Dinamo Zagreb vs. Arsenal [R] (Champions League Qualifying)

[Shibby13]

Does anyone have a clue what our lineup will look like on Tuesday v. Zagreb? It seems as though our team is nowhere near ready to play with all this transfer speculation. I for one am extremely worried about this game(s) and feel we cannot take it lightly at all. Our lineup I guess will look something like

Almunia

Eboue, Toure, Djouru?, Flamini?

Rosicky, Hleb, Cesc, Gilberto

RVP, Adebayor

Not a terrible lineup but I think Reyes will be gone and Ribery will come in withint he next week. I also want this Cashley Cole crap to just end so we can just get rid of him.

Thoughts?

[Realwood]

----------------Almunia-------------------

Eboue-----Toure-----Djourou--------Flamini


Hleb-------Cesc-------Gilberto-------Reyes


------------RvP--------Adebayor


Bench: Poom, Rosicky, Song, Hoyte, Aliadere, Cygan, Lupoli

I don't think Rosicky will start, remember he has only played 30 minutes in one pre-season game. I don't think he is fit yet. He should be on the bench and come in as a sub. Reyes is staying and will be playing unless he is shockingly sold tomorrow. Real Madrid won't offer a big enough transfer fee to make Arsenal sell IMO.

[RobC]

----------------Almunia-------------------

Eboue-----Toure-----Djourou--------Hoyte


Hleb-------Cesc-------Gilberto-------Reyes


------------RvP--------Adebayor

The Flim-Flam man seemed a little jittery at LB against AZ Alkmaar....might be found out if we try to push our luck too far.......

[GoonerMan]

id prefer hoyte at LB but my suspicions is that the boss will play flamini there

[Catfish]

Let's get ready to rumble!!! Sorry for slouching on my match thread duties, I thought I was regular season boy. I can't say this enough, but this match is HUGE! I know that Dinamo Zagreb isn't exactly a powerhouse of Europe, let alone Eastern Europe, but you know how those trips east can be tough for any club. They should not be taken lightly.

That being said; my prediction: we win this match 2-1.

I think we will control the match and give up a late goal due to boredom.

GO ON YOU GUNNERS!!!

[Bluto11]

god i hope they don't take this match lightly. Zagreb are going to be out for blood. I'd take a scoring draw at this point, nice to have an away goal or two.

[surfcam]

god i hope they don't take this match lightly. Zagreb are going to be out for blood. I'd take a scoring draw at this point, nice to have an away goal or two.

Yeah, this isn't a walk in the park and as Dan said, Zagreb will be out to win the home leg. I still think the Gunners can pull out the win and go with 2-1 to the Arsenal. This isn't preseason anymore fellas, we are playing for keeps now!!

[Detlef]

Arsenal 2 Bad Boys Blue 1

[santana]

Arsenal 2 Bad Boys Blue 1


It is Bad Blue Boys ;)

Btw. you have a great team, and do play a very pretty and modern football. However, I'm more and more optimistic as the game nears. I think 2:0 for Dinamo would be a nice, motivating result for a London game.

[mixmastermatt]

1-1 is my prediction. Robin Van Persie will score for us but DZ will get 1 as well. I wonder if Walcott will be available... even if he is he won't be played. We have Adebayor who will be on the bench as well and he will get some game time. I think Theo Wally will be saved to make his debut against Aston Villa... the club have been marketing him too much just to bring him on Vs a croation team in an away game. They would want all the hype and cheer of the Emirates stadium

[Realwood]

On the plane to Zagreb.

Cesc Fabregas
Kolo Toure
Tomas Rosicky
Jose Antonio Reyes
Robin van Persie
Alexander Hleb
Mathieu Flamini
Alex Song
Pascal Cygan
Gilberto
Johan Djourou
Mart Poom
Manuel Almunia
Emmanuel Adebayor
Emmanuel Eboue
Jeremie Aliadiere
Justin Hoyte
Armand Traore

[Ziegler1988]

I would also be thrilled with a scoring draw, so I will predict 2-2.
Anyone know if ATVO's live coverage of this match is video or just audio? I'm guessing audio since ITV has the video rights for it in GB, but you never know.

[mixmastermatt]

I would also be thrilled with a scoring draw, so I will predict 2-2.
Anyone know if ATVO's live coverage of this match is video or just audio? I'm guessing audio since ITV has the video rights for it in GB, but you never know.

All competetive games are audio only.

[KevTheGooner]

I wonder if Walcott will be available...

Apparently he had a virus which kept him out of training so he's off the roster.

[yossarian]

I'm very nervous about having such an important match so early in the season. Here's hoping for a win or a high scoring draw.

[antifan]

I would also be thrilled with a scoring draw, so I will predict 2-2.
Anyone know if ATVO's live coverage of this match is video or just audio? I'm guessing audio since ITV has the video rights for it in GB, but you never know.
That sucks, no one is broadcasting the match here. Damn, I hope someone finds a stream of the ITV broadcast on the web.

[antifan]

It is Bad Blue Boys ;)

Btw. you have a great team, and do play a very pretty and modern football. However, I'm more and more optimistic as the game nears. I think 2:0 for Dinamo would be a nice, motivating result for a London game.
Have you met any of the travelling fans yet?

[Lanesra]

Have you met any of the travelling fans yet?

He picked The Grimster up at the Airport, Rick arrives at about 2230,

[GriffinGunner]

----------------Almunia-------------------

Eboue-----Toure-----Djourou--------Flamini


Hleb-------Cesc-------Gilberto-------Reyes


------------RvP--------Adebayor

Looking at the line-up it occurs to me: Has it been that long since The Untouchables? Man.

- - - - -

Don't know about Zagreb's offense so I expect a 4-4-2 with a conventional approach to tighter defense on the road. Midfield is at least experienced enough that I think AW will trust any makeshift defense needed. I think the Flamini-Hoyte answer will reveal something about the Cole/Gallas issue. ie: If Hoyte starts he'll be expected to play more this season. :o

If RvP is in form, he's the man. Time for him to step up and show it. Role of Henry's regular partner is still up for grabs, and I'd love for Persie to take it. Just the game to announce that.

[Cannon]

I think a 451 is the way to go here. Keep the clean sheet and try to nick a goal or two on the counter/set plays. Better to be conservative away from home, early, and with an incomplete squad. The important thing is to set up this tie for the 2nd leg when we'll be home and probably have Henry back. I'm assuming Rosicky isn't quite fit enough to start:
--------Adebayor---------
JAR-Cesc-Gilberto-Hleb-RVP
Flamini-Djourou-Toure-Eboue
--------Almunia-----------
Subs: Poom, Cygan, Hoyte, Traore, Song, Rosicky, Aliadiere

That squad should be able to keep the clean sheet despite the makeshift defense. It also has enough attacking ability to score goals on the counter while making it very difficult for them to pressure the defense. I'd really prefer Hoyte at LB in general but Wenger will likely go with as much of the backline from last season's CL run as possible. Not a bad approach for this match when defending is more important than attacking for our FBs. Using Adebayor as the lone forward gives the defense a good outlet and I like the idea of isolating JAR and RVP on their FBs while Cesc and Hleb support Adebayor through the middle. Plenty of workrate in the squad should cover for any remaining fitness issues especially if we play at the overall more relaxed pace of a counterattacking 451.