UCL Match Day 6: Arsenal v Partizan Belgrade: Match Preview
Well, I for one agree with Arsene Wenger, this is a mess of our own doing. Never in my mind did I see us losing to Shaktar or even to Braga. Another loss today and the Gunners would fail to get out of the group stages for the first time in 11 years. But with the best goal differential of the group all they need is a draw to make it through.
They go up against a team that has been pitiful in Europe this year. They haven’t won a match in the group and sit at precisely 0 points. Sounds easy for the Gunners doesn’t it. But as they have shown us all season long, nothing is easy when it comes to this club.
The biggest issue coming into the season and this European campaign was how well our goal keepers were going to be. Well since Lukasz fabianksi has had a regular run out he hasn’t been bad. He’s been solid back there. One or two odd mistakes but overall he’s been solid. I don’t think anyone thought the Verminator would be out this long with injury. When Wenger signed Koscielny and Squillaci, the hope was one of these would emerge as a good partner against what was perceived to be the durable Belgian. But TV5 has been anything but that right now, suffering a series of setbacks from an achilles injury he suffered early in the season on international duty. That meant that going to the domestic and european campaigns our back 4 had two players who hadn’t played a single season in the EPL. Additionally, even though Johan Djourou had returned a year a way from the game, means he is being eased back into the squad. All in all it has been our defencive middle that has been the weak spot.
It has meant that even outplaying teams as we have for most of both campaigns, nothing is a sure thing. That being said, we’ve handled all the teams in the group stages and BElgrade hardly seem like a real threat. But you never know right.
So what are the permeations of things that can happen? Well if we lose its simple, we have three titles we will be in for, not four and Tottenham will have lasted in the Champion’s League longer than us (something I cannot stomach). Draw and we are through as a two seed which means the likelihood of drawing a big team like Barca or Madrid early is inceased. Win and we are still at the mercy of the Brga v Shaktar match. If Braga were to win that match we would go through as group winners on GD. Which has its own benefits of drawing group stages 2 seeds. Shaktar draw or win and we are faced with being a 2 seed in the next draw.
Frankly, I think I am okay with a 2 seed and I will tell you why. You have to play those big teams at one point. Do you play them early and show that you are actually what you say you are – a European contender (that would mean winning) or do you fold up early in the face of greater opposition. Those matches early on will tell us a lot about this club. It will provide, I am sure, endless fodder for the likes of the kool aid drinkers and doom mongers alike.
Either way, the mess is off our own doing. Had we put away either of the two opponents before this and we would have been able to field a reserve squad. The good things is that our next match is Monday so a full squad can be used and well rested for the important Monday clash with United. But hey I am getting ahead of myself. . . let’s play this match first.
How this Should Play Out:
Let’s be honest our home form of late hasn’t been all that great but I figure we have enough quality to see this one through. We should attack early and often getting early goals. Look for Nasri to be the man of the moment again as he is simply the best player in the league right now and possibly one of the top ten in Europe. Partizan have nothing to play for but pride as they have not won a single match in the group. Which makes them dangerous. Look for Cleo a tall striker to play up high looking for the long ball.
Possible Starting XI:
Arsenal: Fabianksi, Sagna, Clichy, Squillaci, Koscielny, Song, Rociky, Wilshere, Nasri, Chamakh, Arshavin
Partizan: Stojkovic; Kizito, Jovanovic, Krstajic, Lazevski; Petrovic, Smiljanic; Babovic, Almami Moreira, Ilic; Cleo.
Injuries/Suspensions:
Arsenal: Diaby (ankle) Vermaelen (achilles) Frimpong (knee) Fabregas (thigh) Almunia (elbow)
Partizan: Miljković (groin) Stevanović (illness)
Broadcast:
US: ???? 2:45 EST
UK: ITV 1 1945 BST
Feeds:
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YAMA Prediction:
Arsenal: 3
Partizan Belgrade: 0
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DAG NOTE to all readers: Over the next coming days and weeks you may notice some changes in the interface of YAMA. I am working on two new designs to roll out and see which I prefer. I am always looking for your feedback and if while they are being tested you want to comment, please don’t hesitate to do so.
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The attacking players I will be watching at OT are Nasri and Arshavin. Nasri has been on fire lately, and I think he will see this as an opportunity to cement his place as the heir-apparent once Cesc leaves. Arshavin has also been hot lately, and everyone knows this is the type of game that he absolutely loves. He has a tendency to be lazy in “smaller,” or “less-important” games, but a top-of-the-table clash, away to a fierce rival, one that is arguably the most popular club in the world, is what he relishes- this match will get him fired up.
On the defensive side of things, I will be watching Song, to see if he is in fact defensive or not. I will also obviously be watching our CB duo, who are inexperienced and untested. What will happen to them? We know what we are getting from the FB’s: world-class performance from Sagna; an overall well-played game from Clichy, surely to be tainted by 1-3 huge errors that will leave the GK exposed.
Also, I hope RVP does not start.
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/wellington-to-continue-progress-on-loan
3.5M for Weliington but no work permit. Now he will be loaned to some Spanish club like Vela.
According to Arsene.com that “process” has worked well. Judge for yourself.
Seeing if the replies are showing any better….
After all, like Evra says, we’re just a training centre….(winky face)….
Nope…..(re: replies….Must be frustrating for the DAG….)
Mudge better….
Or maybe not….
How’s work on the site going? Nip makes some good points…If the replies can’t be seen (and have always been a bit iffy as they tend to get buried….) what’s the point? Fortunately, most in this group don’t seem to worry if there’s too much in the way of direct response….And at least we have to scroll the whole list of comments if we desire to take top spot at the head of the queue……Kudos (as always) for all the hard work and for providing the venue….
I’m ready to start talking about the United match and it’ll be a long weekend waiting for it. Kiwi’s point about Theo below is a good one…A team he would fit right into would be United, esp. with Valencia (who I rate) out long term. A lot of people slag United’s central MF but I have to admit a soft spot for Michael Carrick, who despite lack of mobilty, has some physical presence and a good range of passes which can get United’s fast players going from his own half. His disciplined play might be instructive for our own Alex Song….The old adage about the ball being faster than the player is especially true when one’s inherent pace is lacking…..
In addition to Carrick, United have a bunch of useful players in the center of the pitch and it will be interesting who gets called into action. Fletcher (if fit) or Anderson would indicate a defensive approach, Park a belief in the porosity of our defense. For us, it will be a big game for Wilshere, in an atmosphere he perhaps hasn’t experienced. We need solid possession (no giveaways) from him and Song and either Rosicky or Cesc. Without the latter it will be difficult to create a sense of attacking menace, but, in addition to just keeping the ball, that’s most certainly what we need.
Also, like Kiwi, I’ve got an element of fear about starting RVP in this match. If we’ve shown anything resembling “purple” patches it would be in occasional good stretches from the front three of Makh, Arshavin and Nasri. They’ve shown some good interplay, and the former two present (very different) threats while the latter, on current form, will scare the crap out of (big talking) Paddy Evra. I’d like to see the threesome given an hour to do their thing, or even more if Andrey seems awake….
All told, an interesting match and I wonder if it will be all out or cagey. Either way, set pieces (Nani & Vidic have gotten my fantasy team lots of points in this manner) scare the poop out me. United are getting towards full health and it’s a GREAT opportunity to show them that we can match their veteran squad…A big ask for our players who’ve rarely (or never) faced them: Fabianski, the central defensive partnership and Wilshere in particular (and Makh). There’s got to be some consternation over Rooney’s idiocy (and lack of production)–Keeping him at bay may turn the OT crowd against him and put pressure on SAF to bring on the more productive and popular subs (Berbatov, Hernandez)….
Any sort of result will be great, but we don’t do draws…. Beating this United squad at OT (and going a handful of points clear) would be a sizable throwdown….
Hopeful, but not gonna be the house on it….(thanks for reading, sorry for the long post, etc….)
This just in:
Manuel Almunia has been given permission to head back to Spain in order to “Heal” It is thought during that time he will t ry and find a deal at a Spanish club.
His agent has comeout and said that Arsenal have told him he is free to leave in January if he can find a club who will pay the £1 million valuation.
Wenger said yesterday that Almunia does not have an agent at this time and therefore rumors attributed to his Agent would be spurious at best.
Don’t know what to make of that. :-)
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=851256&sec=england&cc=4716
Evra stokes the fire before the big game.
Men vs Boys? Time will tell.
The return of Van Persie and Walcott makes picking the team to face Manchester United a bit of a lottery. We all know Wenger’s penchant for sticking to his favourites list. On that basis Van Persie would normally stand a good chance of starting…. truth is that doesn’t look a blessing. He’s always slow to find his fitness and form and this return is no different.
Anyway, with the team in a muddy brown patch form-wise (as opposed to purple) it probably doesn’t really matter. Ideally you’d like to go to Old Trafford with a bit of confidence and momentum. But wait a minute! This team tends to flump when you expect them to succeed and to surprise when you lower expectations. So maybe the OT game promises a (nice) surprising result for gooners. I can’t develop a more rational argument in our favour. The attack is getting messed up with the return of the Most Broken Player, the midfield looks internally confused (no role definition) and the defence & GK must surely rate as the worst in Wengers 14 year reign.
With that as a backdrop – the stage really is set for either a nasty spanking or a jolly nice surprise. The biggest shock would be a tight draw.
Theo is aggitating for a starting role. You know the stuff “at 21 I need to be playing…bla bla bla”.
Hmm. Problem with Theo is he’s not an Arsenal-calibre player in this type of football. We play thinking, passing, probing, possession football – Theo doesn’t. He likes wham bam football where his blinding pace can deliver a killer blow in an incisive way. We don’t do that too much. He needs a team with less exactness in their style.
So…. Theo joins his long time similarly underperforming partner Bendtner in wanting a starting slot now that they’ve got over their latest injury problems. Walcott, Bendtner, Diaby, Denilson – I’d happily package them up in a footballing CDO and sell them to Russia. You can throw in a couple of our lame goal keepers for good measure.
“Gibbs out for three weeks.”
Yeeaaahhh Riiiiiiiggghht.
Agree with Nip and Fred.
Nip- I agree with you that the old version of YAMA is better. But DAG said in GDC yesterday that the new design is a work in progress, so I will be patient and give it a chance before I decide one way or the other. But DAG, you do all the work for this site, so you should make it look however you want- never mind what the rest of us moochers think.
Fred- I wouldn’t be surprised if you are right about the Round of 16 draw. I have always been suspicions of CL draws. There is NO transparency, and my suspicions were only deepened a few years ago when the exact results of the draw were leaked online hours before the “real”, “random” draw took place. I could definitely see the match-ups you suggested, but I also wouldn’t be surprised if we saw us play Real, b/c of Wenger’s history with Mourinho.
DAG said –
“I am always looking for your feedback and if while they are being tested you want to comment, please don’t hesitate to do so.”
:)
A while back I was excited about the thought of seeing Gibbs replace Clichy one day as from the limited viewing of Gibbs, I thought he offered more of an attacking threat than Clichy, especially in terms of crosses. But alas not to be because Gibbs has decided to become a proper Arsenal player, which means getting injured frequently. It has been a few years since I have been thinking that Arsene has to sort out this injury issue. But nothing seems to get done. That BBC link that Fred posted regarding the Dutch trainer has many valid points. I have no idea what Arsenal do in their training routines but it cannot be down to bad luck all the time.
After Van Persie scored I hoped he would not slide, which is what he exactly did. Why do I fear his slides? because apparently it was his sliding celebration in that 2-1 win over Man Utd that got him injured and started him down that hellish injury cycle.
The commentator mentioned this was Walcott’s 150th game for Arsenal. Wow. Yes most of them would be sub appearances but the number is deceiving because in almost 4 years most talk about Walcott was always about his future potential or his recovery from injuries. Still glad to see him get goals and today’s was nicely taken.
How can Arsenal tap the current genius of Nasri and hope that it does not diminish but gets brighter? When Henry was getting to be in amazing form, Wenger said Henry would only get better, which he did. But now when Wenger says Nasri would get better, I get worried because Henry was surrounded by an amazing cast who were also trying to up their game.
I thought that 2-1 celebration he jumped up and punched the air like a maniac and injured himself on the landing? Gonna have to hunt down a link.
Although your point is still relevant. I’ve never understood why they would slide. And some of them clearly put sooo much effort into it trying to slide as far as they can.
I like Nasri’s celebrations. He seems to just let loose and doesn’t care if the expressions he’s making make him look like an idiot. It’s brilliant!
The other day when Clichy failed to close down Clark, not only did we all shout at him, but so did Squillaci right after we conceded. Yet Squill himself made the same mistake last night.
Our defenders just cannot stop making individual mistakes, can they?
I like the new look, EXCEPT for the REPLIES, which show up grey font on white background… and can barely be seen at all.
Maybe that’s the plan?
LOL!
I really am trying to find a way to change the comment backgrounds. If anyone is good at CSS and whatnot please let me know
Who will we draw in the next round of the CL competition? If we don’t play at a higher level than the first hour of tonight’s match – it won’t matter. :-)
“Partizan’s only moment of serious danger brought an equaliser just after half-time when Cleo’s shot took a wicked deflection off Sebastien Squillaci and out of Lukasz Fabianski’s reach – leaving Arsenal’s fans, albeit briefly, anxiously following events in the game between Shakhtar Donetsk and Braga.”
Typical, isn’t it?
Sorry, but I seem to be the only one who doesn’t like the new look of the website. :(
The comment button is at the end of the page but the order of articles is reversed (newest first). The design is nice but reading individual comments is tougher with the backdrop and all. Finally, replies to comments (like this one from arsesession – “When Arsenal field an overused starting XI through March, we’ve witnessed our struggles in late March, April, and May due to fatigue and injury …” ) are coming in a completely unreadable font/color (at least for me).
:(
Agree with you about the sequence of posts. I imagine it just takes acclimation.
Thanks for all the great comments guys. I am going to be working through the night to make all the adjustments and fixes I can.
Shame for Gibbs. He does seem to be kissed by the crocky frog, jinxed. So Calamity it is then.
Yeah, big ups to you Mikey on the new look.
As for the game – that wasn’t so flash!!
I dunno, sometimes you wonder what it will take to get this side humming. I’ve learnt to have low expectations of Van Persie upon his (frequent) returns. He needs quite a bit of time to get himself back in the zone – and alas – often shortly thereafter he picks up another knock. What it means for the team is they have to adapt to a returning Van Persie who inevitably alters the team pattern that had been in place (like today). That’s the price you pay, and is one of the many reasons that makes me think his Arsenal non-career has been a net-negative.
I was a little surprised to see so many normal starters today. I thought Arshavin and Nasri both looked keen, but the change in formation with Chamakh and Van Persie in the central forward areas meant the scooting twosome were more confined to the flanks – not what they’ve been used to.
Not a great game to comment on. Too much was pretty woeful. Theo took his goal well, it was instinctive, individualistic, and suited his.. umm… strengths? I laughed a little, later, when he got into a good wide position and hashed his cross badly. It was a deadset goal scoring move….but when he has to think and combine well with others his skill levels are just too random.
Nasri took his goal well, the strike of a guy in a hot scoring run. And Van Persie’s penalty was buried with POWER.
Not much else.
I like the look of the current page and it seems that the order of posts have been reversed. No more scrolling! Well only a bit to get past the main post and if you want to see what others have written….
Lord, what trouble we bring upon ourselves….Almost went to sleep in the first half, everybody petrified of making mistakes,etc. Both teams came out (relatively) firing after the break but, of course we get beaten by giving tons of space above the box and an unlucky deflection. And then we rush to rectify the situation and Partizan almost counter a couple of times (better teams surely would’ve made us pay)…..Finally it all works out in the end, with quality finishes from Theo and Nasri….
WTF is AW thinking?….Games like these are simply not in Arshavin’s contract (as are many others, these days). He’s lost a step (or two) but only has the wiles to make up for it if he’s properly motivated….Perhaps (we hope) next Monday at OT?….And Denilson and Song? Makh and RVP? No, we actually need an AM pulling the strings. If not Cesc then stick Sicky in there, or let Andrey or Nasri do the deed and rest the horsey guy with the slick hair….It’s not rocket science….I guess RVP did his best to mimic the role, and “won” the penalty (and took it) nicely….For me, it’s just not the line-up/formation needed to create open play that would put fear into any sort of real opponent….
Gibbs hurt again, Djourou injured (or just cunningly rotated out/saved for United)?….And then Sagna red-carded for the 1st leg, while Eboue looks like actually having to play is a massive cramp in his style. Perhaps an experienced, versatile defender might be something to look for in January?….
We will get Barcelona for sure. And Chelsea will get Inter.
UEFA have a strong history of having a replay of “event” matches of the previous seasons.
They will view this one and the Chelsea-Inter as a sequel. Anything to generate interest.
Nice site update, DAG.
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Hilarious, the only two goals Partizan could score in the group were against us …
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I have just about given up on Gibbs! Getting injured by getting studs trapped in the grass??? His record is getting a bit more ridiculous than RvP’s.
So the way I understand it, our opponents are from Bayern, Schalke, Real, Barca. Who would you prefer? Personally, I wouldn’t mind any of them. I’m torn between wanting an ‘easy’ path in Schalke vs a matchup with more entertainment potential in the spanish boys (while dreading we don’t get thwamped). I’m not too confident of winning the CL so a big part of me wouldn’t mind a high-profile game that if we win miraculously, would do our psyche some good, if not then we can focus on domestic cups.
I think on balance of things, I’m leaning towards wanting the spanish boys. But oh god, can you imagine Messi/Ronaldo/Ozil/Iniesta in the space vacated by our ‘DMs’.
ps – DAG, good job on the site, does look classy, but I think personally I like the cleaner style of black text on white. Loving the new homepage design as well.
I wouldn’t want to be just played off the pitch like we were last season by Barcelona, AGAIN.
It was just a ridiculous lesson in footballing, that I simply don’t want to watch again.
Anyone else is just fine.
10 thumbs up for the new look. Absolutely love it. Very classy and goes with the Arsenal colors to a certain extent.
Thanks Dag, for all you hard work in providing a forum where we “idiots” can have go at each other without fearing the “Wrath Of Khan”. :-)
3-1.
Arshavin on Mogadon.
Theo on finest Columbian blow.
Nasri on a tear.
But how lame was our defence for their goal?
And Bendtner surpassed himself at the end with the way he screwed up as Van P. ran in to smash that chance home.
Still, we’re through. And that’ll do for today.
Slick looking uplift DAG :)
how can you not love Arsenal ? They test their supporters every game all to make us stronger and not weak hearted :)
I don’t want Madrid in the next round all because I am not looking forward to seeing the arrogant one. The Germans won’t be easy and then there is some little team called Barcelona. I don’t know too much about Barca but I hear they have an ok team, just a few notches above Stoke.
Two thumbs up on the ‘classy’ face lift!
New format, I’ll say….. :announce: :hammer: ;-)
(Just want to see how the emoticons, still too small at the bottom to pick the right face for my old dude eyes….) appear….
I will say this….I think the regular posters will need to see their own names more prominently displayed…. :-D
Steve is correct i botched it up on my calculations. Too early in the morning I guess.
The lineup is a big if. I just don’t know. A front line of of RvP, Theo and Nicky B would be a solid starting line up. So who knows.
When Arsenal field an overused starting XI through March, we’ve witnessed our struggles in late March, April, and May due to fatigue and injury.
RvP, Bendtner, Theo, Eboue, Gibbs, Denilson, ….all need playing time now to regain match fitness, and be counted on to contribute upcoming fixtures.
Some of these players are not everyones’ choices, the reality is that you rarely are able to field your best XI against your major opponents; so role players are critical.
In the back of everyone’s mind is not this match, but ManU and Chelsea. Serving up ManU’s first loss of the season would be satisfying.
DAG – love the new look. I would suggest making the alternating comment boxes colored. On the ones that are clear it can be hard to read some of the text against the picture in the background. Maybe a little less transparent? Otherwise I think it’s great. Keep up the excellent work.
Thanks for the Preview and new thread….
I think it’s technically possible for us to lose and still go through if Shaktar beats Braga….If that happened, both Arsenal and Braga would be on 9 points but we would make it through on goal differential (assuming we lose by less than whatever the difference is in the other match plus 13 goals, that being the current difference between our GD and Braga’s)….It wouldn’t be the most confidence inspiring way to get in, however….
Also I think if we draw and Braga beat Shaktar we are out (Both of them would be on 12 points, we’d be on 10)…All told, if Shaktar win, we go through in 2nd….
I wonder about the line-up….Certainly we’ve seemed to have the most consistent “shape” with a line-up like the one suggested in the preview, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see several changes. I really can’t say I saw much of the Carling Cup match vs Wigan, but it sounded as if, among the forwards who haven’t been starting the league matches, RVP looked the best. It seems like there’s been some talk about starting him. So that would be change #1. Like Sesh says, Nasri sort of limped off in the Fulham match, so maybe Walcott comes in, and Arshavin, who amusingly says “sometimes I can’t run”…., also seems to enjoy a day off, now and again. And then the fullbacks, given that we actually have at least one healthy sub (Gibbs) might go in for some rotation. Frankly, it’s anybody’s guess….
The team IS a giant question mark and given that this is actually a “pressure” match it will be interesting to see if we can look commanding and unruffled. Goals would help, but we’ve proven that no lead is safe. This would seem a great chance for Alex Song to settle back into his old role as DM (keeping Squill and Loopy Larry, er, Koscielny from clattering each other, or worse, letting balls drop between them). Unfortunately, I think we might see Denilson in there, instead….
Hopefully we can get it done and dusted on the earlier side and look solid throughout….
Nice post DAG.
With ManU and Chelsea upcoming……it makes no sense in boasting depth and then not utilizing experienced players when needed.
Nasri, after scoring his 2nd goal v. Fulham, looked out of sorts (knee) for the remainder of his time on the pitch. Chamakh has been a work horse. Time for Bendtner and RvP to step up.
The same could be said for Arshavin. Two matches a week doesn’t allow us to see the best of him. These three have been our core scoring threats to date and well rested would better serve Arsenal for upcoming fixtures.
Fabianski
Eboue – Squill – Kos – Clichy
Denilson – Rosicky – Song
RvP – Bendtner – Wilshere / Theo
anyway, we have no control for the Shaktar/Braga match…..and only should focus for todays
match and securing a good result. (no injuries)