Let the Battle of Britain Begin
Let's Get It On!!!
Well, here it is some mere 72 hours since the likes of Denilson, Vermaelen, Gallas, Fabregas and Eduardo thourougly wiped the Goodison park pitch with the likes of the David Moyes Toffees. The onslaught that was hoped for but not expected has caused some of the prognosticators to rethink where Arsenal may wind up in the EPL standings. But let’s face it lads, that is all old news.
Tuesday 18 August 2009, sees Arsene Wenger’s boys start the long and arduous journey for UEFA Champion’s League Glory. Win both legs and move on. Lose and it’s EUROPA Cup for us. Pretty simple. The opponent for this match is no pushover. 42 time SPL winner Celtic are bouyed after one of their first away wins in Europe against Dynamo Kiev.
The Hoops are also coming off a very comfortable 3-1 win over SPL rivals Aberdeen. The now move onto the daunting task of carrying that success over to this week’s match against our Arsenal. And while they are likley to be regarded as underdogs for both legs, its no doubt that Mowbray’s boys can give us fits if the play us right.
The squad has firepower and a little European history behind them beating both Man U and Milan at Celtic park in recent memory. Their wingers are as skillful as any in the EPL and Arsene believes that this Celtic squad are good enough to compete at the upper level of the EPL. Additionally, the first leg is at Celtic Park where the Hoops have proved to be very hard to beat. Throw in what is sure to be an electric atmosphere and the work for Arsenal is sure to be hard.
But this is nothing new to Arsenal. Last season saw the Gunner play in the pit that is Roma. Everyone knows the inherent problems playing in Rome but the crowds in Italy are in my opinion more riotous than any EPL or SPL club and if Arsenal can go in there and win on Penalties than I do not think the 60,000 screaming Scots are going to matter much to our lads.
Additionally, there is talk that the Gunners may overlook this Celtic squad. Whilst Arsenal in recent years have shown a propensity for ligthening up against lesser EPL squads, their ability to be cream of the European class is uncanny. Arsene has built his squads recently to play in Europe being the only silverware he has not collected.
However Arsenal are after to a cracking start after crushing Everton. Surely, Celtic fans were jubilant after their easy win only to be less so after hearing of their next opponents win down south of Hadrean’s wall.
This is not going to be a match like Arsenal are used to when facing the likes of Twente. Celtic do pose a real threat and as Almnunia has said it will be real disappointment should Arsenal fail to go through.
Celtic should be without Glenn Loovens and Stephen MacManus, while Shaun Maloney and defender Garry Caldwell return fit. Their expected starting XI are: Boruc, Hinkel, Caldwell, Loovens, O’Dea, N’Guemo, Donati, McGeady, McDonald, Fortune, Maloney.
For Arsenal, the usual suspects are still out, Rosicky, Nasri, and Walcott. Diaby is back and should feature. There is some back and forth as to whether or not Fabregas is fit to play with one press outlet reporting he is 50-50 for the match. Should he play the starting XI likely are: Almunia, Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Clichy, Song, Fabregas, Denilson, Arshavin, Bendtner, Van Persie.
Who to Watch:
Celtic: Aiden McCready – bagged a brace this past weekend.
Arsenal: Andrei Arshavin – he was cup tied last season. This year no such luck for his opponents. Look for him to feature well on Europe’s biggest stage.
Prediction: Weather the first 10 -15 minutes. Play the game like this past weekend and control the ball and we should be in for a 2-1 win. However, I do think that this game will be a bit of struggle and I think it will be a 1-1 tie going into next week’s match at the Emirates where Arsenal will run rampant over the Hoops.
The game is being broadcast at 5:00PM EST on FSC. Kickoff is set for 1945 BST.
45 comments
Leave a reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
I hope AW won’t change the lineup too much – stability is the key to consistency. Just ask Alex Ferguson (who changed his entire midfield against Burnley).
Having said that, i agree a few players may need a rest.
van Persie needs a rest. Not sure Eduardo will start as he had picked up a knock prior to the match Vs Celtic. Song may be rested, as you don’t really need a DM against a side like Pompey at home. And he can use some rest.
So I believe it’s Bendtner up front to lead the line. While Diaby comes in for Song.
For Saturday’s match vs. Portsmouth, I’d like to see some of our key players rested b4
next week’s two tough matches: Celtic & ManU.
Almunia
Eboue – Gallas – Vermaelen – Gibbs
Song
Ramsey
Wilshere Diaby Vela
Eduardo
I would love to see Eduardo start against Portsmouth in place of RvP.
agree…
don’t you feel Wenger is still restricting his playing time?
To reiterate as Kiwi mentioned, it is refreshing to see the smiles & sincere shared joy by our players.
IMO – for our 1st two matches this season vs. 1st two last year: there is a measurable difference in a) confidence & proficiency at the back 4 b) this is subtly aiding Almunia’s game c) Song is dominating as the holding midfielder (even more so than Flamini) c) Arshavin has effectively replaced Hleb’s skills d) the passing flow from ’07/’08 is showing signs of resurfacing e) our attacks aren’t constantly being terminated by Mr. Offsides.
For the match against Celtic – our bench was pretty THIN.
It is first week of season and Rosicky, Theo, Djourou, Eduardo, Nasri, Fabianski, & Vela (?); not available.
11 days left in the transfer window: we need to purchase a back up for Song & an experienced CB; maybe another attacking midfielder! Add these 3 and I think we can take all the marbles this year!
Saw the Celtic game again. Sometimes football has a delicious irony. The Celtic captain and CB was particularly aggressive/cynical in the first half. Continually hacking down Arsenal players as an example for the rest of the Celtic team.
He seemed to get away with it, at least card-wise, yet on 43mins the chump cut down Fabregas for the umptenth time, a free kick resulted, Fabregas took it, Gallas deflected it, 1-0 to the Arsenal. The ‘randomness’ of the deflection made it all the more delicious.
Second half, Caldwell wasn’t as noticeable for his fouls, yet his team continued in that manner unabated, and he could be seen constantly in the ref’s ear, obviously trying to influence decisions and suggesting that Arsenal players were over-reacting. But justice was nigh, Clichy’s cross was too good and the captain himself converted!! Superb.
Song was immense. If that performance had been made by a ‘name player’, the world would be eulogising.
Eduardo’s absence at Celtic explained:
“Eduardo had a tight groin in the warm-up and he felt he could not play,” said Wenger on Arsenal TV Online. “He had no power and we had to change [the teamsheet] quickly.”
Wonder if he would have been on the bench or on the field?
Eduardo is fit for Saturday:
http://bit.ly/TyKpb
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/arsenal-appoints-three-new-senior-executives
By the looks of these hires, it seems as if Arsenal is going to try to make a greater effort to increase their brand internationally. From what I have read, the other members of the big 4 greatly eclipse us in this area. It is unfortunate because we had such internationally recognized players a few years ago, which would have made it easier. But perhaps most of the effort during that time was spent on the new stadium. I wonder if this could be one of the first steps in some “preseason touring”? I know AW is vehemently against it. But it is clearly the way of the world these days and we will have to embrace it sooner or later.
How about some post-season touring in years there are no World Cups?
Okay I am thinking it is a little too soon to give Bendtner this:
http://bit.ly/18VWFf
It was too early for Denilson, Diaby, Walcott, Fabianski and Ramsey as well. But that is Wenger’s way.
Not really. U don’t want the Flamini-saga to happen again.
Just like Flamini a couple years ago, you never know when those kids would all a sudden rise to the scene and become a prime target for the “bigger fishes” out there comes the end of the season.
History tells us clubs just LOVE to buy players from Arsenal.
Besides, AC Milan had expressed interest in Bendtner the past summer.
While Theo’s contract is enterting his last year’s contract this season. So it’s by no mean EARLY to offer him a new deal.
mazza…
did u miss hleb’s goal in midweek.
it was simply awesome.
a glimpse of the things that he could do and rarely managed to do.
really love the guy for his football, but hate him for leaving arsenal, hate him for having ice cream in milan, and hate him for purposefully taking a red card so that he could rest the last 4 matches of his final season @ arsenal.
miss watching him play.
wish he had the same brains off the field.
Yep, Soccerfreak, I do and it was a class goal. It’s all his fault though, the idiot.
Would have been a great foil for Arshavin. Arshavin does nothing apart from score it seems or make a decisive play, whereas Hleb does all the stuff leading up to the crescendo.
As with Kiwi, I was never under any illusions with Arshavin. I said the moment he joined he would be a player that would skirt around the edges of games. In his own way he’s almost a player that needs to be indulged as much as Hleb.
I agree, I too wonder whether we will see an addition before the close of the window. Arsene may well try and seal a last-minute signing perhaps a striker or a more versatile wide player.
Even the all-patient Arsene will likely be unsettled by the ‘new’ injuries to Eduardo, Rosicky and Walcott….not to mention Nasri. I mean, yikes, that’s 4 attacking players, all with 1st team aspirations.
So I wouldn’t be surprised to see someone come in. I see us linked to a Hungarian winger with PSV. We have also been linked with the Real Madrid crop of Dutchies.
With 4-3-3 we only really need 1 striker, and that role could be played by Eduardo, Bendtner or Walcott – as well as the encumbent RvP. I could see a wide-boy come in. With us adopting the 4-3-3 formation, we are less reliant on traditional strikers, and can mix and match attacking players. Even a guy like Nasri (a winger?) may end up challenging for Denilson’s midfield role rather than an attacking role.
Kiwi –
Good thinking there. I too agree think that something has changed in the locker room. The only thing I can thibk of is the removal of the African Nations clique. I still expect Eboue to go before the trade deadline.
With regard to Bendtner I still think that a deal for a more seasoned striker is going to come at the closing of the window. Though couriously the lads at World Soccer Daily think RvP is going to develop into the striker role that Ade never was able to.
I also tend to agree with you on Arshavin – yes he is going to be magical when he score but I think it has more to do with his knowledge on the ball rather than pure scoring finesse. Watch him get the ball, track down the ball, make space when he has the ball – he is amazing.
“This formation isn’t entirely new. We played it for the last three months of last season.”
That’s true Maz, altho with the departure of Adebayor the attack will re-shape.
There is also an intangible dynamic, that when a side gels and is free from abrasion everything just goes a little bit better. And the cumulative impact of the little bits can be significant.
I was impressed at the size of the smiles on the players faces. I know that sounds trite, but they seemed to be genuinely happy out there. I can only assume that the removal of Adebayor & Toure has changed the internal dynamics. That, together with a good start and perhaps a better base (Gallas/Verm + Song) have allowed the good-times to return.
Another point I would make relates to RvP. Last year I vividly recall he took an age to find his scoring boots and wasted a host of chances. Perhaps that’s just him, he might take a while to get going.
With Arshavin, I’ve always been a little circumspect when others have painted him as a complete attacking player – goalscorer and all. I think a look at his record and a bit of digging shows that goal-wise he is more akin to the 3rd goal-scoring role, not the 1st or 2nd (strikers).
That leaves Bendtner, the least experienced, and he isn’t even playing centrally. So the lack of goals up front isn’t a surprise to me. Hopefully they will start coming, or maybe Arsene will need to tinker to get the mix right. I wouldn’t b surprised to see Eduardo getting game-time when he’s fit.
“was impressed at the size of the smiles on the players faces. I know that sounds trite, but they seemed to be genuinely happy out there. I can only assume that the removal of Adebayor & Toure has changed the internal dynamics”
That’s probably the most encouraging thing about this early season, apart from the Gallas and Vermaelen partnership.
I expected it as well, always felt that Ade was a bad influence, if not as a trouble maker, then at least as someone whose complacent and ‘shrug the shoulders’ outlook might take the edge off the focused, efficient, team dynamic that Wenger is trying to cultivate.
Toure is different. A solid professional, but it seems his light had dimmed towards the end.
Spirit wise and ethic wise, we look in sync with each other. Hopefully that leads to greater cohesion in our play. The sooner the better as well ; teams like United and Chelsea can afford to fiddle around at the start, but our lack of success recently hasn’t afforded us that luxury.
Well done Burnley!
Here’s the other thing i noticed – this was a physical match. We got dragged down, hit with hard tackles and still we did not wilt.
Again not tryin to read too much into 2 matches but frankly those types of things we did not adjust to well last season.
Yeah, it seemed like for large portions of the game, Celtic’s only tactics were to kick Fabregas and RVP as much as possible.
Absolutely delighted with the result. I don’t think we played particularly well. Don’t remember any clear shots other than the goal, which were a tad fortuitous, but I’ll take it any day. :)
I thought RvP stunk today. He and Arshavin were just not on the same wavelength. I was surprised when Arsh was substituted. I was assuming Eduardo would some on for RvP. But I guess it was all about making the game safe.
Just realized that Eduardo was not on the bench.
Vela continues to be a mystery.
Re Song. At least we have reduced our bi-annual exposure to the ACoN. I doubt we’ll buy African again soon unless a truly exceptional talent came along. With the ACoN intruding mid-season every other year and the attitude issues manifested by Adebayor and Eboue Arsene is likely to turn his talent spotting gaze elsewhere. Arsene values a highly professional attitude, a sense of intelligent refinement, and a peaceful squad….qualities not exactly oozing out of Ade & Eboue…..although Toure met the standard.
typo: I meant 1-2 forward players should not be tired out in the first month.
I would have been happy with a 2-1 or 1-0 win, so delighted with the score line. Although, up front is where things look a bit off but that may have to do with the formation and it being early in the season. And like Mazza said above, where is Vela? He should be recovered from his international game this week and I really want to see him get a run out especially since there are lots of games in quick succession, so 1-2 forward players should be tired out in the first month itself.
oh, if Cameroon qualify for the African Cup of Nations, then Song will be missed in that month. But that worry comes later. One game at a time…
Also, Hleb scored a super goal today. His goal was similar to the ones he used to score in Germany previously before he came to Arsenal.
An excellent result.
Our game needed to evolve, the balance wasn’t right between possession and purpose. We lacked potency. There are signs that the potency is emerging. We also needed to improve our defensive shape. Song in front of Gallas/Verm seems to provide a better platform, ala, Petit/Vieira shielding an aging Adams/Bould/Keown.
Obviously it is absurd to be definitive after 2 games, yet the signs are promising, and a good start was always a likely pre-reguisite for a happier season.
Wenger is tinkering, tweaking, he has the squad he wants, and is looking for the ‘right’ mix. If Eduardo and Rosicky can come good and be fit that will be an enormous boost. They are both solution players NOW. And we will soon have games where we need these types of players with the nous to unlock and finish sides off. If Arsene can draw upon Arshavin, RvP, Eduardo, Rosicky….the season may be extremely interesting. If injury robs us of these players the likelihood of success reduces greatly.
I’m chilled with the rustiness of the attack, its early days and these guys are learning to work together. If the threesome doesn’t work, it might just be a case of swapping positions or 1 player for another.
Keep it up guys, the more we score the better.
good observation.
One thing u pointed out in an early post of you – that the match vs Everton, Everton were quite competitive until conceded the first goal.
Couldn’t agree more. And I m surpised to read the general opinion (from both Arsenal and everton) fans were Everton played like crap.
They weren’t. In fact, we struggled to control the game in the first 25 minutes. Any side which conceded a few goal in succession are bounded to look bad.
The truth though is – our front 3 hadn’t developed a good understanding yet. When u change to a new formation, this soft of things take time.
The positive side of thing though is – it’s very much at the start of the season, normally, teams are supposed to be rusty.
Before the season started, I would have been happy with 2 draws after 2 matches. cos Everton and Celtic at home was by no mean a walk in the park.
so it’s indeed an excellent result with 2 wins out of 2.
Important thing is to get the result. Performance will come when players start to get into full flow as the season progress.
This formation isn’t entirely new. We played it for the last three months of last season.
Two wins on the spin. Let the moaning begin.
This was a well-contested affair, but in the end, a none-too-searching examination of our new formation. Which is fine by me.
I do like the less flowery style we now have. Less pretty-pretty. More hard-working. A lot more harrying further up the field, so we win the ball back fairly quickly. We don’t dawdle on the ball so much. We have more sense of purpose about us. It’s more simple, but demonstrably more effective.
They got in behind us a couple of times, but each time a CB dealt with the cross. I assumed we’d let in a goal, just because we usually did the past few years. Jittery defence at corners etc. But our back four is getting that reassuringly settled look. The CBs already seem to be on the same wavelength.
Unlike our attack. (Some mistake surely?) Denilson is back to his journeyman ways without the compensating Parlour-esque bulldog spirit. But Song impresses me more and more – riding tackles, snuffing out attacks, making it safe for Cesc to push up and spin his spiderweb threads.
Neither Van P or Bendtner are superquick, which is maybe the missing ingredient up front with this current line-up. Where is the lightning burst of pace to undo a hardworking defence? In this case, it came from Clichy.
The more secure our defence is with Song just in front, the more our fullbacks can push up — hence Clichy’s cross creating the second goal.
Saturday, at home, against a team just ripe for being ripped apart is going to be fun.
Still not happy with the quality of our movement and passing but Vermaelen looks absolutely brilliant.
Though Denilson was pants again, as was RVP and Bendtner. Where is Vela?! He’s already miles better than RVP. For a lone striker, it’s important to actually be able to run.
hard to believe this is coming from you.
Vela miles better than RvP?
I have no doubt whatsoever of Vela’s talent and potential. But he’s not there yet to be a starter.
It’s entirely a different story seeing a young player who rise to occassion and shines every now and then in some odd games, to play him week in week out regularly as a starter soon people would be moaning about his weaknesses.
This game Vs Celtic was so crucial financially wise for the club, you can’t seriously expect Wenger to take the chance playing Vela instead of van Persie in match with so much at stake can you?
I’ve got Deja Vu Andez. I’m pretty sure I’ve said this quite a few times now and you’ve replied the same way.
Yes, for the fourth time, I rate Vela higher than RVP as a better fit for this team ;)
Yes I realized that after I posted it! :)
The points u and I made at times can be similiar, only difference is the different player(s) we regard to.
But anyway I believe you know the points I was trying to make.
Personally I like Vela much more than van Persie. After his debut I wrote that he’s probably the BEST young talent we have since Fabregas.
But I dont believe he’s ready to lead the line yet. If he’s going to play, I believe he’s more suited to the deep dropping role like Arshavin.
I’ll take 2-0 away to Celtic any way we can get it. Vermaelen, Gallas, Song and Fabregas all played very well in a tough environment.
Van Persie, Bendtner and Arshavin all looked very out of sync. In particular, Arshavin and Van Persie. There were a lot of loose passes. The movement is there but it seems the understanding is not yet there. I am not too worried. It is going to take some time to get them all on the same page in the new formation. But certainly all three of those guys have looked off in the first two games.
Also, Sagna and Clichy did admirably. Clichy seemed to slip a few times, which is worrisome. But he defended pretty well on McGeady, got forward, and delivered a great cross on the own goal. Sagna was his usual, solid self.
Denilson still seems to me to be nothing more than a squad player. He worked hard today, especially tracking back a few times. But so many poor passes.
Overall though, can’t ask for anything more. Hopefully this will allow for a comfortable second leg before the trip to Man U.
That was a great match (for Gooners as well as neutrals- very wide open, fast-paced, end-to-end, etc.) Arsenal got a splash of luck on both goals, but they definitely earned the win tonight. Let’s hope we can rest a few players for the return match.
Well there you have it. 2 very important away goals. One pure luck and one based solely on Arsenal’s pressure.
Vermaelen looks like the real deal and was my MOTM. Arshavin again without a goal but he is something to watch – even without the ball.
ONe thing I am seeing that I haven’t seen in the previous two seasons – Arsenal are closing down on the ball as the opponents move up. Especially here in the 2nd half the boys did a very good job of snuffing out any chance the Hoops had. Gallas had a wonderful block that forced me out of my chair because it looked like he could’ve scored an OG.
Well two goals up means Celtic have to score 3 at the Emirates. I don’t fancy their chances.
Footy in honest and for true HD! Now this is truly the beautiful game. (It is going to be even harder to watch the shitty FSC and/or Setanta picture after this.)
Which channel is that? FSC on big screen really looks shitty.
It was one of Fox Regionals (New England, I think, but it was available on around ten others, at least). The first truly, totally HD footy I’ve seen. FSC and Setanta really need to get on it.
Same squad from Saturday. I like it, but is Wenger pulling the same thing he did two years ago, when if the team wins, it stays the same, sacrificing potential fitness?
I’d expect to see a number of changes against a championship-level Pompey at the weekend.
This is going to be very exciting, eh?
Sounds like Denilson and Sagna might be missing too. If so I would assume we will see Diaby and Eboue.
After the excellent start at Everton it’s nice to have another big game quickly.
Another first/quick strike would be welcomed. Until Denilson’s goal on 26mins the Everton game looked competitive. So if we go a goal behind we might see a very different game unfold. I know that is a tad simplistic, but you know what I mean. Our side haven’t morphed into an all conquering team over the off-season, so we need a few more confidence building results to set the youngsters on their way.
I agree that in general terms the CL is tailor-made for Arshavin, although a Celtic side playing at home at break-neck pace may not be a typical European outing. Nevertheless Arshavin is a class act, he knows he can unlock the best, and his moments of class will hopefully prompt the best from Robin, Dudu and Fabregas and see us get a good result.
I’m looking forward to the tie.
Thanks for the preview DAG.
I’m pretty sure we can bag a goal or two, if our rejuvenated counter-attack holds up; feeling pretty confident our defence will cope too. 2-1 Gunners sounds about right.
Fascinating set of stats in the Mail… Look at Denilson’s passing rate in the opposition’s half!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1207191/Jamie-Redknapp-Why-Liverpools-Steven-Gerrard-misses-quarterback-Xabi-Alonso.html