Arsenal -v- Man Utd - Match Thread

leninbenjamin

Pepe LeFrits wrote: »

From the beeb: Sol Campbell is not even on the bench for the Gunners.

Odd that he wouldn't be on the bench, Wenger must be very confident over Verm's fitness?

Fuzzy_Dunlop

Great news that he's starting!

greendom

Presuming Vermaelan is fully fit I think Arsenal have the edge, looking at the 2 line-ups

starbelgrade

According to Newstalk, the United lne-up is;


VDS, Rafael, Brown, Evra, Nani, Park, Fletcher, Rooney (and I missed the rest!)

Pepe LeFrits

Eire-Dearg wrote: »

I didn't know Bendtner was fit again. He'll add a different dimension to Arsenal's attack, but I still don't think he's good enough to lead the line for htem.

I don't think he's starting, although I haven't seen the full lineup yet. Front 3 of Nasri, Rosicky and Arshavin I suspect.

JPA

Arsenal

* 01 Almunia
* 03 Sagna
* 05 Vermaelen
* 10 Gallas
* 22 Clichy
* 04 Fabregas
* 07 Rosicky
* 08 Nasri
* 15 Denilson
* 17 Song Billong
* 23 Arshavin

Substitutes

* 21 Fabianski,
* 18 Silvestre,
* 27 Eboue,
* 30 Traore,
* 14 Walcott,
* 16 Ramsey,
* 52 Bendtner

Man Utd

* 01 Van der Sar
* 03 Evra
* 06 Brown
* 21 Rafael Da Silva
* 23 Evans
* 13 Park
* 16 Carrick
* 17 Nani
* 18 Scholes
* 24 Fletcher
* 10 Rooney

Substitutes

* 29 Kuszczak,
* 30 De Laet,
* 11 Giggs,
* 25 Valencia,
* 28 Gibson,
* 07 Owen,
* 09 Berbatov

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/8485984.stm

greendom

Cil wrote: »

I'm off now, will have to follow the match on the radio.

C'MON YOU GOONERS!

How far away is your radio?

Dave!

Van der Sar
Rafael Evans Brown Evra
Nani Fletcher Carrick Scholes Park
Rooney

Kuszczak De Laet, Gibson, Valencia, Giggs, Owen, Berbatov.


ughhh

Smegball

Park??? O DEAR

kryogen

no Vidic is a massive blow

and wtf is the story with Valencia?

that team does not inspire confidence

Handsome Bob

Eire-Dearg wrote: »

I didn't know Bendtner was fit again. He'll add a different dimension to Arsenal's attack, but I still don't think he's good enough to lead the line for htem.

From what I've seen he tends to miss a lot of chances, yet Wenger persists with him. Even if he had a full team to choose from, he'd still pick a fit Bendtner. :pac:

PHB

Hmm. Defensive from Fergie as expected. Anderson not even in the bench is interesting.

Nani deservedly maintains his place in the team and in the past he has had fun with Arsenal so long may it continue.

Rooney and Nani will be our main attacking threats. Fletcher normally does well against an Arsenal midfield so I hope that can continue.

Both teams attack is better imo than their opponents defence, so it may well be a nice open game.

The nerves begin

Evil_Clown

Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Clichy, Fabregas, Song Billong, Denilson, Nasri, Arshavin, Rosicky.

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Rafael Da Silva, Jonathan Evans, Brown, Evra, Scholes, Carrick, Fletcher, Nani, Rooney, Park.

Pepe LeFrits

Major midfield battle to be expected from those line-ups.

greendom

LZ5by5 wrote: »

From what I've seen he tends to miss a lot of chances, yet Wenger persists with him. Even if he had a full team to choose from, he'd still pick a fit Bendtner. :pac:

Well he'll do a job and Arshavin will be much happier, playing out wide.

eclectichoney

Dave! wrote: »

Van der Sar
Rafael Evans Brown Evra
Nani Fletcher Carrick Scholes Park
Rooney

Kuszczak De Laet, Gibson, Valencia, Giggs, Owen, Berbatov.


ughhh

Nobody read my post (#146) with th eteam line up it seems!

Most worrying of course is, No Diouf!

Pepe LeFrits

Arshavin is playing CF again, ffs.

Fabregas Song Denilson
Rosicky Arshavin Nasri

SlickRic

nani's been great and all the last couple of games,

but no valencia is surely a little retarded?

at the very least the lineup's defensive and asking the world of Rooney?

MIN2511

Line up doesn't look good at all...
Is Berba fit? Valencia on the bench?

kryogen

Pepe LeFrits wrote: »

Arshavin is playing CF again, ffs.

Fabregas Song Denilson
Rosicky Arshavin Nasri

but ye have Vermaelan in, thats a big plus

we are missing our centre backs and for some reason Valencia is not playing, also a big plus for ye

Park needs to have a big game

Evil_Clown

22 players with only 1 recognised striker, but still expecting lots of goals

greendom

Pepe LeFrits wrote: »

Arshavin is playing CF again, ffs.

Fabregas Song Denilson
Rosicky Arshavin Nasri

Let's hope Nasri can get another brace

Skud

eclectichoney wrote: »

Nobody read my post (#146) with th eteam line up it seems!

Most worrying of course is, No Diouf!

diouf is off to norway with the reserves for their friendly.

EDIT: ManUnitedYouth

United's reserves beat Stabaek 3-0 this afternoon, with two goals from Mame Biram Diouf and a third from Joe Dudgeon. Very good performance.

kryogen

SlickRic wrote: »

nani's been great and all the last couple of games,

but no valencia is surely a little retarded?

at the very least the lineup's defensive and asking the world of Rooney?

yep, it looks like a team sent out to not lose rather then win

even at that Valencia should be in, he gets through a hell of a lot of work

leninbenjamin

Arsenal are going to struggle I fear. Even though Eduardo's still not back to where he was his linkup play has become increasingly important to our ability to find goals. Nasri just isn't at the races in comparison, might get on the end of something but it's hard to see him being able to hold the ball up much. Our attackers could end up very deep... praying for a big performance from Arshavin.

paul150

Cant believe wenger has gone with Silvestre on the bench over campbell, i pray vermaelen lasts the 90 mins

Pepe LeFrits

leninbenjamin wrote: »

Arsenal are going to struggle I fear. Even though Eduardo's still not back to where he was his linkup play has become increasingly important to our ability to find goals. Nasri just isn't at the races in comparison, might get on the end of something but it's hard to see him being able to hold the ball up much. Our attackers could end up very deep... praying for a big performance from Arshavin.

Aye, we've 5 CMs in and no focal point for the attack. Hoping we won't have one of our more typically spasticated days, but with United's running power in Park, Rooney and Fletcher I fear it could be. Could be a horrible game!

eclectichoney

Based on the line-ups i really fancy an Arsenal win now Just don't think we can manage to keep a clean sheet missing Rio & Vidic, and Park on the left will add nothing. Vermaelen playing is a big plus for Arsenal as well.

Think the Arsenal will score first and then as we chase the game, they could bag a second. Hope nani puts in a good defensive shift like valencia would.

Mikeyt086

Park

EDIT: lol how both sets of fans are unhappy with the lineup and fearing the opposition. You dont see that very often.

kryogen

Brown really needs to be switched on today, he cant be wandering around with his head up his arse like he has been lately

MagicMarker

How the christ did Vidic make the bench against Man City but not even make the squad today!?

Shocking stuff, this is gonna a tough game, I sense lots of goals!!

Mitch Connor

Park ahead of Valencia and Giggs? F'n joke. Gonna be a painfull game to watch and massive amount of pressure on Rooney and Nani to do something in the final third.

Disappointing Vidic has not made the line up either. Need Raf and Brown to be better than they have been lately.

Gonna be a very tough game, going to be very tought to get goals.

PHB

It is odd that both sets of fans are so worried.

Pepe LeFrits

Mikeyt086 wrote: »

Park

EDIT: lol how both sets of fans are unhappy with the lineup and fearing the opposition. You dont see that very often.

Either could be right tbh. Arsenal have a team setup to monopolise possession, but it's questionable whether they'll have the ability to do anything with it. United are setup to contain and harrass, but it's questionable whether they'll have the ability to counter effectively.

leninbenjamin

Mikeyt086 wrote: »

EDIT: lol how both sets of fans are unhappy with the lineup and fearing the opposition. You dont see that very often.

hehe, was just about to post the same thing when I saw your edit.

Probably going to be a stalemate when you look at them. Individual performances are the only thing that will break the deadlock here, but when you look at how crowded the midfield will be it's hard to see that happening easily. Arsenal have more creativity, but on the other hand haven't got many to hold up the ball. There's not much between them really.

MUSEIST

come on the draw:D

kryogen

both teams missing a couple of key men i guess PHB

I would have to say its advantage Arsenal, they have their settled backline and plenty of creativity

oh to hell with it, we are still gonna win 2-0

MagicMarker

kryogen wrote: »

both teams missing a couple of key men i guess PHB

I would have to say its advantage Arsenal, they have their settled backline and plenty of creativity

oh to hell with it, we are still gonna win 2-0

Diouf to score both from Norway?

Mitch Connor

For me, Fergie is showing an utter lack of balls, yet again, with his lineup

Why in the hell did we buy berbatov, and bring in Owen if he has no intention of ever playing 2 up front.

leninbenjamin

PHB wrote: »

It is odd that both sets of fans are so worried.

It's unusual but not odd in the slightest tbh. Both teams need this 3 points badly to keep in touch with Chelsea. The loser puts a potential 8 points between themselves and Chelsea, and this is not the time of the season you want to be losing ground to the leaders.

MUSEIST

kryogen who do you support

MIN2511

I see a draw

That_Guy

MUSEIST wrote: »

kryogen who do you support

Judging by the sig, I'd say United.

MUSEIST

That_Guy wrote: »

Judging by the sig, I'd say United.

come on arsenal then:p

SlickRic

i'm changing my prediction from 2-2 to 1-0 united.

i think it'll be congested, and i fancy Rooney to come up with a moment of inspiration late-on, or Valencia when he inevitabely comes on.

arsenal have little penetration in that team.

cesc will have to have the game of his life going forward i suspect to unlock a utd team that is looking to contain.

MagicMarker

MUSEIST wrote: »

kryogen who do you support

You know full well who he supports ffs.

kryogen

Mitch Connor wrote: »

For me, Fergie is showing an utter lack of balls, yet again, with his lineup

Why in the hell did we buy berbatov, and bring in Owen if he has no intention of ever playing 2 up front.

its been the norm for a long time now though mitch, nothing new like!

tactically it makes sense away from home v a team like Arsenal

MagicMarker

I reckon Nani will get on the score sheet. Wonder what the odds are on that.

starbelgrade

Abou Diaby not playing for Utd today?

kryogen

MagicMarker wrote: »

You know full well who he supports ffs.

dont even interact with him/her/it mate!

gonna be tough enough trying to keep the head today i reckon