We have a very good squad out there in Rome but how much will this be a factor?, Arsenal have been delayed and only arrived at 20:00 GMT meaning they have not had a chance to train out on the Roma pitch.

Wenger therefore missed the pre-match press conference but managed to talk to UEFA.com, saying:

“You want to go to Rome and play your own game. What is very important for us is to focus on scoring and going forward because they are a team who are very good going forward. If we allow them to spend 90 per cent of their time doing what they like to do, we expose ourselves. So let’s go there and focus to dictate our game. I think its part of a personality of a team and let’s show that. They will go for it because they know they have to score at least two goals and put us under pressure. It’s down to us to be well-organised and to come out and play our game.”

We have to play to our strengths and use the pace of Walcott to scare them into not throwing everything forward, they are not the most ‘Italian’ or Italian teams because they do like to attack. If we get the first goal i think we will easily go through though i do not want to jinx it!

Wenger seemed pretty cool about the delay and its possible the team had a training session whilst the new jet was being flown in from Paris, there was a 3 hour delay for them. Wenger said:

“We waited for two hours at our training ground, we were not at the airport. At the moment we are still trying to travel but up to now it’s not been too disturbing,”

Hopefully it won’t be a factor, the Roma pitch should be pretty good.

The squad for the game is as follows:

ALMUNIA (GK),DIABY,SAGNA,TOURE,NASRI,EDUARDO,GALLAS,VAN-PERSIE,VELA,WALCOTT,DENILSON,RAMSEY,SONG,DJOUROU,FABIANSKI (GK),CLICHY,BENDTNER,EBOUE,GIBBS

I am not too sure who will start but one of either Eduardo or Walcott is likely to start, preferably Theo because his pace will always be at the back of their mind, though he could have a big impact off the bench with 30 minutes to play. Al,Sag,Clich, Gallas, Toure, Denilson, Nasri, Bendtner and Van Persie are probably all certain starters, ive said Bendtner is because he was rested at the weekend and would have played a part if he was going to bench sit in Rome.

I think we will go through, it might get close and a little squeaky bum like at times but im confident. Lets hope the real Arsenal stands up and gets counted.

Sadly i will miss the game, i will try and catch it in a pub or something but i can’t hold out for it. Im gutted to be honest.

Gooner14 will be here with tomorrow’s update and match reaction.

Right, all you travellers please do take care and heed the warnings, stay safe. It really is dangerous out there.

Til Tomorrow (with Gooner14 at least!)

UP THE GUNNERS!

Before i continue i want to apologise for the shortness of this post, I’m tired after 5-a side and mightily pissed off at a crap referee – anyway back to Arsenal.

Eduardo will not start two games in four days, Wenger would just not risk it, but Walcott only got around 25 minutes on Sunday so if any of those will start it will most likely be Theo and with Roma chasing the game, his pace will be a massive threat to their back line and he will force them back. It would be a risk but one worth taking in my opinion, just knowing how fast he is will play on the defenders minds.

Emmanuel Adebayor is out of the Roma game so that means we will probably see Eduardo in a substitute role as Van Persie and Bendtner were rested at the weekend in preparation for this game, they have the potential to cause the Roma defence a lot of problems without the shielding of De Rossi who is a big part of the system they play. I will go into this in more depth tomorrow.

Wenger has spoken about Eduardo’s form since his return and i have been as impressed with his attitude as his finishing skills, i really do think we have a hell of a player on our hands here because he is such an intelligent player, Theo Walcott agrees with this:

“I have learned from watching him while he has been injured, how well he took everything in and how he smiles when he comes in every day. So I am happy for him. As for his finishing, that is ridiculous. It is unbelievable to watch in training. He hasn’t lost his touch and he never will. He is going to score many more like that one on Sunday I hope. He’s a brilliant finisher and we’ve missed that. I think that goal was the best finish I have seen this year so I am very happy for him.”

If every member of that Arsenal squad learnt from Eduardo’s attitude we would have one hell of a squad let me tell you, no moaning, just get out there and get the job done. Football does the talking.

Johann Djourou thinks he can cement a place in the starting eleven after being likened to a ‘young Sol Campbell’ by Kolo Toure. I think he can be that good but the lack of first team action is probably hindering him a bit at the moment. He said:

“Sol was a fantastic player for us, but I think I can do a bit more in terms of being comfortable on the ball and going forward – I’d say the kind of player I could develop into is more like Marcel Desailly. But it’s very nice of Kolo to say that, of course, because Sol Campbell is just a legend! He has everything you need to be a top defender, and he was exactly that for this club. He’s got that aggression and tactical ability, is good in the air and is very strong.”

It is really good to see he is aiming high and he has the potential to be a great defender. The key in that setence is the word potential. I do admit, he will make it if im honest with you. He continued,

“I told myself at the start of the season that I have to work hard even if I’m not first choice because I’m still young, but I think I’ve shown to people that I’m ready for this.”

Experience is key in defenders, lets not forget he is a fully fledged international player and has been for some time now, he is set for big things but i see him waiting behind Gallas and Toure for a while, especially after the run of clean sheets they have had before the WBA game.

This guy needs to shut up and go away, he is pesky, annoying and his bias is so strong its beyond belief. Just put his name into YouTube and you will see what a berk he is.

Transfer speculation about Barnetta.

Thats the lot, Til Tomorrow

I swear that this country is allergic to snow, its bedlam.

There is not much kicking around today after a manic few days late last week and early this week, there have been a few amendments to the Champions League squad, Fabregas has said that the media stop him from going to watch his own club play, there is a specialists view on our new man and there is a report on Wenger looking at a 23 year old French midfielder. It sounds more than it really is. Honest.

Lets start with the Champions League squad and Amaury Bischoff has been added along with Frimpong, Henderson and James Dunne, whilst loanees have been taken out the squad such as Jay Simpson, Rui Fonte, Gavin Hoyte, Rene Steer, Abu Ogogo, Paul Rodgers and Henri Lansbury hare all withdrawn. Francis Coquelin has been turfed out the squad as well and i think that could mean he will go out on loan at some point because i can’t see any other reason for him being excluded.

Bischoff puzzles me, i was expecting him to go out on loan for a month or so, just to see what he really is made of. He has a horrific injury record and if we are not careful he will go and the money invested in him will be pretty much wasted with no return. Its a tad confusing.

We are apparently eying up French 23 year old midfielder Yohan Cabaye. He is a Flamini type player but he would command a hefty fee. I can’t believe that about thirty hours after Andrey has signed we are already being linked with players? Wenger is always linked with players like this and i can’t see it happening.

Cesc Fabregas has been talking about how he can’t go and watch Barcelona games whilst he recovers through fear of media speculation,

“I’d have liked to have gone to watch Barcelona in the Nou Camp, but I wanted to avoid all the speculation on my future, Now my only worry is that I recover as soon as possible to return to Arsenal and help my team.”

Its pretty sad to be honest, he is a committed Arsenal player and the media cant seem to accept that for whatever reason. They will end up chasing the country’s best players away if they are not careful.

The club website has got some ‘specialist’ to comment on the Andrey transfer and how he will fit in at the club, the only thing is i recon i have seen more of Arshavin than this man has. All he bangs on about is three games at the EURO’s.

“He was pretty keen to leave last summer after he had those two great games against Sweden and Holland at Euro 2008. I think he realised then just how good he was. Before that, I don’t think he was aware that he could do it on a European scale. So I think he was looking for a move but stayed because of Zenit’s Champions League campaign.”

There have been a few rumours that he has only just started really maturing in recent years, hence why he has only really just appeared on the scene. Wenger was watching him for three years so obviously sees more than those great performances at the EURO’s. This hack however, has really hyped him up, something that worries me,

“I keep hearing people say that ‘he’s only played two good games’, referring to Euro 2008, but the fact is he was brilliant in those games against Sweden and Holland.

“He only played three games in total at the Euros and, OK, he was disappointing against Spain in the Semi-Final. That was partly because Marcos Senna marked him very well but it was also because Spain played 4-1-4-1 when David Villa got injured and managed to push back the Russian full-backs. Part of Russia’s game had been the way the full-backs got forward, and playmakers need players moving around them. Arshavin was clearly restricted by Senna but, equally, he didn’t have those players moving around him. It’s very easy to blame the playmaker for what is actually a systemic failure in the team.

He dominated those games from midfield in a way I haven’t seen anyone do since the days of Michel Platini. To be honest I didn’t think it was possible for someone to dominate like that so I think he really is a very special talent.”

Platini is a bit of a bastard but he was not a bad player at all. All this bigging up really worries me because he will take time to settle in, this increases expectation and a couple of average performances and the press will be on his back faster than he could say ‘owl’. I just hope he is given a chance. His strengths and what type of player he is is summed up here,

“He’s quick, he’s sharp, he reads the game very well, he is a typical Arsène Wenger player in that he seems to have a very acute understanding of where other players are on the pitch. Technically he’s very good, he is diminutive, but he is top, top class.”

Can’t help but agree there.

I would just like to say that ITV are the worst broadcasters since the invention of the television. How dare they claim to offer great coverage when after 157 minutes of nothingness in a game, when the goal occurs, they miss it because of a commercial! Its an utter joke and for all the hate i have for the BBC i wish they had the coverage.

Right, cheers for reading, im going back to bed.

Til Tomorrow