Arsenal Vs City Pre Match Thread

[andrewmswift]

Mangala needs game time before bayern n Chelsea so would start him in defence. Also with questions over the fitness of Fernando and the late arrivals back of yaya and fernandinho can't see both them starting. Also too risky to risk 2 attackers given our limited options so for me it's

hart
zabba
kompany
mangala
Clichy
Silva
Yaya
Lampard
Milner
navas
dzeko

that team would get absolutely twatted. yaya and lampard in midfield? ffs

 

[citytilltheend]

Sorry if this is in the wrong place but wondered if anyone knew where (near Malaga) I can watch the match?

 

[Chippy_boy]

The Chelsea game is MUCH more important IMHO. It's a home game and if we are to be Champions again, our home needs to be a fortress. We lost ONE game at home last season and we have already lost one this season. We do not want another loss, and least of all a loss to Chelsea. We simply must get a draw at least.

I think your talking psychology whereas I'm talking actual points. Chelsea could beat us 5 nil at the Etihad it'll make no difference other than 3 points to whether we win the title or not.

Partly. But it is a 6 pointer. If we assume Chelsea are our rivals - and I think they are - then them dropping 3 points is just as important as us gaining 3. We can lose at Sunderland and so long as they lose at Southampton on the same day, it's not a bad day.

And also look at it like this. In a perfect world, the best team would win 38 games and finish on 114 points. But it's not a perfect world and all teams slip up, or just get outplayed sometimes. So the question is, how many times per season can you let that happen and still win the league.

One of the characteristics of our game for the past few seasons is that we have been rock solid at home and less so away. That's normal. But being rock solid at home has been the foundation that's let us win (only just win) 2 of the past 3 campaigns. We do not want to be 6 games in having lost at home twice, or that foundation is looking shaky.

 

[Vienna_70]

Providing everybody is fit - Jovetić apart - I think it would be extremely prudent to play three in midfield and only one out-and-out forward:

Hart

Zabaleta
Kompany
Mangala
Clichy

Fernando
Fernandinho
Touré

Nasri
Silva
Agüero

Subs: Caballero, Sagna, Demichelis, Kolarov, Milner, Navas, Džeko

This would also give the midfield three the chance to play together before Bayern and Chelsea.

 

[Rammy Blue]

Fernandinho only played 15 minutes for Brazil, so I guess jet lag could affect him more than actual fatigue, but he might be OK to play even on short notice. Yaya, though, plays this afternoon, giving him awfully little recovery time. He will play anyway since Yaya is never dropped, but a 3-man midfield would be advisable I think.

I'd be tempted to start Lampard as he's used to playing the gooners under hostile atmosphere. There are issues with all 3 of our central midfielders so wouldn't surprise me if Fat Frank got the nod.

 

[mat]

Twattenberg is reffing. I suppose which one he hates slightly more will be screwed.

 

[Ireland_for_pm]

Twattenberg is reffing. I suppose which one he hates slightly more will be screwed.

I thought when he sent off Evans in the 6-1 he wasn't a bottler at the big grounds. Then he refused to show suarez a second yellow at anfield for diving, so god knows what to expect from him.

 

[Rammy Blue]

Twattenberg is reffing. I suppose which one he hates slightly more will be screwed.

I thought when he sent off Evans in the 6-1 he wasn't a bottler at the big grounds. Then he refused to show suarez a second yellow at anfield for diving, so god knows what to expect from him.

Depends on which betting syndicate has given him the largest bung.

 

[i8rags]

Providing everybody is fit - Jovetić apart - I think it would be extremely prudent to play three in midfield and only one out-and-out forward:

Hart

Zabaleta
Kompany
Mangala
Clichy

Fernando
Fernandinho
Touré

Nasri
Silva
Agüero

Subs: Caballero, Sagna, Demichelis, Kolarov, Milner, Navas, Džeko

This would also give the midfield three the chance to play together before Bayern and Chelsea.

Fact, this all day.

 

[blueian99]

Providing everybody is fit - Jovetić apart - I think it would be extremely prudent to play three in midfield and only one out-and-out forward:

Hart

Zabaleta
Kompany
Mangala
Clichy

Fernando
Fernandinho
Touré

Nasri
Silva
Agüero

Subs: Caballero, Sagna, Demichelis, Kolarov, Milner, Navas, Džeko

This would also give the midfield three the chance to play together before Bayern and Chelsea.

Fact, this all day.

This for me too, 'Nando and 'Dinho holding, and Yaya in front of them for each of the next 3 games.