Arsenal -v- Udinese, CL Qualifier, 1st. Leg

gnfnrhead

On the plus side, we were able to grind out the result. Thats something we have often failed to do. It needs to be done at times if you want to win anything. Not a great performance but a win is a win and thats two clean sheets in a row.

Raskolnikov

Gibbs looked good until he went off crocked.

Walcott looked the most lively player, could have had a hat-trick tonight.

Song was very solid, very keen, wasn't wasteful.

Vermalen was the best centre back by a mile.

Frimpong was very impressive in his 20 minute cameo, really settled the ship.

Chamakh and Rosicky have no future at your club.

KeithAFC

shano_88 wrote: »

Happy with the result. Unhappy about just about everything else.

Dreadful at times. Well for a lot of it but we won in the end. We really need to make 3 signings. Our squad is in some mess atm.

shano_88

Have to agree about Frimpong. Looked very solid.

MaxPower89

Not a big Kevin Moran fan, but think he is right, it really was shambolic stuff at times.

Positives are Pingpong...and thats about it. Ramsey was ok.

I hope Wenger saw the glaring weaknesses from up in the stands.

ShamoBuc

Good result for arsenal, all things considered.

KeithAFC

Chamakh is utterly dreadful too. He produces pure drivel as a footballer. Can't do anything well.

Richard Hillman

Arsenal were very lucky tonight that Udinese were so inefficient. I feel so sorry for Di Natale to have to be stuck with so many players with talent but cant do the right thing at the right time.

MaxPower89

Raskolnikov wrote: »

Gibbs looked good until he went off crocked.

Walcott looked the most lively player, could have had a hat-trick tonight.

Song was very solid, very keen, wasn't wasteful.

Vermalen was the best centre back by a mile.

Frimpong was very impressive in his 20 minute cameo, really settled the ship.

Chamakh and Rosicky have no future at your club.

I thought Song was poor enough really. Usual crimes, thinking he is Cesc and overdoing it.

KeithAFC

Song is a counter attackers dream. Gives the ball away in fantastic counter attacking situations. We could have easily lost tonight 3-1 or more if it wasn't for Woj and some last ditch tackling.

bernardo mac

In the bookies during the match thought I heard an announcer say Arsenal were playing Euthanasia.Could well be!

IRISHSPORTSGUY

Udinese should draw a lot of hope from Shakhtar and Braga turning over Arsenal last season. Actually think they can do it, they're a good side.

Imhof Tank

KeithAFC wrote: »

Song is a counter attackers dream. Gives the ball away in fantastic counter attacking situations. We could have easily lost tonight 3-1 or more if it wasn't for Woj and some last ditch tackling.

He will burst a gut to get back though - that double chance created from his mistake on the edge of their box - it was Song who finally snuffed it out

peabutler

All in all if Frimpong can continue to develop he looks a stronger prospect.

Frisbee

Atrocious.

Absolutely atrocious.

I know we got the win, but the performance was embarrassing. There's also the fact that it looks like Squillaci will be starting against Pool with Vermaelen at left back.

Marty McFly

Frisbee wrote: »

Atrocious.

Absolutely atrocious.

I know we got the win, but the performance was embarrassing. There's also the fact that it looks like Squillaci will be starting against Pool with Vermaelen at right back.

Not necessarily, I reckon drop Song back to CB Vermaelen got LB and put Frimpong on in midfield.

Not ideal I know but still no Squillaci

flahavaj

luvbulmers01 wrote: »

Not necessarily, I reckon drop Song back to CB Vermaelen got LB and put Frimpong on in midfield.

Not ideal I know but still no Squillaci

Song will probably be suspended won't he?

Marty McFly

Just been listening o O'Leary if anyone wasnt sure about him being clueless he just stated Arsenal miss Diaby hes a good player.

Oh yeh my bad forgot Song suspension Squillaci it is were screwed.

gnfnrhead

I said the same thing in the Superthread and never once thought that Song was going to be suspended. Looks like it will be Squillaci after all.

Unless, we push Sagna in and play Jenkinson at Right back?

Frisbee

Sagna

---

Koscielny

---

Vermaelen

---

Jenkinson

or

Sagna

---

Koscielny

---

Squillaci

---

Vermaelen


Either way it's a fúcking joke Wenger has let it come to this. Everyone knows Gibbs is injury prone. As are Djourou and Vermaelen. It's not like these injuries are coming out of the blue form usually very fit players.

G.K.

Vermalen isn't injury prone is he? Just had that one problem?

Noo

G.K. wrote: »

Vermalen isn't injury prone is he? Just had that one problem?

Sure if he was injury prone he'd be injured by now like the rest of them.

That_Guy

Great game from a neutral point of view. Udinese are a very impressive team. I heard great things about them last season but never watched them. Was very impressed with their performance last night.

I fear for Arsenal greatly in the second leg particularly if they don't strengthen in defence given the injuries they've picked up last night.

Sagna --- Koscielny --- Jenkinson --- Vermaelen

I reckon that'll be how they line up defensively next week which is truly uninspiring stuff.

Frisbee

That_Guy wrote: »

Sagna --- Koscielny --- Jenkinson --- Vermaelen

I reckon that'll be how they line up defensively next week which is truly uninspiring stuff.

Swap Jenksinson with Squillaci.

Even worse.

keano_afc

That_Guy wrote: »

Great game from a neutral point of view. Udinese are a very impressive team. I heard great things about them last season but never watched them. Was very impressed with their performance last night.

I fear for Arsenal greatly in the second leg particularly if they don't strengthen in defence given the injuries they've picked up last night.

Sagna --- Koscielny --- Jenkinson --- Vermaelen

I reckon that'll be how they line up defensively next week which is truly uninspiring stuff.

Jenkinson is a full back so no way he'll start in centre of defence. Gibbs could be back by then but it'll only be a temporary respite until he gets injured again. You have to question if Wenger knows his players at all, its absolutely insane to trust in Gibbs to stay fit for more than half an hour. An accident waiting to happen. Its all very well and good saying you have give young players a chance, but if they're physically incapable of taking it you have to make allowances.

That_Guy

Didn't realise Jenkinson was a left back.

I'd worry about your lot up front too. Chamakh is just a nothing player. Didn't once bust a gut to chase down the ball or anything.

Walcott and Gervinho could link really well together. I think Gervinho could play better in behind a striker. He looks dreadful out on the wing and I can't recall him beating the first man last night. It's still early days for him so I'd give him the benefit of the doubt. Has got a bit of pace about him.

Frisbee

That_Guy wrote: »

Didn't realise Jenkinson was a left back.

He's a right back by trade really. I'm hoping that's what made him look so out of his depth last night.

jmayo

Raskolnikov wrote: »

Pingpong has done more in 5 minutes than Rosicky did all match. Time for Mr. Rosicky to pack his bags, I think.

He should have had his bags packed a couple of years ago and that is why Arsenal are now so fooked.
Dead weight has been carried for far too long at the club.

Raskolnikov wrote: »

Gibbs looked good until he went off crocked.

How long did he last again ?

Raskolnikov wrote: »

Walcott looked the most lively player, could have had a hat-trick tonight.

Walcott often looks clueless and does not provide enough of a finished product.

Raskolnikov wrote: »

Song was very solid, very keen, wasn't wasteful.

???

Raskolnikov wrote: »

Vermalen was the best centre back by a mile.

Scary to think what happens when he aint there. :eek:

Raskolnikov wrote: »

Chamakh and Rosicky have no future at your club.

Oh but they do since there aren't anyone else. :mad:

luvbulmers01 wrote: »

Not necessarily, I reckon drop Song back to CB Vermaelen got LB and put Frimpong on in midfield.

Not ideal I know but still no Squillaci

So basically we all agree that anyone is better than the fourth choice centre back and yet some people around here reckon Arsenal don't need defenders.

Frisbee wrote: »

He's a right back by trade really. I'm hoping that's what made him look so out of his depth last night.

This can't be helping his development.
He doesn't have much experience and now he is thrown in at deep end and in wrong position to get roasted.

L'prof

The most important thing last night was to keep a clean sheet and we did that. With van Persie in Italy, I definitely think we'll score at least once, leaving Udinese with 3 goals to make up and I think we're string enough at the back not to let that happen!

gnfnrhead

The big plus will be van Persie in for Chamakh. As for back four, assuming Gibbs, Traore and Djourou are still out, I'd go with:

Jenkinson - Sagna - Koscielny - Vermaelen
or
Sagna - Song - Koscielny - Vermaelen with Frimpong playing in Song's position.

Really bad timing to lose three players in about 24 hours. If we get one of the three back, we'll be in a pretty good position.

G.K.

Sagna at CB and Vermalen at RB? What are you smoking?

As an observer, it seems apparent to play either...

Sagna-Koscielny-Vermalen-Jenkinson

or

Vermalen-Koscielny-Squillachi-Sagna

Song is suspended so you need Frimpong for DM.

gnfnrhead

I always go right to left. (So when it's a full line up it read from GK, Defence, Midfield, Forwards) Jenkinson at RB, Vermaelen at LB. Sagna I believe has played CB before.

Isnt Song only suspended for the League games?

G.K.

Ah, I misunderstood you, Song'll be available for the 2nd leg.

Still, playing a CB at FB and a FB at CB confuses me.

gnfnrhead

Can Sagna play LB? Jenkinson was lost at sea there and Udinese knew it and targetted him, so if Traore and Gibbs are still out Vermaelen is the only option I can see. With Jenkinson doing so poorly at LB, I dont think he'd be much better at CB. I seem to recall Sagna being described as a RB who can play CB when we signed him whereas Jenkinson was only RB.

Ideally, it wont come to either situation and we'll have at least one of the three injured players back before then. If none of them are back, I dont think Song or Sagna would do any worse at CB than Squillaci has. I had hoped the summer break would do him well but based on pre-season it appears he picked up where he left off last season. Either way, I was expecting Bartley to stay and be the number four but he's gone out on loan again.