Arsenal v Villarreal - First & Second Leg

[MH]

Semi-Final

Champions League First Leg
Arsenal v Villarreal
Highbury
Sky Sports 1
Wednesday 19th April
7:45 Kick Off

Champions League Second Leg
Villarreal v Arsenal
El Madrigal
ITV 1
Tuesday 25th April
7:45 Kick Off

[MH]

First Leg Info

Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas has recovered from a bruised foot in time for Wednesday's Champions League semi-final at Highbury. Jose Antonio Reyes is suspended, while Freddie Ljungberg is expected to return to the squad after missing Saturday's Premiership win over West Brom. The Gunners are unlikely to rush England defender Sol Campbell back into action after he had surgery on his broken nose last week. Long-term absentees Ashley Cole (ankle) and Lauren (knee) are both still sidelined.

Villarreal's first-choice centre-backs Gonzalo Rodriguez and Juan Manuel Pena are both ruled out. Mariano Barbosa replaces suspended goalkeeper Sebastian Viera.

Arsenals 18 Man Squad: Lehmann, Djourou, Eboue, Senderos, Toure, Flamini, Ljungberg, Song, Diaby, Gilberto, Hleb, Pires, Henry, van Persie, Bergkamp, Fabregas, Walcott, Almunia.

Referee: Konrad Plautz (AUT)
Assistant Referee: Egon Bereuter (AUT) Markus Mayr (AUT)
Fourth Official: Dietmar Drabek (AUT)
UEFA Referee Observer: Vitor Pereira (POR)

[MH]

What do you think the score will be in the first leg????

Come You Gunners......... :biggrin:

[bobform]

I want Arsenal to win of course but im guessing it will be a 1-1 draw

Bobform

[MH]

:cry: :cry: no not a draw :cry: lol

I think the Gunners will win the first and second leg :biggrin:

The way we've been playing in the Champions League has opened many peoples eyes and shown them what we can really do :biggrin:

[MH]

Arsenal 1 - 0 Villarread - First Leg

Goal Scorer - Kolo Toure 41 Min :biggrin:

[liverpoolfc fan]

well done to the gunners hope u win it :clap:

[MH]

Cheers Mate :bigsmile:

Thinks its got are name writen all over it this year, to be honest our players have played very very well and proven alot in this years champions league :bigsmile:

Even if we don't we all i want is Barca and Arsenal in the final :nod:

Now that will be a match to remember :dance:

[liverpoolfc fan]

H
mate just remember liverpool last season mate
when people said they had no chance
so the gunners to lift the champions cup this year

cum on you gunners

[MH]

yey :bigsmile:

Arsenal........ :dance: :bigsmile: :dance:

[MH]

Arsenal: Lehmann, Djourou, Senderos, Eboue, Campbell, Toure, Flamini, Pires, Gilberto, Diaby, Fabregas, Reyes, Ljungberg, Hleb, Adebayor, Van Persie, Henry, Song, Walcott, Almunia.

[MH]

http://i3.tinypic.com/wgqn89.jpg

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger insists attack will be the best form of defence for his side in their Champions League semi-final, second leg in Villarreal.


The Gunners hold a lead 1-0 as they bid to reach the Champions League final for the first time in their history.

And Wenger said: "We must play to win the game. I don't think they will score three. Let's try to score and that will be a big blow to them.

"You cannot go into a game 1-0 up thinking you can just rely on that."

Wenger is wary of the threat posed by Villarreal playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme as well as the atmosphere his players will have to deal with at the compact El Madrigal stadium.

"We have shown character against Juventus and Real Madrid and we need it again," added the Frenchman.
"It will be a more intimidating atmosphere because it is a small stadium and therefore I feel the heat will be higher.


"They will play the same way but will be less timid and Riquelme will be more influential. He shows more personality, character and decisiveness at home."

Arsenal are currently fifth in the Premiership behind Tottenham and, if they end the season in that position, they will only qualify for next season's Champions League by winning this year's competition.

Wenger was involved in a row with Spurs boss Martin Jol when the two teams drew 1-1 on Saturday but the Highbury boss insists he is calm as he prepares his side for their game in Spain.
"I feel quite relaxed, contrary to the impression I gave, because I trust my team completely," said Wenger.

http://i3.tinypic.com/wgqnfr.jpg

I trust his quality and his strengths - The players trust him as well ~
Wenger on Sol Campbell's return


Wenger is without central defender Philippe Senderos for the game and will bring in Sol Campbell as his replacement.

Campbell walked out on his team at half-time against West Ham on 1 February and broke his nose in his comeback game against Portsmouth on 12 April.

But Wenger said: "There's no better opportunity for him to come back and show his strengths than in a semi-final where you know you will have to defend well.

"I trust his quality and his strengths. The players trust him as well.

"Sol was our central defender when we went 49 games unbeaten and that's why everybody still has complete confidence in Sol.
"I agree that he has shown a weakness in his life on that day - but that can happen to anybody and everybody in our team is capable of understanding that."

[MH]

Come On You Gunners :dance: :dance: :dance:

Finals here we come...... :bigsmile:

Arsenal......... :bigsmile:

Final score of tonights game on AGG Arsenal 1 - 0 Villarreal

[liverpoolfc fan]

well done to the gunners