2007 English Premier League

[Akileese]

FABREGAS WITH THE DESERVED EQUALIZER!
HOLD EM GUYS!

The streak ends, but the unbeaten streak continues. Top of the table still! I'll take a draw as it was clear we didn't have our best stuff today (although Bendtner missing a wide open net is virtually inexcusable). I'll question Wenger bringing on Walcott so late as well as bringing in Bendtner at all (strikers as subs usually don't pan out well). But in the end a draw is a draw and I'm sure most Gooners are satisfied. Now we can focus on the flash with Man U. on Saturday.

[Baerf]

Great game. Thrilling stuff - real end to end football.... well it was mostly at Liverpools end. Happy we came away with the 1 point, but i have to question Rafa's decision to play Torres, he made no real impact in the game, and as much as i hate to say it - Crouch should of started instead.

[Akileese]

Originally Posted by Baerf

Great game. Thrilling stuff - real end to end football.... well it was mostly at Liverpools end. Happy we came away with the 1 point, but i have to question Rafa's decision to play Torres, he made no real impact in the game, and as much as i hate to say it - Crouch should of started instead.

Torres was not match fit at all and it showed. That right there took you down to two subs at halftime and then Xabi Alonso got injured. Liverpool were very lucky to come away with a draw in my opinion. Had that game been at the Emirates, there is no question in my mind that Arsenal come away with 3 points.

[Baerf]

Sorry, i should of put abit more detail into my post. It was clear that Torres was going to struggle after missing a number of games, and moreso considering he was placed up front alone, against a very strong Arsenal defence. The tactic of just lobbing the ball from the halfway line and hoping that it connected with Torries wasn't going to work, and this was clear just 5 minutes into the game.

Alonso also struggled and again, it was a poor decision by Rafa to play him in such as high paced game like this.

Why Babel wasn't played in the beginning and Crouch (who always likes to score against Arsenal) was a error in judgement. And i have no doubt that the only reason we got the 1 point was due to playing at Anfield. If we were playing away (as you rightly stated), we would of been hammered.

Though, i do take something from that fact it took just under 80 minutes for Arsenal to score. Bad luck, good defence for what-ever - i'm pretty happy at our response to Arsenals counter-attacks.

Still, it was a great game to watch, and i was just waiting for the drawing goal, and then the possible winning goal from Arsenal.

[Akileese]

It was a phenomenal game. I think a lot of it was bad luck, but we were off form today. Fabregas had a dreadful first half and Adebayor CANNOT play a solo striker role. I think on Saturday you will see Walcott come on and start in a two striker role against United. Eboue just looked off form and uncomfortable in the midfield. I feel once Gilberto came in our defense was not going to let a goal in.

I really feel Walcott needs to start when Robin is out. He adds so much pace and speed on the wings or in the strikers role. Whenever he comes in it seems like everyone picks up their game and plays with a more vicious pace.

I think we'll beat United. I really felt Arsenal would draw one game and win the other, but they wouldn't lose a game yet. If we can get through both those games, we'll get RVP back shortly and go right back to our two headed monster up front.

One more thing, Almunia is officially our keeper for the year. He made at least 3 game saving stops in that match. I really felt that he could of had Gerrard's shot had he made a move on it, but he looked so mesmerized that it got through the wall (I still don't know how that happened but whatever) that he didn't even make a move on it. I love Almunia and I feel we can win a league title and possibly a European championship with him.

[Telrem]

Akileese you get so far ahead of yourself.

Arsenal have had a good start to the season, Liverpool have had a bad one.

Just because you've had a decent result against them does not mean you have the Premiership and Champions League in the bag!

Maybe if you pick up results against Chelsea, Man U and some big teams in the Champions League we can start to talk about Arsenal actually winning something.

Liverpool is the best team you've played so far this season. Two of their best midfielders and their best striker got injured and you still couldn't beat them.

Hardly championship winning stuff!

[Akileese]

pfft, we're far from having it in the bag, but we have a huge advantage playing in one of the worst group stages groups in the last 15 years. It'll be a real miracle if we can do the double simply because we're dogfighting United right now.

The league won't be decided until March or April this year (unlike last year when United pretty much had it locked up by January). Plus, there are less "free wins" this year with the normal easy wins being tougher sides to face.

I'm wishful, not arrogrant. United scares the hell out of me as they're playing the best football in the world right now. I think they're probably a better overall side than us and it's going to be a game for the ages on Saturday.

[Waedar]

which double you talking? domestic or epl/cl? and i seem to recall last year's epl race to go on to the last games of Chelsea's season where we manged to drop much needed points week after week

[Akileese]

League/CL.

As for last year, you guys were pretty much like 6-9 behind for most of the year. Once Man U's injuries caught up, you got closer, but I could of sworn I remember United controlling the league for the better part of the league.

[Kiely]

Holy shit what the hell is that signature Aikleese.

Ok as for...the match of the season thus far... Arsenal vs Man united.

Both teams have come together at a point where confidence is high, spirit is high and performances of most players is at a good level. It will be a good game.
As to say who has the initial advantage, I will go with Arsenal.

Man UTD have injuries to Scholes & Carrick, not to mention Saha (I don't want to see him anyway with the way things are), nevermind the longterm people Ji-Sung, Neville & Saha.
Carrick may or may not start on saturday, but it's going to be mainly Hargreaves real time to shine. He's not been properly tested. Not to mention Nani & Andersson, they are VERY new to this style of football and could easily be tripped up by the fast flowing style of Arsenal. It's integral that our midfield duo get stuck in early in this match to get any sort of control... both teams can score in a flash and the tide will easily turn.
I hope to see Carrick starting, with Hargreaves, Giggs and Ronaldo. Evra should be fully fit from his bit of absence. Wes brown has been doing a good job in Neville's shoes, but not as good (You can see Ronaldo doesn't get the service he used to, but a player of his level should be doing better atm and he's simply not. This season his mentality is a bit wierd... )
From what I see of Arsenal, they are fully in belief right now that they can produce goods to anyone. They did 1-1 at Liverpool, that's brilliant because Liverpool have one of the best Home records ever, it's a real nightmare playing there. They really pushed them back and could of had the victory. Now to play at home vs their main rivals, they will really be pumped. Confidence breeds success and they will have more than MU at that.

[Akileese]

Sorry about the Sig. It was an Arsenal mini banner that for some odd reason showed up as a huge yellow block in IE.

I could see a 1-1 or 2-2 draw. I think Walcott starts up top with Adebayor.

[Mimirswell]

Originally Posted by Kiely

Confidence breeds success and they will have more than MU at that.

Not a very realistic argument considering Manchester United scored 4 goals in the last 4 games (equaling a 100-year-old record in the EPL) as well as Manchester United having the best defensive record of the Premier League (7 Clean Sheets to Arsenal's 4).

They did 1-1 at Liverpool, that's brilliant because Liverpool have one of the best Home records ever, it's a real nightmare playing there.

Historically yes but not at all this season (and thus irrelevant). They have 1 win, 4 draws at home (1 loss to Marseilles in the CL too). Conversely they have 4 wins, 1 draw away. Arsenal is 6 wins at home and Manchester is 5 wins, 1 draw at home. Even Chelsea is 3 wins, 2 draws at home.

(You can see Ronaldo doesn't get the service he used to, but a player of his level should be doing better atm and he's simply not. This season his mentality is a bit wierd... )

Ronaldo has 6 (3 EPL, 3 CL) goals this season already (keep in mind his suspension for 3 games and not starting twice from international rest) so I'm not sure what you mean about not playing well, he's playing excellent when he plays.

Man UTD have injuries to Scholes & Carrick, not to mention Saha (I don't want to see him anyway with the way things are), nevermind the longterm people Ji-Sung, Neville & Saha

Arsenal are missing RVP (which is far more important since Arsenal do not have good depth in their strikers - at least in terms of EPL experience though Eduardo is a great player). Manchester's starting lineup looks solid to me especially with Ferguson confirming Ferdinand is back and that Carrick looks likely:

Van der Saar
Brown - Vidic - Ferdinand - Evra
Ronaldo - Hargreaves - Carrick (Giggs) - Giggs (Nani) - (if Carrick can't play)
Tevez - Rooney

That's hardly a depleted team, Wes Brown is playing great (Neville admitted he probably won't even start for weeks because of his good play this season - he's returning to the field tomorrow for the friendly!). Anyhow, I think a tie is likely (which is a win for Manchester United given the turf).

[Waedar]

no matter how you look at it saturday's game is should be the best one of the weekend (unless it turns out like last year's FA cup). I'm honestly at a loss over who will win, if the injuries weren't there for Man Utd i'd put them on top, as for Persie (sp) being out i'd be more worried about Arsenal's defense in this game than their striking force (everyone knows they have the players to score goals, and they are showing that their limited epl experience isn't a issue for now)

in other news Richard's knee (D,Man City) isn't fully screwed up, should still have a season and no major damage

as a sidenote, a draw in the game between Arsenal and Man Utd will make the top 4 (assuming a chelsea and man city win) very very close for the next week

[Akileese]

Don't worry about our defense it'll be fine. Kolo Toure and William Gallas are the rocks of our defense with Clichy and Sagna at the wings. Almunia is playing out of his mind right now (I really don't think he's as good as he's playing right now but I won't complain), but Van Der Sar is unbelievable (2nd best in the league behind Cech who I say is easily the best keeper in the world).

Arsenal tend to keep the ball in the oppositions end. The biggest problem is our midfielders are such good defenders that they tend to do a great job of dispossessing the opposing teams midfielders and attack at the midfield. Eboue is a defender by trade and Fabregas is playing like he has a chip on his shoulder (from what I don't possibly know but I'll take it).

I like a draw in this game. These two teams are so evenly matched. Fergie said today he felt it's a two horse race between United and Arsenal for the league and I really can't argue. The irony of it all is that they're both probably the two best managers in the Premiership. So I'll say a 1-1 or a 2-2 draw.

[Akileese]

Trying to find this game in English is a fucking nightmare.

WAIT! NM! THE LIVEFOOTY FEED IS FINALLY IN ENGLISH! WOO!

Blown call. Should of been a free kick the other way before the goal. W/E Webb can suck my cock. He's been the most erratic fucking piece of shit I've ever seen. Playing to the United players and giving them a cookie and a blowjob should they desire it.