Arsene Wenger has provided the latest team news update ahead of tomorrow night’s clash with CSKA Moscow.
The Gunners entertain the Russian side in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-final, and there are no injury worries for the Arsenal manager.
Petr Cech is back, after missing the 3-0 win over Stoke at the weekend, but the keeper is expected to be on the bench with David Ospina this season’s nominated cup keeper.
Asked for his injury update, Wenger was concise and to the point, saying, “We have basically everybody available, I think.
“Lacazette is ready to start. I haven’t decided yet on the team but he is ready if selected.”
And on his outlook for the first leg, he continued, “We play against a team who have done well in Europe, so we’ll need a top quality performance.”
No excuses for not beating this average Russian side over two legs.
We ain’t playing a pub team. This team defeated Lyon. We have no divine right to win games. If we don’t perform on the day, we don’t win that’s all.
Now here’s wishing we perform well on the night and they don’t.
Ahem, I don’t see what was wrong with his comment. We are arsenal FC we should be beating CSKA moscow over 2 legs. How far we’ve fallen when we have no ‘right’ to win a game like this. Do you think if Madrid, heck even Utd, were playing CSKA that their fans would expect no less than a win in this game?
Not that you’ll be satisfied if we do beat them
Only excuse could be the level of support from the crowd – the booers , the complainers , the Wenger out brigade and the intolerant fans … let hope they stay away …..
Of course. Yes, you’re completely right. If we fail to get past CSKA it will be because of the fans not providing enough support. Nothing to with the players or manager but just the fans fault.
Plonker!
But we know what you really want, you miserable lard tard. You have been grumbling at almost every win.
This CSKA mob isn’t going to be easy, we can’t afford to underestimate a team who put out Lyon at their own place.
A clean sheet and maybe a 2-0 lead to take to the Soviet Union might just about be enough, if we concede then it’s gonna be a white knuckle ride.
And I suppose that Lyon are just one notch below Real Madrid? Face it: the only really top side left in the EL is Athletico Madrid.
If we get dumped out by the Russians then the excuse will be that they are a great side. No they’re not.
BTW: great game between RM and Juve last night. I remember when we were good enough to play in that competition.
I bet you weren’t happy then either though.
Good enough to play but sadly never quite good enough to win. Sometimes it’s not even about how good a manager’s tactics are…If your team has a superstar who can turn it on when it really matters then everything else pales into insignificance.
And who is the only manager to have taken this team to the final ? Or does memory fail?
I was in the stadium in Lyon. CSKA didn’t play good at all. They were just extremely efficient and scored at the most crucial points of the game. Lyon put in a classic arsenalesque performance that day. Great attacking display but wasteful with their (insanely good) chances. And then crumbling as soon as it got mentally difficult because CSKA leveled the tie with their first shot on goal (and what a goal it was). Then in the second half they just stopped giving a shit for 20 minutes after the whistle. Still they almost came back but again: that was… Read more »
The Soviet Union? It’s not that bad, is it?
Did you mean something like:
“Now let’s go to Russia, play well and win! Then let’s beat them at home! Then beat whoever in the semis! Then be unplayable and beat the other finalist, then lift the cup?” If you meant that, then yeah, I agree!
I stopped watching Wenger press conferences a while ago. “We play against a team who have done well in Europe, so we’ll need a top quality performance.” I’m sure my football manager avatar bleated those very lines on many’s a night for Scunthorpe on the digital European stage.
Best if this type of fan stays away from the stadium
Keep moaning
Lacazette surely has to start, I cannot see the logic in Danny Welbeck being played ahead of him – top bloke he is, he hasn’t cut it lately and I for one am excited about having Laca “backa.”
It does depend if he’s really fit to start or if AW just said that because he doesn’t want CSKA to have the extra time for their planning.
Having played only 25 odd minutes against Stoke since his injury, he won’t be fully fit. But If he doesn’t start then I’d be surprised if he doesn’t get a minimum of 25 minutes in this game.
I wish “we have everyone” included Cazorla.