Fabregas out, Campbell & Song return — tell us your predicted line-ups against Porto
Cesc Fabregas won’t recover from his hamstring injury in time to play FC Porto tomorrow. However, Arsenal are boosted by the return of defence-minded players Sol Campbell and Alex Song for the last 16 tie.
Tomorrow’s Champions League clash is make or break where Arsenal’s European aspirations are concerned, with Gunners boss Arsene Wenger revealing all on the injury situation earlier this afternoon.
“Cesc is ruled out for tomorrow’s game,” said the manager. “He has a hamstring problem and we could not even take a gamble with him.
“I was hoping [he would recover] after the game because we were cautious with him. He was not adamant about coming out of the team but still he has damaged his hamstring and we cannot take a gamble on him.
“However we have gained Sol Campbell back in the squad and Alex Song too, who was suspended against Burnley.”
Gooner Talk’s Predicted XI
Almunia
Sagna – Campbell – Vermaelen – Clichy
Nasri – Song – Diaby
Walcott – Bendtner – Arshavin
Who do you want to see start against Porto tomorrow? Tell us your preferred teams and predicted scorelines in the comments section below!
I think Bendtner should be moved to the wing. IMO, he’s not good enough being a lone striker.
& where’s Eduardo ??
Spot on with the line up. Tho, i would have prefered eboue to sagna.
will he be back for Hull on Saturday??
Fabregas has a slight chance of being fit for Saturday, Gallas definitely won’t be back then.
The Team is: Almunia, Sagna, Campbell, Vermaelen, Clichy, Song, Rosicky, Diaby, Arshavin, Eduardo and Nasri. Subs – Fabianski, Silvestre, Eboue, Denilson, Walcott, Bendtner and Vela. The Score is: 3-1 The Arsenal. NEXT!
Almunia
Sagna, Campbell, Vermaelen, Clichy
Rosicky, Song, Diaby
Nasri, Bendtner, Arshavin
Bench: Fabianski, Silvestre, Traore, Eboue, Denilson, Walcott, Eduardo
perfect line up i think, with a strong bench to boot. its a big game for the gooners, come on arsenal!! (delia smith type cry ensues) lets be havin’ you!!
hoping for a stress free night.. 1-0 will do it but i wouldnt be able to take the stress of being 1-0 up with 5 minutes to go and them attacking us.. they are capable of getting the 1 goal so we should we aiming for 3 goals.. it can be done, if we take all our chances we can score 3-4 goals against them..
Sounds like a good line up…
Who’s Captain with Cesc out? I know RvP is Vice but hes out too and last season I guess Toure was 3rd choice…
Guess is between Campbell, Verminator and Arshavin?
Almunia is usually captain
It seems most agree on the majority of the starting team, but I cannot agree that Rosicky will play in midfield and Nasri in attack. After Nasri’s prformance in the middle against Burnley after Cesc was taken off, he will surely start there tomorrow. Plus Rosicky is more incsive in attack.
The bigger question is who will be either side of Bedtner? Out of Walcott Rosicky and Arshavin?! Maybe Arsh will start on the bench as he’s just coming back from injury?
Almunia
Eboue – Campbell – Vermaelen – Clichy
Song
Nasri – Diaby
Walcott Arshavin
Eduardo
Almunia
Eboue Campbell Varmalen clichy
Song
Nasri Diaby
Walcot Arshavin
Bendtner
………………..almunia…………………
………….campbell……..vermaelen……….
…sagna…………………………clichy….
…………………song…………………..
………denilson…………..diaby…………
……eboue……………………..arshavin…
……………….bendtner…………………
good team would like to see eboue start in front of walcott or sagna but otherwise spot on
Almunia
Eboue – Sol – Vermaelen – Clichy
Song
Walcott – Diaby – Nasri – Arshavin –
Bendtner
The only question, I think, is whether Arshavin will start. I can’t see him being fit enough for 90 minutes at any rate and Arsene might prefer the (relatively) more defensive stability and ball-possession that Rosicky provides. Arshavin and Eboue can then come on as impact subs if we are chasing the game or in need of goals. Yes, we need to score at least one goal — but we don’t want to give up one either. Walcott and Arshavin offer very little tracking back: can our defense take a chance on having the pair of them on the pitch at the same time?
i think walcott is good enough to start. i expect him to rage as he did when we played burnley. and i hope tuesday will be bendtner’s day. 3-nil for the gunners.
I’d like to play Eboue but we absolutely cannot give them the away goal and Sagna, though he lacks going forward, is much more solid defensively.
…………………Ammonia………………..
……Campbell……………Verminator…
Sagna(Eboue on sub)…………………….Clichy
………………….Song………………………..
……Nasri……………………..Abu Dhabi……….
Rosicky(Walcott on sub)………………Arshavin
………………….B52(Dudu on sub)…………..
As long as Silvestre & Denilson do not enter the field of play, we’ll have a great chance of winning.
Despite his misses, Bendtner is by far our most qualified player to play in the central striking role at the moment. Walcott won’t be dropped after such a performance, Diaby and Song pick themselves for midfield and Nasri as well for the starting line-up. I expect Arshavin to play as well. Therefore, I think your line-up is 100% right, the only other option would be Rosicky (in for Arshavin) and Eboue (in for Sagna, or less probably, Walcott). I hope we see either Vela or Merida on the bench.
Almunia
Sagna Campbell Vermaelen Clichy
Nasri Song Diaby
Walcott Bendtner Arshavin
Nasri can be our cesc and we can win comfortably.
———-Almunia——–
Sagna—Campbell—Vermaelen—Clichy
————–Song—————–
——-Nasri———–Diaby——-
Walcott——–Bendtner———Arshavin
Eboue could get the nod ahead of Sagna but I think the boss will go with Sagna due to the defensive stability that he offers as we cannot afford to concede the away goal.I think he’ll start Arshavin ahead of Rosicky as Rosicky has played quite a few games on the trot and might be approaching his breaking point with an injury so I expect Arsha to start. I think we’ll go through.Gunners4life!!
Mate i feel this game the favourite & the likely line ups pretty the same … I might only change a bit the formation to 4-2-1-3 (or 2-1) with Song & Diaby at the back MD Nasri more advanced, Theo & AA at the scary-speedy wings & big Nik upfront.
Even without the big hit-man of our season, we are still capable of cruising past Porto.
It is going to be comprehensive I feel. Probably 3-1 with 3-0 margin at some stage or just a clean 3-0. Bendtner to redeem his wasted efforts, Walcott will continue to fire & Nasri to be rewarded for his latest efforts & filling the big boots of our captain.
Go on gunners!!!
im actually not that mad about fabregas being out,nasri and rosicky will have plenty for porto in creative sense,but cesc is banging in the goals lately and this is were i feel he will be missed most,id play bendtner arshavin eduardo as the front 3,song diaby rosicky in the middle even without el capetan is very strong,eduardo to find his finishing boots 2morrowm,im going for 3-1 to arsenal,this is our year,time to kick ass!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Almunia cambell vermaelen eboue cliche nasri song diaby walcott bendtner arshavin 4-3-3
—————-almunia————————
–eboue——campbell—-vermealen—clichy—-
——————-song————————
———nasri————rosicky————–
–walcott—————————arshavin—
——————–bendtner——————-
formation 4-1-2-2-1
arsenal-2
porto-0
UP GUNNERS!!!!!!
give me ebuoe, eduardo and rosicky to replace sagna, bendnter and arshavin then i will win 3-0 on tuesday. best of luck
Thats a huge blow! Injuries have plagued our season and I garuntee Cesc will miss the next 3 games. Whats the fuck up with Gallas? He was supposed to be back….
whats wrong with you people!? did you not see bendters atrotious performance eduardo had one of those against tottenham (in that game eduardo had less chanses then bendtner had against burnly) and eduardo was dropped to the bench after the game why shouldn’t the situation be any different with bendtner
Rosicky has to play. Outside of Cesc I believe he is our best player.
I will prefer eboue to sagna and rosicky should start ahead of arshavin……3-0..up gunners
That’s the team I thought too, Only alternative would be Eboue for Sanga. Go Gunners!
Does any 1 know how tall wellington is?
Almunia
Sagna Campbell Vermaelen Clichy
Denilson Song Diaby
Walcott Bendtner Nasri
We will use a 4-1-4-1 formation
—————-Almunia
Sagna —— Sol ——- Vermaelen —– Clichy
——————– Song
Walcott —— Nasri —— Diaby —- Arshavin
——————- Bendtner
A gunner with class
Wellington is about 5’8 and he’s just 17 so he will grow 2-3 inches
well what a shame cesc isn’t gonna play lets just hope that he recovoers for the hull game this saturday.For tomorrow the only thing I’m worried is us not fully concentrating if we fully concentrate then we will bury them. So Im gonna go with an Arsenal 3 – 1 win, conceding just the 1 goal because we can’t keep clean sheets more than 2 games. Heres my line up;
____________________almunia___________________
____sagna____campbell____vermaelen____clichy____
____________________song______________________
____________nasri____________diaby______________
____rosicky________________________arshavin_____
____________________bendtner___________________
subs;___fabianski___eboue___silvestre___traore___denilson___walcott___eduardo___
As for the goal scorers Im going with; bendtner to score first, arshavin and diaby to follow. With us conceding a stupid goal.
COME ON ARSENAL LETS SEND PORTO BACK TO PORTUGAL
alumina
sagna campbell vermaelean clichy
song
rosicky diaby
arshavin nasri
bendtner
eduaudo,walcott & eboue come on as sub.
cant wait for this game.
oh n playin walcott & arshavin in the same team is not gonna happen for now.
id say arsenal win 3-1….am sorry wre arsenal,where prolly gonna let a goal in.lolol…paly up arsenal=)
Almunia
Sagna Campbell Vermaelen Clichy
Song Diaby
Nasri
Walcott Arshavin
Bendtner
3 – 0 to my Arsenal….
Eboue X Nasri, we need a very strong team tomorrow…I will bet 3-1 (Bendtner, Arshavin & …Vermaelen)
————-Almunia
Sagna – Sol – Vermaelen – Clichy
————-Song
Eboue – Nasri – Diaby – Arshavin –
————-Bendtner
If you take Fabianski’s blunders out of the first match Arsenal would be going into this match 1-0 up – or more as we were playing catch up last time.
Bendtner, for all his faults has to start. Eduardo was ordinary when he came on last weekend and when the ball is in the air he has nothing. At least Bendtner(and I spend most games whinging about him too) puts indecision in the minds of the defenders. Vela as a second half replacement up front if we are up.
Agree with the team suggested by most with Arshavin and Rosicky as interchangeable.
almunia
eboue sol vermi clichy
song
nasri diaby
walcott bendtner rosicky /arsh
i think this will be the lineup till we get some goals and then around the 60-65 minute mark , we would probably see rosicky or arsh coming in for theo and sagna coming in for eboue
Thanx andrew.
almunia
sagna—sol—verma—clichy
song
eboue-nasri-daiby-arshavin
bendnter
subs eboue(walcot) arshavin(rosicky)
———–Almunia————
-Eboue—SolPatrol-Verminator-Clichy
—Nasri—-Song—-Diaby——
–Arshavin—Nicklas—Eduardo
Eduardo does much better on the international stage
you just need to love him :-)!!!
http://de.soccerway.com/news/2010/March/09/fabregas-pledges-commitment-to-arsenal/?
Great Captain Fabtastic!!!
Nasri will do a good job tonight!!
ALMUNIA
SAGNA CAMPBELL VERMAELEN CLICHY
NASRI(SUB:BY ROSICKY 7O MINS) SONG DIABY
EBOUE BENDTNER ARSHAVIN
PLEASE MR. WINGER USE THIS SET AND I AM 100% SURE THEY WILL DELIVER THE GOODS JUST TRUST ME.
What matters despite whatever team we pick. We need to play well n take our chances, then I dnt c us loosin this tie.
Note. I think Bendner should start, dnt expect him to miss his chances like that again.Oh as long as Denilson is on the bench i feel pretty good
i agree wiv almost everything jus nt sure bout bendtner becoz we need finishin at its best 2day n wat he displayed on saturday i think wenger should give dudu a chance
We need to score, so we need an offensive lineup. We also need to take into account the current form of players. Thus:
Alumnia
Eboue Vermaelen Sol Clichy
Song
Diaby Nasri
Walcott Bendtner Arshavin
Subs: Sagna, Rosicky, Eduardo, et al.
With the way Walcott has been playing he must be in the lineup. Also, Eboue has been fantastic and much more dynamic offensively. Bendtner has not been sharp but is big and tends to get on a lot of chances. Arshavin is money what can we say.
i agree with american gooner’s line up but we wouldnt be in this mess if Manone was the goalie in the first leg
fabianski, almunia, denilson and eduardo out of the club in the summer
Arshavin won’t start since he’s not ready to play full time admit Wenger. My team would be:
Almunia
Sagna – Vermaelen – Campbell – Clichy
Nasri – Song – Diaby
Eboue – Bendtner – Rosicky
Confirmed line up…
Almunia
Sagna-Campbell-Vermaelen-Clichy
Song
Diaby-Nasri
Rosicky-bendtner-arshavin
Very very harsh on theo walcott for him not to start… rosicky needs a big game to justify his selection…No eboue either so no raw pace at all down the right not to mention the fact that sagna cant cross or beat a man like eboue but we have to put faith in the team thats selected…
Well, I agree with decision to bench Walcott. He is in process of getting form, played two good games but against Burnley and poor Sunderland home and today we have hard CL clash. Rosicky has experience and he’s much better in big matches this season.
surprising theo is on bench ..no eboue too…still a very strong line-up
just heard that theo picked up a knock from sunday…i doubt it to be honest but think he is being held in reserve for when arshavin needs to come off…
COME ON YOU GOOOOONNNEERRRRRRSSSSSS!!!!!!!
Very strong line-up even with Walcott on the bench.
Understandable why Sagna starts, he didnt play at the weekend and is stronger defensively than Eboue and will be able to handle Hulk better
come on lads!!!
hahaha of all the people to score!
no way hes done it again!!
2-0..woohoo!! and now lets put this to rest!!
Great performance 😀 bendy you hatrik beuty!!!! and nasri what can i say my little friend well played boys 😀 Bring on any team proud to be a gooner for life
Awesome Performance!!!
…. and that’s how it’s done!
GREAT performance!!
I knew we would trash them but 5-0 with a Bendy_hattrick, just awesome!!! Samir you can be like Zidane!!! What a goal!!!