Charlton are sitting in 6th currently and we'll be missing Cole, Lauren and Vieira for this game. Could end up being a tough one and it's one I think we need to win because if Manure is going to have a game in hand on us, I'd rather have an 8 point lead than a 5 or 6 point lead.
With Vieira out Id like to see Pires in the center with Gilberto. Play Wiltord on one wing and Parlour on the other. GVB in for Cole and I would have to assume Oleg on the RB. Oleg was injured a couple of weeks back so I wonder if he is available? This will be tough one especially with the transforming squad. At Highbury, though, so that should tip the scale further to the Gunners. Does anyone know how Wenger rests the team? They leave Amsterdam immediately or stay the night? Practice everyday until Sunday or do the get a day off?
My guess is that the line up will be: ----Seaman---- Luzhny--Keown--Campbell--van Bronckhorst Wiltord--Gilberto--Edu--Pires ----Henry--Bergkamp---- Subs: Toure Parlour Jeffers Cygan Kanu Taylor Of course I could see Toure playing instead of Luzhny; Cygan over Keown; Parlour over Wiltord with Sylvain taking Bergkamp's spot; or Jeffers over Bergkamp or Henry.
Sunday's Lineup I tend to think it will look something like this: ----Seaman---- Toure--Keown--Campbell--Gio Wiltord--Gilberto--Edu--Pires Henry--Bergkamp Subs: Taylor Ljungberg (He says he's back, and I'd love for him to be right!) Parlour Jeffers Luzhny(From what I understand, he's not totally fit) Cygan(Could he start in place of Toure or Luzhny? Can he even play there?)
The team always fly home into London (Luton) Airport directly after the game and then have the next day off. They will go into training Friday as normal, and probably a "light" training session on Saturday. Ljunberg is set to play on Sunday if only for 20 minutes as a sub., unless any re-occurance of the injury takes place during a training session.
God, I hope pre-match training goes well. I miss Freddie, and think that his being back on the squad would give Arsenal their killer finishing insticts back. I find it weird that the Pay-per-View game on Sunday will actually be on tape delay. I'll just have to remember not to instinctively visit bigsoccer first thing in the morning before I leave to watch the game.
Re: Sunday's Lineup I was told that Luzhny isn't fit, so I'd imagine that this is the team we'll see. I reckon this will be a really tough game, the midfield especially will have to play well against some hard-working Charlton midfielders. But if we can get a some sort of control of the centre of the park, we should have too much for them up front.
Couldn't have said it better myself. I've got a bad feeling about this game. It's not that I don't have faith, it's just that I remember last year's match and I know they've had a great run recently (6-1-3 last 10). They're offense is only averaging a bit above 1gpg, but I hope Seaman's ready and that he's taking them seriously. I almost wouldn't mind seeing Taylor play another game based on what I read about his performance last week.
Seeing Taylor play would be really nice and I can't wait for Freddie to get back. He's so creative and his instincts can't be replaced. He's got a good head for the game. Vive le AFC! OPArsenal
A "workmanlike" rather than a "classic" performance today, although 3 points gained was the main concern. A 2 - 0 scoreline, (echoed at the Millenium Stadium in favour of Liverpool, and hopefully another trophyless season for Man. Ure), helped increase the goal average, and a clean sheet to boot, and with the return of "Freddie", it was not a bad day! Met up with Frank Garrison from Mississippi and Bob Hobbs from Toronto, plus Katies, "California Girls" over from Santa Cruz, it was all fun in the sun at Highbury! Freddie, as expected was not at "full throttle" but I'm sure his run out did him some good until replaced by SW11. Charlton were a little "stubborn" but not really threatening to worry us at all. Jeffers, finally looked like the "fox in the box" which his goal, and just needs to build and improve on his recent performances. All looks good at present, and with next week being busy on the two other fronts, things, as they say, "look rosy in the garden"!! Jeff.
Re: ... Right again! This man should start a psychic advice hotline. ALSO: I arrived at the bar to watch this match on PPV. I had completely forgotten about the Pool-Manu cup final. Place was jammed END TO END with Pool and Scum fans. My pals and I arrived at the final five minutes, and watched the end from outside. It was great fun to see the stream of dejected ManU fans exit the place (that's when I unzipped my coat, showing my Arsenal jersey). As we entered, the scousers were in an uproar-- a fellow saw me, and his face lit up. "Gooners!" he said. "Come on in, lads, and watch them raise the cup!" That was nice, and watching the Arsenal match (which started, tape-delayed, at 10am rather than 11am, which overlapped with the freaking cup match-- WTF?!) was even nicer. Great to see Freddie back in form, I loved that little flick off the post he did to feed the ball to Pires. A few more games, and he'll be as dangerous as ever. Charlton had a lot of hustle, but they just didn't have the skills to set up any really threatening shots.