Arsenal players at Olympic games 2012

Great Leader Sprucenuce wrote:

MJGunner wrote:

Great Leader Sprucenuce wrote:

Eman wrote:
And it's great that Koscielny is starting tonight. Hopefully the fact that it is an experimental attacking lineup will not result in the Boss looking bad...

Cabaye is protecting Koscielny i wouldnt worry

**M'vila

I meant for this game if Koscielny plays Cabaye is the deepest player in midfield because France are going with Cabaye, Nasri and Gourcuff in midfield lol.

With Menez, Benzema and Ben Arfa in attack, not sure about the defence though.

Mandanda, Debuchy, Rami, Mexes, Evra, Cabaye, Gourcuff, Nasri, Ben Arfa, Benzema,Menez.

Thats the confirmed line up not sure where Koscielny talk came from then....

Oh yeah yeah yeah, my bad. I forgot they were trying a more attacking minded approach.

Well, we'll see one Arsenal target (Gourcuff) instead of the other (M'vila).

In all serious, I think van Persie despite being a NT flop - if played in his favourite position and not on the wing will have a good campaign.

Koscielny won't play much, Walcott and the Ox play in a very weak squad this time, maybe Arshavin - our germans hopefully do well since I support their team. I really hope Bendtner does well so we can sell him soon.

France 3-2 Iceland

Koscielny didn't play. Unused sub.

Podolski expects better from Germany

29 May 2012
Germany forward Lukas Podolski says he is certain his team will improve after their 5-3 loss to Switzerland on Saturday.

Podolski, who will play for Arsenal next season, has promised better displays from Joachim Loew's side.

The defeat to the Swiss raised many eyebrows, with the Germans one of the favourites to win Euro 2012, but Podolski said the return of eight Bayern Munich players would help his team.

"Of course defeats like this shouldn't happen and they hurt, and losing 5-3 to Switzerland is definitely not on, but I can promise there will be a different team on the field (against Portugal)," Podolski said.

"It has been the same in previous years, when we lost 4-1 to Italy (in 2006), for example.

"We have got to live with the criticism. We are all focusing on Portugal and have got to be fit for that game, and we will be fit.

"There is no doubt that with the eight Bayern players here, the quality improves. They are top guys and we have missed them."
Source

Groover ‏@GrooverBlog

Koscielny and M'Vila will start against Serbia tomorrow, for the second friendly of French Team

France team to play Serbia tomo (via @lequipe ) Lloris;Réveillère, Koscielny, Mexès, Clichy;Cabaye, M'Vila, Malouda; Nasri, Benzema, Ribéry.

Holland XI v Slovakia (7.30pm) Stekelenburg; Van der Wiel, Heitinga, Bouma, Schaars; MvB, De Jong; RvP, Sneijder, Robben; Huntelaar.

Germany v Israel: Neuer - Boateng, Mertesacker, Badstuber, Lahm - Khedira, Kroos - Müller, Özil, Podolski - Gomez

Hmm... let's see how Mertesacker does with a decent CB in his side.

Yann M'Vila twists ankle badly. Crying when exited field. Looks big doubt for Euros. Scan tonight.

Ugh.


Capoue?

Samuelj29060 wrote:Yann M'Vila twists ankle badly. Crying when exited field. Looks big doubt for Euros. Scan tonight.

That is just part of the contract, you must be injured to join Arsenal.

urbaNRoots wrote:Hmm... let's see how Mertesacker does with a decent CB in his side.

Clean Sheet

Boss performance by Mertesacker. Made two great tackles to prevent a goal-opportunity + some great clearances with his head. Podolski missed a really good chance in the 2nd half, should've scored tbh but just shot straight at the keeper. The positive is that his link-up play is way much better when Lahm plays as the LB.

As for M'Vila, I watched the last 10 minutes - he returned to the bench without any help but still was struggling - but didn't look that bad (hopefully).

we are more likely to get him if he is injured tbh, so i hope he stays injured for a bit. lol

Blanc believes M'Vila may be fit for #France v England after ankle sprain tonight. Physio says wait 48 hours and see how it goes. (via @RBairner )

Friday

Germany 2-0 Israel

Mertesacker & Podolski both started for Germany. Mertesacker played the whole game, Podolski was withdraw after 67 mins.

Benayoun played the first half for Israel.

France 2-0 Serbia

Koscielny played the whole game for France.

Podolski looked much better than last match, having Lahm on his flank really helped him, he looked lively, probably played the three best crosses during the entire match, sadly fumbled his finish when he had his best chance, but he worked hard in defence and utilized space well.

Finishing aside, he had a good match, if RVP stays he will compliment him perfectly if played as a winger as he is for Germany.

Mertesacker looked better as well, though he was hardly tested. But he did show very good positioning, had two or three excellent tackles, and even looked rather pacey once or twice, when needed. Obviously he still needs time after his injury, but he reminded me, why I rate him as a classy defender.

I hope Bendtner does well in the euros so we can sell him and get atleast 10mil for him

QUESTION: Where are all the people who called Per's head after Germany lost the previous match?

Lol. Its hilarious how much knee-jerk we guys have sometimes. And also, haters gonna hate. But Per is the goat.

Was thinking the exact same thing sri.

Its absolutely ridiculous people are not satisfied with him as a 3rd choice defender ffs.

Amar wrote:Was thinking the exact same thing sri.

Its absolutely ridiculous people are not satisfied with him as a 3rd choice defender ffs.

Let me be honest. If Vermaelen doesn't go back to being the defender he was in his first season and makes errors because he is too busy attacking, I see no reason why Per and Koscielny shouln't become first choice. Crucify me if you will, but there is no definition of "first choice" in Arsenal. You play well to keep your place. And if you don't, you will be dropped for someone who can contribute more in that position. Doesn't matter if it is Ramsey or Theo or Vermalen or RvP who is the underperformer.

Hodgson has told England players tonight that Oxlade-Chamberlain and Welbeck start against Belgium tomorrow. (via @Matt_Lawton_DM )

--

Italy 0-3 Russia

Arshavin played the whole game on the left; played well by all accounts.

Ox gonna out-shine Hazard
without Carroll and Downing it looks better

Downing and Carroll actually played well against Norway. It'll be interesting to see where Chamberlain, if he will actually start, will play. When he came on against Norway, he played up front with Carroll, so I wonder if he'll play there again alongisde (or just off, to be specific) Welbeck, or whether he'll play on the flank.