Gooner Talk

Arsenal bounced back from last weekends Premier League defeat to Fulham with a superb win over Steve McClaren’s FC Twente.

Nicklas Bendtner started ahead of below-par Emmanuel Adebayor while Kolo Toure was dropped to the bench mainly thanks to Johan Djourou’s previous performances in the side.

Arsenal Starting XI

Almunia
Sagna – Djourou – Gallas – Clichy
Walcott – Fabregas – Denilson – Nasri
Bendtner – van Persie

FC Twente Starting XI

Mihaylov
Wielaert – Tiote –  Douglas – Braafheid
Denneboom – Heubach – Brama – Janssen
Elia - Huysegems

Read the rest of this entry »

Arsenal looked a shadow of their usual selves against Fulham at the weekend and Arsene Wenger and skipper William Gallas have both demanded urged for a ‘top-class’ response as The Gunners seek to hold onto a 2-0 advantage over FC Twente and reach the group stages of the Champions League.

Arsene Wenger promised a new signing before the second leg against Twente but few Arsenal fans would have expected Mikael Silvestre to be that man. Certainly, with Philippe Senderos joining Milan and the Frenchman injured at present, last week’s events actually deplete Wenger’s options.

The Gunners will look to build on the two goals from Gallas and Emmanuel Adebayor which gave them a 2-0 lead over Steve McClaren’s Twente side in Arnhem.

Arsenal Team News

Midfield maestro Cesc Fabregas should be back from a hamstring injury for the second leg Champions League qualifier against Steve McClaren’s FC Twente.

New signing Mikael Silvestre will not feature because of a thigh muscle strain, while Philippe Senderos has completed his move to AC Milan on loan.

Abou Diaby (thigh), Amaury Bischoff (groin), Tomas Rosicky (hamstring) and striker Eduardo (leg) remain in recovery.

Predicted Starting XI

Almunia
Sagna – Toure – Gallas – Clichy
Walcott – Fabregas – Song – Nasri
Adebayor – Van Persie

Match Prediction: Arsenal 2-0 FC Twente

Leave your views and predictions of tonights game in the comments section below.

It’s worrying times already for Arsenal fans and the season hasn’t even kicked off yet! Tomorrow afternoon the Gunners’ kick off their Champions League campaign with a big-money qualifying game against Dutch side FC Twente. Arsene Wenger’s side are missing the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Abou Diaby, Kolo Toure and Samir Nasri with long-term injured Tomas Rosicky and Eduardo also out.

Steve McClaren must fancy his chances against Wenger’s men especially as Arsenal’s squad seems to be getting thinner and thinner by the week. The Gunners are not the only ones suffering problems of their own – Blaise Kufo – their top goal scorer from last season is suspended for the first leg, luckily for the Tukkers he’ll be back for the return game at Emirates.

FC Twente Team News

Former England boss McClaren will look to keep a compact defence while upfront McClaren has to decide whether to go for the lanky Marko Arnautovi, or the quick forward that is Romano Denneboom.

Theo Janssen is certainly one to look out for, the 27-year-old signed from Vitesse in the summer and could prove a serious danger to Arsenal’s weakened defence if the Gunners fail to stem Twente’s attacking threat.

Predicted Starting XI

Boschker

Wikshire – Douglas – Wielaert – Braafheid

Tiote – Janssen – Brama – Elia

Denneboom – Huysegems

Arsenal Team News

Arsenal are missing five major names and the long-term sidelined Tomas Rosicky and Eduardo as we said above.

It leaves Wenger relying on youngsters like Aaron Ramsey and Denilson to inspire his squad to a crucial victory in Holland.

Jack Wilshere, Kieran Gibbs and Mark Randall make up an inexperienced bench while the trusted partnership of Emmanuel Adebayor and Robin van Persie is expected to continue upfront.

Predicted Starting XI

Almunia

Sagna – Djourou – Gallas – Clichy

Eboue – Denilson - Ramsey – Walcott

Adebayor – Van Persie

Match Prediction: FC Twente 1-2 Arsenal

Leave your predictions and views in the comments section below.