Well, you all know that you've been thinking about it for a solid two weeks. Unfortunately, it appears our beloved Gunners have done the same thing, scoring only twice against one team who was just barely safe from the drop zone and another who is a First Division side with hopes of ascending to the Premiership. At any rate, this is clearly the game that decides whether or not the double is attainable. A win brings us back level with ManUre with a game in hand still. A loss puts them up six with them having played the extra game. A draw allows us the opportunity to still win the title on goal differential, provided that we win out and they win out. The key to this game I believe lies in midfield. Real's domination of the midfield allowed them to just run over United in their 3-1 win last week. Figo essentially made Beckham look like a rank amateur. By the time ManUre finally got through, it was 3-0. This means that Vieira, Ljunberg, Parlour, and Silva will be the key to this one. If Vieira controls the game like he has in some recent matches, Arsenal will be in good shape. I think injuries could also play a key role. Arsenal's backline is finally back to full strength and David Seaman is back in goal, although it should be noted that Stuart Taylor was really outstanding in his place. SuperBob will still be out, but, in reality, he wasn't playing very well before he was hurt anyway. On the other side of the ledger, Beckham might be out, as could Keane, Giggs, and O'Shea. My guess is, even if those guys play, they won't be at 100%, and we've seen what Arsenal can do against ManUre with Henry and Bergkamp not even on the pitch. My hope is that Arsenal come out like a house of fire, realizing that a second double, and history, could be at the end of 90 minutes of solid Arsenal football. This is the biggest match at Highbury in some time, and it's time for the real Arsenal to return and dominate the Red Devils! Go, you Gunners!
I'd like to think that after what can only be deemed an uninspired display against Sheffield United AFC can properly motivate themselves for this one. The team really seems to run hot and cold like this this season, a lethargic display leading to an inspired one. Lets hope that trend continues.......
Itemizing The thing that frustrates me the most about English football in general, is it's one-dimensional attack: Down the wing and cross. Down the wing and cross. Down the wing and cross. That's easier to defend against than getting attacked right up through the heart of your defense. In our loss at OT, the best coupla scoring chances came up the middle (in particular, Henry and Bob working a sweet 1-2, with Pires catching Barthez off his line and chipping over the goal). Even Newcastle's best chances came up the middle. Hopefully we've learned. As for Pires, I'm hoping for him to make an appearance. Regardless of recent form, he's still invaluable and gives more options in attack. And he has an incredible work rate. Personally, I'd sit Freddie for Rayzor. Freddie's not fully match fit, probably not ready for a full 90 so soon after Sunday. Ray gives us more edge. We'll have to wait and see how Paddy comes through his most recent knock [fingers crossed]. Good to see Cole back. Toure (ugh). Henry and Wiltord up front. Franny comes off the bench. Anyone missing to suspension? Can't find any match previews yet. Anyone notice how this week bears an uncanny resemblance to '99? Play Sheff. U. (FA Cup) on the weekend, then (a reschuled) ManUre midweek. (We drew 1-1). If we draw, that'll make for the most exciting title race out of all the European leagues. F'sho! __________________ The 2001-02 Arsenal: Third League and Cup Double Most consecutive wins: 13 Most consecutive away wins: 8 (Premiership record) Unbeaten away record Arsene Wenger: Has the prettiest wife Scored in every match: 38 (Premiership record) Henry: Most goals: 24, most shots on target Bergkamp: Most God-like goal (vs. Newcastle...ask Dabizas!) Pires: PFA Player of the Year Most assists: 15 (Premiership record - and his season ended in March? Sick!) Ljungberg: Has Red hair Lee Dixon: Loyal Tony Adams: Legend.
According to the Fiver (thanx again Rick, for the recommendation!), Vieira's made a recovery of "biblical proportions" and has declared himself fit for Wednesday. This is great news, as it looks like Arsenal will have almost its full side back for this one, while ManUre could be missing Beckham, Keane, Giggs, and O'Shea.
No O'Shea or Veron. Keane and Giggs probably/most likely Becks? Pretty quiet regarding his status so far... Barthez - possible bruised or broken toe
Arsenal-3 Man Utd.-1 FSW and Spring Break is an awesome combination. I'll be watching. Up the Arse!!!
IMHO, the finishing has truly been lacking... we are squeaking out one nil wins, one all draws, or worse.. where has the finishing gone? also, i think the chances just werent there on sunday at old trafford.. sure they picked up once TH and DB came in.. but we need to create more chances.. nice to get a sloppy goal. THOSE ARE HUGE... im jealous of you lads who will be at this match come wednesday.. im takin off work to watch on the tele.. should be loads.. lets give that nutter fergie more worries, love to see him squirm.. cheers phishy
Have Arsenal been doing enough to win on Wednesday? Man Utd have been battering teams - Henry's not doing enough for me - Wenger's confidence/arrogance isn't looking good now - and they can't just rely on the brilliant Viera. Come on Arsenal give Man Utd a right hammering - convert the chances into goals at last! Martin
... The most titanic game of the season and impossible to predict. 3 possible scenarios: 1. AFC turn it on when it matters - a la Chelsea/Man U in FA Cup, and win 2-0. 2. Arsenal play as they have been recently, creating few chances but scraping a 1-1 3. Man U blow them away as they did NUFC as AFC submit meekly. I seriously do not know what to expect.
Re: ... I'm with you on this one - Man U just smoked Liverpool and NewCastle - total ease. I'm not too sure what to expect from Arsenal. I haven't seen Arsenal play its best football yet. Only a few games left and it's time to step up. I hope it's option 1 or 2 (man, 2 would make a cracking EPL race to the finish!) - Option 3? Might as well give the title back to Man U after the game - I can't see them losing (well Real Madrid being the exception but that's the CL)
While Man United did indeed give 'Pool and Newcastle a right whipping, I don't think they can do that to us. I'd have to check the books, but I don't think we've been crushed since ManU bitch-slapped us 6-1(2?) a couple years back. I just don't think you can do that to Arsenal anymore. You still can to 'Pool and Newcastle. That's not to say they can't beat us, but it will be close. My fear is that the players get so keyed up that it becomes a series of fights.
Like the recent FC cup match? That wasn't a professional football contest it was a weekend rec game between 22 men who dislike their opposite numbers immensely and wanted to let them know it.
I honestly think everyone is making too much out of the weekend's results. Yes ManUre took apart Newcastle, but that was little surpirse really, even though a lot of us were hoping they would take something off the Mancs. Newcastle simply has no bottle, Had none under Keegan, none under Dalglish, and has none under Sir Bobby Robson. As soon as it was 1-1 they remembered the media had doomed them and their own manager given up on them and proceeded to collapse. It was no surprise really. Only a disappointment. S***s show more fight against ManUre.THAT says it all. Meanwhile we're in an FA Cup Semi-Final against a Nationwide Team with nothing to lose and it all to gain, while we take the reasoned approach with an eye toward Wednesday that we can win without expending too much energy by snatching the goal we need then defending it(that simply would not work against ANY Premiership side now)and get through to the final and still be ready for Wednesday. Combine all of that with the fact that semi-finals are often more fiercely contested than finals(reaching the final is the success in itself)why is anyone surprised by that result, or worse trying to compare thes VERY different matches to predict Wednesday night? Just don't see how it matters. We are better than them. That's all. And that will carry us through. Watch Vieira. That's where it will all happen.
Actually, this would work to Arsenal's favor. Remember, the last two times Arsenal beat ManUre, the Devils tried to stomp, kick and punch their way to victory. That resulted in many cards and Man U being off of their game, allowing Arsenal to grab leads and keep David Seaman's sheet clean.
I agree. When ManUre come out and start hacking everything they see in an Arsenal shirt, and they get no response from them, they seem to come unglued. With the way he's turned it around over the past 2 years, I would fully expect to see Keane red carded long before Viera, for sure. Something about PV4 casually getting up from a mauling as if nothing has happened drives the Red Devils insane. I fully expect them to come out trying to incite Arsenal, to no avail.
I expect Ferguson to have the United players wound up to near breaking point. I agree with others here that this works in our favour. We can pick our strongest 11 with the exception of Pires, so I expect a home win. That should be enough for the first part of the double.
Actually, the matchup that usually draws the most fire, at least recently, is Ruud and Martin Keown. Remember the last game, when Ruud picked up a quick yellow and then should have picked up a second one for kicking Martin while he was down. He wasn't even close to a factor after that, so let's hope that everybody's favorite pesky central defender can get Ruud thinking more about throttling him than scoring.
Denver viewing I'm taking the day off of work for this bad boy. I'll be at Fado's if anyone wants to watch the slaughter with me.
Along those lines, who's gonna be at Nevada Smith's tommorrow? I think looking at this weekend is pointless. I'm just looking to tommorrow because that's all that's gonna matter. Sense we'll win 3-1 or 4-1. Just think that with Sol at the back along with Keown that won't get many if any real chances-think back to last May. When Keown was paired with Cygan in December and we were counting on Keown to hold it together that just wasn't gonna happen-he's not at THAT level anymore. But paired with Sol, who is, Keown can still be outstanding. So barring strange penalties or sendings-off, we should be easily best out there and after 90 minutes. Count on it...
Thank God I end class at 2:45 tomorrow instead of starting class at 3:00 like I do Tues. and Thurs. I'm excited, I'm nervous, I'm pumped, I don't know. This is either gonna make or break the rest of the season. Lets just hope it comes down to 3 huge points and a little bit more breathing room in the goal differential department. Oooh, and the Keown/Van Whineyface matchup always gets me going.
Things likely to be seen: R. Pires kissing at least one man before game A. Wenger saying result does not mean anything after game (win, lose or draw) A. Cole with crunching tackle on D. Beckham (assuming latter plays) Close up of P. Scholes using f*** as noun, verb, adjective and adverb R.Van Nistleroy flopping and diving, trying to draw penalty Things not likely to be seen: Ref awarding penalty to said flopper M. Keown and any ManU player having a post-game drink Arsenal loss Goal-less draw Prediction: 2-1 Arsenal, Wiltord (!) with 87th minute game-winner
Raise your hand if you're nervous. *looks around at the sea of hands* Glad to see that I'm not alone! I'm really, literally shaking. It's really hard to type. Vive le AFC! OPArsenal PS- jwald, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but in the last match, vanNostrilhair didn't kick Keown at all. He was going after the ball and made a poor choice to kick it. Keown's acting was Oscar-caliber, though, I must say. ________________ [size=0.75]or huss wouldn't let me as usual. there seems to be a little bit of misunderstanding between me and him. somehow he thinks i'm not a right person. i wonder why” – Premium Hamatachi, wondering why he can’t be a moderator. “Because you're an utter tit?” – Matt Clark’s eloquent, and utterly hilarious response.[/size]