CL: Ludogorets v Arsenal, Tuesday 1st November, 7.45pm, BTS3

[Kano]

Should be an easy enough three points but they'll have a point to prove so it'll probably be a closer run thing this time.

Biggest test of the season so far coming up next weekend, so a few changes to be made if possible.

[Marc Overmars]

Even though we hammered them last time, they were confident enough to have a go and had our defence on the ropes for a brief spell. Expecting a much closer game here but we should be ok.

1-3

No injuries please, Spuds are going to be super tough.

[AFC Leveller]

These away trips to east Europe always prove tricky (Zagreb) and this match will be different to the home tie.

1-2 or 0-2 but far from easy.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Cosmin Moti: The Return

[Kano]

No Bellerin (rested), Feo, Monreal or Santi for tomorrow.

[Goonermerree]

We're not secretly playing a weakend team I hope.

[Kano]

How would we do it secretly?

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

We're not secretly playing a weakend team I hope.

This team is utter gash if we can't beat them even if we rest several players we don't deserve to finish top of the group.

[selassie]

This team is utter gash if we can't beat them even if we rest several players we don't deserve to finish top of the group.

We should win but I don't think it will be plain sailing. I thought they looked quite decent offensively in the first game, they caused us quite a few problems.

We'll have to defend well if we are going to get the three points here.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

team i'd play

Ospina, Jenkinson, Gabriel, Holding, Gibbs, Xhaka, Elneny, Ramsey, Iwobi, Ox, Giroud

Subs: Sanchez, Jeff, Ozil, Coq, Kosc, Mustafi, Cech

[Niall_Quinn]

Play the full team and keep the momentum going. This is precisely the type of game where we've fucked around in the past and lost momentum, lost points and ended up letting a rival pip us to the top spot. Get the job done and go into the PSG game leaving them, rather than us, a mountain to climb. No more glorious failures. Hammer every nail until qualification in the top spot is guaranteed.

That said, Wenger will most likely fuck around.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

on the other hand, i think too often we get injuries by playing the same players week in week out, no sense in having a squad of players if we don't use them. Cazorla is injured because we have been playing him far too often.

Other players end up being out of form when they come into the team because they are underplayed. I'm no fan of either Giroud or Ramsey.....especially not Ramsey but even I think they are useful squad members and actually i think they need to play their way into full form after being injured.

The side i have suggested we should play, retains all the available first team players not in the starting XI on the bench so the likes of Sanchez and Ozil can come on if they needed.

And fact remains if we can't beat a Bulgarian team without those two, than our hopes of winning anything significant this season is little more than a pipe dream anyway.

[Niall_Quinn]

This isn't a banker game by any stretch. We've been here before. If we're worried about mileage clocked by key players then send them out and get the job done early. Then bench them. The other way around is way too risky for us. We send on the second stringers and they tip tap it around and create zero chances. Then the first stringers have to chase a game in which the opposition has already gained confidence and have something to hang onto. Much harder doing it that way around. Instead show the opposition the team that hammered them last time, defeat them in the tunnel before the game kicks off like we used to. The last time conservatism worked for Wenger was 2006, which also marked the start of the downward spiral in our football. Now there are flickers of effective football being seen on a fairly regular basis, don't stifle it again. We should be approaching the game against the spuds expecting to win, not shitting it that players might get injured. The mentality is all wrong.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Perhaps but the fact remains that we do have constant injuries because Wenger either overplays players or keeps faith with injury prone players.

And I repeat if we don't have the guile to beat this side even without our best players than its a nonsense to think we should be competing anyway.

[Kano]

PSG beat them 3-1 after going a goal down, with a strong team out, so complete second string side is too risky. Spuds have to be taken into consideration given the importance and amount of leg work that has to be put into that game.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

And are PSG all that good?....this is a side that should have hammered us 4 or 5 nil (that's how terrible we were) and yet couldn't finish us off

[Kano]

As good as or if not better than us, they deserved to beat us at their place and have outperformed us in the CL for a while now. One strikers misfiring game doesn't summarise their entire team. Given the other 9 were able to contribute to creating those chances, I'd say they are a good side. I wouldn't see any team in Europe taking them lightly.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

my point is they have thrown loads of money into that side and yet have actually consistently underperformed in Europe, so actually there's not much to read into them going behind against ludogorets with their strongest team.

I very much doubt Wenger will rest Sanchez or Ozil, but i maintain that if we feel we need either of them to beat this lot than we might as well give up now.

[fakeyank]

I see both HCZ and NQ's perspective on this but I'd go with NQ's approach for this match. I agree that we should be able to beat this team with a weakened team but anything other than a win tonight will mean that we are more than likely going to be playing Bayern or Barca in the next round. I can see that demoralize the team ahead of meeting the scums down the road this weekend. These are professional players and if we can get the job done easily, take off the big players and give game time to the kids.

[Power n Glory]

We're already rotating. With Elneny, Coquelin, Ox and Gibbs coming back into the squad, a long with Bif and Ramsey making sub appearances, we're warming up some of the bench players and getting them up to speed. As some of our players to start to cool down and look off the pace, we can swap them out without causing too much of a disruption. No point in making massive changes for this game because it disrupts the momentum and it's unlikely we'll ever play that combination of players. We just need to mix it up.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

It's all totally academic, as Wenger will play Sanchez and Ozil no matter what you or I think

Those are the two players for me, most in need of a rest

There is a difference between rotating and slotting players into the team because you've burnout the others.

[Xhaka Can’t]

I hope we score more goals than the other guys.

[Power n Glory]

It's all totally academic, as Wenger will play Sanchez and Ozil no matter what you or I think

Those are the two players for me, most in need of a rest

There is a difference between rotating and slotting players into the team because you've burnout the others.

Alexis just scored two over the weekend. When he starts showing signs of fatigue, give him a rest, but for now, Wenger just has to be smarter with his subs and take one or two off earlier when we look comfortable.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Perhaps i just don't see the point when we have an opportunity to play Giroud back into form, and we've seen with Lucas Perez that it just takes one mis timed tackle and he could be out for a number of matches. Now obviously you risk that every time you send a player out onto the field, but in this case i think it's an unnecessary one.

[Niall_Quinn]

I hope we score more goals than the other guys.

I think we can, if we put the ball in their net more times than they put it in ours.

[Power n Glory]

Perhaps i just don't see the point when we have an opportunity to play Giroud back into form, and we've seen with Lucas Perez that it just takes one mis timed tackle and he could be out for a number of matches. Now obviously you risk that every time you send a player out onto the field, but in this case i think it's an unnecessary one.

Exactly. We could just as easily lose Giroud tonight to such a challenge.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Exactly. We could just as easily lose Giroud tonight to such a challenge.

Giroud is needed far less for the game against Spurs than Sanchez and is less vital to our success overall

[Niall_Quinn]

Giroud is needed far less for the game against Spurs than Sanchez and is less vital to our success overall

We can't creep around the place worrying that players will get injured. That's what the squad if for. If we get unlucky then there are players who can step in. In the meantime, let's put some more pressure on PSG by putting a strong team out there that can blow Ludo away early and then hit the bench if they need to. Let's not give our main opponents in this group a sniff. 6 more goals please. That'll force them to beat us when we meet - provided we don't get all complacent against Basle. These are the key games coming up now, the ones we must win to avoid the last 16 groundhog event.

[Power n Glory]

Giroud is needed far less for the game against Spurs than Sanchez and is less vital to our success overall

Either of them. Someone picking up an injury because they've been kicked is something we can't do anything about. We could rest Sanchez tonight, come up short for the result but still lose Sanchez against Spurs or in training but now be at risk of losing the top spot in the CL.

Sanchez is on red hot form. He doesn't need a rest.

[Niall_Quinn]

Either of them. Someone picking up an injury because they've been kicked is something we can't do anything about. We could rest Sanchez tonight, come up short for the result but still lose Sanchez against Spurs or in training but now be at risk of losing the top spot in the CL.

Sanchez is on red hot form. He doesn't need a rest.

And he'd be pissed if he got a rest. that's the sort of player he is. The exact sort we need on the pitch as often as possible.

[Power n Glory]

And he'd be pissed if he got a rest. that's the sort of player he is. The exact sort we need on the pitch as often as possible.

That too and there is no need to disrupt him mentally.

[Maestro]

Send out the strongest team and no faffing around

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

And he'd be pissed if he got a rest. that's the sort of player he is. The exact sort we need on the pitch as often as possible.

here was me thinking he was an employee and he is here to serve the club, not the club to serve him

[Master Splinter]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CwMqbbmWgAArZOm.jpg:large

[Power n Glory]

Yeah, I'm skipping this one. That line up with Giroud up front...

[fakeyank]

Wenger's love child Ramsey returns.

November is going to be a fun month! :banghead:

[Kano]

Good line-up.

I'd be surprised if Ludo are as open as the last game and might sit deep, so Giroud is a good shout.

Iwobi needed a game off and Ramsey plays well out there, so a nice balance.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Don't mind Giroud starting up front but I'd rather Alexis not play out wide. We want him to learn the CF position and throwing him back out wide just to accommodate Giroud may confuse him. Plus he'll have to do a lot more running (than usual) out wide tracking back which isn't good with a hard run of fixtures coming. Would have preferred he'd be rested full stop instead of this half assed approach from Wenger.

Don't mind the rest. Bellerin has a slight knock (didn't travel) and Xhaka needs game time for the NLD.

[Kano]

If there's one thing that Alexis can do forever, that is running. And running. And runni...

[Gooner23]

I just hope that Wenger doesn't drop either Walcott or Iwobi to accommodate Ramsey against the spuds. He needs to earn his place and the other two have been playing well and give us a good balance.

[fakeyank]

I just hope that Wenger doesn't drop either Walcott or Iwobi to accommodate Ramsey against the spuds. He needs to earn his place and the other two have been playing well and give us a good balance.

Ramsey is the first name on the shit.. I mean sheet.

[Goonermerree]

Jenkinson has never really impressed me, he gets caught going forward and is lacking in defence.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Bury it Mesut!

[Goonermerree]

That would have been a great goal. One blob on the half way line, passed it to another blob, who passed it to another blob, whose shot was a bit tepid.

[Goonermerree]

Bury it Mesut!

Was that the third blob?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Rylan offside.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Was that the third blob?

BT App. :bow:

EE. :bow:

[Goonermerree]

BT App. :bow:

EE. :bow:

Smartie ;pants.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Bollocks.

[Goonermerree]

Good job we played a strong team.:woohoo:

[adzzzbatch]

Fucking joke.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Bad defending from that setpiece. Mind you, it was an excellent ball in.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

1-0 Cafu. :doh:

[Maestro]

Here we go again

[adzzzbatch]

Bad defending from that setpiece. Mind you, it was an excellent ball in.

Was never a fk in the first place!

[Niall_Quinn]

Just seen the team. Fuckwad couldn't resist, could he?

And now we're losing :doh:

[adzzzbatch]

Duck off Arsenal.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Oh for fucks sake!
What's going on here!

2- 0 !

[Thierrymon]

WTF.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Gibbs :doh:

Fucking hell. Joke defending all round.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

2-0. Jesus wept.

[adzzzbatch]

What a complete fuck up this is.

[Goonermerree]

Oh for fucks sake!
What's going on here!

2- 0 !

Play a weakened team you get what you get We've been here before, many times.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Should have played Elneny. There's zero control in the middle.

[adzzzbatch]

This could be a spanking if we carry on like this.

[Maestro]

I think Sanchez should always start upfront for us ALWAYS

We've really not troubled them at all, Bif is strictly a super sub at this rate

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Play a weakened team you get what you get We've been here before, many times.

It's not really that weakened and the players on the pitch are still comfortably better than Ludograts.

[Goonermerree]

COME ON ARSENAL! Plenty of time.

[adzzzbatch]

It's not really that weakened and the players on the pitch are still comfortably better than Ludograts.

Better start playing like it then.

[Niall_Quinn]

If it's fixed, break it. Golden rule.

[Munchies]

Typical Wenger performance eh

[Marc Overmars]

Our away form in Europe is awful.

Arsenal in November. :haha:

[Xhaka Can’t]

The score line is nearly as sickening as our kit.

[adzzzbatch]

Our away form in Europe is awful.

Arsenal in November. :haha:

Start as we mean to go on :lol:

sp*rs next :ilt:

[Maestro]

Unfortunately for the full back positions we had no choice due to knocks on Nacho and Bellerin, but we clearly had a choice regards starting Giroud upfront over Sanchez ....now that was a dumb ass move

[Kano]

Play a weakened team you get what you get We've been here before, many times.

Three of that back four played on Saturday. We've got away with murder for quite a few matches this season, those mistakes were bound to be capitalised on at some point.

[adzzzbatch]

YES

[Kano]

Xhaka!

[Thierrymon]

Xhaka!!

[The Emirates Gallactico]

2 - 1!!!

Xhaka!

COme on lads!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

XHAKA!!!

[Maestro]

Xhaka Booooom

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Also has anyone mentioned .....

November curse :rose:

[adzzzbatch]

That was brilliant from Ozil and Xhaka

[Goonermerree]

Come on get another, then it's really game on.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Corner to us. Possible handball in that as well.

[Niall_Quinn]

And why are we wearing a kit that has fuck all to do with this club and looks like a spud reject effort? Greedy fucking cunts.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

That was brilliant from Ozil and Xhaka

Don't think it was that special tbh. Ludograts' are pretty poor tbh ....... we should get chances to win this.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Good they're getting pushed further back.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Another corner to us.

[Maestro]

Sanchez has decided to go and play in the middle anyway

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Gibbs getting torn to shreds by Cafu :doh:

[The Emirates Gallactico]

The attacking play gets needlessly complicated when Giroud's up top.

[Goonermerree]

A blob and Alexis playing football tennis outside the box.

[fakeyank]

Giroud is so static. Cant wait for him to start the game on Sunday :rolleyes:

[adzzzbatch]

Gibbs needs to get a bit stronger.

[Goonermerree]

Come on Arsenal, we can do this

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Some Bulgarian thug takes out Alexis.

This is the perils of risking Alexis out wide.

[Niall_Quinn]

Giroud is so static. Cant wait for him to start the game on Sunday :rolleyes:

I can see the logic behind it tbf. We have no Bellerin, no Theo and Ox is benched, so very little pace up top. Therefore, ta-da, play Bif up there and fuck Alexis off to the wing. It's genius really.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Gibbs needs to get a bit stronger.

Kind of a bit late in his career for that tbh.

[Niall_Quinn]

Damn - Xhaka is playing so the Xhaka Rule WOULD be in effect, but not in Europe. We have been really unlucky with that rule so far.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Ozil volley blocked!

[adzzzbatch]

GET IN

[The Emirates Gallactico]

2 - 2!!!

GIROUD!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Great effort on the volley from Özil.

[Thierrymon]

Giroud!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Kano]

Rambo and Bif!

[Goonermerree]

Game on!! Come on !!!!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

GIROUD!!!!

[GP]

GIRRRRRRROUD!

[Power n Glory]

The attacking play gets needlessly complicated when Giroud's up top.

Hence why I'm not watching. Nothing new will be learned in this game with that set up.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Great ball in by Rambo for that goal!

Come on lads, let's get the winner!

[GP]

Giroud is a quality player. Love him.

[Maestro]

Right, reset and now we can hopefully start the game again and win

[Niall_Quinn]

Even Bif couldn't miss that. Good cross though. God, the old goat will now feel totally vindicated. We could be in trouble for Sunday now.

[adzzzbatch]

Need to keep calm now and win the 2nd half.

[Thierrymon]

We are all over the place at the back today.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Hence why I'm not watching. Nothing new will be learned in this game with that set up.

The play breaks down to too many flicks and tricks which have a higher probability of failing.

Anyway just hoping this is a short term thing (judging from Wenger's decision making I think it is) especially in light of Lucas' injury.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

We are all over the place at the back today.

It's because there's zero control in midifield.

If Santi is out, Elneny HAS to play. Xhaka and Coquelin doesn't work.

Also Gibbs having a mare doesn't help things.

[Kano]

We are all over the place at the back today.

Have been a lot this season but today we haven't got away with it.

[Niall_Quinn]

HT 2-2

What a shambles. You think to yourself, this time, surely this time the old fart has learned a lesson. All those years, maybe it has sunk in? Not a chance. Same idiocy. He's such a fucking liability. Every time we get up a head of steam he shoves a cow onto the track.

[Power n Glory]

It's because there's zero control in midifield.

If Santi is out, Elneny HAS to play. Xhaka and Coquelin doesn't work.

Also Gibbs having a mare doesn't help things.

People were saying Elneny and Coquelin didn't work last week. I would have thought Xhaka would be more dominant. When we can't hold possession in the middle, it's a worry.

[Kano]

Barca fucking up Alexis' life with their tax fraud :lol:

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Second half starting.

Come on lads!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Come on Arsenal. :bow:

[Niall_Quinn]

Alexis to face tax fraud enquiry in Spain. :doh:

Could face jail. Mind you, none of the other 4 went to jail. So he's definitely going to jail then.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Gibbs can't help but be dead.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

The ref's a moran. Too easily influenced by the partisan crowd.

[Goonermerree]

Our fans over there. :bow: I can hear them

[Goonermerree]

Inject some pace into this, please

[adzzzbatch]

This game has become really scrappy.

[Goonermerree]

This game is there for the taking now. Come on!

[adzzzbatch]

They broke way too easily.

[adzzzbatch]

Living dangerously now.

[adzzzbatch]

We're fucking this up.

[Goonermerree]

Xhaka, if that's the prem, he's off.

[adzzzbatch]

If it was the Pl that would be a red.

[Goonermerree]

Come on Arsenal, stop these counters and get some pace into the play.

[adzzzbatch]

Are we trying to get someone sent off?

[adzzzbatch]

We've gone to shit and so has the ref.

[Goonermerree]

Come on Arsenal, we need a win.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

If we score it'll be a scrappy goal. No fluidity in our play anymore.

[Goonermerree]

Alexis, control that and it's three

[adzzzbatch]

If we score it'll be a scrappy goal. No fluidity in our play anymore.

We've been really poor this half. We need to win to keep matching PSG.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

FFS bad first touch from Alexis otherwise he was in!

[Goonermerree]

Ox coming on

[Thierrymon]

We've shown nothing to suggest we are going to go and win this game.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Ramsey hauled off, Ox on.

[Slacker]

Shame Rambo wasn't one of the yellows. We're evens to get a red with this twat of a ref.

[adzzzbatch]

Christ this is shit.

[Goonermerree]

It will be difficult to win the group as it stands. Got to find a way to win. Win
ugly.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

It will be difficult to win the group as it stands.

Unless something changes in the other game we'll have to beat PSG at the Emirates.

[fakeyank]

It will be difficult to win the group as it stands. Got to find a way to win. Win
ugly.

Bayern, here we come!

:dancingman:

[adzzzbatch]

Very disappointed with this display.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Bayern, here we come!

:dancingman:

Don't be silly!!!


It'll be Barca again. :coffee:

[Goonermerree]

All is not lost!!! Go on the other thread.

[fakeyank]

Don't be silly!!!


It'll be Barca again. :coffee:

They are losing to shitty now, so you never know.

[Slacker]

Why didn't we get the offside?

[Goonermerree]

Come on Arsenal, big push to the end and win this damn thing

[The Emirates Gallactico]

The ref's a massive homo. He's giving them every 50/50 and every foul they demand!

[Goonermerree]

Has Ox done anything since he came on? These blobs all look the same to me, but I haven't heard his name mentioned

[The Emirates Gallactico]

So yeah what was the point of the Ox coming on? Done nothing. At least Ramsey gave us something.

[Goonermerree]

Win and we go through tonight. Come on!!!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Ox skews his shot wide.

[adzzzbatch]

Win and we go through tonight. Come on!!!

We're through as it stands.

[Slacker]

Referee's a fucking joke.

[Goonermerree]

We're through as it stands.

No we don't

[Xhaka Can’t]

Every. Fucking. November.

Why can't something change?

[adzzzbatch]

We're through as it stands.

Nope things have changed :lol:

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Referee's a fucking joke.

Yeah he is. Anytime there's a slight bit of physical contact to win the ball they go down and it's a FK!

[adzzzbatch]

YYYYYEEEEESSSSS!!!!

[Xhaka Can’t]

Every. Fucking. November.

Why can't something change?

Thanks Mesut!

[Kano]

Ozil!

:bow:

[Thierrymon]

Ozil!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That was a cool finish.

[Goonermerree]

Ozillllll Now we are going through.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Jesus christ, how many times guys?

[The Emirates Gallactico]

OZIL!!!!

[Marc Overmars]

Get in!!

[Maestro]

Wow Wow Wow Mesut

[McNamara That Ghost...]

OZIL!!!!!!

:bow:

[GP]

OZILLL!!!!!

[The Emirates Gallactico]

DONT FUCK THIS UP!

[adzzzbatch]

Do not fuck up!!!!

[Goonermerree]

Fantastic goal

[Kano]

That was masterful from Mesut.

[Xhaka Can’t]

Ozil assist and goal.

Stealing a living.

[Goonermerree]

Hang on Arsenal.

[Marc Overmars]

November curse is lifted :ninja:

[Xhaka Can’t]

Fuck!

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Fuck!

DONT SCARE ME!

[adzzzbatch]

Made fucking hard work of that!

[Goonermerree]

Scrappy, but 3 points and through to the knock out stages. Now lets win the group.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Ludo 2-3 Arsenal, FT! :bow:

We're through!

[Kano]

100% record in Bulgaria :bow:

17 years qualified :bow:

Mesut :bow:

Rambo :bow:

Bif :bow:

[Goonermerree]

Stupid Basel

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Quality goal by Munier to be fair

Absolutely languid display by us tonight, Ramsey good cross for the goal but otherwise an utter embarassment

Ospina once again showing why he should not be playing for Arsenal

Jenkinson showing why he'd be fitting in well with the shower of spunk over at West Ham

An absolute abject refusal to try and play wide more

Ozil lovely goal but otherwise a cunt

Xhaka a dirty cunt

Frankly embarrassed

[Xhaka Can’t]

DONT SCARE ME!

Sorry, it was in response to the corner

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Ospina once again showing why he should not be playing for Arsenal


What the fuck? He wasn't responsible for either of their goals and kept out Wanderson near the end with an excellent save.

[Goonermerree]

Not an easy game, just because we trashed them at The Grove didn't mean we were going to trash them tonight. A couple of quick goals, normally that would have seen us struggling to score, but we battled and got the win. A good win all in all.

[Penguin]

What the fuck? He wasn't responsible for either of their goals and kept out Wanderson near the end with an excellent save.

Exactly. He did struggle with their set pieces though, but our defenders basically didn't bother defending them so it'd be stupid to blame Ospina for that.