getting excited by this game now. 1. is a big game 2. there is needle 3. its a top of the table clash.. how long have we waited? 4. its a huge huge test of our progression. win lose or draw we just want a performance i think. the ref is martin atkinson so god knows what he'll do he loves a red card. suarez can expect nothing from him anyway as i think he takes a dislike and thats it.
Me too! And I'm also confident because of two reasons: 1) Arsenal are without Flamini who is their natural DM. This could force Ramsey to play deeper which would mean he will spend less time in the final 3rd where he can do some damage. 2) We have SAS. The other 9 players could have a mare, but with these two, we will always have a chance of scoring goals (more than the opposition). One final point, if things don't go our way, chances are we'll have Coutinho and Moses to come off the bench - creativity, trickery, intelligence, vision, pace, power, strength ... So this is what it feels like to have a decent bench!
For me the result on Wednesday changed things a bit... Can't see Arsenal losing three big games in a row, and out of ourselves, Chelsea and Dortmund we are the most beatable.
flamini going when he did dis-improved them greatly (is that a word?) ramsey is good, will he old well. maybe. They have a lot of people to fill that midfield though. Yes sturridge and suarez and coutinho to plus henderson legging it forward gives us a chance. even if they dominate us for whatever reason we can see a fast break scoring for us. so no mistakes at the back and a threat the other side should equal them needing to do something special to win and then just even a bit of luck would get us over the line even. I'm optimistic. i hope that mertesacker is not allowed an easy set piece goal... if arsenal score through brilliance fine fair play to them but my hate is shooting ourselves in the foot. If we dig in and defend and have to do that ok... but i'd rather us tactically outplay them with a 4-5-1 and really compete with that midfield. roll on saturday.
well that is reasonable... however “Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” so “Do or do not. There is no try.” yeah dortmund are good and yeah arsenal gave them a damn good run for it and ok arsenal v chelsea are what they are but we are no soft touch and i think we can give them a run for their money as long as we don't shoot ourselves in the foot. I am drooling at the thought of mertesaker v suarez on the ground and seeing sahko v giroud on the other end. lucas v ozil in the middle and then seeing if coutinho can find space or who arsenal put on him.
Can't wait for this one, feels good being in and around the top instead of lagging behind the rest of the pack. I'd take a performance to be honest, but if we're going to beat Arsenal now is the best time to do it as they have some key players out - we must take advantage, for the first time this season we could have Gerrard, Coutinho, Sturridge & Suarez playing together. Hopefully the game isn't decided by BS.. Must say this game has an extra edge this season due to this Suarez Summer **** storm.. I am hoping we can get one over on them though I'm not entirely confident..
Flamini has been the cornerstone of their best performances this season & his absence could prove to be telling. If your midfield is lacking in any way tomorrow, then Arsenal will expose your back 3 imo. It's your first real test of the season (barring United) so the game will be a good yardstick for where you actually are.
With the benefit of hindsight, Southampton were a test as well. We fluffed that one. Get a draw for us on Sunday will you?
Sunday is an equal test for us mate, tough side are Spurs. I can't believe they're getting stick off their own, for winning games! Given Arsenal have lost their last 2 at home, if you scored first, they'll feel the pressure imo.
They won't have flamini which could (only could) leave that midfield a bit exposed. It will be interesting as the passing they can do can be real trouble for our new system. It will be entertaining. A lot of good games on this weekend, the welsh derby will be lively too.
I think they'll look to do what Newcastle did to you & play with real width, thus looking to peg back your wing backs. They'll be conscious of playing a high line though, as you've got the pace to hurt them on the counter.
Do they have real width? Aren't oxlade, theo injured? Is Cazorla always a winger though as I think he floats a bit? If they play Cazorla and Ozil out wide ( not sure what they will do) , it may give our backs room to get forward. Think this is a big big big game for Hendo, Lucas, Gerrard. Still not sold on that three and that it is strong enough. SHOULD be able to at least compete with Ramsey, Wilshere, Arteta.
utd was no test.. they say it was our cup final anyway we were not palying a top 4 side were we so how can it be a test.
I agree thats what they should do, but with there complete lack of wingers atm I don't see it happening. Personally whoever is the most influential; their central mid or our strikers, will decide the match.
i agree... equally they should look at how west brom utterly failed to do the same thing and got hammered as a result. width will be key. but also players driving passed giroud from midfield to exploit gaps between a back 3... if we play it. I hope we go 4-5-1 with suarez and coutinho wide. i think we could exploit them there... it'd shock em!
weight of expectation is what that is. the spuds are feeling the pressure so they want t sabotage themselves... its a white hart lane trait.
