Valencia Preview
By: Martin | August 7th, 2009Tomorrow brings our final friendly match of the summer, away to Valencia. The Spanish club has fallen on hard financial times recently, but despite all the speculation, didn’t sell David Villa or David Silva, so still have a lot of firepower. Wenger has said he will be fielding a side that is as close as possible to the side which will line up against Everton next weekend, so this match will tell us who is in the club’s first-choice 11.
My guess is that we’ll line up in a 4-3-3 as we have been doing:
Almunia
Sagna-Gallas-Vermaelen-Clichy
Cesc-Song-Arshavin
Walcott-Bendtner-van Persie
It should be good preparation. It will give the players a good chance to play against a top-quality side on the road, in front of motivated fans (it is a celebration of Valencia’s 90th birthday), and doing that much running around in the heat will get the boys into game shape. To my knowledge, it’s not being televised here in the states, so everyone may have to watch an online stream of it.
Here’s what Wenger himself has to say about the match:
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martin you are a post machine today
Posted from
United States
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I have a lineup question. Who’s playing as wing midfielders in the 4-3-3 you proposed? Is Cesc out wide, or Song? Either way, I’m not really liking that thought. I’d much rather have Walcott and Arshavin out wide, even if that means a 4-4-2.
Posted from
United States -
Yeah, I struggled with that, too. I was thinking that Cesc and Song would be more anchored in the middle of the field, with Arshavin essentially in a roaming “free” role wherever he sees space. And Walcott/RvP as kind of attacking wingers playing on the sides but well up the field. But like I said, it was more or less a guess, although I’m very anxious to see who Arsene starts tomorrow.
evaldo–yeah, what can I say. Busy day for Arsenal, slow day for Martin at work…
Posted from
United States -
Is there anyone going to the match tomorrow? I live in Madrid but I am Irish and want to meet up with other arsenal fans
Posted from
Spain -
Also on the formation —
There’s been a lot of talk comparing our new 4-3-3 to Barca’s from last season. The main difference that I see is with the wide forwards. Barca plays Messi on the right (better taking shots coming in with his left foot from the right side) and Henry on the left (better taking shots coming in with his right foot from the left side).
The formation Martin gave has RvP on the left and Walcott on the right, which has the opposite effect. Thoughts?
Posted from
United States -
Noticed an article on your clubs website about the match called get to know your opponents, too bad the guy who wrote it got our selection wrong including some of last years players
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/get-to-know-our-opponents…-valencia-cf
Anyway good luck for the match, looking forward to it! I hope Valencias defense can hold a bit better this season then last season.
Amunt!
Posted from
Netherlands -
My two favorite team will clash tomorrow, but, deep down, I hope that Arsenal win it. Because, I feel more one of your fan than theirs.
It seems that Wenger still followed Edu. It shows how much he cares about his former player. I’m would be surprised if he was very happen when Barcelona won the C.L.
Posted from
United States -
I’m would NOT be surprised if he was very happen when Barcelona won the C.L.
Posted from
United States -
liverpool signed aquilani from roma
Posted from
United States -
I hope lose tomorrow, that will send some alarm bell ringings for Wenger. Even though we ll be good the first couple of weeks, injuries will come! We need to buy 2 more players!
Posted from
United States -
lol peter I like how you think…
still I think wenger will get players anyway, whether we win or lose
Posted from
United States -
Yeah, I kinda have to agree with Peter there. My thinking is if we weren’t behind Aston Villa last year, we’d have never brought in Arshavin. Anyone care to weigh in on that thought?
Posted from
United States -
hi waan idin salaamayaa taageeraaasha arsenaleey
Posted from
Hong Kong -
He would have brought him anyway because Fabregas was injured. He said he needed creativity and this was the reason why he went after Arshavin plus the constant demands of the fans
.Posted from
United States
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