CL: Arsenal v. AC Milan [R] Pre/Dur/Post Match Comments

Competition: UEFA Champion's League
Venue: Emirates Stadium
Date: Wednesday, 20th February 2008
Time: 1945 GMT

Well, a 4-0 loss to Man United – which I happily missed seeing – is in our wake now, so now it's time to focus on getting our players healthy and fighting on two fronts.

Hopefully we can get some of our key players back for Wednesday's match – especially Clichy, Sagna and Flamini. Milan is another team that's missing some key figures: we already know Ronaldo is out, but we don't know if we'll see Gattuso or Pato.

Prediction: I've got nothing just yet.

No prisoners!!!!!!! *throated roar*

By the way Sagna may be out again for personal reasons, Wenger said on Friday he "may also miss Wednesday".

Oh, and phirst.

No prisoners is correct my friend, it's time for the guys to forget about yesterday and and try to win the League and the CL. I also have a feeling that Man U will lose to Lyon..

I hope Sagna is available, if he's not then I hope Toure or Gallas will play as RB. No hoyte or Eboue.

If Sagna's unavailable, could we see a back four of Toure, Gallas, Senderos and Clichy? I've gained a newfound appreciation for Senderos over the last month and wonder if that combination would be effective.

In any event, it's just nice to have another fixture to look forward to so soon and not have to dwell on today's match for a full week.

If Rosicky and Diaby are both injured, are we going to see a midfield quartet of

Hleb-Gilberto-Flamini-Fabregas

again?? We really do need another winger to cover for/compete with Hleb and Rosicky on the wings.

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COME ON ARSENAL!!!!!!

From what I read, Rosicky was on the verge of coming back for the ManU match, so chances are he'll be available on Wednesday. Hopefully at least Diaby is also ready to go, he's been our best back up winger this season in my opinion.

I think one thing that needs to be put in perspective is the loss today against ManU. We lost perhaps an even worse one a little bit back against Spurs and we rebounded just fine..

3-0 Newcastle
3-0 Newcastle
3-1 Man City (one of the most important wins of the season thus far)
2-0 Blackburn

I have complete confidence in our players and our manager, that everyone will do their part to get back on track once again.

This game all depends on who comes back from injury or who doesnt. If Hoyte, Traore, or Eboue or any combo of these 3 step foot on the field then we will lose. Maybe not the latter of those 3 so much but the first two definitely.

On another note: This game will define our season. Yes i would love nothing more then to take back the Prem. However, we have yet to win the CL, until we do, we are not an elite club. Bottom line. The boys are capable of winning both of these trophies so there for i expect it of them.

Though I thought Jens could've done better against ManUtd, I think it's down to a bit of match practice. I'd like to see him in goal with our usual back4. Hleb-Cesc-Flams-Rossicky/Eboue and Dudu, Ade up top. I think we'll turn it on!!!

Rosicky will be back for this. Wenger knew it was not worth risking him for the manutd game

I wouldn't be surprised to see RVP make the bench either. He has been in training for over a month, and I think it's very likely he starts to appear on the bench either on Wednesday or on the weekend.

I used to watch Milan play a lot, so I'll weigh in with my weekly "Cup-half-empty: A look at the game ahead".

Milan, like liverpool have become nothing more than a CL focused team. Their league position is barely deserved, and they will probably just scrape up 4th place at the end of the season (currently tied with Fiorentina on points and at one point where lying in the second half of the table, but that was with 3 games in hand due to the FIFA world club cup).

We've actually been quite unlucky this year in the Serie A. And as any Milan fan will tell you: We basically got robbed of 10-12 points just because of our former completely INEPT goalkeeper: Dida. Who had one of the worst seasons I've ever seen from a GK.

Anyways my question for you Arsenal fans is: what's arsenals typical/best formation?

This would be our best, IMO:

Almunia
Sagna Toure Gallas Clichy
Hleb Flamini Rosicky
Fabregas
Adebayor Van Persie

Of course, due to injuries etc. I would expect this probably:

Lehmann
Hoyte Toure Gallas Clichy
Hleb Flamini Rosicky
Fabregas
Adebayor Eduardo

Ya but the way Flamini and Cesc come forward together it is much more of a 4-4-2 rather then a 4-3-1-2. Flamini is a box to box midfielder much more so then Gilberto ever was. Gilberto was best at being a curtain in front of the back four and letting Cesc get well forward.

Seems like a very offensive minded formation, and that Arsenal back-line seems a bit suspect. I'm not too familiar with the playing styles of your right/left back but the few times I've gotten to watch Clichy/Hoyte they seem very attack oriented. I could be wrong though.

Put anyone out there on the right except Hoyte.

I'd rather see:

Toure -- Senderos -- Gallas -- Clichy

To be frank i'd rather see Adebayor on right then Hoyte, Judging from the ManUtd game, If I were Wenger i'd play this

GK - Lehmann
RB - Gallas
CB - Senderos
CB - Toure
LB - Clichy
RW - Hleb
CDM - Flamini
CAM - Fabregas
LW - Rosicky
ST - Eduardo
ST - Adebayor

Or maybe Eboue RB and Gallas and Toure/Senderos on the back?

I'm still hopeful (i was gonna say confident) that sagna will make it back for this game

YEEEEEES that would be a good defensive line up if Sagna isn't available.

eboue is still a decent rb

shit midfielder though

i think we need to win by at least 2 goals to progress

Since we are at home, it is obviously imperative that we win this game. On top of that we need at least two goals or a shut out (preferrably the clean sheet, if not both).

What's up with Sagna...where has he gone.....some sort of family bereavement? HOYTE starting is a nightmare