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ABW And Valencia Preview -Dreaming of Baku?

May 1st, 2019 by 'holic

“We need our supporters and we need to create a big atmosphere tomorrow and we are very excited and with big enthusiasm for the match tomorrow. We are looking forward to playing, to being with our supporters, to doing the first leg’s 90 minutes with a big performance and with a good result.”

Former Valencia coach Unai Emery calling on the supporters to create an atmosphere in which his current club can progress beyond the Europa League semi-final. He took the Spanish club into the Champions League three times. This competition may now provide our best chance of qualifying for the big one again.

The team news is mixed, and by far the worst of it is the announcement that Aaron Ramsey will not recover from his hamstring problem in time to play for The Arsenal again. That’s a crying shame, literally. Although he has known since January that he would be a Juve player next season he produced some of his most committed and accomplished performances in the second-half of this season. We will miss him, no question.

Mesut Ozil is back in the squad having missed the Leicester match with a bruised foot, and Nacho Monreal trained today. I would expect him to return to a back three alongside Laurent Koscielny and Sokratis Papastathopoulos, and in front of Petr Cech.

The quartet of Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Granit Xhaka, Lucas Torreira, and Sead Kolasinac virtually picks itself these days. Then the attack, so disjointed at Leicester. That probably means that Ozil will get a recall behind Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

The good thing about playing at home first is that it gives us a chance to make a statement. Our best performances have come in front of the home crowd who have responded for the bigger matches. It is probably fair to say the atmosphere generated against Napoli was a significant factor in our triumph.

Valencia arrive as the sixth place team in La Liga three points behind Getafe in the final Champions League berth. They have two familiar faces. Gabriel Paulista “To return to Arsenal will be special. It will be a beautiful day.”, and Francis Coquelin. The latter is suspended for the first leg. We have previous with them. One of the worst nights of my life was in the Heysel when they beat us on penalties in the 1980 European Cup Winners Cup Final.

It’s no secret I really didn’t want them to qualify for this semi-final by beating Vilarreal. Welcoming Santi Cazorla back to the Grove would have added to the emotion of the occasion.

The ‘holic pound

Valencia should be no pushover. They have already qualified for the Final of the Copa del Rey. I am going with my heart rather than my head. They may have been a bogey side in the past but I am backing us to win 3-0 at 17/1 to all but clinch our place against the bus stop in Fulham, in Baku.

The ABW preview

Our new preview feature is below. Enjoy a Bergkamp Wonderland preview with Danny and Josh.

Have a great one ‘holics.

Posted in match preview | 60 Drinks

60 Responses to “ABW And Valencia Preview -Dreaming of Baku?”

  1. on 01 May 2019 at 8:49 pm1TTG

    Holic,
    Lovely preview . The week between West Ham and Middlesbrough with Valencia in the middle was quite awful and it ended with an even finer midfielder than Ramsey leaving the club,
    I’m expecting us to win 2-0 tomorrow, Sixth in La Liga? We just stuffed second in Serie A. We can do it despite the huge loss of Ramsey .
    I’m watching tonight’s CL semi- Final. It’s on a different level entirely to
    last nights shemozzle .

  2. on 01 May 2019 at 9:23 pm2Goonerholic

    Hello TTG,

    I saw your tweet re last night. I have to say I enjoyed the Ajax performance last night. Our Middlesex friends were outplayed. I have a nagging doubt they will launch an aerial bombardment in Amsterdam because that is definitely Ajax’ Achilles heel.

    Said on Twitter earlier that I fancy Liverpool to take Barca out and they are desperately unlucky not to be at very least level here.

  3. on 01 May 2019 at 9:35 pm3bathgooner

    Fine preview Guvna. 3-0 would be just luvverly. I’ll be there trying to create the atmosphere to carry us to victory. Hopefully not single-handedly.

    COYG

  4. on 01 May 2019 at 9:49 pm4ksn

    What a player, Messi! Great free kick to take Barca to 3-0. Pool can now concentrate on the league now.

    Thanks for another fine preview, sir. I will take a 0-1 given our last week’s form and 3-0 to us will be a dream.

  5. on 01 May 2019 at 9:52 pm5Cynic

    Liverpool have spent almost one billion pounds since 2010, more even than Real Madrid have spent. Result?

    One League Cup.

    1.07bn Euros.

  6. on 01 May 2019 at 10:03 pm6Goonerholic

    Bang goes the two all English European Finals…

  7. on 01 May 2019 at 10:20 pm7bt8

    But WILL Liverpool be able to put their full focus forward on the Premier League? The feeling of deflation could be brutal.

  8. on 01 May 2019 at 10:23 pm8bt8

    Freshly squeezed Valencia orange juice for me please, guvnor.

  9. on 01 May 2019 at 10:24 pm9TTG

    I suspect Unai will win one more trophy than Poch and Klopp this season. Not sure either of those two great managers are winners

  10. on 01 May 2019 at 10:26 pm10bt8

    Finishing the thought from #7: As Arsenal well recall from their Camp Nou visits where they witnessed Messi magic.

  11. on 01 May 2019 at 11:21 pm11Goonersince54

    A trifle optimistic with your betting punt i fear H
    Make no mistake,Valencia are going to be difficult to break down tomorrow.
    In 35 league games they have only conceded 32 goals,a record only bettered by Barca and Athletico Madrid.
    They have only lost 7 games,but only won 12,being draw specialists with 16.
    It’s going to be a tough night and i think if their is a result,it will be by the odd goal.
    Absolutely vital we keep a clean sheet to take to Spain next week.
    On another note,
    Good luck to our former Invincible Sol Campbell,who against all the odds is one game away from keeping Macclesfield in the Football league.
    A win or a draw at home to Cambridge this weekend will see them safe.
    The Club were down and out when he arrived,and the players were resigned to dropping out of the league,but Sol has turned it around while working on a shoestring budget,instilling belief in a squad of players earning 400 quid a week,with no training facilities of their own,using the local park and school pitches,no fitness coach,just his old mate Andy Cole helping out with the strikers 2 days a week.
    So a monumental effort on his part,and a tip of the hat to him for taking it on.
    On a final note,
    I see the Spurs Ladies have won promotion to the Women’s Super League,so now we will have feisty local derbies to look forward to in both the Men’s and Women’s Comps next season.

  12. on 02 May 2019 at 2:30 am12OsakaMatt

    Thanks for the preview Guvnor

    A grim week in 1980 remembered,
    a fond farewell to Aaron, our line
    up for tomorrow and a bold 3-0
    forecast. Cracking stuff.

  13. on 02 May 2019 at 9:55 am13Steve T

    Nice preview H

    Emery makes a call to the supporters to assist tonight. I would like to make a plea to the manager. Play a proper team and the crowd will automatically get behind you. Play a weakened defence and leave better players on the bench again and they might not be as forgiving.

    Assuming we play the best side available I’m with you on a 3-0. Making the trip this evening so hoping for a good performance.

    Sad news about Rambo. He really did deserve the opportunity to play at least one last time. I echo everything that TTG said in the previous round of drinks. Rambo has handled himself impeccably. The club however could not have made a bigger mess of it if they tried. I would also agree that it’s no coincidence that our recent capitulation in the league and Rambo’s absence have run back to back. I would sincerely hope that a replacement has already been identified and that we are never involved in such a mess again.

    If you’re going tonight, see you there.

  14. on 02 May 2019 at 10:51 am14Delia

    I wish I could be so optimistic Holic. The whole Club seems to be in a terrible state, management and players.

    I came away from Leicester last week feeling as low as I have felt in years after a game and I doubt whether we will be able to raise our spirits in one last effort to make the CL. As for Sunday I am only going for the end of season lunch at the Hemingford!

    Hope I am wrong as without CL football next season our budget in the transfer window will be peanuts and we can’t expect Emery to bring us entertaining football, it’s not in his DNA.

    COYR

  15. on 02 May 2019 at 12:53 pm15North Bank Ned

    I would take 3-0 in a heartbeat, but fear Clive might be nearer the mark, and if so, better a 1-0 than giving them an away goal.

  16. on 02 May 2019 at 2:24 pm16ATG

    Uhm tough one to predict it all really depends which Arsenal turns up later on today….

    3:0 is a bit optimistic but you never know we managed to raise the game few times season so anything is possible.

    BTW great preview Holic!

    COYG!

  17. on 02 May 2019 at 3:37 pm17Trev

    Cheers Holic !

    3-0 would be marvellous tonight and could be doable with, as Steve T says, our best eleven on the pitch and an early goal.

    A good day in Brussells in 1980 turned into a horrendous evening on the pitch with that penalty shoot out, and off the pitch with giant fire crackers thrown in the stands and mounted police struggling to control a riot outside. The least we can do is send them away thoroughly miserable at the end of this evening, with the final out of their reach.

    From that day in Brussells if there are any singers in the bar –

    Valencia …
    You stick your head
    Between your knees
    And whistle up
    Your paso doblé. 🙂

    Come on You Reds !

  18. on 02 May 2019 at 5:04 pm18TTG

    I hadn’t realised the significance of playing Valencia and seeing a star midfield player then leave for Juventus. Yikes that’s spooky. Is Kempes still playing for them?
    Tonight will be Petr Cech’s last game at home . A fine servant acquired too late .
    I think all that needs to be said or written has been . I’ve become less optimistic as I consider why we played well in the big games this season. Mainly it was movement fuelled by Ramsey and Ozil on a good day. Nobody in our midfield can replicate that movement or goalscoring ability. Xhaka and Torreira have no pace . We have no one else who could switch to do it. Mkhi might be able to but he has been pathetic recently and he won’t start. Ozil will just have to have the best game he has ever had for us. I think a 1-0 result looks pretty attractive to me now.
    Gabriel will be interesting to view. I rated him more than Wenger did and would have kept him way ahead of Mustafi. Let’s hope he channels Mustafi tonight .

  19. on 02 May 2019 at 6:53 pm19Goonerholic

    Cech; Sokratis, Koscielny, Mustafi; Maitland-Niles, Xhaka, Guendouzi, Kolasinac; Ozil; Lacazette, Aubameyang

    Monreal and Torreira on the bench. ?

  20. on 02 May 2019 at 7:40 pm20Cynic

    That’s a pretty underwhelming lineup but the worrying thing is that, Monreal and Torreira apart, it’s the best XI he can put out.

    Seven of that team wouldn’t be at the club next year if I was running it 🙂

  21. on 02 May 2019 at 8:11 pm21ksn

    They nearly scored. We are so used to our shit defending but they still surprise us. Key today for us is to not concede a goal.

  22. on 02 May 2019 at 8:13 pm22Gunner_KS

    KSN spoke too soon, damn

  23. on 02 May 2019 at 8:13 pm23ATG

    What a terrible start

  24. on 02 May 2019 at 8:14 pm24ksn

    Already down to a header by the only attacker surrounded by four of our defenders. Valencia is our bogie team or will we prove otherwise today.

  25. on 02 May 2019 at 8:15 pm25Gunner_KS

    Even Sanogo and Baptista would score against us.

  26. on 02 May 2019 at 8:16 pm26Cynic

    THree centre backs, all of whom get caught under the ball. Sokratis runs after it and can’t get it as it goes over everyone to the back post, Mustafi is then caught under the ball at what was the near post and Koscielny is standing in the middle staring into the floodlights for both headers.

    Clowns.

    Get rid.

  27. on 02 May 2019 at 8:18 pm27Cynic

    Put Ozil on.

    Oh.

  28. on 02 May 2019 at 8:19 pm28ksn

    Not my fault G_KS, our guys are bent on enhancing their reputation as good defenders!

  29. on 02 May 2019 at 8:20 pm29Gunner_KS

    Fuck yes, a couple more please

  30. on 02 May 2019 at 8:20 pm30Cynic

    Now that was a decent break.

  31. on 02 May 2019 at 8:20 pm31ksn

    Get in, nice goal by Laca after good build up work.

  32. on 02 May 2019 at 8:21 pm32OsakaMatt

    A step slow so far and could
    be 2 down

    1-1 !! Get in

  33. on 02 May 2019 at 8:21 pm33Sancho P

    Aren’t central defenders supposed to head a ball?

  34. on 02 May 2019 at 8:22 pm34ATG

    Get in Laca! Come on!

  35. on 02 May 2019 at 8:22 pm35ksn

    By nice goal I meant a poke into an open goal?

  36. on 02 May 2019 at 8:23 pm36Sancho P

    Inch perfect pass from Ozil.

  37. on 02 May 2019 at 8:26 pm37ksn

    Frankfurt lead Chelsea 1-0 in the other semi.

  38. on 02 May 2019 at 8:28 pm38ksn

    Laca gets a better goal with some help from their goalie.

  39. on 02 May 2019 at 8:29 pm39ATG

    Let’s destroy them now come on!

  40. on 02 May 2019 at 8:30 pm40Cynic

    Just keep it in their half and we’re all right lol

  41. on 02 May 2019 at 8:31 pm41Cynic

    Bit of half time reading. 25 years since we won the CWC on Saturday.

    https://www.eurosport.co.uk/football/europa-league/2018-2019/by-george-arsenal-and-the-94-cup-winners-cup_sto7253210/story-amp.shtml

  42. on 02 May 2019 at 8:36 pm42Gunner_KS

    Ooooh Auba, no more excuses

  43. on 02 May 2019 at 8:37 pm43OsakaMatt

    Done well to turn it round

    Aargh, unlucky Auba

  44. on 02 May 2019 at 8:38 pm44ksn

    Mustafi is scary giving away a free kick in a dangerous area.

  45. on 02 May 2019 at 8:51 pm45ATG

    AMN is not having a great game too, he improved as the game went on, Mustafi will be Mustafi sometimes scary as shit!

    Good recovery score couple more and we should be good ?

  46. on 02 May 2019 at 8:57 pm46OsakaMatt

    Played better as the half went
    on. Showed some fight. Good
    to see after the last few games.

    Need a better delivery from Kola
    and Guen to stop giving the ball
    away 2nd half. A couple more
    goals would be bloody handy too

  47. on 02 May 2019 at 9:17 pm47Cynic

    Torreira was just like “Fuck me, boss, brush yer teeth” when he was coming on 😀

  48. on 02 May 2019 at 9:22 pm48Cynic

    Errm, how the hell did he miss the ball then?

  49. on 02 May 2019 at 9:23 pm49ksn

    What a miss by Laca, took his eyes off the ball in front of an open goal and missed a sitter of a header.

  50. on 02 May 2019 at 9:26 pm50Cynic

    Fucking hell, man! Awful misses.

  51. on 02 May 2019 at 9:30 pm51ksn

    Need another goal as the match is too nicely balanced right now. Need to take a lead to Valencia next week.

  52. on 02 May 2019 at 9:33 pm52Barack O'Barman

    The amount of easy chances Lacazette and Aubameyang have missed between them this season is quite incredible

  53. on 02 May 2019 at 9:33 pm53Gunner_KS

    I thought there was a hint of handball form the defender in front of Laca for his header
    A change is due now, no? Kola’s crosses have been awful tonight.

  54. on 02 May 2019 at 9:36 pm54OsakaMatt

    Well out Cech

    Lost a little focus since
    Laca missed.

    Wouldn’t of brought Mkhi on
    but let’s hope he gets the third

  55. on 02 May 2019 at 9:43 pm55ksn

    Our physically sapping league looks to be taking its toll as Valencia have suddenly become dominant and keeping the ball really well.

  56. on 02 May 2019 at 9:50 pm56ksn

    Auba gets one after Laca misses another. 3-1.

  57. on 02 May 2019 at 9:51 pm57Gunner_KS

    And then Auba scores through the needle hole ?

  58. on 02 May 2019 at 9:51 pm58ATG

    Get the fuck in!! Come on!

  59. on 02 May 2019 at 9:55 pm59ksn

    Great job done in spite of so many glorious chances but we should be able to hold off Valencia in the return leg.

  60. on 02 May 2019 at 9:58 pm60Goonerholic

    HAVE IT! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

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