Sat 11th September 2010; 15:00, Emirates Stadium
Arsenal’s European Adventure Resumes At The Dragon’s Den
ByArsenal reacquaint themselves with European action tomorrow when they visit the Estádio do Dragão for the 3rd time in 4 seasons. The Dragon’s den in Porto hasn’t been a good hunting ground for the Gunners, having only previously managed a scrappy goalless draw in the 2006-2007 campaign, and a 2 nil defeat last season.
Jesualdo Ferreira’s Porto’s side are in fine form with a 12 game unbeaten run and having scored 12 goals with only 3 in reply in their last 5 games. If Arsenal’s last 5 games are anything to go by, you then realise that whoever suggested that the Gunners are favourites needs to go a bit easy on the cool aid.
Arsenal will have been buoyed by the win against Liverpool having come back from a mauling by both their closest rivals. Both the players and supporters will have taken a lot of encouragement from the collective team effort and the defensive display shown against Liverpool.
In tomorrow’s game, that defensive discipline will be the key. Consistency has been elusive for this team at critical times and this has been a source of frustration for many supporters. However, the spirit and sheer determination shown by the team in the game against Liverpool was very encouraging.
Arsenal has left itself vulnerable in the last couple of losses because of over-committing when chasing the game. You always feel that at 0-0, the Gunners are comfortable and can play a patient game. Our Achilles heel has been the loss of our shape when defending counter attacks against us as a result of the over-commitment in chasing the game.
Against Liverpool, the team showed that they had the maturity to remain compact and hold the game, while being patient for their chance on goal. The same approach will have to be taken against Porto who are in better scoring form than Arsenal are in.
From Wenger’s point of view, the minimum requirement is not to lose the game against Porto, though he will be more happy with Arsenal keeping a clean sheet.
From a tactical point of view, Porto will have watched Arsenal’s recent defeats to Chelsea and Man United and believe that they have the definitive blue print to beat Arsenal. They will look to crowd the midfield and push forward at every available opportunity using the strength of their star man, the Hulk.
I’m not exactly sure why, but I believe Hulk has been suspended from the rest of the domestic season – but he should be eligible to play in the champions league, and probably gagging for the chance to scratch the itch that Arsenal will represent.
From Arsenal’s point of view, Alex Song and Andrey Arshavin’s absence will be a huge miss, though it’s encouraging that they’ll probably be back for the return leg at the Emirates.
My sense is that Arsenal will go with a starting line-up of:
Almunia
Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Clichy
Denilson, Diaby, Fabregas
Eboue, Bendtner, Nasri
At some point in the game, Rosicky, Walcott and Eduardo may feature.
I feel that Wenger will go for Eboue because of his penetrative attributes and ability to run at defences to open spaces. Eboue’s presence also provides solidity and strength in the middle of the park.
For Walcott, whatever time he gets will be valuable especially since he is away from home and there’s less pressure from the crowd and from the media. Hopefully, if he gets pitch time, he can enjoy himself and play with a smile.
Denilson will also get a chance to improve his recent form after his return from injury. He’s become scapegoat du jour in recent weeks and he can’t do any worse than get on the pitch and do what he’s good at.
Arsenal have a good chance of getting past Porto to the next round, but it’s not going to be a straight forward task by any measure. The fact that Porto have won the European title twice and the fact that they’ve been in the competition for 12 years running suggests that you should write them off at your own peril.
Zero complacency from Arsenal is paramount.
Related Articles:
- Gunners Look To Slay The Dragon Of Porto At The Emirates
- It’s The Samir Nasri Show As Bentner Rams Criticism Down Pundits Throats
I much prefer to play the home leg 1st because of the away goal rule.
0-0 is not a good away result anymore because of the pressure of the away goal when needing the win at home.
Last season it was a CC+ team, which lost comprehensively over there.
I agree with your team, Darius apart from maybe Eduardo starting ahead of Bentner. It will be a combination of the 2, I feel.
Eboue always gives something to the team & it is significant that he was not playing, when we have conceded those counter attack goals.
Walcott for later in the game, if we need a goal.
Bendtner has to play, even though he was a little out of practice, he offered as something we need up front. It looks like the real question is who will fill the two wide slots. I can’t see Walcott starting, give sthe ball away too much for an away game in Europe at the moment. (His cross in the 92nd minute was a moment of stupidity to behold. I like Walcott and think he will definitely come good for us, but he is way off form right now – understandably.)
So two from Eboue, Eduardo, Nasri, be interesting to see if we go with the more attacking players or not. Personally, I would pick Eboue, he links well with Bendtner and can cross.
Flint.
Tis the wages of the sin of finishing top of the group that hands you an inconvenient away trip first.
I feel good about either Bendtner or Eduardo starting (though they’ll probably both play a part with one coming in for the other). In Europe, I’m fairly comfortable that our style of play will yeield better results.
I think not enough credit is given to Eboue for his tanacity and fight in knuckling down and getting the basics right – especially after his horror show against Wigan last season when he got the full on wrath of the crowd.
Wenger was once asked (in the What the hell do you want to keep Eboue for mode) what the Ivorian brings to the team – and Wenger’s answer was emphatic in that Eboue gives Arsenal balance. Few understood what Wenger was on about at the time, but it surely is the case.
If you asked me – he is probably the best utility player there is in the league right now capable of playing at least 4 positions with competence and dependability.
I also note the romantic Sol Campbell CL come back stories being peddled about in the media as if to will Arsenal to lose both its centre halves. We’ll see what our casualty list is tomorrow.
Eastmond has been withdrawn from reserve duty and should be in the squad as additional cover for Song’s absence.
Arsenehollis….guess we were posting at the same time.
Just coming back to Saloner’s post yesterday, I mentioned to both you and Flint not to be shy and suggest that Arsenal has become one of the top 8 clubs in the world.
Forbes magazine, probably the definitive rich list actually places Arsenal as the 3rd wealthiest and most powerful football club in the world.
Nothing to be ashamed of there.
Darius, without a doubt mate.
Money is one thing, but it is a means to an end and not the only one. The staure of a team is on the pitch and in results.
What is remarkable with this group is that even in ‘poor’ seasons, whilst they were extremely young, and after players had left they still did extremely well in Europe and never got caught at home.
Having played in the last 8 then 4, we are ready to go all the way now. That we are established firly now as not just a good team, they come and go, but as an elite club in Europe is a testament to Wenger.
On Eboue, he is an excellent and valuable meber of the team. I hope he plays tonight, he and Bendtner do well together and he has a good cross. I think that we should be confident for this game whilst remembering that if we bring the attitude shown at Liverpool we can win but anything less will lead to disappointment. No fear if sol plays either.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see our wingers play much deeper than is usual, along with denilson and diaby, leaving cesc behind bendtner. More of a 4-4-1-1 with us looking to break from deep.
I share Flint’s preference for a home first leg; but good deeds never go unpunished I guess.
Arsenehollis’ views on Walcott’s current form, and about this team being oh so close to becoming the finished article are well made. That 4-4-1-1 seems the most probable too.
Didn’t know we featured so high in the ranks of the rich and the famous Darius. All that remains is to top this off with honours.
They’ll come; they’ll come…
Nice to be filthy rich, huh? LOL!
I agree – money isn’t everything, but you have to give the board and Wenger credit where credit is due. Who would think that Arsenal would rank that high in Forbes.
I think Walcott will benefit more from only being included in games where we have less pressure e.g. when we’re in the lead. I think that until he can play without undue pressure, he’ll find it hard to get into the groove especially at home.
There’s just too much pressure on him to regain form before the world cup. Frankly speaking, I don’t see how he’ll be left out of the squad considering the injury prone Lennon. Also, Walcott saves Capello the headache of having to call up a 5th striker – Walcott is pretty much two functions (right wing and striker) for the price of one.
Vela is another case of a player who needs a game with minimum pressure. Arsenal will do well playing both Walcott and Vela on the flanks if we need to get behind defenses – and in truth, they don’t need to do much more than terrorize the defenses with their pace. That should cause enough panic for us to take advantage.
Forget Young and Agbonlahor, Vela and Walcott are the paciest wingers in the EPL – and even better, Wenger reckons that Vela is the most clinical finisher in the side when he’s on form.
Shame about the injury news, but I remain confident ahead of tomorrow. To be honest I almost think it is a good thing, at least there is some positive to it anyway.
If we can go away, with a few players missing, and play a sensible game – keep it tight at the back, take chances as they arise rather than force the game – then bring a result home it will be a lesson learnt. We will have to do this in the league several times, so there is no reason to shy away from it now.
Walcott will flourish in this system if he is played to his strengths and gets his confidence back. I thought it was long overdue to see him sent up-front, basically told to stand on the halfway line and chase, as we defended the lead against Liverpool.
With Sol playing it may encourage us even more to sit back a little and counter. If we do that, maybe Walcott will start. If we play Eboue wide right, Walcott left it would be ‘balanced’.
If Fabianski plays well and gets a run of games it may be the end for Almunia. He is good, but I think Fabianski will show that he is better.
Wookash for sure has a chance in a million Arsenehollis.
This is his opportunity to give Wenger a very big headache for I think he has at least 2 maybe 3 games straight that he can stake his claim to the No. 1 jersey.
Funny that both our 2nd and 4th choice goalies who are both Polish have been capped for the Polish national team. Tech 9 may still be young and enjoying his loan spell at Brentford, but I think that if the first 3 goalies don’t watch themselves, Tech 9 will have a fasttrack through the ranks.
Agreed Darius, the youngest one looks the best. He might be a Buffon or Cassilas style prodigy and be playing regularly at 21.
Will be interesting to see Sol partner Vermaelen.
Win for us and we can rest some more players for the return.
I thought Sol looked good against Stoke in the cup.
I hope we play:
Fabianski
Sagna Campbell Vermaalen Clichy
DIaby Denilson
Eboue Cesc Rosicky
Bendtner