Tomorrow's the big day. With the return of Pires, what midfielder will be going to the subs bench? You know I'm going to stick with including Edu in the starting 11, but might "Le Boss" run Gilberto out there, considering Edu's recent form? Line-up (Merely a guess) Lehman Lauren, Toure, Campbell, Cole Ljungberg, Viera, Edu, Pires Bergkamp, Henry On another note: did anyone notice that during the FA Cup match w/ Portsmouth that Viera was the one pressing forward, leaving Edu back defensively? Almost every time it was Viera charging forward, and Edu's assist to Freddie was set up through PV4. Might Wenger be turning Viera loose? As for a prediction, I leave that up to Catfish. Catfish, the score will be???
Can someone please, be my hero and post an audio link for this match... being away at college definately has its downfalls.
I notice there's a lot less attacking down Arsenal's right side with Gilberto playing over there. He isn't as much of a threat going forward as Arsenal's other options, but he's definitely a better and more committed defender than the alternatives. I like Edu, but he's good for a good hack-down each game when he has to defend in the middle of the field. He's not as quick as Vieira, or Gilberto, too. Out wide, Edu is fine, even when he roams all over, a la Pires. I always wait for it, and when Edu bundles over a player or takes him down, I hope that player is going backwards instead of in full flow. Seems to be the difference between a yellow for Edu and simply a foul. That sounds like I'm knocking Edu... Does Lauren get forward more when Gilberto is on his side of the field, or does he play about the same?
After the disappointments of previous seasons I fully expect us to screw it up and go out. I see getting to the quarter-finals and beyond as a bonus now.
*Breathes in a huge breath of fresh air** ahhhhhhhh it is a good day today boys.... Massive match for the quarter-finals today vs Celta vigo AND that gift from porto... so we have to give up 3 goals to go out?? who sees that happening? are we going to at least nick one?? surely... im not concerned about this one~ dont look to the past michaec.. look to the future mate~ 3-1 (imo) to the arsenal~ massive counter attacks as Celta Vigo have to go for it... phishy~
I'm not sure about that. If they win 0-2 the aggregate would be 4-3 in their favour. That being said, if they come into our house and beat us 0-2, especially the way we are playing right now, well hats off to them.
Ways to go out: any scoreline with Celta winning by two clear goals or a 4-3 Celta scoreline. 3-2 Celta leads to extra time. That said, there's no way that's going to happen today. You know that Celta will be pushing forward all day to score, and as such, will be particularly vulnerable to counter-attack. I say 2-1 Arsenal with goals by Henry and Pires.
Team: Lehmann Lauren Toure Campbell Cole Ljungberg Vieira Edu Pires Bergkamp Henry Looks like Edu has forced himself ahead of Gilberto as first-choice.
Speaking of officiating, is anyone in danger of a one-match European suspension if a yellow is picked up today?
Edu for us, 6 guys for them. Answers to that question and many more here: http://www.uefa.com/uefa/MediaServices/presskit/UCL/index.html Download the Presskit PDF file.
Henry!!!!!!!!! on 13 minutes 1-0 to aresenal 14' ( 1 - 0 ) Henry (Arsenal) scores! A great finish from the French striker, low and right-footed, but the goal was all about Bergkamp's excellent pass with the outside of his boot. 12' José Ignacio (Celta) commits a foul after challenging Lehmann (Arsenal). 12' Gustavo López (Celta) takes the corner. No problem for Arsenal defence there. They seem to have shaken off the problems at set-pieces which caused them problems in the first leg. 11' Henry (Arsenal) delivers the corner. Bergkamp crosses right footed but it is cleared and Celta counterattack. 10' Edu (Arsenal) takes the corner. Edu takes, but Cáceres is there at the far post to head behind. 10' Fredrik Ljungberg gets away down the right after a good pass from Lauren. The Swede crosses but Sergio Fernández cuts it out. 9' Vieira (Arsenal) fouls. A poor challenge from the Arsenal captain, who immediately apologies. 9' Oubiña (Celta) gives away a free-kick following a challenge on Vieira (Arsenal). 8' Mostovoi (Celta) delivers the corner. Mostovoi's cross is eventuall cleared to Peter Luccin. He shoots powerfully and left-footed, but Campbell was quick to close him down. 7' Mostovoi (Celta) takes the corner. 7' Aleksandr Mostovoi makes space for himself on the right and finds Pinilla. The Chilean tries to turn but cannot quite get the better of Kolo Touré. 5' Lehmann (Arsenal) makes a save. 5' Luccin (Celta) has an effort on goal. The Frenchman scurries past Pires and shoots from outside the box. His effort is going wide but deflects of Sol Campbell and straight to Jens Lehmann. 5' Vieira (Arsenal) commits a foul after challenging Gustavo López (Celta). 4' Arsenal have started patiently, retaining possession; they know that the attacking onus is on the visitors. 2' Oubiña (Celta) fouls. Lauren takes it from wide on the right, Thierry Henry flicks a header on, but Juan Velasco gets in to head back to his goalkeeper. 2' Pinilla (Celta) gives away a free
If you go to uefa.com, you can click on live audio. As long as you don't click on the specific game, you will get a "studio" commentary by, well, people in a studio watching the games. They describe Henry's goal as pure class.
From Soccernet.com Henry was sent clear courtesy of the skill of Dennis Bergkamp. He created the goal superbly and when he put Henry in, the French master was never going to miss and beat Cavallero with ease. 1-0 Arsenal
17' Edu (Arsenal) gives away a free-kick following a challenge on Oubiña (Celta). 17' José Ignacio (Celta) misses the target. 17' Lehmann (Arsenal) makes a save. 16' Luccin (Celta) has an effort on goal. A good strike by the Celta midfield player, which Lehmann is forced to tip over the bar. 16' The game becomes a tricky proposition for Celta now, they need to score three times. 15' That is Henry's first goal at Highbury in ten UEFA Champions League games.