Villarreal Preview: This is it 14 April, 2009

Well I don’t know about you but I have been looking forward to this game since pretty much the first leg. It’s poised perfectly at 1-1 with us just having the edge with that away goal. It’s set to be some game and although there are a few injuries it’s still going to be a quality show.

There is a bit of new injury news ahead of tomorrow’s game – Abou Diaby is fit but no word on Eduardo., I know he’s in training but I haven’t seen the squad for tomorrow. Wenger confirmed the loss of Djourou and Clichy to add to Gallas and Almunia. However we do have a few options at the back.

We have the choice from Sagna, Gibbs, Silvestre and Eboue to play wing-back then Toure, Song and Silvestre to play in the middle. I know a few of us including me have doubts about playing Silvestre in such an important game. Alex Song has been playing really well in midfield recently but I think that gives me a bit of trust to have him at the back tomorrow.

If we put Sagna on the left we could play Eboue on the right who has a lot more experience at wing-back for us than Silvestre. Injuries to Gallas and Djourou probably led the ex-Man United defender to believe he would get a good few games in this season run-in but even with all those out we can play without him.

I think we all have doubts about Silvestre so I’d quite like to see an Eboue – Toure – Song – Sagna back four. I can’t tell what Wenger’s thinking though. Gibbs could by all means feature at left back but I think it would be a bit like throwing him in at the deep end.

Further up the field I think we’ll operate with that kind of 5+1 midfield and attack with midfielders supporting going forward. Adebayor’s been playing that role in the last few games but van Persie is fit now so we have options. In the middle I think Song should be in there somewhere but if he’s drafted into defence we’ll probably see Diaby come in.

Well this is what I’d do/what I think we might play tomorrow night:

Fabianski
Eboue – Toure – Song – Sagna
Denilson – Diaby
Walcott   –   Fabregas (c)   –   Nasri
Adebayor

Seems a waste to leave van Persie out but I think Ade might be stronger as the lone striker. Walcott played 67 minutes at the weekend so if he’s not 100% then we could see Robin come in out wide or a complete re-shuffle. I do like having Theo as an option on the bench but if he starts then he might help us get an early goal and try to put this tie to bed.

Villarreal have their two best midfielders, Cazorla and Senna out injured. That may pave the way for Pires to start but he’s been talking about how much they will miss the injured duo. Of course, it’d be nice to see Robert Pires take to the field but he did look dangerous last week when he came on and can still produce a good quality ball. Last week Senna was injured but made a quick recovery for the game against us so it wouldn’t shock me that much to see him appear tomorrow…

It’s pretty simple what we have to do tomorrow night, a 0-0 or any win will take us through but a high scoring draw or a loss will knock us out. Villarreal must score tomorrow night to stay in the competition – they will come with attacking flair and we must show complete concentration to not let them through. I’d feel a bit more confident if we had the full choice of our defence but I’m not that worried.

Not a lot more I can say now, we’ve just got to wait until tomorrow night and let the football do the talking. Wenger believes we will create a good atmosphere and I hope it’s the case. I’m gutted that I can’t be there tonight, but I will be singing in the pub extra loud. Wherever you’re watching make sure you do too.

A possible Champions League Semi Final awaits if we’re up to the task. Barcelona and Chelsea are already through, lets join them.

Thanks for reading.