Arsenal will be looking to beat Borrusia Dortmund after 3 successive losses and with the return of Robert Pires, we're looking to get an away win at Dortmund which is a very tough place to win. Can Wenger do it or can Sammer upset Arsenal? I predict a 2-1 win simply coz we need the win and we must fight like the team that we are.
I think we will draw. Dortmund are playing very well as of late , and we are struggling to score. How do people feel about Toure replacing Ljunberg? I know our Swedish star is still recovering but I am incredibly impressed with Kolo, he adds speed and strength not to mention his ability to blow past 3 defenders. Every time he steps onto the pitch he is instant offense. I say Wenger should give him a shot it is obvious the team needs some new chemistry to jump start the faultering form we have shown as of late. A midfield consisting of Toure Gilberto Vieira and Pires would be something to behold.
I'll assume that this is the prematch thread. Sammer says he never called Arsenal "arrogant": http://uk.sports.yahoo.com/021029/80/ddcs9.html
Hate to say it but if we cant finish at home than travelling to Germany is gong to be a nightmare. If the lads are tired than I cant see them getting up for this one. No Bergkamp, who I think is a very important and needed force in the team right now. 2-0 and we hardly pressure them at all. I hope Im wrong!.
I think you'll be able to grind out a draw tommorow. Arsenal may have lost 4 games in a row but they still have the one of the best squads in the world and players that are capable of turning entire matches in 1 move. Dortmund will be tough, but you should get something.
Whoa, whoa, whoa. What's this talk of FOUR losses in a row? It's been three and that's as far as it's going.
Starting line up...? Seaman Lauren Cygan Campbell Cole Freddie Vieria Gilberto Pires Kanu Henry Even with DB10 out, someone has to sit on the bench. My guess is Wiltord. On a positive note, I think RP7 will add the creative flair we'll be missing without Dennis. On the Kolo v. Freddie question, I still see Kolo as a super-sub. Freddie didn't have his best game last weekend but he'll sort himself out. If we need an added attack late in the game, I think Kolo comes on to replace Lauren.
This should be the team. I think it will be a draw, although I could see us playing on the counter and nicking it. Of course that depends on a good defensive performance, something we've been lacking in the last two games. If the other game is a draw, or PSV win, we are through whatever happens in our game tonight, so we should qualify over the next two games especially with the last one at home.
I don't know anything about Dortmund except didn't they snatch the league from Leverkusen last year at the death? I imagine this match will be one of attrition with Arsenal looking to snatch a goal on the counter-attack. As someone mentioned previously this match probably depends on us keeping a clean sheet something that I believe is doable considering the rest our Captain got over the weekend and a bested Sol Cambell looking for redemption after is lacking performance against Rovers. 1-1 draw or 0-1 to the Arse will do nicely, I don't wan't to have to suffer through a nail-biter this early in the campaign if it comes down to PSV at Highbury!
Dortmund have some good strength in the attack in the form of their Czech duo of Koller and Rosicky (sp?). Koller will give trouble to Cygan and Campbell due to his size and abilities on the ball. Sammer has built a quality side at Dortmund. Their success in the Bundesliga was based around solid performances throughout the season, not streaky play like with Leverkusen and Munich where they won several and lost several on the trot. In addition to the creativity in the middle with the Czechs, Dormund has some speed on the wing in the form of Ewerton (pronounced Everton) and Amoroso (IIRC), two Brazilians that are used as either forwards or wingers. I don't believe that Dortmund lost anyone in the off-season, unlike Leverkusen. In addition, remember last season where Arsenal took Leverkusen to school in the home game but then tanked in the away leg... I really don't want to see a repeat and hope the squad finally bounces back and rights the ship!
Hope I'm wrong, but I'm feeling a bad one today. This smells like an Arsenal European away match, circa 2000. I think we hit bottom with this game, then start to put it back together. 2-0 to Dortmund.
I have the same sinking feeling. But I'm going to swallow it and say we grind out a draw today. I think we need to focus on defending and play the counter-attack. I'd like to see Silva play right in front of Sol and Cygan and let the wings focus on getting forward. If we open up space at the back like we did against Blackburn, I'm going to shut off my computer and crawl under my desk.
I'd rather see Wiltord in the lineup and either Kanu or Freddie resting. I know he hasn't scored for us in awhile, but he's looking very likely to. Heard that Seaman supposedly pulled a reverse-Samson and cut 5 inches of his hair.
If Wiltord plays, I hope he comes in for Kanu. I'd like to see Freddie in. He bagged a goal last time against Dortmund, didn't he?
Steady on old boy! We were getting a very creditable away draw, then had Parlour sent off due to Basturk's diving and lost with the last kick. Hardly tanking?!? They'd better sort this out tonight. I'm in Australia for the last game and you can bet that will be a bloody nightmare to get to see the game.
Tanked may have been a bit harsh. They went to Bayer needing a win and given their performance in the home fixture, should have gotten it handily. Instead, the team contrived from all angles to miss putting it in the back of the net and then conceded a last minute equalizer. Sure there was a lot of diving from Basturk, which didn't help the cause, but Arsenal should have done better.
I was aat the game in Leverkusen and Arsenal certainly weren't "tanked". It was all "going our way" until the Parlour send off, and then they only equalised in the last minute. Having just watched the edited highlights of tonight's game, it appears the same again with German opposition. With Sammers, "stoking up the fire" with his reports prior to the game, about the "unpunished challenges" by Arsenal in the first leg, and him saying that he wanted "revenge" well he got it, and in the way he intended concerning "challenges" will Koller obviously receiving more orders to dive than a U Boat commander. He was instrumental in "winning" the free kick leading to the equaliser in what was no more than a 50-50 challenge with Wiltord that appeared to leave him rolling as if just hit by a depth charge, and then the "penalty" (that never was) camera angles clearly show him leaping over Seaman lilke an Olympic hurdler, and then getting "hit" by a second depth charge! Seaman never touched him nor had his arms outstretched to try to take either the ball or man. A little "criticism" being levelled (again) at Seaman for the free kick (comparing it with the "Zola" one at Chelsea), but in my opinion it was not his fault and was definately deflected even further away form him by a deft touch from Gilberto. A good free kick (for once) from Henry from 25 yards over the wall, but on occasions he did not look decisive and instead of "head down, goalward bound", he appeared nevously looking to pass when it wasn't on. "Tiredness"?! Again, not an outstanding peformance, and the woodwork held good on two occasions for our benefit, but "2 - 1" again. (Who's gonna bet against that for Fulham!!??). Without doubt it will turn around. The question is; ..."When"?