We're On Our Way, We're On Our Way, Eventually!
Mar 10th, 2009 by 'holic
We can only hope that Wednesday will see the first of two visits to Rome’s Stadio Olimpico this spring. The venue for the Final of the Champions League on 27th May is also home to AS Roma, who stand between the Gunners and a quarter-final berth. Let’s hope that the problems with the team’s jet are not a portent of more misfortune to follow.
A slender one goal advantage doesn’t sound too imposing, but the blank sheet kept at the Grove a fortnight ago is a major plus. Although I would expect us to revert to a five in midfield I would also expect us to be more aggressive in attacking intent than Roma were in north London.
Those who were ‘rested’ on Sunday must be pencilled on Arsene’s starting team sheet. That means Almunia, Toure, and Clichy returning to our most experienced back five. It means Denilson and Nasri coming back into midfield, but who other than Arshavin will miss out from the weekend mauling of Burnley? Likeliest candidate to return to the bench is Vela, with van Persie being recalled for Eduardo up front.
The biggest decision for Le Boss is who to start on the right. Emmanuel Eboue has improved of late, but the return to fitness of Theo Walcott offers the weapon of pace, so important on a night when we may be more reliant on attacking on the break than usual. I’ve a sneaky feeling Eboue will get the nod, but do expect to see Walcott hastily summoned from the bench if we find ourselves two down at any stage.
Any consideration of the outcome should not be based on the unusually timid performance given by Roma at the Grove. Totti for one can be expected to show much more in front of a partisan home crowd. Roma have endured a domestic season much like Arsenal, but alongside the dropped points have been inspirational displays as well. They haven’t lost at home since Inter Milan beat them 4-0 last October. The return fixture in the San Siro just ten days ago ended 3-3.
So the infamous ‘holic pound is even more tentatively placed than usual. I’m going with a gut feel that our impressive record in Italy will continue, but not without a scare or two along the way. I’m looking at 2-2, available at 18/1 if you have a Skybet account. They also offer 12/1 against us winning 2-1, which will be my back-up pound.
A number of friends are among the travelling Gooners who have been given advice by Arsenal to avoid the most hostile environments on route to the match. Here’s hoping you have a safe and enjoyable evening watching us progress. Have a happy Wednesday, ‘holics. It’s going to be a nervous day, but we can end it in style.
Cheers.
16 Responses to “We're On Our Way, We're On Our Way, Eventually!”
Talisker for me holic.
I see a squeaky win for us tomorrow with Walcot scoring the winner.
cheers all
Mmm, Talisker. Good idea that ta. Think I will check out another bottle of that tomorrow. Hope you are right about Theo.
Cheeky 6X for me. More of an ale man myself.
I see Eboue starting and Theo be used more in an impact role. I am sure he will get a run out, regardless of the score. Must admit, I think if we score then we win the tie. I also think we have a lot more to offer up front than we did in the home leg. I agree with your 4-5-1 with Diaby playing just behind RVP. Let’s go 3 up by half time and we can all settle back a bit then.
Anyone got 10p for the jukebox?
Keep the faith.
Perhaps Arsene will try to surprise Roma once more with a different formation but Eboue is still the safest option (there, I wrote it) and this time you got the feeling that he won’t miss if he gets the opportunity. My pound (that is if I wasn’t living in the land of the free who aren’t allowed to gamble) would be on him to score.
As for the final result, I’ll go for 3-0. For all their talking I don’t see an injured Roma side going close to our goal unless we let them sniff it towards the end of the game. As for us confidence is back and we’ll be rampaging.
I wouldnt be surprised if it came crashing down,remember this is a team that everytime it is faced with a big task,fails miserably.But i sure do hope we will do it this time around,no more spineless,gutless performances this season………please !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@ ‘holic – I’ve thrown a fiver down on Diaby to score the opener at $19 if he starts. He’s a danger on set-pieces, I feel, and has gone close on a number of occasions this season. He also generally plays well in the Champions League.
Also, rather optimistically I’ve put another fiver down on a 3-0 win at $34. I don’t know if that’s what it’ll be, but if we get the first goal I really think we’ll go on to win it handsomely.
Good stuff, Spanish. I wish you luck. I think you may need it 🙂
For the 1st time in 2009 I’m confident we’ll get a result; which probably guarantees 4-0 to Roma.
Eboue to start, Theo to finish, Song to revert to wandering around aimlessly and RVP to hit the winner.
After tonight’s debacles anything less than progress to the ¼ s would be something of a disaster.
We know that on our day we’re better than those 2 (and the mancs for that matter) so now is the time to really put a run together.
Wish we had Cesc back though . . . .
Danish, relax – this game isn’t big enough for us to fail. That comes later. Apart from PSV (ouch) we usually wait till the quarterfinals to bow out, although occasionally a European Final does the trick. Arsenal have rocked against big clubs abroad in Europe since 2006.
What is Danish Gooner on about when referring to this side as one that can’t hack the big occasions? This is the same team that’s comfortably disposed of Man Utd, Chelsea, Porto and Roma when it really mattered. It’s the clubs like Fulham and Hull that have caused most of our problems.
Mine’s any 15-y-o Isla single malt that’s handy.
Danish Gooner,
in response to your post of :
I wouldnt be surprised if it came crashing down,remember this is a team that everytime it is faced with a big task,fails miserably.But i sure do hope we will do it this time around,no more spineless,gutless performances this season………please !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
for your information, it is a trait of your country that In 1984 the Dutch Supreme Court ruled voluntary euthanasia was acceptable, provided doctors followed strict guidelines. But, under Dutch criminal law, physicians could still face prosecution.
In the fall 2000, the Dutch parliament voted to formally legalize the practice, making the Netherlands the first nation in the world to do so.
Arsenal never give up.! NEVER!
come on you reds!
RvP,Eduardo, NB, Ade
Arshavin,Vela,Diaby,Cesc,Song,Denilson,Theo,Nasri
Gibbs,Clichy,Toure,Gallas,Djourou,Silvestre,Sagna,Eboue
–Im kind of liking how our team is looking right now, ..and mind you, I havent even included Wilshere or Ramsey .. with the players coming back from injuries – we could really push it from here, provided luck is on our side of course.
Expect Wenger to put out a defensive minded midfield with Eboue, Song,Denilson and Nasri – with Theo and Vela on the bench.
Anyone else thinks we can put on a real challenge for the PL next season provided we keep the same squad? However, this is what i said around same time last season and it turned out to be a disaster with the departures of Hleb, Bert and Flamini.. so just keeping my fingers crossed.
@ tampa_arsefan:
???? Danish Gooner is DANISH, not Dutch!!!
And Danish Gooner – honestly, have a little more optimism. I’ve seen you post regularly on this site along with several others, and rarely do you have something positive to say. Of course you are entitled to your opinion, and I am happy that you have one, but seriously, try to perk up a little.
2-0 to the Arsenal.
We really should qualify especially if we score, however we must be at our best with good concentration and a high tempo game so that Roma can’t settle.
It ‘ll be interesting to see what team Arsene picks, I think Eboue will start with Theo perhaps coming off the bench later in the game because he can’t be fully match fit just yet. Up front is difficult to call with RVP, Bendtner, Edu, and Vela all available. I don’t think Vela will play but the other three are all likely to feature at some time I think.
Come on Arsenal!
Please poor me a Redbreast – probably the best whiskey in the world.
There’s an interesting article on Liverpools’ finances with numbers from the other top 4 clubs here:
Commercial earnings last season:
ManU: £64 mils
CSKA: £61 mils
Liverpool: £51.5 mils
Arsenal: £44 mils (because the Gunners took a large portion of their £90 million deal with Emirates up front)
Match-day revenue:
ManU: £101 mils
Arsenal: £94.6 mils
CSKA: £74.5 mils
Liverpool: £39.2 mils
In other words, factoring debt we have currently probably less money available for transfers than most middle-table teams.
Once all our property redevelopment is over (was supposed to be 2010-11, probably a couple of years off now), we’ll have only the 5% 20 years loan for the stadium to finish paying off, meaning we’ll have close to the same spending power as ManU.
Liverpool must adapt one way or another, they won’t have a Gerrard in every generation to compensate for their lack of revenues.
Abramovich will have to continue pouring money in CSKA to compete.
As for ManU, their finances are more opaque but if you believe their supporters worries, they’re in for a very rude awakening the day they stop winning everything.
Here’s the link: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/liverpool/4969563/Liverpool-must-close-financial-gap-or-risk-lagging-behind-European-elite.html
3-0 up Roma’s arse, COME ON GUNNERS!
A double Glenlivet for me please ‘holic 🙂
I have nothing to say about the preceding messages, other than…..my heart cannot take this. We played absolutely awful tonight and the goal we gifted to Roma was unforgiveable – Gallas and Toure should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves for such woeful defending.
Anyway….we won and I’m pleased as mustard and surely we can only play better in the next round!?