What about up front? Especially through the middle. Podolski, Walcott or Giroud? I have gone for Podolski.
I'd be inclined to say Walcott or Podolski should play through the middle for this one as some pace would be very effective against the spuds. BUT we tend to control posession much better when Giroud plays up front. His link-up play, little knocks ons/one touch passes and his physical presence allow us to retain the ball a lot better than when one of the little guys play up top. He is also a big positive when defending. I just wish he had a bit more pace! So i think it depends whether we plan to go out and dominate possession, outplay them and play our own style of game, or whether we will play on the counter.
Something to get you in the mood . . . Take your pick of the 5-2 games, but this one is my favourite because me, SJW and Cym were here together and after being 0-2 down, we turned our season around during this game and resigned the spuds to one of the biggest bottle jobs ever seen [video=youtube;hpv6RILuAQE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpv6RILuAQE[/video]
That goal from Sagna turned our season around and it's my favourite from that game. It was a '**** you, I had enough of this ****' header.
Here's another classic from almost 30 years earlier (when Cym still had hair ) [video=youtube;zALx-JXe_BE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zALx-JXe_BE[/video]
If there is any karma on Sunday you will dominate, go a goal up and then get a player sent off and we will tonk you and them we can act all full of it and say the sending off made no difference. Though it would be typical Spurs if you did get a player sent off you end up winning!
Aside from the "come at me" type of defending, the type of football and tempo is quite similar to (some) present day PL games.
I don't think there are many fans on either side that are feeling confident about the game. I'm bricking it to be honest, regardless of our recent form (or Bale's recent form should I say ). Walcott always seems to have his game of the season against us so I'm naturally concerned about how we'll stop him with whoever plays left back, I see him as our biggest threat. He raped Naughton this season (I predicted he would before the game, sticking a right-footer at left back was suicidal), Ekotto has looked too rusty since returning from injury and while Vertonghen's a great tackler and reads the game very well, I wouldn't want to see him left one-on-one against Walcott. Cazorla, Wilshere and Podolski are other players that worry me and the form of Parker hasn't been too encouraging lately, we're really going to need a DM on top form to help deal with their threats. Then on the other hand, we have a player in Bale who's in the form of his life, he's been doubled up and even tripled up on at times this season yet he's still managed to create havoc more often than not - so don't think doubling will do well, I think it's a case of you guys hoping he has an off-game. Dembele has skill, drive and strength in abundance but seems to blow hot and cold, if he's hot, he'll dominate your midfield in my opinion. If Ade wants to decide to turn up for just one game this season, I'd really appreciate it being this one but I'm not getting my hopes up. The game is absolutely massive for BOTH teams though, I wouldn't say it's more important to either club. If we win, 3rd spot gets strengthened and pushes you guys further away so it gives us somewhat of a fail-safe if we slip down a place later on in the campaign. If you win, puts you a point behind and the race for top 4 finishes is wide open again. On the whole, as much as I'd love a win for obvious reasons, I'd settle for a draw. Hopefully our lads will want revenge for the result earlier on this season which'll give 'em an extra incentive. I won't wish you good luck but here's to an entertaining game
Well said SOS. Exactly what I'm thinking. Even though we should be favourites (home advantage and are on a great run) you know it will be a roller-coaster of emotions on Sunday. Even going a couple of goals up wouldn't help me relax either!
Yeah home advantage definitely makes us favourites but both teams have the ability to win the match. It's gonna go down to who wants it more really. I said I'd settle for a draw but I just can't see a draw happening to be honest, one set of fans will be going home chuffed, the others crying. Just hope we're not the latter!
I reckon this ones going to be a Melee. Whoever inflicts the more clinical strikes will win. Simple as that. I can't see a whole lot of tactics going on here, especially from Wenger. It's going to be wave after wave attack from us.
Tottenham always seem to start the derbies better than us in recent years, im predicting a Bale goal within the first 5 mins
Perhaps FTW, you'll certainly be keeping a much more closer eye on him than me. But you've hit the nail on the head about him playing it quicker. Every time i've watched him, even I'm sat there thinking "pass it!!!". He seems to do too much and his decision making can be terrible. Rosicky could be a good shout, his experience could be vital, and on his day he's a really good player who'll pick out some clever passes. If only, Jack, if only!! Clattenburg is the ref, so who knows what to expect!! So True about Walcott. We always seem to have huge problems dealing with him. He always pulls out a MOTM performance against us SC and JW would worry me, but with bale playing the way he is, I think it'll cause problems in how arsenal play and due to how dangerous he is. - Those players will be keeping an eye on him at all times, and as a result, this'll suffocate how free flowing arsenal's football is. I know anything can happen, but for some reason i just don't see us winning and going 7 points ahead of you. It's not that I don't think we're capable of doing it, but towards the end of each season, the league has these dramatic nail biting times where it's so tight and it goes to the wire. I just have this feeling that this'll end up being one of those games, where by the end, you are 1 point behind us and the drama until the end of the season unfolds, as usual. (in recent years). - it just seems like that's what's written in the script, as we always make like hard for ourselves. I am praying for the opposite. A 7 point cushion could be vital with some of the games we have coming up. Thank god most of the tough ones are at home.
well , spurs are on possibly their best form for a while and we are at our most inconsistent. But we do NORMALLY raise our game for the home derby . But after our recent fiascos , its impossible to call who will win this one.
Other than Sagna being injured, Id go with the OP's team. Id rather have a proper DM in there but of course we didnt get one after selling Song or in the January window. Is till think we can stuff the spuds. COME ON ARSENAL
I don't know fella. We don't have a track record of trying to stop the opposition, instead preferring to simply play our own game and try and outplay the oppo. We've come unstuck doing that on more occasions that I care to remember, but that said when we turn it on, we are pretty unstoppable. I'm not sure if we'll give Bale any special treatment on Sunday, although I do think he might stay on the left and which will mean that Walcott will be drawn back to help out Jenkinson. It's going to be an interesting game whatever happens. I think there will be goals too, as both teams will go for it.
It really is so close to call this one. It's interesting how little banter there is between both sets of fans as I don't think anyone is particularly confident. I hate giving it large before a match anyway as I don't want to tempt fate plus it normally comes back to bite you on the arse! If you were to pull a team together of both sets of players you could argue from both points of view over most positions. The only shoe ins in my opinion would be Lloris, Wilshere, Cazorla and Bale.
I don't usually do these combo Arsenal/Spurs teams, but I will anyway ....................Szczesny..................... Sagna....Vertonghen....Vermaelen...BAE ......Wilshere....Dembele....Cazorla .......Walcott.....Podolski.....Bale Subs: Walker Koscielny Arteta Sandro Lennon Giroud Now go and pull it to pieces
