Arsenal vs. AC Milan Preview: The Big One 3 March, 2008
Posted by lasagnechef in Champions League.trackback
Excited isn’t the word. I’ve got to get up in 5 hours to start my journey to Milan and I’m still up getting any late team news and writing this early preview for you guys. When you read this though, I’ll be just boarding my plane into Milan, I’ve put a timer on this so it’ll come out in the morning. Wow, you guys are all like in the future, what’s Monday like? Wow.
Anyway, it’s the second leg and it’s all perfectly balanced at 0-0 from the first leg. We should be 1-0 up at this point if it weren’t for a certain crossbar but I’m not too bothered; If Milan were 1-0 down I think they would be more up for this than at 0-0.
They have to defend, but at the same time they need to score. If we get a goal tomorrow night then they’re in trouble. However saying that, we need to score too, but because it’s away that goal would be so much more important. Both teams will be cautious, yet dangerous at the same time, it’s set up to be a great game.
We were the better team in the first leg, I don’t think I’m being bias there. We were very unlucky to not get a goal at Ashburton Grove and I suppose Milan might feel a bit lucky at not conceding. They know that we will be a threat, and a goal would be a big blow. If they score first, it doesn’t really matter, we still have to score anyway as a score-draw would take us through.
I’m quietly confident to be honest with you. We’ve produced on the big stage before and I believe we can do it again. The score? I seriously have no idea, it could actually be anything. If we go a goal or two up Milan will have to attack and we could score more on the break. Or, Milan could completely out-class us and teach us a lesson. I think at this point, the draw is the best bet though.
If we can get a goal at the San Siro, that would be amazing. We’re not going to go all guns blazing though, we particularly want to concede either; but as I mentioned earlier, if we went 1-0 down early on it wouldn’t really change our game plan.
The team news is quite good, no new injuries to report. Eboue is back from the weekend, Diaby is back as you know, Toure might be back, I think Djourou is fit again and van Persie might even travel to Milan:
“At the moment we need to get our players back. We have Tomas Rosicky and Robin van Persie who are out and in the context of today you would like to have those players with you and hopefully we can get them back very quickly.”
“He (Van Persie) might be in squad for Tuesday but certainly won’t start. We will assess him on Monday morning.”
I do hope that Arsene doesn’t rush Robin back if he’s not ready but he’s promised he won’t, so I have faith in him. Obviously, it’s going to be a boost if Robin makes the squad. He lacks match practice but if we need someone to bring off the bench to create something, who better than van Persie?
It’s a bit early yet to start guessing the team but here’s what I’d say at the moment:
Sagna – Senderos – Gallas (c) – Clichy
Eboue – Fabregas – Flamini – Diaby
Hleb
Adebayor
I’ve gone for Eboue over Theo because, if he’s not an idiot, Eboue will be better defensively and he has the more experience for a game like this. However, I’ve mainly chosen the Ivory Coast winger due to the fact that Walcott has an incredible impact as a substitute, and against a tiring Milan defence he could be really dangerous.
On the left it’d have to be Diaby, hopefully he’ll be a bit more inspired than he was at the weekend. I’ve have Hleb in the middle because it gives us the security of an almost 4-5-1 formation but he’s got the creativity and trickery up front that we’ll need to weave a goal. Adebayor will be the target man up top and what a fucking incredible time it would be for him to grab his first European goal in an Arsenal shirt.
As for Milan, well they’ve got a few injuries to worry about. ‘Kaka is a doubt, there was a story going round earlier that he’s definitely going to miss it but it seemed a bit dodgy to say that so early. He, Nesta and Pirlo all missed their game at the weekend. That either mean s they weren’t being risked or that they needed that time to try and recover for the Arsenal game. However Seedorf picked up a muscle problem in that game and he’s definitely going to miss the 2nd leg.
Before the first leg there were these stories about the top Milan players being injured but they all played in the end so I’m not really paying much attention to these. We’ll just see on the night who turns up. If ‘Kaka misses the game, that’s a bonus because he’s really fucking good but I’m not too bothered, Senderos owned him in the first leg.
I’m so excited about this game. It’s still ages away but I can’t stop thinking about it. In fact I’ve actually been thinking about my trip to Milan since December when I booked it. It’s my first European away game, I did go to Paris but I didn’t have a ticket.
People have said to me, “Won’t you be pissed off you’ve spent all that money going to Milan if Arsenal get knocked out?” My answer is a firm no. It’s still going to be a brilliant trip going to one of the best stadiums in the world, witnessing two of the best footballing teams ever and it’s just generally going to be a good laugh. Hopefully I’m not making you a bit jealous! If you’re thinking about booking a cheeky flight out there, I know for definite there’s going to be a few spares knocking a bout so I say, go for it!
I better go and try get some sleep now but I’ll speak to you on Wednesday night and tell you all about my trip. Until then Gooners.
yes I think your team selection is right but maybe Toure will recover to play in place of Phil. diaby and hleb could be swapped around but what we need is 2 Hlebs! I thought Alex looked very good when playing behind Ade in the second half. thats the formation to go with and then its just fingers crossed.
In some ways going there and knowing we have to score might be good. otherwise we would have defended for 90 minutes and I am sure we would have lost like that.
diaby is a lazy cunt. he’s shit. he should fuck off to watford.
not jealous chef. have a great trip!
Will be at San Siro tomorrow. I don’t know how many Arsenal fans will be in the stadium but I’m going to cheer throughout. Come on Arsenal!
When the f**k is Rosicky going to be bloody fit?
I would start Theo if we are going to play just one upfront.Eboue is more than likely to get sent off.
I’m not going but just like you I would not be gutted if we would get knocked out at the end of the day you show an example of a true Gooner enjoy yourself and I really hope we can get a good result there! I will be wearing red and white on the day, wont be able to eat my dinner either I usually get all nervous before the game.
Come on Arsenal Come on Arsenal…
Good luck to all of you going and do us gunners proud will ya.
Here is wishing you a happy trip concluded with Arsenal victory. We are capable of scoring against milan me thins
team spirit,
You thins? Gazzap fats.
Blog head, what is thins?
team spirit, The end of your post no.7.
My go,……er…….er……..What is the capital of Luxenburg?
ok. me thinks is what I wanted to write although I expect u knew that?
Am also sure u can Google that… capital
Gooner Don
Lay off Eboue he is a brilliant player. I think the red card against Manure was his first in an Arsenal shirt also wasnt he part of the defence that kept 10 clean sheets in the chmpions league. He will have a big part to play on Tuesday me thins.
EA25 what r u talking bout he is shit.
simple as that. he cannot pass he cannot shoot he cannot cross he cannot run and he cannot score. he is the worst signing wenger has ever made (along with pascal cygan).
He is not shit. Francis Jeffers is shit. Eboue was a brilliant right back and this has been his first season playing at right wing. Give the guy a break!
P.S. Cygan has played well at Villareal and was their player of the year last season. Also the guy was happy sitting on the bench if only Diarra had his attitude.
Eboue isn’t shit. but he hasn’t been too fantastic either. No goals tells its own story.
bu I think he’ll start only because he’s the only decent player we have who actually got a rest over the weekend. The thinness of our squad is killing us.
by the way, all the commentators talking about how arsenal are losing their nerve can fuck off. Nerves have nothign to do with it. Our squad is paper thin.
Consider this: ManU have spent over 50 million pounds on one position: defensive midfielders (Hargreaves, Carrick, Anderson). Of course, we’re fading in the home stretch. we’re getting tired, and the rich always win.
‘chef, I don’t mean to ruin your fuking epiphany, but you’re always talking to us from the past (and hence, you’re writing to the future). I, for example, don’t read your fucking (worthwhile) blog for a good 20 hours after you’ve posted. To me, you’re always a voice from the fucking past. And enjoy yourself in Milan. Take a couple of days off, see the fucking sights and buy an overpriced, gaudy trenchcoat.
I think we should start with Ade and Bendtner. No, they don’t get along and no, they don’t work as a pairing, but fuck it; if there’s two of them, there’s DOUBLE the chance that we’ll score. And yes, if that’s kind of fucking brilliant logic that separates me from ordinary fuckers like yourselves. Keep Ade-Bend on for seventy minutes and then replace Bendtner with Walcott. Eboue goes on the right; he did well in the first leg, and he’ll do well in the second. If that fucker can maintain concentration, he’ll help Flamini shut down those creative Milanese fuckers. We should start with a defensive midfield out of necessity. The the main concern is that Kaka or Pato or Seedorf will nick a fucking goal from a fucking game we dominate.
That’s my fucking opinion, and I’m fucking right, for fuck’s sake.
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phuongnana, you’re fucking right. This blog is very hoting. But I’m seriously against the-cannon selling out and becoming commericialised. For fuck’s sake, ‘chef’, if you’re reading, don’t sell your fucking soul for the proverbial 30 pieces of silver. This blog is too fucking good to waste on fuckers like phuongnana, no matter how “hoting” is it.
Only other thing is that if Milan score first, they’ll shut up shop and we won’t break through; not with Ade. So we’ve got to get that early goal.
2 words
FUCKIN YES
Watched the game from home. You’d have thought by the crowd noise that Arsenal was at home. Oh, and also by the way that the Arsenal played the crap out of Milan.
Go Gunners.
Fuck yes. Up the Arse.
There it is. We are fully capable of going all the way. Kep the faith!
I am in deed happy for the good work that our boys did at sansiro studium thank for the players and the managerl(wenger) you realy made me proud
ARE YOU WATCHING TOTTENHAM!
ARE YOU WATCHING TOT-TEN-HAM!
looking forward to the full travel/match report and accompaning photos!
John Hawley’s left foot,
Are you looking forward to the match report? How about the photos?