Arsenal

[Rev]

So, Monreal is out and Chambers has tonsilitis but has travelled anyway.

http://news.arseblog.com/2014/09/monreal-out-of-dortmund-clash/

This is more Arsenal than even Arsenal have ever been before. Literally our entire defence is going to be on the pitch.

[toythatkills]

So, Monreal is out and Chambers has tonsilitis but has travelled anyway.

http://news.arseblog.com/2014/09/monreal-out-of-dortmund-clash/

This is more Arsenal than even Arsenal have ever been before. Literally our entire defence is going to be on the pitch.

For the first six minutes, anyway.

[The Fox]

Wow, who could have possibly anticipated this?!

[Lucky]

Let's hope Steve Bould takes his boots with him

[wev]

Are ITV showing the game? Might have to get Lee Dixon out of the punditry studio too

[Lucky]

See.. we've got nothing to worry about.

[The Fox]

Szczesny; Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs; Arteta; Alexis, Wilshere, Ramsey, Özil; Welbeck

Subs: Ospina, Chambers, Flamini, Coquelin, Cazorla, Rosicky, Podolski/Sanogo ?

Please don't start Flamini at right back, Arsène. He can't even perform to a decent standard in his proper position, let alone a different one.

[gizmo1990]

Yep I'd play Bellerín tonight too. What we've seen of him so far suggests he's ready to make the step up.

[gooner4life]

The only time we reached the CL final Flamini played at left back for pretty much the entire campaign, if he can do the same at RB I'm happy.

[Rev]

Correlation/causation.

Of all of our injury crises, of which there have been at least a few, this one does seem the most stupid.

[Lucky]

I think Sanogo hasn't travelled either. Maybe we can live with that though.

[Rev]

Dunno, he'd probably be a fairly useful centre back.

[SeanR]

Are ITV showing the game? Might have to get Lee Dixon out of the punditry studio too

Sky. Sports. Five.

ITV are showing the 'pool...

[The Fox]

Bellerin starting apparently.

[gizmo1990]

Excellent. I think he's going to be fantastic and have a great game.

[The Fox]

Team is as per my post earlier.

[carlito]

Good team.

[MTC]

This "no defenders" nonsense is media sensationalism. Almost as strong a back line as Arsenal can field less Debuchy.

[The Fox]

Wtf the ref's shirt is far too close to our colours surely?!

[gizmo1990]

Nice dive!

[Silent Runner]

Shameless dive. Great from the ref.

[The Fox]

This "no defenders" nonsense is media sensationalism. Almost as strong a back line as Arsenal can field less Debuchy.

Chelsea don't have much in terms of numbers either (Terry, Cahill, Azpi, Ivanovic, Zouma, Luis) but the difference is they never get injuries. I'm sure that's all above board though.

[The Fox]

Özil tracked back there to win a clearing header after reading this thread imo

edit: Arteta typically useless after an absence, he always seems to take ages to get back into the swing of it

We're playing pretty horribly so far. Alexis is dropping extremely deep then doing stupid shit with the ball

[Gotters]

Talking of stupid shit with the ball Ramsey needs to remember what makes him great, he's trying too hard this season and trying elaborate stuff too often, when something simple would be preferable.

We'll be lucky to go in equal at half time, not offered much going forward and they pressing quite hard.

[The Fox]

Christ this is awful. No one playing that well but Arteta, Mertesacker, Alexis and Ramsey have been bloody terrible.

[Silent Runner]

Every time Bellerin goes forward he loses the ball and is then about 60 yards out of position. Madness.

[The Fox]

Aaaaand that's the problem with Danny Welbeck.

[Dude Ranch]

Wow. Everything we've done, to a man, has been appalling. Utterly terrible in every way. Quite amazing really.

[Gotters]

There was a reason they let him go and he was cheap, he's never been clinical and we had 2 great examples in his first 2 games. Strikers who take those chances more often cost a lot more than him and don't get released very often.

Cant argue they don't deserve to be ahead, been coming all half

[The Fox]

Shocking defending. Where on earth was Arteta for the break?! And the centre backs have hardly covered themselves in glory either.