Sunday, November 17, 2024

Koscielny & Iwobi start: Barcelona v Arsenal teams

The cast of “Mission: Impossible – Messi Climax” has been announced.

Will these men go down in Arsenal folklore by overturning a 2-0 home leg defeat against the best side in world football?

Well, the chances are no, but let’s hope they give it a good go…

Barcelona: Ter Stegen, Rakitic, Sergio, Alves, Iniesta, Suárez, Messi, Neymar, Mascherano, Alba, Mathieu

Subs: Bravo, Arda, Bartra, Munir, Sergi Roberto, Aleix Vidal, Vermaelen

Arsenal: Ospina, Bellerin, Koscielny, Gabriel, Monreal, Elneny, Flamini, Iwobi, Ozil, Alexis, Welbeck

Subs: Macey, Mertesacker, Gibbs, Coquelin, Campbell, Walcott, Giroud

Follow the game and chat with other Gooners on the Arseblog live blog

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london

Interesting lineup. This game should be used as an opportunity to try different tactics and formations.

jack jack jack

God have mercy on our souls.

(Our Bergkamp, who art in Holland…)

jack jack jack

Give us this day our away goals
And forgive us for playing like cunts
As we forgive those who play like cunts against us
And lead Flamini not into temptation
But deliver him from bookings
For thine is the Iceman
The power and the glory
For ever and ever
Amen.

Up the fucking Arsenal!

AS17

Amen

Ozil's brother

A tall mountain is now taller. Optimism can blaze but reality has a louder voice

goat

With Obi Wan Iwobi, The Force is on our side

Burn Baby Burn

But… but… why flam & not coq?

Stillmatic

Honestly, I’d have preferred he played Kristian Beilik.
We already know what Flamini brings to the table (brushed shins and hella cards).

Stillmatic

Bruised*

Joel Carter

Prioritising the everton game?

frank from vienna

he´s saving his coq and campbell for Everton i guess

Siserio

I think he wants a holding midfielder who can also be effective in attack hence the inclusion of flamini.

Bould's Eyeliner

While Flamini seems to be scoring more often this season, there is in no way we really care about flamini making runs into the box. That’s what Iwobi’s start is for. We need Flamini to just bother the fuck out of Messi. And yeah… penalties and red cards flash before my eyes.

Punching the shit out of some 2×4’s, COYG

Third Plebeian

Will it make any difference whatsoever? No, no it won’t.

I would have preferred we forfeited the game. The last thing we need is a demoralizing defeat to add to the rest of the shit show that’s this season.

neutral

Wenger wants to get his second yellow out of the way so he can serve the one match ban and be ready for the second leg tie at Bayern

Stillmatic

Man, Wenger must really, REALLY not like Campbell.

Gargoyle

Or he considers him too important to overplay him.

Ernesto Valverde

yeah more important than Mesut for example

Gargoyle

His fitness probably is. There is a reason he very rarely, if ever, finishes games.

Bananaman

Or Wenger’s just bonkers.

goat

With Iwobi, The Force is on our side

Belfast Gooner

Flamini! Bloody Hell!

DialSquareGoon

Messi v Flamini Pt. II, the chastening

Mr. G

Strange. I’m assuming Campbell and Coquelin are being rested? I’d imagine Iwobi is unpredictable because Barca won’t know much about him but you can’t say you’re going to have a go at overturning a 2-0 deficit against the best team in Europe and then start Flamini.

Koscielny's calf

Lets hope Iniesta is indeed playing left back with Mascherano, Alba and Mathieu leading the line

Ozil's a Gunner

Flamini starts…………….seems like arsene wenger wants to wrap it up in 10 minutes

Tarquin Farquar

Well that’s weird

frank from vienna

yeah strange. either Arsene knows ( i doubt it from watching the last weeks) or it goes horribly wrong. does he really want to test Kroenke and Gazidis????

Koscielny's calf

Lets hope Iniesta is indeed left back with Mascherano, Alba and Mathieu leading the line

Paul

Very good line up but not sure about Flamini…

frank from vienna

April fools day already? 😉

CLEGooner

So, the boss is as convinced as me that this is a fool’s errand. The Flame and Iwobi.

Ernesto Valverde

sweet god

Rummy

Been calling it all week but flamini hat trick. Its raining. Anything can happen!

ManeEth

Flamini playing at the Camp Nou. In 2016.

realseriousgooner

This is horrendous. Throwing in the towel Arsene?

frank from vienna

Looks like it….

Hi-brid

Flamini and Gabriel – looks like we’re finishing this one with 9 men then.

WizardofOzil

I had a vision whereby Arsenal played a stormer tonight, heroically just missing out on a famous CL victory and long-awaited progression to the quarters. The performance galvanised the fanbase once more however and a stunning run of victories brought us to the last day of the season needing only a point against long-since relegated Villa to win the title. Alas we go on to lose this game by default, and the title after having four players sent off inside 37 minutes.

Riku

Flamini is experienced and s shouted , you need that in big stadiums away from home someone shouting at the two youngster next to him. To stay focused and on it. It will be a good opportunity for Ibowi n eleny to learn and flourish. plus he can damage bitey’ and the rest. Would love a couple of goals like he did against spuds . Played in champ league final against barca let’s not forget. Invincible. Come on you gunners

Alexstratz

At first I was like “lol Flamini, Wenger is playing the deadwoods to rest our players.” Then I saw Özil, Sanchez and Welbeck in the line-up…

neutral

Sanchez is starting to look second choice, sad times

Riku

Plus think Wenger still pissed at coq. For stupid red card at shite heart lane. And why not

Lone Star Gunner

Messi to the left of them, Suarez to the right… Into the Valley of Death rode the 600.

Paul

….and Hector and Nacho against them, we couldn’t ask for better fullbacks! COYG!

ArthriticKnee

The fuck? Hahaha hilarious!

Jimdinho

I have a feeling someone is thinking ahead to Everton

Bob Davis

Gabriel, Flamini and Iwobi start. Bold decision Wenger. I hope it pays it off!

I think this could pear shape!

We might spanking here. I hope not, but hey, lets get it over with!

COYG – Please don’t get thrashed!

damobot

It doesn’t matter much who starts or not. If they are not up for it, they will get slaughtered

Tony

Watch and learn ladies and gentlemen

Laycawn

Bar Flamini, this line up would have been better for the home tie. Now I’m just going to enjoy the game, support the lads from here, and hope for the best.

GoonerN16

Gotta be considering the Everton game…….

assistantref

The choice of Flamini is a strange one. Coquelin had a red card not long ago so he hardly seems like one of the players likely to need resting. And surely he wouldn’t be bringing Kos back into the team after injury if he was primarily concerned with the weekend.

Gabriel is a big call on Wenger’s part. If it pays off he’ll get the praise and it if backfires he’ll get pilloried. Iwobi vs. Campbell the same.

David C

We better get a win at Everton if we are choosing to rest a few…

Arsepedant

At least it’s pissing down rain in Barcelona tonight. One would hope we’re more used to that kind of weather than the Catalans are.

Fuck me, am I really clutching at that thin a straw? Yes, yes I am.

Hoping for a miracle. Afraid I’m going to get a nightmare.

Paul

BT Sport, god help me, I want to tip a bucket of lark’s vomit over Rio Ferdinand already!..

Mark

I am glad Iwobi will get a chance in a big match like this, but hate for it to be at the expense of Campbell. As with most I can’t see why Wenger isn’t giving him more of an opportunity unless he feels he is tired from the last match.

goonero

Flamini the hat trick hero!

Jack Action

How is Gabriel even playing for the first team after that performance against Watford? He should be starting for the reserves as penance, not getting the start against Barcelona.

No accountability on this team.

Merlin's Panini

Hold me. I’m scared.

Paul

^ ^ ^ ^
Post of the night, played Sir!

Paul

Forgetting everything, I feel I am blessed to be able to watch my team play Barcelona with the tiny feeling that on our day we are capable of beating them! Love Arsenal love football. COYG

Tarquin Farquar

Well said Paul. Let’s put in decent performance against the best team on the planet. We were superb for 70 mins in first leg. I’ve not totally let go of the 5% chance 🙂

UpNorth

Gabriel , Flamini and no Cambell?
My only hope for this one is to avoid humiliation. A big surprise if we end the match will a full team on the pitch.

Bob Davis

Gabriel, Flamini and Iwobi start. Bold decision Wenger. I hope it pays it off!

I think this could pear shape!

We might spanking here. I hope not, but hey, lets get it over with!

COYG – Please don’t get thrashed!

Brandon

I don’t understand this lineup

CJ

I’ve always wanted Iwobi to start with Ozil. I hope to see more of that combination. Flamini sticks out like a sore thumb.

But let’s not judge.

Brent

Need a miracle at Olympiakos, Joel Campbell plays his best ever game including an all-time assist to Giroud, and is rewarded by not playing at all in a game tailor-made for him. But, yeah, start Iwobi and Flamini. Sure, why not.

Alexstratz

Juventus beating Bayern by 2-0 at the Allianz Arena. Don’t tell me they are a richer club than us.

Paul

It’s our passing that is killing us….

Alexstratz

So we play our first team attackers instead of saving them for an early kick-off on Saturday. And despite that, it’s a DM who scores. Great.

AntiSpud

I’m not even upset. Guess I’m now immune to deception hooooraaaah

Azijo

All this happening at and with Arsenal is because of Arsene Wenger is myopic. Please Arsenal Management time to keep this gentleman at this club is over. As long as Mr.Wenger stays at Arsenal nothing will be achieved. To Mr.Wenger please bow down and let others try to revamp this team. I heard that Patrick Vieira might be the next manager am still not comfortable with him. Let this team be taken over by other nationalities (sorry am not being segregative here) but I feel Patrick will adapt some funny tactics from Mr.Wenger Please please let Mr.Wenger pack up and… Read more »

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