Saturday, January 17th, 2009 Kickoff: 12:30pm ET, 5:30pm GMT. TV: FSC LIVE @ 12:00pm ET Two match threads, two wins... This weekend it's time for some revenge. We visit Hull City for the return of what was an embarrassing early season defeat at the Grove. Let's keep pressing on and see if we can gain a couple of points on the teams above us again this weekend. Come on Arsenal!
they can be totally exposed, and we should expose them. lets just not start off with the formation we have been using. having zero creativity in the middle (denilson/diaby) has left us passing sideways. we damn near have to go 4-3-3. -adebayor-van persie ------nasri--------- ---vela-denilson-diaby clichy-djourou-toure-sagna -----almunia------------ that is what i'd do with who is available.
I agree that the majority of our passing against Bolton was done lateraly. There was no penetrating passes through the middle until Nasri was moved there. His first involvment was pinging one into Ade for a guilt edged chance on goal. He is a better Cesc than Denilson in this regard and could be what we need to un-lock Hull's defence. Id love to see Nasri getting the nod to play centraly but for some reason I cant see us starting in anything but 4-4-2 with Nasri and Eboue starting in the wide positions again. After Hull's impressive attacking play in the first half of the season they seem to have lost their nerve and are now playing more defencivly. Its a tricky game but confidence seems to be rising slightly in the squad and I think Van Persie is becoming a leader. A hard fought 2-0 to Arsenal.
Where is Alex Song? is he injured? Here is my formation id like to see. Almunia Sagna-Toure(C)-djorou-clichy --------------Song --------Denilson---Nasri ---Bendtner-------------Vela --------------RVP
I agree, I thought the midfield last week were pulling a Hleb, too slow in their counter attacks. They need to touch the ball only once and move it forward, not side way passing which allows the opposing team to regroup. Theo Walcott would be perfect for these games. I think Ade is playing crap and we should play 4-5-1 formation by adding Vela to the wings.
Being a bit harsh on Denilson who was playing with Diaby & Diaby sometims has no positional sence. Denilson alot of the time was picking up the ball just infront of the centre backs and when you do that you cant risk penetrating passes. Diaby was supposed to be responsible for that but his movement and passing is so erratic.
This match should be all about payback! If the lads can't get up for this one, they might as well return their pay packets. My Prediction: 2-nil to The Arsenal!
I don't expect to see the same attacking style from Hull this time. Considering they have been losing consistently for some time, I think they won't risk losing the game. 2-1 to le arse, with RVP continuing his dominance. As an aside, I was thinking about how much fun it was to watch Hull earlier this season, when they were firing on all cylinders. Considering Arsenal have played very little of their beautiful, one-touch, attacking football this season, I took a lot of joy seeing a team fighting way above their weight, and succeeding at it- I can't think of another team I've seen this year (in any league I watch) do that as well as Hull did earlier this year. That said, I hope they are in for a thrashing this weekend.
You cant use this excuse for our last game v Bolton. They basicly played 4-5-1 for the entire game. Denilson was in the final third enough times that day to try and thread in a few slicing passes to the feet of Ade or RVP. Besides its no slight on Denilson what I said, I like him but he isnt as good as Nasri in the Cesc position. That being said I would leave Denilson in the middle and shove Diaby out.
i'd give diaby another 45 minutes in the middle with denilson. but if he plays like he did against bolton, i'd move nasri to the middle and bring on vela at halftime. 1-nil to the arsenal. is there any update on song? i remember he came off injured, and was suspended for that following game, but haven't heard anything since.
No way. Ramsey is still far too error prone, weak in the tackle, weak defencive positioning and isnt strong enough to start in the PL. He could do it if he was the only choice but to put him in front of Denilson would be absolute madness. Very bad idea.
Here is what Arsene had to say about Nasri moving into CM against Bolton; "He gave us a little bit more creativity in the centre, especially in a tight game like that," said the manager. "Of course, he [Nasri] is a link player and can also pass people. "From then on it became a little bit more difficult for Bolton. It was my idea - sometimes accidentally I have them." Another gem from Arsene.
No kidding. Not a great midfield lineup but not too much else to choose from right now. It's time for some payback though! Come on you Gunners!!!!
i would go 4-3-3 and change the personnel. we were so much more effective with nasri playing a centre attack mid. almost turned into a different team, in terms of chances created. we don't necessarily, HAVE, to start a team that doesnt work.
Yeah, the 4-3-1-2 where Nasri floats behind the strikers is a good option, but I think that it will start with the previous lineup then move to what you suggest about 60 minutes in. It's what AW has been doing and I think he'll stick with it as it is a bit more defensive. Not a great plan, but there you go.
i'm hoping he saw the error of his ways. lets get it goin from the start, put pressure on hull, come at us.. they shouldnt be able to play us with THAT team. what happened at ashburton grove needs to be erased..
Yep. I was hoping to see Vela on the left to start against Bolton with Nasri in the middle. I would love to see the attack first and get the goals early. That keeps the other team from bunkering down and flooding the 18 yeard box. AW seems to want to be conservative lately. Sux.