Random Arsenal Shit (When it's not worth starting a thread)

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Originally Posted by AFC Leveller

Gabriel more or less ruled out of the Barcelona game.

Merts it is then.

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By one means or another it was inevitable.

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Originally Posted by AFC Leveller

Gabriel more or less ruled out of the Barcelona game.

Merts it is then.

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Mertesacker would have played anyway. And he should.

Does it matter? We'll likely be begged back so deep that pace won't be much of an issue. Not at the defensive end, anyway...

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Originally Posted by Douglas Reynholm

Mertesacker would have played anyway. And he should.

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No he wouldnt have. Gabriel had been starting before his injuries and Wenger hinted recently that he'd choose his CBs depending on who the opponents were. Barceloina's front three are fast, Gabriel would have started IMO.

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Originally Posted by I am invisible

Does it matter? We'll likely be begged back so deep that pace won't be much of an issue. Not at the defensive end, anyway...

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We can't defend for the whole 90 and expect anything bar a loss so we'll have to come out at some point and try to grab a goal. You would hope. That's when Merts will be mercilessly targeted, if we lose the ball in the middle (highly likely on current form) we'll need somebody to cover for him when he's stranded 10 yards off the play. Not sure who that would be, the full back I suppose or the wing back doing extra shifts. It's a massive blow having to carry Merts. But will Kos be fit? Dead leg should be 5 mins recovery but they said the same about Welbeck. Merts and Chambers - that's a scary prospect, or a delicious one if you are Suarez and Co.

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Originally Posted by AFC Leveller

No he wouldnt have. Gabriel had been starting before his injuries and Wenger hinted recently that he'd choose his CBs depending on who the opponents were. Barceloina's front three are fast, Gabriel would have started IMO.

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Douglas likes his massacres laid on thick apparently

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Originally Posted by Niall_Quinn

We can't defend for the whole 90 and expect anything bar a loss so we'll have to come out at some point and try to grab a goal. You would hope. That's when Merts will be mercilessly targeted, if we lose the ball in the middle (highly likely on current form) we'll need somebody to cover for him when he's stranded 10 yards off the play. Not sure who that would be, the full back I suppose or the wing back doing extra shifts. It's a massive blow having to carry Merts. But will Kos be fit? Dead leg should be 5 mins recovery but they said the same about Welbeck. Merts and Chambers - that's a scary prospect, or a delicious one if you are Suarez and Co.

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Time for Bould to put on the jersey again perhaps?

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Originally Posted by Globalgunner

Time for Bould to put on the jersey again perhaps?

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Fucking A! Now we're talking!

Especially if he can come out with a few more of those lofted through-balls, à la Adams vs Everton!

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Originally Posted by Niall_Quinn

We can't defend for the whole 90 and expect anything bar a loss so we'll have to come out at some point and try to grab a goal. You would hope. That's when Merts will be mercilessly targeted, if we lose the ball in the middle (highly likely on current form) we'll need somebody to cover for him when he's stranded 10 yards off the play. Not sure who that would be, the full back I suppose or the wing back doing extra shifts. It's a massive blow having to carry Merts. But will Kos be fit? Dead leg should be 5 mins recovery but they said the same about Welbeck. Merts and Chambers - that's a scary prospect, or a delicious one if you are Suarez and Co.

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I'm not sure how the mistakes from Kos go unnoticed. We lose the ball high up the pitch against Leicester City and he goes diving in, taking himself out of the game and leaving Monreal exposed. Penalty next!

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Originally Posted by Niall_Quinn

We can't defend for the whole 90 and expect anything bar a loss so we'll have to come out at some point and try to grab a goal. You would hope. That's when Merts will be mercilessly targeted, if we lose the ball in the middle (highly likely on current form) we'll need somebody to cover for him when he's stranded 10 yards off the play. Not sure who that would be, the full back I suppose or the wing back doing extra shifts. It's a massive blow having to carry Merts. But will Kos be fit? Dead leg should be 5 mins recovery but they said the same about Welbeck. Merts and Chambers - that's a scary prospect, or a delicious one if you are Suarez and Co.

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You say that like we have a choice! Honestly mate, we may have to defend for 180 minutes, never mind 90. I can see them having about 80% possession across both legs, and that's not an exaggeration.

At this point, my main concern is avoiding a morale-sapping embarrassment. I'd be very tempted to just camp our defence on the 18 yard box for 180 minutes, sit Coquelin + any CM we have available who can hit quick, accurate long passes (it might even end up being Elneny at this point!) + Özil in front of them, and have a front 3 of Sanchez, Walcott and Welbeck ready to sprint for their lives, and close down their back line! The only things that seem to scare them are quick breaks and lightening pace up front - beyond that, I've got nothing!