Boro v. Arsenal- EPL - Pre/Dur/Post [R]

[GunneRy]

http://www.thefootballpremiership.co.uk/Crests/middlesbrough.gif

http://www.destructoid.com/elephant/ul/80935-Arsenal_header.jpg

Saturday, 13 December 2008
Kickoff- 12:45 GMT
US television- Setanta

The Gunners head to Teeside for an early game. A strong performance will be necessary against a side that has beaten the gunners at home two of the last three times.

Time for some revenge, Arsenal style.

1-2 to the Arsenal!

[TheArgonaut]

Well...I guess I'll delete the work I did on the matchday thread....

Oh well...here's some news on the injury front

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/injured-quintet-could-return-for-saturday (http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/injured-quintet-could-return-for-saturday)


Gael Clichy (hamstring), Cesc Fabregas (http://www.arsenal.com/first-team/players/cesc-fabregas) (knee), Robin van Persie (http://www.arsenal.com/first-team/players/robin-van-persie) (thigh), Emmanuel Adebayor (http://www.arsenal.com/first-team/players/emmanuel-adebayor) (rested) and Bacary Sagna (http://www.arsenal.com/first-team/players/bacary-sagna) (flu) could all return at The Riverside. Doubts remain over the last of those but the preceding quartet should be available.

However Kolo Toure (http://www.arsenal.com/first-team/players/kolo-toure) (calf) and Samir Nasri (http://www.arsenal.com/first-team/players/samir-nasri) (ankle) are still sidelined, along with long-term absentees Eduardo (http://www.arsenal.com/first-team/players/eduardo) (leg) and Tomas Rosicky (http://www.arsenal.com/first-team/players/tomas-rosicky) (hamstring).

[YankGooner]

Djourou and Gallas partnership again I'm guessing. We need a big game out of Ade in this one.

[Silva 5]

I think we need a big game out of everyone. We need to starting making statements to the rest of the league...against the minnows. 2-0's and 3-0's.

Classy goals and well deserved clean sheets.

I'm hoping to see some of the form from last season.

[Bluto11]

I'm not looking forward to this one. early kick off, ugh, but I give thanks that I don't live further west!

[Smalls123]

A win here would be really nice. The last time we went up north to boro and got all 3 points was the 04-05 season. Yikes

I am still waiting for this team to find their legs.

1-0 to the Arsenal.

[kanonier]

I'm hoping for Toure/Djourou. Though I suppose we might as well use Gallas while we have him.

[InTheSun]

kill

[thedude83]

I can't decide if I would rather have a midfield with 4 Cm's or one that features Eboue.:eek: Dammit man, just start Wilshere already.

I think we will see

-------Adebayor-Van Persie

Denilson--Song--Cesc---Eboue

Clichy---Gallas-Djourou-Sagna

----------Almunia


The other possiblity is Daiby plays on the left and denilson moves to the middle in place of song or on the right in place of eboue. However, I would prefer to see a Wilshere-Cesc-Denilson-Diaby midfield.

[Silva 5]

the dude abides.

[Lanesra]

Will be nice to see the 'REAL' fans give Eboue a good welcome.

[thedude83]

Will be nice to see the 'REAL' fans give Eboue a good welcome.

Hopefully they won't have to! I would seriously rather see wilshere and diaby on the wings, but Eboue will probably start on the right wing. Hopefully he gets a good response from the fans because he deserves one!

[And_ROOS]

CRUSH! KILL! DESTROY!

http://i36.tinypic.com/2pyciuc.gif

[thedude83]

CRUSH! KILL! DESTROY!

http://i36.tinypic.com/2pyciuc.gif

That is very disturbing! And can someone delete my drunken double post.

[KevTheGooner]

Will be nice to see the 'REAL' fans give Eboue a good welcome.

Even better would be the 'FAKE' fans doing the same next weekend against the scousers...

0-1 to the good as VanPersie smashes a free kick home.

[KirbyNYC]

Even better would be the 'FAKE' fans doing the same next weekend against the scousers...

0-1 to the good as VanPersie smashes a free kick home.

I'm with Kev. As usual, very scrappy game but I think we win ugly yet again on a freekick. RvP is due for one. All season, they've been just wide or high or hit the post. One is bound to burn the net.

GO ON YOU GUNNERS!!

[Schu419]

I think the midfield will probably be:

Diaby---Denilson---Cesc----Eboue


this was used a decent amount last year and actually works OK, because although Diaby cuts in at every opportunity, Clichy makes up the ground on the outside to get crosses in. When Eboue is in decent form, he'll get to the byline to get crosses in himself or do with in combination with Sagna.

I'd personally rather see Song than Denilson, keeping the rest as I described above, but I don't think it will happen.

[Paul.eta]

I'd like to see

Ramsey---Denilson---Cesc---Eboue

or

Ramsey---Song---Cesc---Denilson

I think the starting XI will be what thedude83 posted though.

1-2

[TheImposter]

I don't care if our midfield is Landon Donovan, Britney Spears and the obviously incestuous brother and sister that just won "The Amazing Race". I just want 3 points.

[Asuka]

2-1 for The Arsenal.


Nervy match. We'll be here posting about every missed chance by either us or 'Boro.

A satisfactory victory at the end of the day though.