Arsenal -v- Barca, Champions league Q/Final 1st leg

redout

UEFA Champions League

Emirates stadium
Wednesday, 31 March 2010
7:45pm

Should be a cracker. First leg is a must win for Arsenal if they want to stand a chance going to the Nou camp.

Le King

Iniesta's out for the 1st leg

eZe^

Whoop whoop. Putting 10 quid on Zlatan to score. He has come up with a goal in almost every important game this season, especially the difficult grinding 1-0 kinda games.

redout

honeymonster

We have to win the first leg, will be rightly fooked it we dont

3hn2givr7mx1sc

Delighted this match isn't on the Tuesday, would be raging if I had to miss it. Tie of the round.

1-1 at the Emirates and 2-0 to Barca at the Nou Camp.

JPA

I would be quite amused if this was a dull 0-0. :D

eZe^

JPA wrote: »

I would be quite amused if this was a dull 0-0. :D

Wouldn't be surprised if it was 0-0 at all really. Barca Inter at the San Siro was that kind of a game.

baz2009 wrote: »

Delighted this match isn't on the Tuesday, would be raging if I had to miss it. Tie of the round.

1-1 at the Emirates and 2-0 to Barca at the Nou Camp.

1-1 is Barca's lucky away result these days, Stuttgart, Lyon, Chelsea, and Bayern away K.O legs have all ended 1-1 (that's every K.O game Barca have played under Pep in the CL). I'd be delighted with a 1-1 draw at the emirates.

redout

eZe^ wrote: »

Wouldn't be surprised if it was 0-0 at all really. Barca Inter at the San Siro was that kind of a game.

Lets pray we dont have a replay of that because that game was a major disappointment.

Made a round trip to Getafe to get the beer in for that and got pulled over for speeding in a rush back to make kick-off

eZe^

redout wrote: »

Lets pray we dont have a replay of that because that game was a major disappointment.

Made a round trip to Getafe to get the beer in for that and got pulled over for speeding in a rush back to make kick-off

You over in Madrid still man? I'd say Real are relishing the chances of smashing Atleti again tonight.

Anyway, what's Arsenal's likely team for Wednesday?

redout

eZe^ wrote: »

You over in Madrid still man?

No, back home since December though suppose to be heading back over in April

Looking for a Forlan hat-trick tonight followed by a Kun brace

Fuzzy_Dunlop

I would imagine the Arsenal team will be something like:

---

Almunia

---

Sagna - Sol - Vermaelen - Clichy

---

Song - Diaby

---

---

Cesc

---

Nasri --- Bendtner --- Arshavin

Athough Song could perhaps stay at CB instead of Sol, in which case Denilson would come into midfield. If Fabregas is injured than I'd like to see Nasri drop back to CM and Rosicky come into the front 3.

BERBA

Gonna be a classic , lookin forward to it , think arsenal a great price to lift the trophy.

redout

Barca team

---

Valdes

Alves

---

Puyol

---

Pique

---

Maxwell

---

Toure

---

Keita

---

Xavi

Messi

---

Pedro

---

Ibra


Thats what I am hoping for

flahavaj

playa3 wrote: »

I would imagine the Arsenal team will be something like:

---

Almunia

---

Sagna - Sol - Vermaelen - Clichy

---

Song - Diaby

---

---

Cesc

---

Nasri --- Bendtner --- Arshavin

Athough Song could perhaps stay at CB instead of Sol, in which case Denilson would come into midfield. If Fabregas is injured than I'd like to see Nasri drop back to CM and Rosicky come into the front 3.

I'd say Wenger would be anxious to have Song's destructive abilities in centre field for this of all matches.

Campbell will be fine against Ibrahimovich.

OPENROAD

Thierry to play and score an OG imo

honeymonster

OPENROAD wrote: »

Thierry to play and score an OG imo

That would be savage

JPA

Barca dominate possession against everyone they play, almost no exceptions.
What will happen against a team who play a similar game? Should be very interesting.

eZe^

JPA wrote: »

Barca dominate possession against everyone they play, almost no exceptions.
What will happen against a team who play a similar game? Should be very interesting.

I'd be willing to bet they'll have over 60% of the possession even at the Emirates. I don't recall any team in the past 6 years out possession us.

L'prof

eZe^ wrote: »

I'd be willing to bet they'll have over 60% of the possession even at the Emirates. I don't recall any team in the past 6 years out possession us.

I dunno, we'll see. In Paris ye had 64% possession playing against 10 men for 72mins! Different teams now so, it's hard to say but, I think it'll be closer than that!

redout

I would be surprised if Barca dont have the majority of possession.

I read somewhere today that Barca avg I think 46mins a game whereas the Gunners avg 35mins.

L'prof

redout wrote: »

I would be surprised if Barca dont have the majority of possession.

I read somewhere today that Barca avg I think 46mins a game whereas the Gunners avg 35mins.

I don't know how that's calculated but, we couldn't be anywhere near that low! Even in games we've lost against United and Chelsea this season, we've had more possession in three of those games and the other was 51%-49% away to United.

There's only one stat that matters over the two legs anyway

redout

jasonorr wrote: »

I don't know how that's calculated but, we couldn't be anywhere near that low! Even in games we've lost against United and Chelsea this season, we've had more possession in three of those games and the other was 51%-49% away to United.

There's only one stat that matters over the two legs anyway

The reason that Arsenal tend to create so much is, of course, that they tend to monopolise the ball – Barcelona, however, are the one team in the competition who circulate the ball better than Arsenal, averaging an astonishing 48 minutes of possession per game, far more than Arsenal, who are next best with 35 minutes. It is easy to see why the Catalans have the best defensive record in the tournament: opponents rarely get a touch.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/mar/27/arsene-wenger-barcelona-lionel-messi

L'prof

redout wrote: »

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/mar/27/arsene-wenger-barcelona-lionel-messi

I'm just saying, have a look and tell me how it can be that low!

EDIT: Crap, mins not % possession. That's fair enough!

eZe^

jasonorr wrote: »

I don't know how that's calculated but, we couldn't be anywhere near that low! Even in games we've lost against United and Chelsea this season, we've had more possession in three of those games and the other was 51%-49% away to United.

There's only one stat that matters over the two legs anyway

You do realise teams don't hold onto possession for 90 minutes? The ball is in play far far less then the actual alotted game length. 35 minutes translates to loads more than 39% possession.


EDIT - you know this. my bad.

jasonorr wrote: »

I dunno, we'll see. In Paris ye had 64% possession playing against 10 men for 72mins! Different teams now so, it's hard to say but, I think it'll be closer than that!

We'll see, but I'll gladly bet you a ten spot that Barca will have better possession both away and at home.

x PyRo

I'm not looking forward to this at all, this could be brutal.

Frisbee

I was thinking earlier, (dangerous I know) and I reckoned we should play Eboue at the expense of either Nasri or Arshavin.

If clichy has a great game he could possibly handle Messi, but the you have to deal with Alves bombing on.

So playing Eboue at LW means there is a defender there to track Alves, plus Eboue likes getting forward too. If Arshavin is in front of Clichy then Messi+Alves will rip us apart.

OPENROAD

OPENROAD wrote: »

Thierry to play and score an OG imo

With his hand!

gosplan

Frisbee wrote: »

I was thinking earlier, (dangerous I know) and I reckoned we should play Eboue at the expense of either Nasri or Arshavin.

If clichy has a great game he could possibly handle Messi, but the you have to deal with Alves bombing on.

So playing Eboue at LW means there is a defender there to track Alves, plus Eboue likes getting forward too. If Arshavin is in front of Clichy then Messi+Alves will rip us apart.

Reckon we can't really contain them so just should go at them instead and give everyone the match of the year.

TBH I'd rather see Walcott start than Eboue. Alves will leave loads of space and IMO, trying to exploit that is the right way to go instead of trying to stifle Barca.

Frisbee

gosplan wrote: »

Reckon we can't really contain them so just should go at them instead and give everyone the match of the year.

TBH I'd rather see Walcott start than Eboue. Alves will leave loads of space and IMO, trying to exploit that is the right way to go instead of trying to stifle Barca.

I really hope Walcott doesn't start. Nasri and Arshavin for the wings would be my guess. Maybe even trade them over so Nasri go LW and Arshavin go RW as Nasri is more willing to do the dirty work.

gosplan

Frisbee wrote: »

I really hope Walcott doesn't start. Nasri and Arshavin for the wings would be my guess. Maybe even trade them over so Nasri go LW and Arshavin go RW as Nasri is more willing to do the dirty work.

No doubt there. Just saying that i rather see Walcott than Eboue introduced instead.

tony1kenobi

gosplan wrote: »

No doubt there. Just saying that i rather see Walcott than Eboue introduced instead.

I'd like to see Eboue in goal.

ShamoBuc

Looking forward to some serious games during the week. If I could only watch one it would be Ars V Barca , it has the makings of a classic. Two teams that on their day play some sublime football. The players on view have alot to live up to, as we all eagerly await a cracker, I hope it does not dissappoint. I hope Ars score early and keep the pressure on, this might force Barca not to think 'we'll wait to get ye at home'. A 2-1 home victory would set up another potential cracker on the Camp Nou.
I hope Ars actually believe they can do it, because if anyone can I think they can.

x PyRo

tony1kenobi wrote: »

I'd like to see Eboue in goal.

This.

kryogen

I seriously hope we get a good game of football in this game, thats all

Cause i know i more then likely wont be able to relax and enjoy the Man United game! so i want some enjoyment during the week, without stress

JPA

Messi can't be stopped with the ball. Of course he's not going to score or assist every time but the more he gets the ball the bigger the danger of him doing damage. Therefore Arsenal need to stop him getting the ball or at least minimize the amount he gets it.
If Song can stick to Xavi and actually do a a good marking job on him Arsenal have a chance to contain Messi.
Of course it's easier said then done and it also ignores Barcas other excellent players.

tony1kenobi

tony1kenobi wrote: »

I'd like to see Eboue in goal.

Compared to Almunia even this lad below would do

OPENROAD

We really need a big game from Arshavin, he needs to step up to the mark.

kryogen

JPA wrote: »

Messi can't be stopped with the ball. Of course he's not going to score or assist every time but the more he gets the ball the bigger the danger of him doing damage. Therefore Arsenal need to stop him getting the ball or at least minimize the amount he gets it.
If Song can stick to Xavi and actually do a a good marking job on him Arsenal have a chance to contain Messi.
Of course it's easier said then done and it also ignores Barcas other excellent players.

the thing to do ideally is to try use Messi and Alves strengths against them i guess

they are so good at going forward so i would focus plenty of attacks down that side to at least try keep Alves occupied because he really does help Messi hugely

tony1kenobi

Deleted User wrote: »

Compared to Almunia even this lad below would do

I agree.So best tactic is:Start Silvestre and Eboue.Silvestre put Messi into row 22 at about 8 minutes and get sent off.Sub Almunia for Song,Eboue in goal.8 nil Arsenal....I suspect none of that will happen.

Pepe LeFrits

That possession stat seems rather odd to me; the ball only tends to be in play for 50-55 minutes in every football match.

L'prof

Pepe LeFrits wrote: »

That possession stat seems rather odd to me; the ball only tends to be in play for 50-55 minutes in every football match.

I thought it was closer to 70mins myself!

redout

Pepe LeFrits wrote: »

That possession stat seems rather odd to me; the ball only tends to be in play for 50-55 minutes in every football match.

Pretty sure them stats are only based on this seasons Champions league games.

Ush1

Just bought a HD satellite kit, this should be on ITV HD so will be my first HD match! Can't wait!!!:pac:

JP Liz V1

A win at home is a must for the Gunners imo it should be a cracking game

redout

Ush1 wrote: »

Just bought a HD satellite kit, this should be on ITV HD so will be my first HD match! Can't wait!!!:pac:

You will be blown away.

The difference between HD/SD for football is huge.

Just make sure you setup your tv correctly as many have failed to do this and though they were watching HD and were disappointend.

SDTimeout

The amount of euphoria i've been up and down with over potentially going to this match then to not going to then maybe going.

I'm now locking my sitting room, the family is going to the hall and i'm going to enjoy it for what it will be. A Footballing master class

I'll just look forward till the 24th

Ush1

redout wrote: »

You will be blown away.

The difference between HD/SD for football is huge.

Just make sure you setup your tv correctly as many have failed to do this and though they were watching HD and were disappointend.

Yeah it's an FTA box so I think I have to manually tune ITV HD.
Messi in HD, nice.

dfx-

I don't know if Busquets will be suspended/injured..but I seriously hope Toure plays instead of him. Much happier with him there than Busquets

redout

Fabregas who has severe bruising to his knee will be given tomorrows final training session to prove his fitness for wednesday nights game.