Arsenal Have Table-Topping Opportunity
Nov 22nd, 2016 by 'holic
In the last post I pointed out that match day provides both Arsenal and PSG with a ‘winner takes all’ opportunity to clinch top place in group A. Only a repeat of the draw in Paris will lead to a decider on matchday six. However that prospect may not be quite as attractive as it has been in recent seasons. Currently occupying second place their groups are Bayern Munich, Real Madrid (before their match in Lisbon) and Juventus.
Arsene Wenger said earlier that Aaron Ramsey and Theo Walcott had been ‘on recovery’ rather than training today. Both are expected to be fit although we will still be missing likely starters, if they were fit, Hector Bellerin and Santi Cazorla. Also it is likely that David Oooooooooospina will come in for Petr Cech as our Champions League goalkeeper.
There seems little point in messing around with the back four. Carl Jenkinson is gaining match fitness and should continue to stand in for Bellerin alongside Skhodran Mustafi, Laurent Koscielny, and Nacho Monreal. The selection alongside Francis Coquelin is one that will have caused Arsene sleepless nights I’m sure. Neither Granit Xhaka nor Mohamed Elneny has made the place theirs in the absence of Cazorla. I still think Ramsey could do the job if told to curb (not eliminate) his enthusiasm for getting forward at every opportunity.
Such a selection would make room for either Alex Iwobi or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the left flank. Alternatively Alexis might be switched out there to allow Olivier Giroud a start. His ability to play with his back to goal might be invaluable if the visitors build a head of steam. We saw in Paris what an attacking threat they pose and how little they give the ball away. For just that reason Theo Walcott should start on the right and look to use his pace on the break.
PSG will be missing some well known faces too, among them Kurzawa, Ongenda, Pastore, Rabiot, and one-time rumoured Arsenal target Serge Aurier. The latter has controversially been denied an entry visa to the UK and that is a stroke of good fortune for the Gunners quite frankly. The squad will still be a showcase for the oil dollars that have poured into the club and they are clearly the only serious competition we have faced in the group phase. Cavani to score is nailed on, isn’t it?
The ‘holic pound
This is one of those matches where the head says one thing, but the heart another. The head is screaming draw after consecutive 1-1 results against Tottenham and Manchester United. Of course I will be going with my heart which believes we can nick a 2-1 if we defend their strengths and play to ours on the break. I’m on it at 17/2.
Art of Football teeshirt competition
A reminder, if one is needed, that two Arsenal teeshirts are ‘up for grabs now’ in the last post. The result will be announced on Thursday so if you are unlucky in the draw you will still be able to get a 20% discount from Art of Football on this Black Friday. Get your entries in before you forget.
With that I shall leave you to watch the second half of one of the Tuesday matches. Have an enjoyable Wednesday if you can. Better than that, have a great one ‘holics.
69 Responses to “Arsenal Have Table-Topping Opportunity”
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Being shit
Oh no! The Holic pound on 2-1! We’re doomed, doomed I tell you. 🙂
Off down to the bookies to put my shirt on it.
The neighbours have found their level again, playing off with CSKA for a place in the Europa League. Well done Spuds.
It’s happened again…
It’s happened again…
Going for another round of Spursday nights…
Dortmund 8 Legia Warsaw 4. !!
Don’t think we will be seeing goals raining in like that at the Ems tomorrow.
No gung ho tactics from us please,keep it tight,give the fuckers nothing.
Play Granit and Coq in front of back 4,Iwobi on the left,Wally on the right,Alexis through the middle,use their pace to make PSG defend a deeper back line,making it more difficult for them to play out from the back.
Giroud/Ramsey/Ox on the bench for plan B in 2nd half if we need it.
They are not as good as they have been in the past few seasons,but still a good side technically.
Arsene should make the boys watch the Monaco and Olympiakos home games on video tomorrow morning, as to HOW NOT to play tomorrow night.
Lesson learnt. ??
We are about to find out.
Finally,congrats to Leicester,through to the knock out stages in a canter.
Well done to them.
Heh Esso.
Hello Clive. That Dortmund game (highlights) should be on here shortly. I’m looking forward to it.
BtM 🙂
2-0 no problem.
UTA.
Popped this onto an earlier drinks earlier:
Spurs are painful to watch. It’s like ripping out your eyeballs, dipping them into vinegar, then salt, before putting them back in.
https://twitter.com/GaffneyVLC/status/801161742348861440
At last some objective analysis of the neighbours.
I’m quite relaxed about tomorrow. Not only do I think we will win but there is an element of que sera sera about the last 16. On our day we really are a match for the best in Europe but our days are not that frequent and despite all the gung ho messages we get from the team they are still capable of insipid performances in big matches.
We were very lucky to get a point in Paris but get a point we did and had we played as we can do I am sure we could have won that match. Since Emery moved there it is taking time for their team to settle down and they are not dominating domestically .
I disagree with you Holic ( a rarity) about Ramsey I don’t think he has the discipline to play in a central role, the speed to play wide, the quality to play number ten and I can’t see any role for him other than a pair of fresh legs with a goal threat on the bench. I would use Cazorla and Xhaka in the central roles in big matches. Coquelin lacks ability going forward but is a prodigious worker and a fine shield for the defence, but at this level the key is the quality of distribution and that is not his forte . I also don’t think Iwobi merits a place tomorrow I would use Giroud and push Alexis out wide with Theo on the other side.Goroud is hugely motivated by the treatment meted out to him and tomorrow will be a big game for him- the equivalent for Gareth Bale of playing against Man Citeh or us!
I expect us to win 2-0 or 2-1 and to top the group. Then we must use that momentum to reignite our league campaign.
That game in Dortmund went,
0-1
1-1
2-1
3-1
3-2
4-2
5-2
6-2
6-3
7-3
7-4
8-4
So once Dortmund got level in the 17th minute, the result was never in doubt. Some dodgy keeping, though.
Leicester have more CL points than Premier League ones.
It is remarkable that Leicester drew such an easy group
Handy work by Her Majesty’s legions to prevent Serge Aurier from playing against Arsenal. Knew she was soft on Arsene. 😉
tweet
After Andy Woodward’s harrowing story in the Guardian about years of sexual abuse by a football coach when he was a young player,Paul Stewart,who played for England,Liverpool,Spurs and Man City,has revealed he was also abused for 4 years by a Coach,when he was a young boy.
The evil bastard threatened to kill Stewart’s family if he ever said anything.
Also another youngster at Crewe,where Woodward was abused,has also come forward with the same story.
I should point out the Coach who abused Paul Stewart is not the same one who abused the other 2.
Hopefully more will come forward,to bring this sickening behavior into the Public domain.
More to the point,is it still going on today. ??
Morning all.
This night again will depend on what Arsenal team turns up. We have ridden our luck in recent weeks and we were more than fortunate in Paris.
I hope Ollie G starts and Alexis reverts to a position where he is most effective.
I’m really not a fan of swapping keepers all the time but expect Ospina to start.
All in all I’m looking forward to tonight. Hopefully we will put in a performance and end up with a Dortmund type score??
May see some of you pre match. Enjoy boys and girls.
Nice preview Guvna. Like ‘your head’, I feel a draw coming on. It wouldn’t be too bad a result and we are so averse to winning groups that I think the handbrake will have a strong influence again.
As to team selection, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Gibbs start, would definitely prefer a Coquelin-Xhakha midfield and I would give HFB an opportunity to prove that he is the best striking option for les Bleues.
I will now have the theme from “Curb Your Enthusiasm” playing in my head every time I watch Ramsey play…Mind you the theme from Benny Hill was playing when watching Spuds highlights last night.
Fair play to Leicester through – Could they do a Forest ?
Just watching the late News here in Oz on the ABC (BBC equivalent).
The ticker tape headlines across the bottom of the screen says the following:-
“Man Utd. fans fail in attempt to hide in the toilet to see their team.”
This must surely be a gross misunderstanding of their intention?
UTA.
Cat hasn’t moved off his chair in six weeks.
Unless I haven’t tracked his nocturnal movements.
Please Arsenal give us a performance, some entertainment, it’s been a grim watch for the last 3 games and I have a long journey home after the match.
Granit for Mo but whether AW is prepared to drop Le Coq to the bench and play Rambo is debatable. He is unlikely to give Sanchez a rest tonight but may do so on Sunday. I expect him to move to the left with the HFB leading the line.
I’m hopeful for a narrow win but we have got to play much better than in recent weeks. ? 2-1.
Missing the lovely Hector.
COYRs
Am hoping Alexis gets a rest today… Play giroud and Perez instead!
They need some proper game time.
😀
I’d rest Alexis but I’d play Giroud and that’s it. We want to win the group after all.
Cheers H!
Perez still injured innit. Only started light training this week. Would be nice to have him back for the scummers next week, but we shall see.
https://www.facebook.com/www.JOE.co.uk/videos/783171941846874/
Will play Gibbs and Giroud with Alexis coming on in the 70th minute if necessary. Xhaka and Ramsey in midfield and Ox/Iwobi and Theo on the flanks. Alternative is to play our regular back four with Gibbs playing in Iwobi’s place.
Great that Aurier will not be there to terrorize Monreal/Gibbs. Of course Hector and Santi will always be missed.
Nice one SillySY, but AW is too decent to do that to anyone (except maybe Mourinho).
For those who are that way inclined, the new Gooner has a two page article on Mel Charles, one about broken legs that covers Joe Mercer, Tommy Docherty, Don Howe and Allan Brown (palying against us for Blackpool) and also an article about Arsenal’s encounters with PSG in the ECWC semi final.
But there’s a Piers Morgan interview so you pays your money and takes your chance…
Bayern lose at Rostov 3-2. Will thus likely finish second in their group, so you just know who Arsenal will draw in the knockouts if it comes in first.
Arsenal XI: Ospina; Jenkinson, Mustafi, Koscielny, Gibbs; Coquelin, Ramsey; Sanchez, Ozil, Iwobi, Giroud
Bring on Munchens!
😀
Come on.
Allez les Gunners.
COME ON!!
0-1.
Bollocks to this we are making it too easy for the.
Wake the f….. up
We are strolling as usual no pressure
Well a team with Ramsey, Ozil and a clearly unfit Sanchez is going to stroll.
They are controlling the pace of the game and keep the ball well, hardly ever seem to be under pressure and seem to know just when to speed up play in the final third. We got sucked in.
Forcing a Ramsey into the team has affected us negatively.
dreadful
We’ve been Terry Bull
Penalty for Arsenal. Giroud takes it and scores!!!!
Was that a penalty? Not too sure…
Yes.
Suck on this Cuntani.
Alexis has been watching Aryen Robben in the box play.
And Cavani should be offfor that right cross.
Giroud grabbing cavani by the back of his neck as they go in the tunnel..
Should be an interesting second half .. 🙂
Notwithstanding the score, we have been second best. Need to up our game, maybe bring in some pace up front. Come on.
2-1!!!!
Own goal. Doesn’t matter how they come.
slapstick
ha ha
Cavani you wank@R …diving awards to you!
Must sub Alexis, looks too tired to even run.
Took him off a minute too late ffs.
2-2, Iwobi own goal. Anyone’s game now.
Almost conceded again.
Theo on for Coq. Both sides are looking to win. But our defence is looking ragged.
Poor Jenkinson.
this is too much for him.
Ox on for Jenkinson. AW throwing everything on now.
Third time Cavani misses. We keep making the same mistakes again and again. Lucky to be in the game.
In case of draw PSG tops the group on away goals rule?
To be fair, PSG were the better team in both matches and deserve top spot. They are simply better than us.
Given the calibre of some of the teams currently sitting second, it may not be such a big deal.
Bad end to the day, so near..
At least Arsenal won’t draw Bayern.
We lost 2-2. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Unless the results go our way on the final day, we finish second on away goals rules.