It seems that no one’s really all that fired up for this one, as evidenced by the fact that it kicks off in just a matter of hours, and we’ve yet to receive a preview submission from any of the usual suspects.
It’s not all that surprising really. Given the team that Arsene sent out in Sevilla, it’s not much of a stretch to think that this game is just another testing ground for some of the second stringers and those returning from injury. Jens Lehmann will make his first start in 200 years, so if that doesn’t underscore the meaninglessness of this match, I don’t know what does.
I for one will be looking for the return of Robin van Persie ahead of this weekend’s huge league match against Chelski. If RVP can get some playing time in this one, he’ll definitely be in with a chance to start on Sunday.
There is a chance that we could end up top of the group if we win and Seville lose in Prague, but it doesn’t really matter.
I bet that’s got you all fired up to watch or listen this afternoon, hunh? 
Since it seems that it’s required to post a prediction, I’ll say 3-1 to the Gunners with Ade, RvP and Bendy knocking them in.
32 Responses to “Steaua Bucharest Preview - CL Matchday 6”
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December 12th, 2007 at 12:03 pm
Sevilla won’t lose in Prague even if they play 50% as well as they did against Arsenal, so its understandable nobody’s that interested.
Prague have nothing to play for and neither do Steaua.
Still, it’s an opportunity to restore some optimism before we play Chelsea. I expect a convincing 2-0 or 3-0 win.
December 12th, 2007 at 12:14 pm
I hope no one of consequence for Sunday starts in this one. It will be nice to see RVP and Diaby get a few minutes of action. And it will be nice to see Jens back. Other than that, unload the bench.
RVP (45 minutes)/Eduardo Bendtner
Gibbs Gilberto Diaby Walcott
Traore Song Senderos Hoyte
That lineup looks a bit ridiculous. But I don’t really want any of them in the Chelsea game with the exception of the RVP and maybe Walcott and Bendtner as subs.
December 12th, 2007 at 12:19 pm
This is a done deal in the CL. I don’t know how important it really is to finish first now we’ll have to face the top clubs sooner or later.
This weekend is what is more important, with the top 4 teams all playing each other the table might look somewhat different come Sunday. We’ve all known how Arsenal will do in the EPL if they were still first at Christmas. This is crunch time weekend.
December 12th, 2007 at 12:20 pm
Have to agree with Brendan on the participants. I only want RvP and Diaby to get a bit of match experience before Sunday, and neither should start.
December 12th, 2007 at 12:46 pm
If Senderos plays change my 2-0/3-0 to 2-2/3-2.
December 12th, 2007 at 12:50 pm
Only took 5 posts before the Sendy bashing started. Poor kid. How the mighty of 05-06 have fallen.
December 12th, 2007 at 1:03 pm
Come on, how many more dire performances do you want before you accept he’s nowhere near Arsenal standard. I’m one of the patient ones.
Senderos could feasibly be ok for a mid-table or championship side, but he’s just too mentally weak to hack it right at the top.
Still, there’s zero pressure on him tonight, the opposition is twaddle and there isn’t much to play for. If he can’t even play well tonight then he needs shooting.
December 12th, 2007 at 1:05 pm
“This is a big test for the squad because I will rest some players,” Wenger said at his pre-match press conference. “There are some players who have played four games on the trot away from home, including Sevilla, so some of them need a little breather. ”
Let’s hope Wenger goes for this line-up to really liven things up!
Lehman,
Hoyte, Sendy, Song, Traore
Theo, Denilson, Gilberto, Diaby
Eduardo, Bendtner
If Sendy plays, let’s ALL give him the benefit of the doubt. And then see how long it takes for him to commit a howler… Call it the Sendy Sweepstakes. Winner gets a bar of Toblerone to hold behind his back with two hands.
I go for 21mins.
To be fair, he won’t have far to look for inspiration. Toure gifted Boro a penalty that was exquisitely Senderos-esque with its combo of hapless panic, slow recovery and total unnecessaryness.
Come on Gunners, let’s get back to winning ways before we meet the Russian scum.
December 12th, 2007 at 1:15 pm
No injuries for anyone and clean sheet for Lehmann. That’s all I ask.
December 12th, 2007 at 1:16 pm
Senderos is most definitely starting. Either of Gallas or Toure if not both will be absent so who do you think is next in line. Gilberto only plays there when Senderos is unavailable. And going by current form I certainly wouldn’t want to see Gilberto at the back.
I think it will be a draw. 1-1 or 0-0.
December 12th, 2007 at 1:58 pm
everyone’s saying sevilla won’t lose, but what if they draw? don’t we still win the group if we win today?
December 12th, 2007 at 2:01 pm
Yes, we’d both be on 13 points, but we’d have the goal difference in the head to heads to put us top.
December 12th, 2007 at 2:08 pm
why are some people putting denilson in their starting lineup today? don’t we need him to play attacking midfield vs. chelsea? if not him, who?
December 12th, 2007 at 2:22 pm
Mike’s right, we need to win and Sevilla need to not win, then we’ll win the group. But Sevilla really has the most to gain by winning, so I imagine they’ll get a result. Unless they don’t really care if they face a group winner in the next knockout round.
December 12th, 2007 at 3:47 pm
The Flamster is going to sign a new 5 yr deal, hope this is true.
December 12th, 2007 at 3:50 pm
Diaby and Walcott on the wings, with RVP and Bendy up front…..
December 12th, 2007 at 3:51 pm
Lehmann
03 Sagna
10 Gallas
06 Senderos
30 Traore
32 Walcott
17 Song Billong
15 Denilson
02 Diaby
11 Van Persie
26 Bendtner
Full line up.
December 12th, 2007 at 3:57 pm
goal by “that useless streak of sh*t”
December 12th, 2007 at 4:21 pm
Song, Denilson and Sagna are working some nice plays there.
December 12th, 2007 at 4:24 pm
lol@kiwi .. what time is it there in Newzealand? Its 1:53am in India right now and the game’s a replay at 3:15am and I have to go to work tomorrow
.. thats another heavy headed day then …
December 12th, 2007 at 4:25 pm
Slavia are still holding off Sevilla, and they hit the post, too. Scoreless in that game as we approach halftime.
December 12th, 2007 at 4:34 pm
Here in Malaysia it’s 4:32am now. Got a class at 9am. I don’t know if I’ll make it.
December 12th, 2007 at 4:38 pm
Finally Lehmann is back. And so if RVP, yah..
LDE, blob123: man you guys are beyond burning the midnight oil for this game
Has your body warded off sleep yet? Been a while since I was up that late, but usually I was fine to head to work in the morning but trouble really started in the afternoon when sleep kicked in with full force.
December 12th, 2007 at 4:40 pm
Hi LDE the time is currently 9:35am.
Is the game on sopcast or something?
December 12th, 2007 at 4:45 pm
@kiwi: Yup, it’s on sopcast. It buffered for longer than usual but it finally started running like 12mins into the game.
December 12th, 2007 at 4:48 pm
Thanks blob123…..what channel do you use on sopcast?
December 12th, 2007 at 4:58 pm
http://myp2p.eu/broadcast.php?matchid=3332&part=sports
December 12th, 2007 at 5:00 pm
I think its Livefooty 12 (Pro Tv Direct)
December 12th, 2007 at 5:08 pm
I can’t take it anymore. My eyes can barely stay open. 5:08am now. Van Persie is off. No more reason for me to stay up.
December 12th, 2007 at 5:28 pm
Bastards. Seville finally made the breakthough - two goals in two minutes.
December 12th, 2007 at 5:57 pm
Well, the boring, useless group stages are finally over and we have finished 2nd. I am glad we came out without injuries and Robin got a run in and Diaby and Bendtner scored. I have always liked Diaby (didn’t see him today though)…
It’s quite OK that we finished 2nd; now bring on the juicy stuff: the knockout round.
You know it’s destiny for us to draw Barca next round…..
I noticed Thierry wasn’t even in Barca’s squad today. Anyone know why?
December 12th, 2007 at 6:19 pm
yeah apparently Henry’s injury problems are back. I have read that is unsure when Henry will be back. Initial reports were targeting the huge game with Madrid but not clear what is up right now.