Arsenal Vs City Pre Match Thread

[york away to this!]

play like we did against the scousers and we win comfortably with the press calling us champions elect.
play like we did against stoke and we lose with the press calling us a failed project.
or we may draw...

 

[allan harper]

5 years ago today since Ade rattled those cockney cunts.

 

[cibaman]

--------------------------Hart

Zabaleta----Kompany---Mangala---Clichy

----------------Fernandinho---Yaya

-----Navas-------------Silva--------------Milner

-------------------------Aguero


Mangala and Clichy in for added pace against Sanchez and Welbeck
Milner in because Nasri is always shite at the emirates
Silva in behind to add an extra man in midfield and to find the runs of Navas and Aguero.

Hard to see past the above, with maybe Kolarov for Clichy. Kolarov offers so much more going forward and is not as defensively dire as he used to be. Overall I think he's a better player than Clichy, albeity Clichy is quick, which can be useful against pacy opponents.

But I agree about one up top. It would be bonkers to start Dzeko and Aguero and have nothing on the bench. And Fern/Yaya can get overrun so the extra man in midfiled makes good sense too. And I wouldn't play Nasri for the reasons you give. He gets ridiculous abuse at the Emirates (will those Neanderthals ever move on, ffs) and it clearly gets to him.

I sometimes wonder if the players work on that basis too. Clichy sometimes seems to be left more exposed than Kolarov. Such as in the FA Cup Final against Wigan and for Chelsea''s first goal last year.

 

[hihosilva]

Merson thinks Arsenal will win 2-1 and it will be a disaster for us. WHAT A TIT!

 

[Ric]

Fernando and Jovetic ruled out.

 

[City Glory While Others Fade]

It's a must win game without a doubt. We have all the motivation after the charity shield defeat and must start stronger than we did for the stoke game. Time to step up and shoe champion qualities.

 

[hihosilva]

It think it could be this.
Hart


Zabaleta......Kompany......Mangala......Clichy


................ Fernandinho....... Yaya


.........Nasri............Lampard.............Silva



........................... Aguero

 

[City_Sean]

With no Jovetic and Fernando I'd go for...

Hart
Zaba Kompany Demichelis Clichy
Fernandinho Yaya
Navas Silva Milner
Aguero

 

[simon23]

Fernando and Jovetic ruled out.

not good at all.....esp fenando

 

[Matty]

Fernando and Jovetic ruled out.

Can't say I'm surprised by Jovetic, Fernando is a disappointment. It's been 2 week since his injury, so if he's out a further 2 weeks that's a month, which isn't a short injury layoff if we're being honest. We'll miss Fernando, especially given Arsenal's propensity to try and retain possession.