Arsenal v Anderlecht Preview and Live Thread

[SamuelJayC]

Arsenal v Anderlecht, Tuesday 4th November 7.45pm, Champions League, Emirates Stadium, Sky Sports 5

Only Ian Wright has made a more prolific start to life at Arsenal than Alexis in the Wenger era

Group D

Dortmund 9pts
Arsenal 6pts
Anderlecht 1pt
Galatasaray 1pt


Two weeks ago, in Belgium, with Arsenal on course to become only the third side that Anderlecht had beaten in their previous 34 Champions League games, things for The Gunners were looking bleak. Only four days earlier, Arsène Wenger's side had been held to a disappointing 2-2 draw at the Emirates by Hull City. But then, with seconds remaining at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium, Arsenal's season, possibly, reached a turning point. First Kieran Gibbs hammered home in delicious fashion. Then, substitute Lukas Podolski fired the Londoners ahead, with the last kick of the game. Humiliation aborted.

Since that late escape last month, Wenger has watched his team defeat Sunderland and Burnley without conceding a goal. And whilst, both those teams are, arguably, the weakest in the Premier League just now, back-to-back wins for the first time this season has given the squad its confidence back.

"We are close to getting back to our best," captain Mikel Arteta told reporters on Tuesday afternoon. "We have found a balance, now we're getting players back." One of those players included Theo Walcott who made his first appearance in ten months on Saturday. Wenger insists he hasn't decided if the forward will start on Wednesday night, but Arteta insists he will make a significant difference. "He is a player who has been here a long time, he gives us something different."

Arsenal will reach the knockout rounds of the Champions League for the 15th successive season should they see of Anderlecht and Borussia Dortmund avoid defeat at home to Galatasaray. However, a win for the Turks in Germany would keep Arsenal's ambitions of topping Group D more alive. Finishing first and second may be the difference between facing Atlético Madrid, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and PSG or Olympiakos, Monaco, Roma and Schalke.


Match Facts

* Arsenal & Anderlect have only lost one game in each in their Leagues this season.

* Only Ian Wright (12) has needed less games to reach 10 goals in an Arsenal shirt than Alexis Sanchez (16) in the Wenger era.

* Anderlecht have failed to win in their last 11 Champions League games, conceding at least 2 goals in 9 of those games.

* Only 5 sides in the Champions League average more possession than Arsenal (56%).

* Anderlecht have only won 1 of their last 7 games in all competitions.


Team News

Arsenal

Ospina (thigh), Debuchy (ankle), Koscielny (achilles), Wilshere (ill), Diaby (calf), Özil (knee) & Giroud (tibia) are all unavailable.

Anderlecht

Suárez (knee) & Defour (calf) are both out.

Arsenal subs: Martínez, Bellerín, Flamini, Rosický, Cazorla, Walcott, Sanogo

[Raptorgunner]

Great Work Sam.

If we win, we qualify to second round and we must make things right after the embarrassing night 2 weeks ago.

I wish Wenger would rotate certain players but I think he would go with the same line up as the weekend, he hates rotating if we win the game before.

[El Gunner]

Sam
Like I said in the Burnley post match thread, it's time that we go on a good run now. So, I can't see anything else other than us building on our win against Burnley. Playing at home should help, so I expect a win by 2 or more goals.
Up The Guns!

[RealGunner]

Great work Sam.

Yea agreed with el gunner about the winning run. We can win this and get 4 wins in a row which will be great.

3 points is a must obviously. Can qualify with a win and we should.

[Raptorgunner]

‘Ramsey shouldn’t be obsessed by goals ’he's not a goalscorer, so he has not to be obsessed by that. I just want him to do his job well
“A midfielder is a player who defends well, attacks well and keeps his priorities right,” Wenger said.

[Sri]

Word.

Btw, nice work Sam!

[Raptorgunner]

If Wenger gets the line up right we could put few goals a half past them and try to catch up to Dortmund on GD.

We need other players than Sanchez to step up, its good to have a 4 game winnings streak and players playing with confidence. I really want Sanchez rested but knowing him and Wenger there wont be any rest.
Line up:
------------Szczesny
Chambers – Mertesacker – Monreal – Gibbs
---------Arteta – Ramsey
Oxlade–----------Sanchez-------Cazorla
-------------Welbeck

[RealGunner]

Arsenal XI to play Anderlecht: Szczesny, Chambers, Mertesacker, Monreal, Gibbs, Arteta, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ramsey, Alexis, Cazorla, Welbeck

[Raptorgunner]

Wow only one change?

[RealGunner]

Arsene found the balance in the team. He won't change it now lol

[EL Patron]

Players need to gel and build an understanding, don't need to make a change for the sake of changing.

[RealGunner]

Yep. Although this might end up burning out few players but hopefully Arsene changes few players whenever the time is right.

Atm no need.

[Raptorgunner]

If Wenger not going to make changes, who we going drop for Wilshere?

[6unner]

nobody

[RealGunner]

hopefully nobody

This is working. Keep it. Walcott for Cazorla at best.

2-0 atm

[VendettaRed07]

Sanchez is a monster

[EL Patron]

average performance but two up and coasting. We need to try and get a few more then bring on the likes of Poldi.

[RealGunner]

Nah man good performance. Just worried about the counters though.

Arteta has conducted some quality attacks however he is slow in getting back and that's the problem we have.

We need someone good on the ball who is also good at getting back.

Basically Gilberto or Vieira lol

[urbaNRoots]

Loving Oxlade-Chamberlain on the left side

[Raptorgunner]

Need more goals, at least 3 more please.

[EL Patron]

Arteta goes off and we collapse, no concentration, no backbone no focus

[VendettaRed07]

Ffs

[RealGunner]

lmfao Flamini is awful. Arteta might be old n slow, but he actually keeps the team in check

[EL Patron]

shocking stuff

[Twoism]

Wtf is happening, went out for a long smoke, came back 3-3

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