Posts Tagged ‘milan’

Arsene said:

Gallas said:

Arsenal (4-5-1): J Lehmann — B Sagna, K Touré (sub: P Senderos, 7min), W Gallas, G Clichy — E Eboué (sub: T Walcott, 89), F Fàbregas, M Flamini, Eduardo da Silva (sub: N Bendtner, 73) — A Hleb — E Adebayor. Substitutes not used: L Fabianski, Denilson, Gilberto Silva, J Hoyte. Booked: Senderos, Eboué.

AC Milan (4-4-2): Z Kalac — M Oddo, A Nesta (sub: M Jankulovski, 49), K Kaladze, P Maldini — G Gattuso, A Pirlo, C Seedorf (sub: Emerson, 85), M Ambrosini — Pato (sub: A Gilardino, 76), Kaká. Substitutes not used: V Fiori, F Inzaghi, D Bonera, C Brocchi. Booked: Pato.

An interesting article  Young Guns about our proposed signing of another 15 year old Barcelona B player:

http://youngguns.wordpress.com/2008/02/21/arsenal-enter-transfer-talks-for-miquel/]]>

A clean sheet, a good performance or a wasted opportunity?

Arsene says: “We have shown drive – 90 minutes of quality. We have show maturity.”

It’s hard to describe, I’m a little disappointed we didn’t score, but I felt that we had a good game, controlled the game, were the dominant force.

It was a cagey start by boths side, with Milan having the better of the first 15 mins, but as the game grew, so did we. Flamini was outstanding and our overall play was quick, collective and precise.

But we couldn’t score, we tried, we had shots, but they were all at the keeper…

We lost Toure after 10 mins to a hamstring injury, but his replacement Senderos played admirely.

We played well in the first half, with Eduaro, Fabregas, Adebayor and Flamini all had chances but it was 0-0 in the first half.  In the second half, we came out guns blazing, played really well but didn’t really have any clear cut chances.

But… with 30 seconds to go, Walcott, on a substitute, dazzled the left back and sent a cross to the far post. Who was there? Adebayor, no keeper, open goal. Hit the bar! We could have won it… and he looked embarrassed.

A clean sheet, a good performance or a wasted opportunity?]]>

I’ve had a high number of hits on this page today - this blog entry is from the first leg – if you’re looking for today’s game (4th March 2008) click here.

Okay, it’s six thirty and just an hour until kick off. Let’s have a look at the starting line up against AC Milan.

The Squad

Lehmann, Sagna, Gallas, Toure, Clichy, Eboue, Fabregas, Flamini, Hleb, Adebayor, Eduardo, Fabianski, Senderos, Bendtner, Gilberto, J Hoyte, Traore, Walcott, Denilson.

First XI

Jens Lehmann (GK)
Lehmann retains his place after Almunia failed to recover from flu and then a stomach bug.
We all hope Lehmann can have a performance that we know he can and why he was brought to the club!

Bacary Sagna (RB)
Sagna is back and will bring steel and stregth to the back four as well as a good attacking option.

William Gallas (CB)
Gallas will captain the side and after his shaky performance on Saturday, we hope he gives us a captain’s performance.

Kolo Toure (CB)
Toure is back from African Nations duty, back from a re-introduction to the premier league up north!
Kolo is a player who can win this game for us.

Gael Clichy
Clichy also returns to the side and has recovered from his “musclar” injury. He will add both defensive and attacking steel to the left hand side.

Emmanuel Eboue (RM)
Eboue has got the nod ahead of a returning Walcott. Without RVP and Rosicky, we have no other option… if you remember Eboue against Man U at the Emirates last season, we know Eboue can contribute!

Mathieu Flamini (DM)
Flamini has been in great form this season and hopefully will have another top notch performance.
Flamini on Gattuso: I don’t want sound disrespectful to the guy because he’s amazing but I think I’m a different player to him. I’m more attacking. We try and play a little more football. And, anyway, I want to make my own name in the football world.

Cesc Fabregas (CM)
This boy is the heartbeat of our team… when he’s on form, so are we. Cesc vs Kaka, an awesome dual.
Cesc on Milan: When you play against Milan, you don’t need extra motivation. We have to come back and be stronger than ever

Aleksandr Hleb (AM)
Hleb is our connoisseur’s favourite and we will look to Hleb to unlock the Milan defence.

Emmanuel Adebayor (CF)
12 goals in 9 games. As ANR reports suggests If Adebayor has a good night against Milan, Arsenal will be fine. That’s very true. Ade – it’s your time.

Eduardo (CF)
Our little gem, no one’s talking about him, no one’s mentioned his name. But he can finish, has pace and could be our “secret weapon” tonight…

The Bench

The is confirmed as:
Fabianski – he’s had his good games and his bad, he is unlikely to be needed (I hope)
Senderos – has come back to form of late
Bendtner – not really shown or had many chances since his winner at the Emirates against Sp*rs.
Gilberto – starting to gain some match pratice,
Walcott – 80% fit but could be an important cameo
Denilson – Returns to the side, unlikely to play
Hoyte – Keeps his place in the 16, unlikely to feature.

The Milan XI is as follows:
Milan XI

Zeljko Kalac 16
Kakha Kaladze 4
Paolo Maldini 3
Massimo Oddo 44
Alessandro Nesta 13
Andrea Pirlo 21
Ivan Gennaro Gattuso 8
Massimo Ambrosini 23
Clarence Seedorf 10
Kakà 22
Pato 7

Subs
Alberto Gilardino 11
Christian Brocchi 32
Filippo Inzaghi 9
Valerio Fiori 29
Emerson 5
Daniele Bonera 25
Marek Jankulovski 18

Come on you gunners!
Let’s hope my next blog is a very happy one!]]>

I mean the professional performance and eventual 2-0 win against a woeful Milan side...

I'd like to see the game stay as 11 versus 11, I'd like to see Kaka versus Fabregas. I'd like to see Adebayor skip past a Nesta or Maldini... it's going to be an exciting day tomorrow.... come on you reds!]]>

I’ve had a high number of hits on this page today - this blog entry is from the first leg – if you’re looking for today’s game (second leg on 4th March 2008) click here.

Yesterday, I previewed the Arsenal vs AC Milan game – it was an early preview. A lot could have happened and I did assume a lot, but it looks like my assumptions all came true! That never happens.

Well, actually I was not that right… this morning I heard that Almunia had recovered and was ready to play, but on a news release on Arsenal.com, Arsene said;

In other injury news, also confirmed are the returns to the squad and first XI of Gael Clichy, Mathieu Flamini, Emmanuel Adebayor and Bacary Sagna. Additionally, Walcott and Denilson have been added to the squad, although not 100% fit. Arsene says the battle has to be won in the midfield and has also moved to praise Gilberto recently, who may be regaining some sort of match fitness. Cesc Fabregas believes the experienced Milan midfield can “kill you in a minute” if you are not careful. He goes on to say:

And it looks like Eboue has had a little knock, so it’s a change to our somewhat unfavoured 4-5-1 formation.

So here’s the revised line up:

An interesting news story too, as Capello gets in on the act…

Fabio Capello gives Arsenal a glowing report…

Catch you later!]]>