Anderlecht Vs Arsenal
Wednesday 22nd October: 19:45 BST
Constant Vanden Stock Arena


Crisis Point

We are at the stage where things don't really seem bright any more. Injuries, Poor performances in the league, lack of ideas everywhere and so on. All of that has put up pressure on the Team and with great pressure, comes more problems. We can't perform anymore like the way we used to. Much has already been said about that so I won't repeat anything else. However what I would say is that maybe it's really not that late to start a road to recovery. We are getting few of our key players back in Walcott and Ramsey while Arteta coming back is a major boost as well despite what we all feel about him. Surely we will improve in midfield and attack now. Arsene talked about the lack of balance this week and he is most definitely right. But it's not us who can fix this problem, it's him. Obviously he knows more than us for what goes behind in the training ground however when we get the likes of Walcott, Sanchez, Welbeck, Ramsey all functional, then surely our season will turn on its head?

Tomorrow, I think we will be fine. Anderlecht gave Galatasaray problems at home but we should be beating them. Probably not a dominating performance like it was against Gala but I am confident of a win. We don't deserve to be in the CL if we can't beat the likes of them, with all due respect. Expecting few changes. Big day for Martinez in goal. Perhaps we might even get lucky and see Diaby on the bench. I would drop Wilshere and Oxlade for Ramsey and Joel though. But can't see Arsene sharing that view.

Team News

For Arsenal, Chambers is back while Ospina is out for 3 months. Nothing more.

Expected Arsenal Team

-------------------------Martinez-------------------------------
Bellerin--------Mertesacker-----Chambers------------Gibbs
---------------Ramsey-----------Arteta---------------------
Oxlade------------------Cazorla--------------------Sanchez
---------------------Welbeck--------------------------------

Expected Anderlecht Team

-----------------------Proto----------------------------
Vanden Borre-------Mbemba------Heylen------- Deschacht
------------------Defour--------Tielemans------------------
Najar---------------- Praet-------------Suarez------------
-------------------------Mitrovic-----------------------------

Match Facts(FourFourTWo)

• Anderlecht and Arsenal have faced each off only twice in European competition - that was in the final of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup 1969-70.
  
• These two matches ended with one win for each team, but Arsenal lifted the trophy, by winning 4-3 on aggregate.
  
• There have been 12 previous meetings between Arsenal and Belgian sides: the Gunners have lost only three times (W7 D2). The Gunners have won each of their last five against teams from Belgium.
  
• Anderlecht suffered their worst loss in Europe against an English side: 10-0 against Manchester United in the European Cup preliminary round in 1956/57.
  
• The Gunners' joint-biggest win in Europe came against a Belgian team, beating Standard Liege 7-0 in the Cup Winners Cup in 1993/94.
  
• Arsenal have found the net only once in their last four away games in European competition, including qualifying.
  
• Anderlecht's last win in Europe came November 2012 (1-0 against Zenit St. Petersburg), with seven losses and three draws since.
  
• The Belgians have conceded in each of these 10 matches, 2.6 per game on average.
  
• Only one of the last six Anderlecht's Champions League goals has been netted by a striker.

Final Words

Let's hope we are more towards the bayern, Shakhtar and Chelsea of tonight rather than Roma or BATE.

Joel really needs to start, he was pretty good last game in the few minutes he played, Wenger needs to start rotating, our team is already razor thin and we don't need any more of them getting injured

I would really like Joel, Podolski and Rozza (if not injured) to play

I didn't even know we play in CL anymore.

We are going through a rough time and I dont think this is going to be easy. We would be lucky to walk away with a tie. I am sure they would get more chances than Hull did and you all know teams score every chance they get against us.
Another big game for Arsenal and Wenger. If we lose it will be just another day off for Wenger. Shows how far we have dropped….Hull and Anderlecht are BIG games for us now.

Jesus Christ Raptor you are a spoilsport

Hapless_Hans wrote:Jesus Christ Raptor you are a spoilsport

You got to have some fun, I am glad we are not facing bayern till next round though.

Anderlecht will get us ready for big team if make second round.

I wonder what type of performance we'll be seeing today???

Raptorgunner wrote:I didn't even know we play in CL anymore.

My intern said to me when I was leaving work, 'Don't forget to watch the game tonight!' And I replied, 'What game?!'
She then told me, Arsenal plays tonight.

El Gunner wrote:I wonder what type of performance we'll be seeing today???

What's to wonder? It will be another eye sore shitfest with 4-1-4-1, unless Anderlecht rolls over and plays dead.

srigooner wrote:

Raptorgunner wrote:I didn't even know we play in CL anymore.

My intern said to me when I was leaving work, 'Don't forget to watch the game tonight!' And I replied, 'What game?!'
She then told me, Arsenal plays tonight.

Admit it, the only reason you posted this was to let us know you have a female intern working for you.

Hapless_Hans wrote:

srigooner wrote:

Raptorgunner wrote:I didn't even know we play in CL anymore.

My intern said to me when I was leaving work, 'Don't forget to watch the game tonight!' And I replied, 'What game?!'
She then told me, Arsenal plays tonight.

Admit it, the only reason you posted this was to let us know you have a female intern working for you.

3 actually Big deal

srigooner wrote:

El Gunner wrote:I wonder what type of performance we'll be seeing today???

What's to wonder? It will be another eye sore shitfest with 4-1-4-1, unless Anderlecht rolls over and plays dead.

you're kind a spoilsport too these days, sri, I have to say
season has only started, so much to be looking forward too

Hapless_Hans wrote:

srigooner wrote:

El Gunner wrote:I wonder what type of performance we'll be seeing today???

What's to wonder? It will be another eye sore shitfest with 4-1-4-1, unless Anderlecht rolls over and plays dead.

you're kind a spoilsport too these days, sri, I have to say
season has only started, so much to be looking forward too

It's ironic. I was an optimist through all those lean trophyless years. And now, after the cup and that attacking-focussed-defending-ignored-transfer-window, I can hardly bring myself to muster any of the optimism.
I bought the Puma kit and it was just lying untouched for 3 weeks, before I finally wore it when we played this weekend. It's just, meh overall.

Hapless_Hans wrote:

srigooner wrote:

El Gunner wrote:I wonder what type of performance we'll be seeing today???

What's to wonder? It will be another eye sore shitfest with 4-1-4-1, unless Anderlecht rolls over and plays dead.

you're kind a spoilsport too these days, sri, I have to say
season has only started, so much to be looking forward too

You are right we still have a small chance to get another Wenger made up trophy.

Arsène Wenger: 'A win over Anderlecht is more important than my birthday'

What a guy, I think he should know by now, when there is special day for Wenger, the players usually screw it up.

Martinez, Chambers, Mertesacker, Monreal, Gibbs; Flamini; Sanchez, Wilshere, Ramsey, Cazorla; Welbeck.

Subs: Huddart, Bellerin, Rosicky, Arteta, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Podolski, Campbell.

lol never even heard of Huddart

Will be amazed if we keep a clean sheet tonight, not really looking too good fro us, facing the mighty Andelecht.

The return of good old 4-1-4-1

EL Patron wrote:
The return of good old 4-1-4-1

Did it ever leave?

Was considering leaving work to watch the game. 4-1-4-1 think I will pass now.

6unner wrote:Was considering leaving work to watch the game. 4-1-4-1 think I will pass now.

Me too, will catch some of it at work and rest at home. No point missing work for Arsenal anymore.

Awful.

predictable.

It's laborious. It's basics going wrong. That's why it's *bleep* pissing off. BASICS. Bloody *bleep* BASICS.

These guys aren't even on the same wavelength anymore.

WOW.