Arsenal vs. Ajax [R] (Champions League) Pre/dur/Post Match [Archive]

Catfish

04 Dec 2005, 09:48 AM

The lads are top of the group and already thru to the next round AND they are coming off a disappointing, bitter away loss. If any of the regular starting XI men actually start and/or play in this match I would be surprised. If they do, they will only play the 1st half. This is perfect opportunity for the reserves to see some CL action.

In the end I see this match ending in a 1-1 draw.
Hope I'm wrong and we gobble up all 3pts.

Go on Gunners, Go on!!

carw2005

04 Dec 2005, 09:51 AM

I suspect a quite a few top players to be in the team, i agree it would be good to give the youngsters the experience and we probably will,and Ajax ARE a good side, can we risk 2 losses in a row, that cant be good for team confidence, which would be a shame to lose in the Champs League as we are doin so well.

BPBlueSox

04 Dec 2005, 09:57 AM

meh, I wouldn't say we're a good side.

fox point fury

04 Dec 2005, 11:07 AM

If any of the regular starting XI men actually start and/or play in this match I would be surprised.

I think it's fairly clear that our makeshift back 4 needs to keep playing together, especially considering who we're playing before Ash or Gael come back. The only way that doesn't happen is if AW decides to try the Sol-Kolo-Philippe back 3 that a few posters have asked for, and the only way that happens is if Rick convinced him to go drinking with the ArseAmers and he lost a bet.

Catfish

04 Dec 2005, 11:20 AM

...Ajax ARE a good side...
No they are NOT! They are 8th in the Dutch Eredivise table.

Dooglas

04 Dec 2005, 11:34 AM

first off itll be the A team with some reserves here and there nothing more. reserves can only play to their full with a close to starting 11 ...annddd hleb will be back, so hopefully pires will be benched.

phishy

04 Dec 2005, 12:35 PM

i think i'd like to see the starting XI that played against Reading.
+ Hleb in the mix.

antifan

04 Dec 2005, 03:54 PM

I'd like to see Wenger try Hleb at CM and Eboue at LB. I know alot of people don't think that Hleb is suited to central midfield, but that is the spot that we really need someone to step up and make things happen. And we need someone who isn't Cygan to play LB for the next month, so lets give Eboue a chance there. My lineup would be:

-----------Almunia---------
Lauren-Toure-Senderos-Eboue
Freddie-Hleb-Muamba-Quincy
-----Van Persie---Lupoli-----

In all likelyhood though, it will be Hleb on the right and Flamini in the middle, as well as more reserves in the back. But i hope that Wenger uses this opportunity to give Eboue a shot at LB with a decent back four so he can actually evaluate the defense's performance as a whole.

Bergkamp_4_ever

04 Dec 2005, 04:26 PM

I'd like to see Wenger try Hleb at CM and Eboue at LB. I know alot of people don't think that Hleb is suited to central midfield, but that is the spot that we really need someone to step up and make things happen. And we need someone who isn't Cygan to play LB for the next month, so lets give Eboue a chance there. My lineup would be:

In all likelyhood though, it will be Hleb on the right and Flamini in the middle, as well as more reserves in the back. But i hope that Wenger uses this opportunity to give Eboue a shot at LB with a decent back four so he can actually evaluate the defense's performance as a whole.
Agreed. This is a good chance to test a different back four (with the Chelsea match approaching quickly).

And antifan, I won't make any jokes about Cygan.......for now. :p

phishy

04 Dec 2005, 04:58 PM

I just finished watching the Ajax-RKC match... de Jong, Rosenberg, and Sneijder were all fantastic today. Sneijder was amazing.. great crosses and took his goal well. Babel came on late and scored from a crazy angle.. they seemed to be in form after this match. RKC is actually ahead of Ajax in the table, but looked completely outclassed. I wonder if Trabelsi will feature versus The Arsenal?
he was on the bench today.

mixmastermatt

04 Dec 2005, 06:00 PM

red & wite army

04 Dec 2005, 06:07 PM

Ive had an absoloute stinker of a weekend... and at 10:30pm when it shouldn't get any worse, it did. I want an Arsenal win so badly and I want it BIG!!!

I want ******** loads of goals in this to cheer me up!

This is something that cheers me up:

A few of my friends said this about a Chelsea fan, "Burn him and see if Chelsea cares?"

lol :p Random...

Dooglas

04 Dec 2005, 06:39 PM

antifan

04 Dec 2005, 06:55 PM

hleb is a supporting striker, so put him in the CAM spot and i think he could make things happen, there will be a lot more penetration up the middle, easing things on the wings, and hopefully muamba or song plays in the middle as well...give our boys a rest.
People always describe Hleb as a CAM, unfortunately Wenger's system doesn't use one. Maybe its time to give it a try, and go to a five man midfield with RVP alone up top. I thought before the season started that Wenger might try this more, but he hasn't. I'm hoping he tries something new against Ajax because this is a rare opportunity to experiment when we have absolutely nothing to lose. I hope Wenger sees it that way and not just as an chance to rest players.

michaec

06 Dec 2005, 04:34 AM

I think a few experienced heads, a few youngsters, Hleb back from injury a couple that need a game. I'd go with:

Almunia
Eboue-Senderos-Campbell-Lauren
Hleb-Flamini-Larsson-Reyes
Bergkamp-Lupoli

Subs: Poom, Toure, Fabregas, Ljungberg, Henry, Van Persie, Quincy

In particluar I'd like to see the Bergkamp-Lupoli partnership up front, the young Italian is a predator and with Dennis supplying the passes he could be on for a good night. In the League Cup game last week I though Larsson looked more of a centre midfielder than a right winger where he played that night. Let's see it. For the left-back situation I'd like to see Lauren on the left with Eboue on the right. If we're going to play anyone out of position, I'd rather it's the more experienced man. I'd leave Campbell in as the oprganiser and also because I think he needs to play himself back into a bit of form.

michaec

06 Dec 2005, 04:38 AM

People always describe Hleb as a CAM, unfortunately Wenger's system doesn't use one. Maybe its time to give it a try, and go to a five man midfield with RVP alone up top. I thought before the season started that Wenger might try this more, but he hasn't. I'm hoping he tries something new against Ajax because this is a rare opportunity to experiment when we have absolutely nothing to lose. I hope Wenger sees it that way and not just as an chance to rest players.
I don't think so, first, Wenger has a system and sticks to it religiously and second, if players need a rest this is the ideal opportunity in a game with absolutely nothing on it. A game like this would give invaluable experience to the likes of Eboue, Lupoli, Larsson, Quincy or any of the youngsters Wenger picks for the side tomorrow night.

antifan

06 Dec 2005, 04:43 AM

I don't think so, first, Wenger has a system and sticks to it religiously and second, if players need a rest this is the ideal opportunity in a game with absolutely nothing on it. A game like this would give invaluable experience to the likes of Eboue, Lupoli, Larsson, Quincy or any of the youngsters Wenger picks for the side tomorrow night.
I'm all for Wenger playing some youngsters, as long as Cygan isn't playing LB, i'll be happy, y'know.

surfcam

06 Dec 2005, 09:34 AM

I don't think so, first, Wenger has a system and sticks to it religiously and second, if players need a rest this is the ideal opportunity in a game with absolutely nothing on it. A game like this would give invaluable experience to the likes of Eboue, Lupoli, Larsson, Quincy or any of the youngsters Wenger picks for the side tomorrow night.

I'm sure the youngsters will be out in force as there is no real meaning left for this match, though a win is always welcome. Bergy will probably also get a run as it will likely be his last match against Ajax.

Bergkamp_4_ever

06 Dec 2005, 09:53 AM

I'm all for Wenger playing some youngsters, as long as Cygan isn't playing LB, i'll be happy, y'know.Agreed. This is a good chance to test a different back four (with the Chelsea match approaching quickly).

And antifan, I won't make any jokes about Cygan.......for now. :p
Dude, you're making it really tough for me! :D