of them

dogpile

Sly shifty ****ianta have this on subscription sports 1....cants :cool:

yahoo_moe

Barr wrote: »

I'd normally say Chelsea but the mid week game probably knocked the stuffing out of them

Yes, Chelsea have conceded 7 goals in their last two matches... but they've scored 8. 4 against Liverpool's first-choice back four and with Alonso and Mascherano playing.

They're scoring more than they're conceding and my heart says that can only continue with Terry back and Arsenal with no defence. Hopefully not though.

Roaster

My heart says The Gunners but my head is saying Chelsea after extra-time (there is extra time right?)

yahoo_moe

Roaster wrote: »

My heart says The Gunners but my head is saying Chelsea after extra-time (there is extra time right?)

Yup, no semi-final replays anymore - so extra time and penalties if necessary.

Headshot

looking forward to this

hoping for an Arsenal win

so 2-1 Arsenal

leninbenjamin

dogpile wrote: »

Sly shifty ****ianta have this on subscription sports 1....cants :cool:

well, they have to make money somehow you know :rolleyes:

anyone found a decent stream?


edit: thought this kicked off at 3 for some reason

Headshot

leninbenjamin wrote: »

well, they have to make money somehow you know :rolleyes:

anyone found a decent stream?

http://www.veetle.com/viewChannel.php?cid=49dd52c1ec520
have to download veetle first thou

Panthro

im planning on heading to a pub for this one (surely a pub will pay the subscription right?) with an arsenal mate.ill be driving, so im lucazading it up, while me mate gets himwself merry on bud.
ill be full of suger when the blues win 3-1

come on the blues!

Fuzzy_Dunlop

Gibbs passed fit according to the BBC. He plays left with Silvestre and Toure in the centre and Eboue right. Happy enough with that i suppose.

Feckin Setanta:mad:, i assumed it was on Setanta Ireland

wandatowell

BBC should have splashed the cash for the F.A Cup. Cant stand the football coverage Setanta.

Arsenal to win 2-1. Silvestre to play a stormer

Royale with Cheese

Arsenal:

---

Fabianski

---

Eboue

---

Toure

---

Silvestre

---

Gibbs
Walcott

---

Fabregas

---

Denilson----Diaby

---

Van Persie---Adebayor

---

Subs: Mannone, Nasri, Vela, Ramsey, Song Billong, Arshavin, Bendtner.

Would be my guess of the formation. Why on earth is Arshavin not starting?

Wreck

Arsenal: Fabianski, Eboue, Toure, Silvestre, Gibbs, Walcott, Fabregas, Diaby, Denilson, Van Persie, Adebayor.
Subs: Mannone, Nasri, Vela, Ramsey, Song Billong, Arshavin, Bendtner.
Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Alex, Terry, Ashley Cole, Ballack, Lampard, Essien, Malouda, Anelka, Drogba.
Subs: Hilario, Carvalho, Di Santo, Mikel, Kalou, Belletti, Mancienne.

Arshavin on the bench

Fuzzy_Dunlop

Arshavin and Nasri both on the bench?!:eek: Surely Arshavin should be used whenever possible since he cant play in the CL

wandatowell

dunno what to make of wenger using diaby instead of nasri/arshavin

_blank_

wandatowell wrote: »

BBC should have splashed the cash for the F.A Cup. Cant stand the football coverage Setanta

I was under the impression that the FA Cup had to be shown on terrestrial television, no?

redout

Going for the Gunners here.

redout

Des wrote: »

I was under the impression that the FA Cup had to be shown on terrestrial television, no?

I searched itv and the BBC yesterday and neither are showing it although itv have the United v Everton semi tomorrow.

mike65

ITV!

edit no ITV! :eek:

Pepe LeFrits

Why the **** isn't Arshavin playing? ffs.

redout

wandatowell

http://www.iraqgoals.net/ch1.html

great stream here lads

DenMan

I don't know. Hopefully Wenger has him as the ace in his sleeve for the second half. Come on the Gunners.

Carroller16

Des wrote: »

I was under the impression that the FA Cup had to be shown on terrestrial television, no?

Only the FA cup final

APPENDIX A
THE REVISED LIST OF SPORTS EVENTS PROTECTED UNDER PART IV OF THE
BROADCASTING ACT 1996
Group A (Full Live Coverage Protected)
The Olympic Games
The FIFA World Cup Finals Tournament
The European Football Championship Finals Tournament
The FA Cup Final
The Scottish FA Cup Final (in Scotland)
The Grand National
The Derby
The Wimbledon Tennis Finals
The Rugby League Challenge Cup Final
The Rugby World Cup Final
Group B (Secondary Coverage Protected)
Cricket Test Matches played in England
Non-Finals play in the Wimbledon Tournament
All Other Matches in the Rugby World Cup Finals Tournament
Six Nations Rugby Tournament Matches Involving Home Countries
The Commonwealth Games
The World Athletics Championship
The Cricket World Cup - the Final, Semi-finals and Matches Involving Home
Nations' Teams
The Ryder Cup
The Open Golf Championship

PHB

Fairly attacking team from Wenger. I think the reason Arshavin isn't playing is because he needs the rest of the squad in the United games so what's the point in playing them now? This is a good way to get a feel for the team that will play in the CL.

ironictoaster

Watching this on Setanta, one of the lads on the build up goes "If you're not paying to watch this, you will be encrypted soon" LOL

shano_88

For the first time in ages Im looking at both benches and Arsenal have alot of game changers and chelseas bench isnt as strong.
Subs: Mannone, Nasri, Vela, Ramsey, Song Billong, Arshavin, Bendtner.
Subs: Hilario, Carvalho, Di Santo, Mikel, Kalou, Belletti, Mancienne

redout

I am watching on Canal+ with itv commentary ?

redout

The pitch looks awful.

mike65

Wemberly is a disgrace.

Barr

decent link here

http://www.justin.tv/baftas

redout

All Anelka's fault. Ball watching while the Arsenal guy made the run onto Ade pass.

mike65

GET IN THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

jester77

Nice one.

Although Czech should have done better!

Wreck

Arsenal's balance seems all wrong so far, Gibbs appears to be the only one playing on the left.


Goal! Nice.

mike65

(I'm listening) Don't tell me, its Drogba no?

Fuzzy_Dunlop

In off Cashleys hand:D

Carroller16

1-0 Walcott

jester77

mike65 wrote: »

(I'm listening) Don't tell me, its Drogba no?

Walcott

Wreck

Fabianski not exactly inspiring confidence

mike65

jester77 wrote: »

Walcott

I was refereing to a Chelsea player going down after the goal

daithijjj

sop://broker.sopcast.com:3912/26342

the above link is seamless......if links go down or lag due to server overload during the game, (happens alot these days), this link is stable.