i did not like the 1 striker lineup today - and it seemed as tho Villareal did what they wanted at times

Adebayor's goal was absolute brilliance

Quote: Originally Posted By tracyr on 4/08/2009
i did not like the 1 striker lineup today - and it seemed as tho Villareal did what they wanted at times

Adebayor's goal was absolute brilliance

I read an interesting piece in the Guardian today by Sid Lowe, who addresses Villarreal's first half dominance. Song and Denilson cannot let Senna have any time or space on the ball inside of 40 yards -- he just missed cracking in another one from 40 yards.

Adebayor's goal was magical. He appears to have returned to last year's unplayable version, although he still strayed offside far too often and picked up a senseless yellow card. If he and Cesc can continue this form, we've got a good shot at picking up some trinkets at the end of May.

Awesome performance at home powers the Arsenal into the semifinals. Even with a makeshift back four -- featuring only Kolo Toure as a regular starter -- protecting an untested Fabianski between the sticks, Arsenal strolled to a victory, thanks in large part to the tandem of Fabregas and Song, who bossed the middle of the park.

A classy Fabregas' flick on a through ball from Eboue (in for a flu-ridden Sagna) sent Walcott clear and he cooly chipped the Villarreal keeper. After a storming start, Villarreal slowly came into the match, but were clearly missing the influential of Marcos Senna, who was out with a hamstring.

Robin van Persie teed up Abebayor to secure Arsenal's passage with a nice ball that Adebayor controlled before a classy finish with the outside of his boot.

After Godin felled Walcott in the box, van Persie hammered home the third goal. A second yellow for Egeren for dissent reduced Villarreal to 10 men and ended the game and started a 20-minute training exercise.

Young Kieran Gibbs, whom Rob Tracy has touted, looked very composed as Gael Clichy's understudy while Alex Song was immense and has justified Wenger's faith in him. The only dark cloud is the presence of Mikael Silvestre as a starting centre half. He wasn't really tested and will definitely be targeted, both by Chelsea on the weekend in the cup semifinal then Liverpool in the league and finally by United in the semi final, assuming Djourou's knee injury is as serious as it first looked.

i just moved and had no internet/tv access for 3 days - i was very happy to see this result, and happy they went back to the 4-4-2 - altho i was wondering why Arshavin didnt play over Nasri

a centre half absolutely must be on the shopping list in the offseason - can we get Senderos back off loan from Milan?

I thought you despised Senderos

Quote: Originally Posted By breum on 4/17/2009I thought you despised Sendero

i did, but he was young, and he is better than effin Silvestre back there

Quote: Originally Posted By tracyr on 4/17/2009

Quote: Originally Posted By breum on 4/17/2009
I thought you despised Senderos

i did, but he was young, and he is better than effin Silvestre back ther

+1

Some gooners believe Wenger may move Song back to partner Toure and shift Silvestre to LB since Gibbs injured his hammy late in the Villarreal match. Drogba is back to his intimidating best and Wenger might want a more physical player to try to match him. It's a shame, really, as Song has really flourished at DM. His playing style reminds me a bit like Emerson, the old Milan and Brazil DM.

Quote: Originally Posted By tracyr on 4/17/2009
i just moved and had no internet/tv access for 3 days - i was very happy to see this result, and happy they went back to the 4-4-2 - altho i was wondering why Arshavin didnt play over Nasri

a centre half absolutely must be on the shopping list in the offseason - can we get Senderos back off loan from Milan?

Rob, Arshavin cannot play in Champions League for Arsenal because he's cup-tied, having appeared for Zenit St. Petersburg in the group stages.

Hey Rob, what do you think of Daniel Agger? He's apparently dissatisified at Liverpool and wants out. He'd be on my shopping list at centre half.

feck, forgot about Zenit

Agger is solid - i can't believe they would let him go to Emirates tho

Yeah, word is Milan wants him and I have to believe Liverpool would let him go to the continent rather than stay in England.

I can't wait for Arshavin to play in Europe. With AA and Walcott on the flanks, I can't see too many fullbacks straying past the midfield stripe to support the attack lest they get caught a couple yards behind either of them. That alone should be worth a couple extra clean sheets for Arsenal in the group stages.

Walcott on the ?

Quote: Originally posted by breum on 4/17/2009Walcott on the ?

Walcott on the right and Arshavin will play on the . Depending on whether Gibbs is fit or not, they'll either go 4-5-1 or 4-4-2. If Song drops back to partner Toure, I'll bet they'll play Diaby as an attacking midfielder while Fabregas and Denilson will sit deeper. If Gibbs recovers, Silvestre will partner Toure and Song will sit and partner Cesc and Arsenal will go with two up top, RvP and Adebayor.

Well that's as dreadful as we've played all year and we're up 1-0. At least Fabianski has bounced back and did not put a foot wrong in the first half. And thank God because we could be down two or three.

That's as good as I've seen Benayoun play. I may have missed it but I'm wondering if anybody else saw Denilson touch the ball. It looked like Fabregas was forced deeper and deeper as the half wore on until he popped up to orchestrate the goal.

This also exposes the limitations with Bendnter leading the line. His lack of pace really allows a high line. To be fair, it looked like he was trying to flick on balls to Arshavin to run behind, but our attacking play works better with a more mobile target man.

Love to see Agger in north London if Rafa doesn't want him. And wouldn't mind a bit of Torres, Alonso or Mascherano either.

The Gunners won at a canter over relegation bait Middlesbrough with two well-constructed goals by Cesc. Wenger appeared to set up his side with the midweek in mind as Eboue got a run out at right back and Denilson partnered Cesc in the middle of the park. Adebayor came on for a late cameo to stretch his legs.

Arshavin was at the heart of much of Arsenal's attacking play in the first half, teeing up Cesc with a cutback to score the opener. The much reviled Eboue, booed off the pitch earlier in the season, provided the second goal with a beautifully weighted through ball that allowed Cesc to round the keeper and roll it into the empty net.

Djourou also came on in the second half for Silvestre and looked OK. About the only question I have is whether Clichy will be fit to face United, but Gibbs put in another strong shift at back. Rob Tracy tipped him earlier this year as one to watch and I must say he's impressed since stepping in for Clichy.

I'll be interested to see how United set up against us. Lennon really gave Evra the run-around yesterday, something I'm sure was marked by Wenger and Fergie. Nasri will enjoy playing against whomever is at right back, too. Does he draft in Park to provide some protection on his flanks?

Assuming we go with Cesc and Song, who should be fresh. I'm liking the matchups in the middle of the park. I'm assuming Fergie put with Scholes on the bench and rested Giggs against Spuds with an eye to playing them against us. They are very good players, but are a different proposition than they were five years ago. I'm far more comfortable with us going 4-4-2 and using Eduardo with Ade than I would be facing Chelsea or Liverpool, whose midfielders cover a lot more ground. Eduardo is an expert at exploiting the space that Ade creates.

If Fergie is adventurous, we'll see Ronaldo flanked by Rooney and Tevez in front of Giggs, Carrick and Scholes. I would love Arsenal to play that lineup.

My hunch, though, is the Govan Beetroot will draft in Park to afford protection to his right back and Anderson to try to stifle Cesc as I don't see anybody else with the legs to stick with him.

I just hope to God that we get through Boro without any more injuries. Our fitness record has wrecked our chances in the league -- we've got a great shot in the Champions League if we can keep our starting XI healthy.