Arsenal make the daunting trip to Italy today to take on Italy’s most in-form team in AC Milan, while our team has hit record lows of late.
Gennaro Gattuso took over the helm in late October and took time to get the right tune out of his players, but has managed to steer his team to remain unbeaten since Christmas Day, and has even strung together a series of six wins in all competitions coming into the match, including booking their place in the Coppa Italia final.
Our side on the other hand are on the wrong end of the form spectrum, and just clocked our fourth consecutive loss in all competitions for the first time under Arsene Wenger, and find ourselves slipping further and further away from that fourth spot, and must now concentrate on the Europa League as our best opportunity for Champions League football next season.
Our boys will have to face the daunting task without two key players having lost Nacho Monreal to injury, while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was unable to be entered into our squad for the competition.
Predicted line-up
Ospina
Bellerin Koscielny Mustafi Maitland-Niles
Xhaka Elneny Ramsey
Mkhitaryan Ozil
Welbeck
This team will give us the extra man in midfield to try and cause the in-form side trouble as they try to push forward, and I can see our team being more than happy to come away with a draw, preferably with our boys having grabbed an away goal.
While Welbeck has struggled in a central role in his most recent outings, we have little choice in that department, but he has more than enough ability to break that run tonight, especially with the talents of Mkhi and Ozil ready to feed him the supply.
I feel like 1-1 would be a great result, but I have a feeling we will end up losing 2-1, which will leave us more than enough of a chance to reach the next stage.
What are your predictions for tonight? Does anyone have the confidence to expect a win?
Pat J
Arsenal has a much better
recent history than Milan
being regularly top 4 whereas
Milan has been in the doldrums for years.
If Arsenals top X1 turn up Arsenal can win.
I’m going Milan 1 Arsenal 3.
A much better recent history counts for nothing I’m afraid, it’s all about tonight.
With Auba cup tied & Welbz up front & if Iwobi plays I would say the odds are against us! Having said that I hope we do win, never want us to lose COYG
Surely you must realise us winning Europa and Wenger getting fired are two mutually exclusive events? Be strong enough to sacrifice for the greater good. Otherwise next season you will be saying “I just want this season to end” as early as October
did you see allegri yesterday?
could not help but admire the way Allegri changed the dynamics of a game slipping away from him last night, not only changing the formation and two unexpected subs, but giving his players energy , drive & belief. He was everything that I long our manager to be.
thats why i for the past 3 years have been shouting for him or klopp
sadly we are gonna get neither-
muff i agree i was blown away when he made the changes in the second half it was like as if it was another team and went on to defend the lead they were in complete control
Exactly!
Agree, Welbeck could be the hero in this game, if Wenger knows how to use his physicalities
Remember guys, it was Welbeck that disrupted Chelsea’s defense with his runs and work rate constantly, in the FA Cup 2017 Final
Don’t think Bambi’s ‘physicalities’ (your latest new word?) are going to trouble the tough guys of AC Milan. Apparently they are now playing like their manager used to play – which does not bode well for our bunch of softies and I envisage a lot of Arsenal arms up in the air protesting to the referee how they are being bullied. Hope they prove me wrong but I won’t be holding my breath.
BTW you might get a treat tonight as one of your other new words/phrases – ‘inverted winger’ – could make an appearance in the shape of Suso, the ex-Liverpool player, playing on the right and cutting in onto his left foot. Hope Kola has been briefed but I doubt it. Also fear that Chambers will also be taken apart on the other side. PLEASE PROVE ME WRONG! Or don’t if you’ve also had enough of your manager.
Don’t suppose we could quickly sign Gattuso himself and stick him in front of our defence?
Chambers on the other side?
Bellerin was rested specifically to be fresh in this game.
He’s injured his knee
This is a pressure game, lose and the season is over. Wenger and his teams historically don’t cope well with pressure games so be prepared for a disappointment. Milan 3-1 Arsenal
i actually think we preform better under pressure but no so in the last few games and what with the roamers that AW lost the changing room with players backstabbing each other, hope they fight for their future tonight if not for the club
Milan 7-1 Arsenal. Wenger fired in the morning.
Forget about your grievance
Wanting us to lose 7-1
I think you are a spud in disguise
na hes a gooner just tired of the regime
I think we all are
We need a change but hey ho..never wish your team to lose
Think it is bad now.. older guys will tell you how bad it was before AW came..
Georgia g was great but bloody he’ll was it boring and we turned in to a cup team
I know the grass is greener on the other side but don’t underestimate it will get muddier before it gets greener again
1-7 to us tonight
Remember ladies and gents
You can change your car. House name or even the wife or husband but true fans never change the the team
Up the gooners
@Quantic Dream,as much as I want us to lose this match so that Wenger can be fired I can’t stand the humiliation of a 7-1 defeat.
prefer 8-2?
6-0
how about 10-2 to bayern?
I almost cry after those matches.
Pls don’t bring it up again.
hmmm.
i’m not one for hoping for a loss to send a msg to the board if they don’t know by now then it don’t mater who we bring in as a manger we are doomed
No it’s idiots like you who are the disguised Spuds. All true Gooners need Wenger sacked ASAP and if this means a string of more shameful defeats , it is a price well worth paying. I note that all our rival clubs fans want Wenger to stay and so do you, it seems. So what does that make you ?
Jon
Your postings are getting ruder ..no need for that
Call me an idiot or what ever but never insult me by calling me a spud
Red runs through my veins and has for over 40plus years
I want the change and want it now but never at the cost of losing which we have far to often
As I have said many a time it needs the board to make the change and the time us coming
Even they have come to realise AW makes money for them but that’s not enough now
Never call me a spud again..
loosing this game will change our next seasons ( when wenger is fired ) but winning it on the other hand will be horrible.
Quantic Dream
apologies for insulting you and calling you a “spud”
we are all tired of the present set up!
Niles on the right, kolas on the left, for some reason I’m expecting Wenger to play Iwobi (please no). I would like to see Eddie instead of Welbeck as he’s had so many chances and failed to prove himself. Milan are playing well and are extremely good defensively so not expecting a positive result for us. I will probably be effing and blinding at the tele, followed by a few walk outs, only to go back to watch some more punishment
Agree on Niles and Kolasinac
But Welbeck has not got as many chances as Giroud had, because Wenger always put Welbeck as winger or attacking midfielder
Maybe he would try Welbeck as a right wingback next time
Welbeck cannot hit a barn five feet away………..put Nketiah in there………at least he has scored plenty of goals lately…….
On one of your walk outs maybe get a few beers to dull the pain?
your lineup looks like a team looking for a draw and probably wouldnt put any fear in a championship side let alone milan. Teams looking for a draw often get belted. 0-2. if we’re lucky especially after the performance from Juve to push their determination further.
I would like to see Nketiah given a chance at centre forward, as he has more scoring potential than Welbeck. Welbeck is more a defensive move, because of his work rate and may be an option instead of Mkhitaryan for an away leg.
Does any of it really matter? Next chapter please
I don’t care, who we play. For the first time, I actually hope, we will get beat We need Wenger out asap, that is the only thing, that would make med believe, we can actually achieve something in the future.
Apparently, he is never going to step down himself as he cares more about himself than about Arsenal. So whatever it takes – get him out now!
I admire your strength my comrade! You understand what needs to happen to force change. You understand the sacrifices that must be made. You understand, like a wolf caught in a trap will chew off its own paw to survive, so must we give up Europa to oust the senile fraudster that hides himself amongst our midst! I salute you brother!
Halelujah brother QD
Aye let us rise up against tyranny.
Set every smart phone alight with texts
Let every PC warrior roar.
Comrades making the alter mate sacrifices .
Our Europa must die a symbolic death before
he with no name and no shame and no game plan
is forever expunged from this earth so
no man living or dead can ever repeat his sins.
Only when we see blood running three feet deep
down Holloway road will we know the beast has been slain.
washing away the shame of 14 years with out the title.
And if this club should last 40 million plus one years
people will say dis was our greatest howler.
The tactical genius of Wenger will almost outsmart any opposition but who needs tactics when you have Alex Iwobi the guy can win games on his own and with the prolific Danny Welbeck up top your almost certain to wreak havoc, I can almost see the Milan players trembling with fear in that dressing room they will know by the 2018 performances alone that Wenger’s arsenal are serial winners, fighters.. soldiers even they might be 30 points behind city in the premier league but that’s mostly down to bad decisions by referees and the Alexis Sanchez charade (nothing to do with Wenger) nope I’m awake now I’m going for Milan 3-0 Arsenal hopefully that seals the old fossils fate!
John you started so well then crushed me down to earth with reality 🙂
i think AW getting us in the CL through Europa League winners would be a great way to finish his carer then no one will feel bad for him
i will be sporting our “out of form boys tonight and hope they can put a few passes and a few goals together like we played before Christmas specially Ozil and hope Welbeck gets his Hat-trick
now i need to wake up 🙂
We can all dream tas it seems dreams are better than reality these days especially when your an arsenal fan
Feel bad for Wenger?…..he got paid very well……..and he has nothing to show for it……..Wenger out…….
I see you care more for Wengers feeling than for your own…It’s ironic because Wenger dont give a s##t about you.
I’d like to shake your hand and then buy you a drink. For being a realist! Like me!
I thought Bellerin is not available? Since Gattuso likes 4-3-3, I think Wenger would use 3-4-2-1:
……………Ospina
Chambers Mustafi Koscielny
Niles Ramsey Xhaka Kolasinac
……..Ozil Mkhitaryan
…………..Welbeck
But actually I prefer 4-4-1-1 with Ramsey as the disruptor (Okazaki/ Griezmann role) behind Welbeck:
……………Ospina
Niles Mustafi Koscielny Kolasinac
Nelson Xhaka Wilshere Mkhitaryan
…………..Ramsey
…………..Welbeck
Warning. Milan should be defeated or they beat us to the game, l am expecting a positive result even though I know it’s going to be another loss for my club. I am a fan, I need to support my club. Just try boys, don’t lose 3-0 or 4-0 because it has happened before. Lose with dignity like Chelsea lost to Man City.
Ramsey as the disruptor? Do you even know what a disruptor is? Lining him up behind Welbeck infers you think of him as some sort of no.10 who will create goals, whereas a disruptor is someone who causes disorder, turmoil, chaos. Then again maybe he will – for Arsenal.
Hahahaha
And yet again Mhki on the left and Ozil on the right…
We all know for sure, how it will end. But as a Gunners, I will watch d match n hope we will score a goal or 2. COYG.
We can’t break Milan’s defence with the likes of Welbroke and Iwobi,so I’m expecting a clean sheet for them.
I expect the usual collapse.
Milan will bully us and we’ll fail to coup with the pressure.
They will dominate us in the air.
3-0 half time. 4-1 end of match.
I cannot be optimistic I just hope the lads will prove me wrong.
coyg
This is the condition we find ourselves, Welbek in an Arsenal shirt. Just look at the development in the Arsenal attack From Ian Wright to Berkam to Anelka to KANU to the great Henry to Adebayor to Van Persie . then to Geroud to Welbek
Summed up very nicely Adega
Milan in great form. they also need this for CL next season. Welbeck can’t score unless he is left completely unmarked, and in a game like that we’ll need fighters, so Ozil and Miki will be useless. 2-0 or 3-0 to Milan is the most likely result.
play Nelson and AMN at least they will gain some european experience.
V Brokhorst was a LB. Sanga was better than Monreal for us. Fabregas in his Arsenal days better than Cazorla. Pires way better than Overmars.
imagine being scared of a manager whos only got few months experience at a high level
our has 22 years at the highest level
we have a better squad and play in a better league
if we dont win its a failure in my eyes
Not too sure about the ‘better squad’ but Arsenal do play in a better league – badly! Hope they can use EPL experience and pull themselves together tonight but I won’t be betting on it.
Guardiola had no experience hen he on the CL with Barcelona
Bellerin is injured
Arsenal had greater records against all Italian teams therefore they can still do the same thing. Arsenal were beaten by Inter Milan 3-1 at the Emirate stadium in the first leg of the champions league, but Arsenal went to thrash them 4-1 and the game ended 5-4 on aggregate in favour of Arsenal.
Bellerin is out so Wenger will play Chambers as a Rb so Wenger 11 will be like this,
……………Ospina
Cham..Kosc..Must..Kola
……….Xhak..Rams
Mhki……Ozil………Iwobi
………….Welb.
My 11 would be
…………Ospina
…..kosc..Must..Hold
Amn..Rams..Jack..Kola
……Ozil..Nkei..Mhki
Milan, without initiative, was unable to get close to Ospina’s goal.
The second half was much more placid for Arsenal than you might think. Bonaventura threw to the equipment to the back, but it hardly disturbed to Ospina with endless shots from outside the area. At the end a disciplined Arsenal with good football in the first half got away with the win
Wenger smiled all the way to the changing room?