Arsenal's Champions League playoff will come against Udinese, at the Grove on the 16th and away for the 24th. Udinese are led by the aging Antonio Di Natale, who netted nearly 30 goals last season, but will be without Alexis Sanchez, who moved to some team in Spain.
Re: Arsenal draw Udinese Pretty good game, actually. Far cry from the stinker we put up @ Newcastle. Lots of excitement. Still looked a bit vulnerable up the middle of our defensive line but that might be a symptom of our playing style. Looking forward to the second leg.
Re: Arsenal draw Udinese Who needs Cesc! our boys Jack, Ramsey, and hopefully Nasri will make sure we dont remember a thing about him!
Re: Arsenal draw Udinese Nasri's offer from City is reportedly 200k/week plus 5m signing bonus. He's gone.
Injury updates: Wilshere is likely to return, as is Rosicky Gibbs, Diaby, Traore and Koscielny are still out Song & Gervinho return from suspension Squall has a phantom calf injury
Wilshere is not training with the squad ahead of tomorrow's match. Rumor is that he will miss Udinese and United. Also, Nasri is training with the squad and should be traveling to Italy.
henrywinter Henry Winter by arseblog NOT on #afc flight to Udine...Bendtner, Koscielny, Wilshere, Gibbs, Squillaci, Lansbury, Diaby (and Nasri who's off to #mcfc) 23 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply
In what might be a tactical master stroke, Arsenal's decision to appeal UEFA's ruling has delayed punishment until the appeal can happen, meaning Wenger will be on the bench tomorrow. That game might even be more important than games later on, should we have them, given our buying goals. He shouldn't be banned in the first place but w/e.
UEFA have actually handed Wenger Nasri's old kit and have cleared him to play for Arsenal. He will be on the bench according to Arsenal.com
I'm very nervous about this match, whereas I wouldn't have been in previous seasons. Even with the same injuries, suspensions, etc; we used to have a swagger, but just seem so down on confidence right now. This match could not only shape our season, but the next few years. I have to get up a 4:00AM to watch it, and I'm not sure how I'll go getting to sleep the night before.
Udinese 1-0 up at the half. Crap defending by our defensive midfielders (who let the Udinese midfielders just waltz in behind them), and Djourou (who was ball watching instead of manning Di Natale) for the goal. We've easily had most of the possession, but have pissfarted around with it too much in our attacking third for few clear chances on goal. This is Udinese's tactic, sit back knowing we'll turn it over, and hit us on the counter. Walcott shooting straight at the keeper yet again.
Van Persie!!! Great work by Gervinho; everyone else was starting to play too central, but Gervinho stayed wide, and found Van Persie with the low cross. Now Udinese need to score another two to go through.
Vermaelen gets pushed in the back at a corner, and somehow conceeds a penalty, and a yellow. The ref is fucking crazy. Great penalty save by Szczesny!
Walcott with the sealer! Nice interchange with Sanga; Walcott stayed wide for a change, and cut in from the left once in behind. Udinese hed really gived up though after the saved penalty.
