Seeing as we're playing them twice soon, in key matches for our season, we should be keeping a beady eye on their situation/strengths/weaknesses etc.

As I've already said on the BBS before, they're struggling with defensive resources. What about other suspensions? Injury situations? Players struggling for form? tactical weaknesses?

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2002

Answers

Stepanovs is the weakest link....try and get past him and he'll take you down....

Henry's temperment is suspect...get a bit physical with him and watch him explode....

Pires is class....I love Robert but have to admit that he's not in the same class as Pires....and we nearly had him from metz all those years ago :((

Parlor is making a name for himself even though I thought his red last night was a bit unfortunate....

Campbell is looking more accomplished, we could do with him being injured....

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2002

Defensive summary: Adams still struggling after limping off against Gillingham. Keown, Upson and Cole also out through injury. So centrally they have Campbell with either Stepanovs or Grimandi.

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2002

I agree with Gav that Pires is pure class. Excellent with both feets, fast, reading the game ok and he scores goals. In the league he has 7 goals and 14 assists so far. I'm a very big admirer of Pires, shame he plays for Arse. Robert could certainly learn a thing or two from Pires..

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2002

Freddie Ljunberg would be a nice injury to see happen. Perhaps an accident in the hairdressers inlvolving colourant running all down his smug chops

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2002

Against Leverkusen Van Bronkhorst and Lauren played as full backs. By all accounts they defended well. Did anybody see the game?

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2002

Ljunberg didn't play last night and wasn't on the bench. Was he suspended, injured or dropped?

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2002

I'll answer my own questions:-)

Jan 22nd. ARSENE WENGER has admitted that the loss of Fredrik Ljungberg will be significant while the midfielder recovers from injury. The super Swede is expected to be out for up to four weeks with ankle, knee and rib injuries following a challenge with Jason Wilcox in the match against Leeds on Sunday.

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2002

Hmmm...I see they failed to mention the scalp infection he picked up from all those dyes.

Is it just me, but is Ljungberg getting a bit thin on top for all that punk hairstyling?

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2002

The amazing thing is that Robert has done about 300% more for Newcastle than Pires did for Arsenal in his first season.

However, apparently he is suspended for the league match against us, which if true is fantastic news.

Their defence is pretty sluggish to be honest, only Campbell has legs but wouldn't catch either of Bellamy or Robert.

Henry is a threat but if you wind him up he gets booked and tends to drift away a bit.

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2002

If Pires is indeed suspended that is a major plus for the Toon - he really is their main playmaker.

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2002

Don't see how Pires can be suspended. He missed the Everton game a couple of weeks ago through suspension (5 bookings) so the only way he could be out for our league match is if he was sent off against Gillingham, which he wasn't. If he is sent off on Saturday he will miss the cup game but don't hold your breath!!

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2002

He probably isn't suspended, but I have heard he is from two people who don't know each other.

Oh well, Hughes will have to play out of his skin (or keep up his good standard)

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2002

I'm certain I read somewhere that Pires was suspended for our game...mind you it was probably on here ;))

-- Anonymous, February 21, 2002

Pires made us look a bit silly in the first half at Highbury which is no reflection on anyone concerned: he's a World Class player and will make a lot of World Class defences look silly in the summer.

-- Anonymous, February 21, 2002

As has often been stated,we're not good against sides who defend deep and shut up shop. But are Arsenal that sort of team? Their full backs are midfielders, and look so much better when going forward. But as in the second half at Highbury, Arsenal can be made to look very silly themselves and they don't like not being in control (hence all the sendings off).

-- Anonymous, February 21, 2002

Giovanni Van Bronckhorst has ruptured a cruciate ligament in his knee and will be out for 9-12 months. Good player, actually.

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2002

not today he isn't

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2002

Pires just was just allowed to run half the length of the pitch without being challenged. Slotted the ball in the far corner nicely. I hope Hughesie was watching.

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2002

Hmmm - Henry just banged in a second. BTW - all of 7 minutes gone. :-(

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2002

Screach, we have to accept that Henry and Pires are World Class and will make our defence look silly - they'll make World Class defences look silly in the summer. We just have to try to score ourselves.

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2002

Exactly dougal - attack is our only form of defence against this lot. They'll almost certainly score on Saturday so we've got to score one more.

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2002

Arsenal played reasonably well tonight - nowt to worry about though (!) ;o{]

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2002

I think you give them too much credit Clarky. Leverkusen were cr@p. Nowt to worry about as long as we score more than @rse we'll be OK ;-)

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2002

If we don't concede in the first half an hour we have a real chance.

Arsenal's players will get annoyed - with themselves more than anything - that they haven't scored and that's when their disciplinary problems kick in.

Without Bellamy they have nobody to wind up - this could turn to be our gain. Their full backs are both quite weak - and Lauren picked up a knock tonight, so if Robert and Solano / Hughes attack them and try to beat the man we could be in there.

That is why perhaps playing Lua Lua would be a mistake. I thought before that we could play him as he is the closest to Bellamy, but with their full backs, we should be aiming crosses into the box and play another biggish player, either Cort or Ameobi. Both of these are good on the ball once it's under control and both can finish pretty well.

More than anything, we are the home team. Forget Arsenal's awy record, we should be the ones dictating the game. Pires can be removed as a threat most of the time by a bit of physical pressure, Griffin would be perfect, but Hughes' pace will help him enourmously with him.

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2002

Oh, alright Screach - Arsenal were fairly average tonight, scoring 4 deed jammy goals. Nowt to worry about. :o{I

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2002

That's better Clarky. Indeed, if Bergkamp hadn't fluffed his shot, the last one wouldn't have gone in and I'm sure Vera slipped causing him to dive goalwards when the ball was deflected to the far side of the goal. And remember, DB doesn't fly so will be forced to make the tiresome journey up the A1.

I also hear that we're due gale force winds on Saturday and that's bound to cause havoc with Seaman's hair.

See, nee problem at aal.

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2002

......I'm greatly encouraged!

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2002

Seems to me that everyone has forgotten that WE ARE AT HOME. Historically arsenal don't do well up at wor place. I feel confident that the worst that will happen is a draw. Bobby won't let 'em beat us. Keep the faith man lads/lasses

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2002

Arse haven't been beaten away from home all season, which is the sort of record I like in a strange way. Having said that, they won't have forgotten the game at Highbury and may approach it as a grudge match. Arse don't have that good a record at our place although the last two seasons, we've played them at the end of the season when neither team had much left to play for. What worries me is that we haven't scored from open play for a couple of league games and I think Arsenal are fairly good at defending set pieces. We really need to hope that Robert will be inspired by having so many compatriots and competitors for the Equipe de France on the same pitch as I'm convinced he's the key to our getting anything out of the game.

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2002

Curiously dougal I think Robert is the key to the rest of our season, but perhaps not to Saturday's game.

We will keep plugging away, but unless we can get KD fully fit and back in, LR is arguably our only world-class forward. Where we go this season may very well depend on whether or not he cuts the mustard from here on in.

Regarding Saturday, I feel our defensive performance will largely dictate whether we get anything out of the game.

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2002

One thing about Robert is that he is fouled a lot.

Up until recently he was the PL's most fouled player.

If we play him up front, does that not give us a better chance of winning penalties?

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2002

All I can say is, if you're looking for ways to get the better of the arse, don't take a leaf out of Bayer Leverkusen's book.

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2002

Lauren out now too. So if Dixon plays again on the right, they might have to play Edu left , or perhaps Grimandi?
Either way, Robert has to play on the left against Dixon, with Distin on the overlap - Dixon will be concentrating on defensive duties and I can't see him being able to run the line all game at his age, having come back from injury and having played midweek. Edu on the left is a midfielder so we need to pressurise here too, trying to get him out of position. Similarly the central pair are new together and Leverkusen never really pressurised them much. Shearer should be able to cause some disruption and confusion. Ameobi partnering him with Cort on the bench perhaps.

But as is mentioned above, this will all be irrelevant if we let them get the better of us upfront, and Henry and Pires are on fire. Together with Viera and Wiltord they have the ability to carve us apart. We MUST disrupt and frustrate their passing moves and make them work. No point us attacking all out, giving them space to break, but we need to be positive when we have possession and get at em. WE CAN DO IT.

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2002

Anybody know when Terry Henry is up in front of the FA. I heard that if he gets a suspension he'll miss the cup game.

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2002

There were suggestions earlier in this thread that Pires was suspended for our game. Anyone know whether that is correct, or is it perhaps for the FAC game?

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2002

Dixon against Robert scares me.....remember Dixon against Ginola? Dixon kicks the shit out him and he fades out of the game....I'd rather see Dixon against Bernard, i've a feeling that Bernard would be able to handle it better....

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2002

Pires doesn't appear to be suspended. I'm not sure about Parlour. Sporting Life say he had a one match ban, but did last night's game count?

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2002

In a way, for this sort of game, I think bringing Robert on later can help. Talking about the game at Highbury, he said that, sitting on the bench, he could see that their defence was strong but slow and he knew that, running quickly through the middle, he could do them some damage. He was ever so slightly right.

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2002

Dixon trying to kick lumps out of Robert...hmm...worth the risk IMO. Hopefully an early booking for Dixon will make things even more interesting. Looks like Parlour and Luzhny will be back from suspension too. Jeffers possibly back from injury too.

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2002

Thing about defence is that even if we defend better than we have in our entire life, we are never going to keep Pires and Henry out. We have to try to minimise the damage but, really, we have to hope we can carve out our own chances. The thing about Bellamy is that he gets us out of gaol (unfortunate image) with his pace on the counter. If ONLY Dyer was fit.

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2002

Ljungberg update- and it's not just us who 'rush' players back from injury!

Teamtwaddle 28.2.2 Freddie Ljungberg blames his early comeback from injury for his latest fitness setback, as the midfielder could now be out for four more weeks.

The Swedish international has now decided to go and see a French specialist in hope of getting to the bottom of his latest foot problem.

Ljungberg said: "It has taken me longer to recover than I had been expecting. I began to train again a little too quickly after the last injury. I was running on the foot and hurt it again so I have been forced to rest it again for a while longer."

Ljungberg picked up the injury after a clash with Leeds' Jason Wilcox on January 20, and hasn't played since...

The Swede added that he is still a couple of weeks away from his return, but that he is hoping to be available for the all important Champions League clash with Deportivo La Coruna on March 12.

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2002

Parlor is defo out and from what I can gather is Lauren.

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2002

syme, what's the info on Parlour? The sites i've been to indicate he's served his suspension. is he then injured?

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2002

I saw it sporting life and read it in icdeadpeople. Dunno if he served it last night, don't think so though?

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2002

Arsenal Play: Newcastle (Sat A) Doubtful: Jeffers, Lauren Injuries: Keown (Mar), Upson (Aug), van Bronckorst (Dec) Ljungberg (Mar), Cole (Mar), Adams (Mar) Suspensions: Parlour (1)

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002

The Ronnie reckons Ashley Cole might be fit to play tomorrow.

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002

That's no problem - he's one of the most overrated players in English football

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002

All they need is a keeper out injured and their out list looks fairly strong :-).

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002

Stepanovs is starting to be noticed for the improvement in his play, and with Pires having come on a ton, this game could end up a classic.

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002