Arsenal America

Ed. Note - Sorry this should have gone up earlier, but it was a nice effort by a member who put a lot of time into his thoughts. Discuss…

Its got to be one of the cups, its our only chance to get some salvation this season. As much as i hate to admit it, i dont share the optimism of some of the other members on this site about finishing 2nd in the EPL. This is end of season, this is Manure’s bread and butter, they hardly ever drop points towards the end of the season and chelsea are too far ahead for anything to happen (would have been very different were they still just 5 ahead). Though last nights FA cup game might suggest otherwise, they wont lose games in the PL becuase despite their insipid attack without star man robben, they wont conceed goals (i guess thts the real advantage of buliding from back).

But anyways the lads cant be thinking about that, they’ve got to focus their energy on the CUPS. Thats why i was a bit unhappy to see Wenger field a second string side against Sheffield.

Since the start of the season, i’ve had gut feeling about the Champions League, i just thought maybe this was going to be our season in the CL and it really didnt ever look like our season in the EPL since that fateful October night at the theatre of nightmares! It makes some sort of sad ironic sense that we finally perform in the the CL when we’re struggling (relatively speaking, given our performances) in the EPL.

Given our performances in big games this season (maure home and away, liverpool and spurs away, we are yet to beat a big team!), the odds dont look to good for us in the CL, that i will admit. But i will be really happy if we can get a great run in the CL say upto the semis just to prove that we have improved from last year.

So whats the first obstacle in our way:
BAYERN MUNICH

Dunno why but everyone in England really seems to be under-estimating the two german sides in the competition. I must admit i really didnt fancy playing Bayern when the lots were drawn, would have much preferred Madrid or Chelsea (they look ripe for the picking right now dont they without robben and a few others). Bayern really seem to be an arsenal nightmare right now, lethal in the air and love their set-peices, and unlike us play with real width, get crosses into the box and score with their heads as much as their feet.

The only tougher sides than Bayern at this point in the competition are Milan and Barca and probably Juve.

Bayern are being vastly under-rated my the media (hopefully not by the players), they won the CL as recently as 2000 (most of that side is still intact), and have good runs almost every year, it was only last year they were knocked out by madrid due to a clanger by Kahn.

Bayern combine old fashion german grit with the attacking flair of the dutchman Roy makaay and Peruvian Claudio Pizzaro upfront. They are very strong defensively and have a lot to offer going forward as well. Unlike us they defend as a team and have an excellent defending mentality and a great keeper. Thats why i think a draw in Munich might not be that great because they can stonewall pretty much anyone anywhere, so we really need a win or a coupla away goals, so that they come out and try to score at Highbury.

They have an excellent core a great keeper in Kahn (though Lehmann might want to challenge that, it will be one of the most interesting aspects of the game). An excellent defender in Kuffur (been an admirer of his game for a while now), excellent midfielder in Ballack (very much one of the best in his position, very gerrard like in his ability to roam, make tackles and amazing at set peices), and one of the best strikers in the world up front in Makaay.Makaay is really a dutch master, in many ways better than Van NistelDiver, he is a centre forward do can do it all. He will definitely be DANGER MAN#1.

Basically its gonna take a lot to beat them in their Bavarian Backyard.

Its going to be as much about our defence as our attack, dont know about the ashley cole situation, wether or not he still has the flu, but i think he will be missed, he always plays well in CL games (remember late header at highbury that kept us in it last season).

Pascal Cygan at central defence against Makaay makes me very, very nervous. But i am hopeful who knows maybe he will grasp this opportunity with both hands and make a name for himself (okay please stop laughing).

Seriously i just cant see us keeping Makaay quiet over a period of 45 minutes let alone 90 or 180.
I have read some unconfirmed reports that Ballack wont be playing, that would be a real relief because he’s un-believable in the air. And it would free viera up to shield our defence.

I think one of the biggest concerns is us defending their crosses, how?? Can it be done overnight, we obviously arent good at it, we struggled against a team like Sheffield, pumping long throws, crosses and corners into the box, if we perform like that we’re done for. AW needs to perform a minor miracle, he’s been known to do it before, so who knows? Also is there a case for new boy Eboue to star, at centre or Right back? He’s definitely got a bit of pace and skill, though his positioning isnt exactly the best. Would he be in your starting 11 in place of either Lauren or Cygan?

The midfield battle is going to be essential, we did see a great performance from Edu against Villa but that really was boys against men, can we judge him on that? On the other hand i think Flamini has been good to excellent everytime he has started and has the kind of industry that might be needed against a midfield consisting of Schweinsteiger(a very under-estimated player, remember the excellent chested assist for Ballacks awesome goal at Euro),Scholl, Frings, Hargreaves and Ze Roberto(he’s definitely DANGER MAN#2 in Ballacks’ absence), dunno who will start for them but any of them are more than a handful. So what will it be Flamini’s enthusiasm or Edu’s experience? Viera has got to belive this is the game of his life, he keeps pondering on Arsenal’s lack of success in the CL, well he should really try to do more about it himself than moan in public. I guess freddie and pires will make up the remaining two in midfield, but I think wenger should go for something new (i know he won’t, thats just not wenger is it) pires on the right, reyes on the left and Freddie behind Henry, Freddie will be a waste without DB10 feeding him slide rule passes to run in behind defences, his runs will be wasted. Reyes has proved that he can really excell in the left wing and i think most of his best performances have come there. I really think Reyes is one of the key players for this game, I think AW bought him with the CL in mind. He’s wasnt bought just to terrorize EPL defences, he has to become our robben (he showed he can do that during the beginning of the season), I think he was bought to make the difference in our CL campaign, score a great goal in tight knockout matches like this, make the difference with a moment of inspired genius…

Time has come for the team to make something of this season, even if we dont win anything I would be happy if we have some great moments to remember a great run in the CL. Great victories over really tough opposition ..thats what makes my season. Away to Inter 5-1, Juve home 3-1, away Roma 3-0,1-0 in the dying seconds against Kiev, Manure FA cup 2-0, Chelsea home and away 2-1 in the EPL and FA cup, liverpool 4-2 at home after being 2-1 down and supposedly out at half time, this is what i love arsenal for. Yes the trophies are important, they attract players and money to the club and give us fans something to brag about to our friends and something for the players to cherish. But its great victories in matches like the one coming up are what I remember most, so here’s to hoping for another European Glory Night, which Arsenal will turn up: will we trample them like Inter or get trod upon, dont know, but cant wait to find out!….