Udinese-Arsenal Match Thread

By: jg | August 24th, 2011
   

Arsenal: Szczesny; Sagna, Vermaelen, Djourou, Jenkinson; Song, Frimpong, Ramsey; Gervinho, Walcott, van Persie
Subs: Fabianski, Miquel, Traore, AOC, Rosicky, Arshavin, Chamakh

Udinese: Handanovic; Ekstrand, Benatia, Larangeira, Neuton; Isla, Agyemang-Badu, Asamoah, Armero, Pinzi; Di Natale
Subs: Belardi, Basta, Denis, Abdi, Pasquale, Doubai, Fabbrini.

A pretty standard formation, with few surprises. I hit the mark on predicting Sagna and Jenkinson would be our full-backs for this one- Jenkinson has been solid from what we’ve seen of him, and I doubted Wenger would risk putting Traore there in a match of this magnitude.
In midfield, Rosicky didn’t pass his fitness test apparently, so Frimpong will partner Song, allowing Ramsey to go further up field. Frimpong was our best player against Liverpool on Saturday but, coupled with Song, you have to say our chances of finishing with 11 men have been lowered. Frimpong is still awesome, though, and our midfield has become stronger for it. With Ramsey in a more playmaker style position, we’ll see if he can provide some creativity in our attack. Fingers crossed.

Udinese’s formation leaves no surprises, and they’ll be tough to beat. I’ll be pretty happy with a 1-1 or 2-2 draw. Biggest match of our season, so let’s hope the players are ready to go.

Come on Arsenal! (Try to ignore Nasri’s comments, he’s a jerk.)


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  • satan

    Arsene BRING OUT THE CASH!! CAHILL, VERTHONGEN, HAZARD!!

  • Bertrand

    M'VILLA, MARTIN/GOTZE

  • Jack Wilshere: ''Champions league football for another year....yes please!''

    Oh ye of little faith, our beloved have yet again qualified.

    IN ARSENE I TRUST...

  • JG

    Oxtail for dessert, please.

  • GERVINGOOOOOOOLLLLL!

  • And now Walcott.

    FredJacob -- Keep bashing our players, the reverse-jinx seems to be working like a charm!

  • JG

    SZCZESNY SAVED.

  • TK

    A bit of Oliver Kahn channeling there! and now it's a bit of Henry!

  • JG

    Who was that fool who complained about Gervinho lacking end product?

  • That would be FredJacob yesterday :)

    Edit: He also complained about Walcott which he got shit dumped on him thoroughly for. :) Be sure to add the gravy today, JG.

  • Kas123

    We've only scored 1 time in 3 games this season. I remember a few years back, we gave Everton 6 at the first game of the season.

  • Gigi_man

    I am not watching but saw a goal against, I cant work, cant watch,

    Live blog?

    BAd and sad...

  • Gigi -- Its 1-1 (compliments of Gervinho) and Szczęsny just made an amazing PK save.

  • Brenton

    Gang, I've just started a liveblog. Sorry for the timing, I've been traveling.

  • JG

    Rosicky has been useless this season and Frimpong showed some real grit in our game. Why, Wenger?

  • To be fair, he's working and hustling his arse off. He might not be doing much technically, but he's playing well defensively and working hard to open up space.

    Edit: He's making some amazing tackles like the old Rosicky. For nostalgia, look up the youtube 10 minute clip of just plain and pure tackles from Rosicky.

  • Homey_Mills

    You'll find out when Rosicky bags the winner.

  • SJGgumby

    Love Frimp as much as the next Arsenal fan, but the over/under for cards per match for him has to be 1.5.  He really needs to work on his timing / composure.

  • JG

    Walcott has seriously lacked synchronization with the rest of our attack. Frimpong looking good. Shame on Djourou for leaving Di Natale unmarked like that.
    I feel nervous. 

  • satan

    Guys, apparently Fenerbahce has been withdrawn from the champions league, so in fridays draw there will be only 31 teams. Meaning that the 32nd spot might go to the team with the highest coefficient which lost in the the qualifiers. So even if Arsenal lose today (doubt it), they, as the team with the highest coefficient, could be put in the champions league. Heard this from the commentator. Hopefully hes right.

  • Patoux21

    It would have been an absolute shame to have Arsenal qualify this way but at the moment things look so bad for the club it would be a luxury to be more demanding

  • Kas123

    No satan, they've been replaced with the Runner up team

  • HAAAA. Never thought I'd see a response with the text, "No satan..."

  • SJGgumby

    They gave the spot to Trabzonspor, the runner-up for the spot in the Turkish league.  Despite also being under investigation for match fixing.

  • Patoux21

     It's time for the team to step up and Sagna protect your left side! Listening to Wenger talking about fighting spirit before the game hum
    The worst is we don't have any form of strong offensive threat on the bench

  • Guest123

    what ugly display by arsenal. Time for a new mgr for Arsenal.

  • Guest123

    is Arsenal owners def? wat crap display by Aresenal w ith over 20m riding on this game

  • Kas123

    Van Persie looks like shit cause he's not getting service. 

  • Bumblefock

    ok, so we buy a couple of good players, so what? our play is disjointed tinkling. i've seen this team play mindless clueless possession game in the midfield. this team is so boring to watch. there's no fucking tactics

  • Kas123

    Yep, No tactics, no conviction, no confidence. Poor decisions in the final third, now poor defending and gaps in the defence. OMG. Is this the best we have to offer? 

  • Bumblefock

    seriously, with the exception of a few stellar games in the past season our attacking often looks like some junior stake dances. our boys stand in line in front of the girls and everyone's shy to take a step to get into the box. even when nasri and cesc were on the pitch. there's something wrong with our attacking schemes

  • Patoux21

    Wenger has some much pride and stubbornness that he would rahter his beautiful football even though he may not win anything for 10 years but maybe he should realise that he doesn't have Barca classy players

  • Kas123

    C'mon U Arsenal

  • Homey_Mills

    Well if anyone thought it would be easy, they were wrong.  Ugh.

  • Kas123

    Oh shit

  • SJGgumby

    That should have been it.  Man.

  • Homey_Mills

    I can't believe we missed twice from close range like that.  Also, I'll be stunned if Frimpong doesn't at least finish with a yellow today.

  • Kas123

    No Live gaming?

  • Homey_Mills

    I guess Brenton is doing the work thing today.  If you're talking about the live blog, that is.  JG or I could have set it up, but I just got back from work myself, so I didn't have time.

  • Kas123

    Yeah, I rushed home for it. Oh well. Perhaps for Man U?

  • Homey_Mills

    Probably so.  Sorry about that.  We'll try to do better next time.

  • Homey_Mills

    Wojo's left goal post is our MVP so far.

  • SJGgumby

    I believe Wenger hid $80M in that goalpost.  I told you not to doubt him.

  • Homey_Mills

    So much for that left goal post.

  • SJGgumby

    It still has a half to redeem itself.

  • Seems like Di Natale will fire the ball regardless of where he's standing.

  • SJGgumby

    Wojek has a good arm!

  • Gener4

    good movement to start the game... i like it

  • SJGgumby

    The atdhe link is in english for once.  Oh happy day.

  • JG

    The Friuli home crowd look magnificent. So does Frimpong, btw. DEEENNNCCHHH.

  • Homey_Mills

    Bendtner's omission is another clear signal that he'll be gone in a week or so.

  • Sophie

    I'm not sure that Arsenal should be so quick to sell Bendtner. Without him, the only cover for van Persie is Chamakh (or Theo, depending.) He is okay as a third choice when it appears the alternative is no third choice.

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