Arsenal

[Cosmic_Guru]

Why wasn't Diarra in the squad? Sold him already?

I suspect he will be sold this month.

I thought it was a really sloppy performance yesterday but we got away with it. If Burnley had scored first it would have been very interesting. Diaby looked lazy and uninterested, Eboue was atrocious and Traore looked a shadow of his normal self - why couldn't he hoof the ball away when he had plenty of time to do so? The passing generally was poor - maybe the pitch is not the pristine Emirates turf but so what we play away every other week don't we?

Eduardo and Bendtner though are both class acts.

I think a bit of a shake up is needed for Wednesday frankly.

[Benji]

We were lucky yesterday, we played shockingly bad. Diaby, Eboue, Denilson, Traore all had shockers

[Daley]

I suspect he will be sold this month.

I thought it was a really sloppy performance yesterday but we got away with it. If Burnley had scored first it would have been very interesting. Diaby looked lazy and uninterested, Eboue was atrocious and Traore looked a shadow of his normal self - why couldn't he hoof the ball away when he had plenty of time to do so? The passing generally was poor - maybe the pitch is not the pristine Emirates turf but so what we play away every other week don't we?

Eduardo and Bendtner though are both class acts.

I think a bit of a shake up is needed for Wednesday frankly.

I am not sure about Diarra leaving, I expect him to stay. There is a chance he will play on Wednesday, which is maybe why Wenger didn't play him, although it is a bit strange that he didn't even make the squad. I hope he stays though.

It wasn't a great performance yesterday and we were a bit lucky, especially with the chance that hit the bar, but after some of the results from Premiership sides over the weekend I think we can just be pleased to have won. Fair play to Burnley, they like to play good football, and kept it up even with 10 men.

Spot on about Eduardo and Bendtner, they looked good and played well together. I would be comfortable to see them two playing for the first team, especially now Eduardo can't stop scoring.

I think we will see a few changes for Wednesday but I can't help but be worried by Senderos (despite an OK performance yesterday). He will cost us if he plays for an extended period and I think if Wenger is serious about winning something he needs to buy a centre back in January.

[SeanR]

ok, but let's blame the pitch, eh?

[Benji]

Senderos got praise from the commentators on MOTD, but i still think he is awful. Looks like he's confused when he's on the pitch as to why he's there lol. I'm going up on Weds night, expecting a better performance tbh.

[mop]

I thought Senderos had a good game yesterday

[Daley]

I thought Senderos had a good game yesterday

He was OK. Bit shaky at the start, and at times he looked painfully slow, but after that he was in the right place at the right time and did the basics well without doing anything exceptional. He will cost us though if he plays while Toure is away.

[Petrousgyre]

I thought Senderos had a good game yesterday

Agreed, but his performances vacillate perilously between Titus Bramble and John Terry. He's a worry.

[SeanR]

Agreed, but his performances vacillate perilously between Titus Bramble and John Terry. He's a worry.

it's a confidence thing I reckon. Like he's not getting the backing of the manager (prefers Gallas/Clichy?) and barracking of the fans (are you Cygan in disguise?), and he is still only 22, right?

[Dude Ranch]

I've more or less given up on Senderos. On his day he's more than capable but you never know which Phil is gonna turn up. He's always likely to cost you something. I though Song was the best bet in Toure's absence but now I hope he plays Djourou. I also wondered if he might go with Hoyte at right back and Sagna in the middle, or possibly Gilberto at centre back.

[mop]

Agreed, but his performances vacillate perilously between Titus Bramble and John Terry. He's a worry.

Well that's it, god knows what he's going to do sometimes. I pray for some stability in his game now that Toure is gone.

[Cosmic_Guru]

I am not sure about Diarra leaving, I expect him to stay.

I dunno. I think Wenger is a lot tougher on players who have an attitude problem than most people appreciate - its going to be based on day to day application on the training pitch as much as mouthing off to foreign newspapers. For experienced players this ususally amounts to extended absences never satisfactorarily explained by injuries (Wiltord, Henry, Lehman come to mind) but for a younger player he could figure selling for a profit wouldn't be the end of the world and would motivate Denilson and particularly Diaby to improve and come into the frame.

I hope he stays since he is undoubtedly quality but we will see.

Pity about Song being away - I thought he looked good at centre back and deserved a chance in that position during Toure's absence.

Senderos has rotten luck - every mistake seems to be punished by a red card or a goal it seems. It appears a risk at times playing him as first choice but we do have a run of reasonable Premier league fixtures coming up - Birmingham, Fulham, Newcastle which should help him to settle back into the role. Personally I would not want to see Gilberto play there - maybe Hoyte or Sagna in an emergency with their better speed.

[Petrousgyre]

but now I hope he plays Djourou.

God no, I thought Djourou looked dire at Birmingham - at least there's hope Senderos can grow into the role as he did in the CL two seasons ago.

[Dude Ranch]

God no, I thought Djourou looked dire at Birmingham.

I had heard that he didn't look great. It's not always the best indication though, playing in a struggling side. I think he looks more composed than Senderos and would benefit from a decent partner.

[hobo]

Stoke or Newcastle in the cup.

[GaryC]

Hi, Burnley fan here!

We're very happy at how we played compared to our performance against Blackpool the week before, which was appalling. I'm happy that you've mentioned that we try to play football, which is what we have tried to do since Owen Coyle has taken over. As always, we seem three of four players short of a really good side. I just hope we can win a home game soon and perhaps make a run at the playoffs, if we can get some points together soon, who knows!

I don't believe it was a sending off - the tackle occurred pretty close to where I was sat. It was a shame because I thought we could have equalised and the game would have been set-up for a nice finish. Although, tp be fair, I always thought you had two goals in you with them two up front. Dynamite! I thought we got away with it when Eduardo missed that sitter though

So good luck for the rest of the season and the FA Cup itself. You're fans did themselves a lot of credit at the game and on this forum as well.

Until next time...

[Petrousgyre]

I don't believe it was a sending off

Ooh, don't know about that. I don't think it was malicious but it was two footed and his leading leg was well above the ball. If Gilberto had his leg planted on the ground it would have been a guaranteed leg breaker. That aside your boys played a great game of football, Coyle seems a good manager too - he comes across as bright and articulate.

[GaryC]

Ooh, don't know about that. I don't think it was malicious but it was two footed and his leading leg was well above the ball. If Gilberto had his leg planted on the ground it would have been a guaranteed leg breaker. That aside your boys played a great game of football, Coyle seems a good manager too - he comes across as bright and articulate.

I'm not going to go into it, what's done is done, but I don't believe it was two footed...was it?

Fair enough if it was! I don't remember it that way though. Referees is a whole different subject and we've had so many players sent off this season, rightly and wrongly, that I'm bored of discussing them. I think Gilberto made a massive deal out of it as well i.e. rolling around. I don't blame him though, he only wants to win the game at the end of the day.

Good luck against Stoke/Newcastle!

[Petrousgyre]

I'm not going to go into it, what's done is done, but I don't believe it was two footed...was it?

Sorry, it wasn't two footed. It was dangerous though.

[Mars]

I was puzzled why he put Hoyte at left back - surely Sagna there and Hoyte at right back?

Anyway, I agree that Senderos will cost us over the course of the ACN. I like the guy but whoever mentioned the Bramble - Terry scale was spot on. Whilst Beckham is here we should have him crossing the ball for Senderos to clear constantly in training - that seems to be his main downfall.

Who else can play there? Gilberto couldn't hack it now - what about Diaby or Diarra?

[hercules]

Senderos hasn't been the same player since he dislocated his shoulder at the world cup, he definately benefits from a prolonged run in the team. You never know he might suprise us, though i'm not completely confident without toure as both of our back ups are young and bound to make mistakes.

[Lucky]

Good news!

Van Persie back for Carling Cup Semi-Final against Spurs

http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?thisNav...l+against+Spurs

Yes Robin van Persie is back in the squad,” he said. “He had a little set-back coming back from his knee injury, it was a muscle problem. But the positive side of it is that he could forget about his knee and work on his fitness.”

Apart from that, the manager intends to stick with the young side that has taken the Club to their fourth Carling Cup semi-final in the past five years.

“Lukasz Fabianski will play in goal again, Theo Walcott is available while Johan Djourou and Philippe Senderos will play at the back,” he said. “Apart from that it will be the players who played in the last [Carling Cup] game. Basically it will be a young side maybe with one or two experienced players.”

Starting 11 surely?

---Fabianski

Hoyte - Djourou - Senderos - Traore

Theo - Diarra - Denilson - Diaby

---Bendtner - Eduardo

And maybe a couple of experienced players on the bench, like when we smashed them last time.

If Diarra doesn't start then something must be wrong.

[SeanR]

Diarra to Lyon?

[hercules]

I agree with that line up. I'm delighted that RVP is back though he will surely start on the bench, Diarra has to start or he will most certainly be leaving the club. That's a really good starting line-up their are alot of players their that have played in the premierleague and the champions league.

[Lucky]

Add RVP, Gilberto and maybe even Cesc on the bench then that's a side more than capable of beating the scum.

Even add Adebayor to that bench just to shit them up.(he's carrying a little knock isn't he?)

[hercules]

Yeah adebayor will be rested as he has a niggle. But it is very promising.

[Daley]

Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce is tracking unsettled Arsenal midfielder Lassana Diarra. (Various)

Hope not but if he doesn't play again tonight then I guess he might be out. Shame, he has looked good.

[SeanR]

Hope not but if he doesn't play again tonight then I guess he might be out. Shame, he has looked good.

same reason Anelka didn't play in Boltons cup game...

[Lucky]

It would be a shame if Diarra leaves as he looks like he can be a very good player.

Not too sure what his problem is really, he needs to be patient at a big club like Arsenal where there are 20 internatinals or so, he aint gonna just walk into the team especially in centre mid where the competition for places is just crazy at the moment. Cesc and Flamini have arguably been our best 2 players this season so he can't really expect Wenger to drop Flamini to keep him happy when surely Flamini's the most improved player at Arsenal this season, probably the most imroved in the league actually.

If he wants to play for a club like Newcastle instead of fighting for his place at a club like Arsenal then maybe his attitude and commitment isn't right for us anyway.

If he's not in the side tonight then surely he's off.

[a big boy]

It would be a shame if Diarra leaves as he looks like he can be a very good player.

Not too sure what his problem is really, he needs to be patient at a big club like Arsenal where there are 20 internatinals or so, he aint gonna just walk into the team especially in centre mid where the competition for places is just crazy at the moment. Cesc and Flamini have arguably been our best 2 players this season so he can't really expect Wenger to drop Flamini to keep him happy when surely Flamini's the most improved player at Arsenal this season, probably the most imroved in the league actually.

If he wants to play for a club like Newcastle instead of fighting for his place at a club like Arsenal then maybe his attitude and commitment isn't right for us anyway.

If he's not in the side tonight then surely he's off.

He left Chelsea for first team football, did he not? I assume Wenger made promises to him he hasn't been able to keep due to Flamini's form? If that's the case, fair enough.

It's probably also worth pointing he's played as many games for France as he has for Arsenal since joining.