Gabriel could help Arsenal overturn Monaco by Sam P
I know that I am right at the highly optimistic end of the scale of Arsenal fans and I know that the team´s hopes of making it to a first Champions League quarter-final in four years are hanging by a thread by the shocking performance against Monaco at the Emirates in the first leg.
But you should never give up in football. PSG proved that once again last night as they overcame all the odds and knocked Chelsea out of Europe. Bradford also did it against Jose Mourinho and his team after going two goals down at Stamford Bridge this season.
It tends to happen more often in cup competitions and so I don´t think that Arsene Wenger will have given up, even though he may not be feeling very confident. The fact is that we might as well go for it in Monaco and one thing the first leg did show was that we can create good chances against the French side.
On another night, Giroud could have had a hat-trick and we would be sitting pretty. As it is, we have to create chances again and score them this time. But just as vital is stopping them scoring on the counter attack so the news that Gabriel is not going to be out for as long as thought and is due back in training anytime now could turn out to be crucial.
The Brazilian defender has not been out long so does not need to regain fitness and so he could play on Tuesday. And he has experience in Europe, having played eight Europa League games for Villarreal this season before signing for Arsenal. If we can keep a clean sheet and take our chances, who knows what surprises there could be in store?
More depth we have the better
A clean sheet will be so important in Monaco, but the chances of us doing that seem slim to me, no matter who Wenger starts. But hopefully we do.
Gunners also need to get those 3 goals at least. We’ve been averaging 2 goals a game as of late, need to amp our offense up and capitalize on given opportunities Monaco gives us.
Good news indeed! Would like him to keep it tight at the back for us, a clean sheet will be crucial for us in france! Coyg!
If Gabriel is fit we HAVE to play him. We are the team that has to be active and attack from
The off and Monaco will definitely sit back, absorb and counter so we need our 2 pacy centerbacks that our able to cover large lengths of the pitch
We just need that one goal in the first half against Monaco. They will start feeling the pressure and anything can happen late on.
Lets focus on West Ham first…..Get 3 important points….don’t forget its a derby and anything can happen a good win against them will lift us up against Monaco…..Gabriel comes in a great news…..we need as many as players in the squad…COYG!!!
I have given up on the Monaco game. And have resigned to the fact we may not progress to the QFs of this cup. All other premier league sides going out is helping me sooth myself. If we don’t play the swashbuckling football and absolutely thrash Monaco than we don’t deserve to go through.
Sanchez-Özil-Ramsey-Walcott should deliver this match. If not concentrate on the PL. We have to score 3 goals. And this season most of our wins are 2-1.
Get a goal before 20mins and the second goal before HT, they will be under presure and be forced to make mistake to concede the third….COYG
If Gabriel plays our chances sky rocket IMO. Not because he is better then Per for certain BUT it allows our team shape to change. Per can’t handle speed – Gabriel can. This means we can high press. This means we can keep them pinned in their half instead of having a gap between our midfield and defence. It’s a dangerous game but we need to throw caution to the wind and go for it. With Per we can’t do the same amount of damage, so I’m hoping for a Gabriel resurgence.
3-1 on the night and Ozil to score the winning pen.