***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

[Laffer]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

I want to marry Cesc Fabregas.

Even with a man, his children would be beautiful.

[rsnomar05]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

Bye bye Villa! Thanks for pretending! Now you can return to your normal everyday lives. I'll bet playing make-believe as a CL spot contender sure was fun.

[goonertaff]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

Bye bye Villa! Thanks for pretending! Now you can return to your normal everyday lives. I'll bet playing make-believe as a CL spot contender sure was fun.

yes and with us playing Liverpool Man Utd and Chelsea in the last seven games and Aston Villa toughest game being west ham at home there no chance we could lose three games and they go undefeated Dont temp fate

OMG how much does Cesc change the game his balance, grace, vision and retention of possesion (something sadly missing from dennilson again) allowed him to dictate the game for long periods until he lost his legs a little towards the end. Asharvin looks like he's got his fitness up and is coping with the pace which given how long he's been here is amazing' sadly i think it means the end for Rosicky. And theo is not going to have a long career being kicked about like that

[rsnomar05]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

yes and with us playing Liverpool Man Utd and Chelsea in the last seven games and Aston Villa toughest game being west ham at home there no chance we could lose three games and they go undefeated Dont temp fate

I was being sarcastic. I would never guarantee or say we 100% will nab the 4th spot, but you have to admit it is looking pretty likely, given our recent form and with Cesc and Theo back from injury. Don't worry, as a Red Sox fan who has seen way too many heartbreaking losses in the playoffs (Buckner), I know nothing is a sure thing.

[Laffer]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

I am so pumped about the game tomorrow! With Opening Day just finished and Champs league tomorrow I can't even sleep. In other news, RVP won't be fit, but Nasri and Theo will be raring to go!

[rsnomar05]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

I am so pumped about the game tomorrow! With Opening Day just finished and Champs league tomorrow I can't even sleep. In other news, RVP won't be fit, but Nasri and Theo will be raring to go!

I can't wait. At the beginning of the year I did not expect to feeling this good about Arsenal right now, but I have high hopes.

[Qb]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

Just a heads up, my cable guide says that Arsenal/Villareal will be shown at 5pm on ESPN Classic. With only two matches today I don't see why it wouldn't be televised, but Comcast have lied to me too many times for me to fully trust them...

[rsnomar05]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

Arsenal did not play well, so I am grateful they scraped away a 1-1 draw. Adebayor's goal was a thing of beauty, but that was about the only high point on an afternoon where passes didn't click, players picked up too many yellows on poor challenges, and Almunia and Gallas had to be substituted due to injury.

Here's hoping we get a better performance in the second leg, especially from Walcott if he plays.

[goonertaff]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

Arsenal did not play well, so I am grateful they scraped away a 1-1 draw. Adebayor's goal was a thing of beauty, but that was about the only high point on an afternoon where passes didn't click, players picked up too many yellows on poor challenges, and Almunia and Gallas had to be substituted due to injury.

Here's hoping we get a better performance in the second leg, especially from Walcott if he plays.

get your point on the red socks thing
out of interest have you watched fever pitch (US or UK Version)? just wondered.

Have to disagree on your assesment of the game in the second half.

First half was poor but losing a goal a keeper and your most experienced defender does nt help plus Cesc Walcott Nasri and Addi are all returning from injury.

The second half we controlled for 35 mins and id expect the game at THOF to be very similar to the second half especially later in the game as it gets stretched and Villa real go looking for an away goal

Im preying that porto dont try and get a 0-0 verses United next week and my little bet from the start of the season pays off Arsenal to beat Barcelona 2-1 Henry to score first and not celebrate(though the celebration is nt part of the bet lol)

[rsnomar05]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

get your point on the red socks thing
out of interest have you watched fever pitch (US or UK Version)? just wondered.

Have to disagree on your assesment of the game in the second half.

First half was poor but losing a goal a keeper and your most experienced defender does nt help plus Cesc Walcott Nasri and Addi are all returning from injury.

The second half we controlled for 35 mins and id expect the game at THOF to be very similar to the second half especially later in the game as it gets stretched and Villa real go looking for an away goal

Im preying that porto dont try and get a 0-0 verses United next week and my little bet from the start of the season pays off Arsenal to beat Barcelona 2-1 Henry to score first and not celebrate(though the celebration is nt part of the bet lol)

I've seen both versions and read the book.

As for second half, I felt Arsenal played better in spurts, including one great stretch (resulting in the Ade goal) where the Gunners got into their passing flow and Villareal had trouble getting any sort of possession or attack, but then I felt we gave it right back to them. I'll more than take the result, given the circumstances, but in the next leg (and going forward, if we advance) Arsenal need to perform better. Of course, it would help if Arshavin could play, then they wouldn't need song in the midfield.

[ZM Punk]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

I thought we played very well in the second half. Villareal plays a very similar game to us and really out passed us in the first half. It showed a lot of maturity from the team to come out and control the second half like we did.

[Qb]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

Injury status updates for Almunia & Gallas via Fox Soccer:

Lukasz aided by Almunia's setback

Arsenal defender Gallas out for rest of season

Short version, Wenger said Gallas is out for the season with medial ligament damage, Almunia is expected to miss three weeks with an ankle injury and Clichy will miss two weeks with "a back problem". Also, Van Persie and Eduardo will need fitness tests ahead of Saturday's game with Wigan (airs at 12AM ET Saturday night/Sunday morning on FSC).

All three could be worrisome. While all three deputies have impressed to some extent in their limited work this year, I worry about them having to step into what will surely be a fiercely competitive Champions League match, not to mention a compacted schedule of league matches and a looming FA Cup semi-final at Wembley a week from tomorrow.

In going back to the story, it appears that Silvestre is finally healthy and it wouldn't be a great surprise if he starts at some point over the next run of games. I'm not sure how I feel about that...

[roxnsox]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

I've seen both versions and read the book.

The book is great. I've only seen the UK movie which is good, too. My father gave me some programs he had from around the time period of Fever Picth - late 60s-early 70s. Arsenal vs Cardiff City, Manchester City and a few other ones. I think they're in storage now, but I'll see if I can find any of them and post some pics, if anyone's interested.

[ZM Punk]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

Sucks about Gallas. As he has been in tremendous form since the first Man Citeh game.

[rsnomar05]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

The book is great. I've only seen the UK movie which is good, too. My father gave me some programs he had from around the time period of Fever Picth - late 60s-early 70s. Arsenal vs Cardiff City, Manchester City and a few other ones. I think they're in storage now, but I'll see if I can find any of them and post some pics, if anyone's interested.

The pics would be awesome.