The Arsenal Society VI

I am pretty sure Puyol is capable of merking Arsenal with some GSL.

Who are Arsenal gonna GEL with anyway, Walcott?

And I'm liking you more and more as a member... you're very welcome in this soc, and I apologise if I ever misjudged you for being a Bolton fan.

http://www.zonalmarking.net/2010/02/23/stuttgart-1-1-barcelona-gross-gets-things-right-but-stuttgart-dont-make-it-count-when-they-were-in-top/
http://www.zonalmarking.net/2010/03/17/barcelona-4-0-stuttgart-messi-guardiola-4-2-4/

Thought that sounded familiar :

However, I'm confident Wenger will play the 4-3-3 / 4-1-4-1 formation and if you look at that excellent diagram, the two wide midfielders (most probably Arshavin + another wide player) would be retained, just as Hleb and Gebhart were unantagonised in the tie. Meanwhile, the midfield triumvirate of Fabregas, Song and most probably Diaby will occupy Barca's midfield. So I think the 4-1-4-1 Wenger usually uses will retain the benefits of 4-4-2, but it will also provide added strength in midfield (something that is obviously crucial against the likes of the near-insurmountable Barca midfield)

However, I completely agree with you in your empirical comments; theory doesn't equate to practice and Barca's only shortcomings this season has been when the opposition have "played their own game" with high intensity to breaking point. I think Wenger will watch the games where Barca have struggled and try and to exploit them in that sense, but those games haven't necessarily been the theoretically / tactically "optimal" solution. I guess we'll have to wait and see

However, I completely agree with you in your empirical comments; theory doesn't equate to practice and Barca's only shortcomings this season has been when the opposition have "played their own game" with high intensity to breaking point. I think Wenger will watch the games where Barca have struggled and try and to exploit them in that sense, but those games haven't necessarily been the theoretically / tactically "optimal" solution. I guess we'll have to wait and see

I'm seriously wondering where/if Nasri will play. If we go with a 4-3-3 it will most likely be Cesc/Song/Diaby, with Arshavin/Eboue or Walcott/Bendtner up front.

He'd come on for Diaby or Rosicky/Walcott, unless Wenger decides to play him alongside Cesc, who knows?

West Ham are absolutely ****, you should be beating them 5-0. Spectors one of the worst right backs in your league, whoever your left midfielder is will have a field day.

Who would you play along with Arshavin and Bendtner in the forward trident Stalin, Rosicky or Eboue?

I would personally go for Eboue.

Team for WHam?

I reckon Wenger will go for:



Wenger won't risk starting Rosicky I don't think. Eduardo is in desperate need of some game time now that he seems to be behind Bendtner in the pecking order.

Anyone seen the Champion's League leading goal scorers? I swear when it flashed up briefly on SSN this morning it said that Bendtner was 2nd with four goals!

Rosicky Bendtner Arshavin to start with, expect to see Walcott or even Nasri replacing Rosicky at some point.

I think the question is Clichy or Eboue rather than Arshavin or Eboue, can Clichy handle Messi or would Eboue do a better job. Remember the first game is at home, so do we press forward to get ourselves flowing, creating chances and ultimatley, finishing them or do we maximise our defence in order to avoid conceding a goal at home?

West Ham are absolutely ****, you should be beating them 5-0. Spectors one of the worst right backs in your league, whoever your left midfielder is will have a field day.

I think you may be right about Clichy tbh, I can't see him containing Messi at all.

But would Eboue be able to slot in at LB just like that? Could be a risk experimenting in a tie like this.

I think you may be right about Clichy tbh, I can't see him containing Messi at all.

But would Eboue be able to slot in at LB just like that? Could be a risk experimenting in a tie like this.