The Emirates

[psl]

Very nervous about this game. I know that Arsenal aren't in great form but our record away at Arsenal is dismal. Hopefully we'll go there as our usual selves in the Champions League and get a draw or win. Get out of here with a decent result and I think we'll go through.

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

b******s to nerves

[Chili Palmer]

I think we will win both legs

[Jim D]

A win would be a fantastic result, a draw would be decent and if we do lose, I'd take a 1-0 or 2-1. Our Home record in Europe is fantastic and I'm always confident about us turning any result around at Anfield.

[psl]

I think we will win both legs

 

I'd probably settle for that.

 

We're definitely capable but we need to overcome what appears to be our mental block at Arsenal and the Mancs. Hopefully our extra confidence that shows in this competition will make the difference, as it has previously with Chelsea.

Edited March 30, 2008 by psl

[Oli]

I'd probably settle for that.

 

I'm not sure, it's a tough call but if pushed I think I'd probably settle for that too.

[psl]

I'm not sure, it's a tough call but if pushed I think I'd probably settle for that too.

 

Did I forget to add a smiley again?

[Oli]

Did I forget to add a smiley again?

 

You can never be sure

[Sion]

2-1 loss at emirates

1-0 win at ours.

[Tyler]

really worried about this one -playing english team means its not the normal european game where we can impose tempo at anfield

 

our record away to arsenal is pretty poor too

 

i'd take a score draw there right now

 

wonder if team will be same as today with lucas or alonso making way for mascherano

 

i could see pennant getting a run as well

[psl]

Can see Crouch playing some part over the two legs.

[mathewbet1]

We need an away goal ill take 1-1 amd spank em at anfield.

[Tommy Cockles]

Can see Crouch playing some part over the two legs.

 

Its a sentence that demands a gag, yet I feel unable to deliver it.

 

All I can think about is not yet having a brief. Still 3 days to go.

[DJS]

2-1 loss at emirates

1-0 win at ours.

 

After the 2 Chelsea semi-finals, i'm not sure my heart would last until full time...

 

Cant we win 2-0 in the 2nd leg? Just so i dont die, like...

[Gooner Spy]

really worried about this one -playing english team means its not the normal european game where we can impose tempo at anfield

 

our record away to arsenal is pretty poor too

 

i'd take a score draw there right now

 

wonder if team will be same as today with lucas or alonso making way for mascherano

 

i could see pennant getting a run as well

 

I think thats the key - I dont think that your Champions League record (which is extremely impressive) will override your past problems with the top 4. My prediction is thus:

 

2 - 0 at Emirates

0 - 1 at Anfield

 

Think we will sneak it.

[Cobs]

I think thats the key - I dont think that your Champions League record (which is extremely impressive) will override your past problems with the top 4.

had we not dumped Chelsea out twice in the last 3 seasons i'd be inclined to agree with you

 

we've been dreadful at Highbury/Emirates in the past but regularly beaten you at Anfield

[Guest Jon_G]

I think thats the key - I dont think that your Champions League record (which is extremely impressive) will override your past problems with the top 4. My prediction is thus:

 

2 - 0 at Emirates

0 - 1 at Anfield

 

Think we will sneak it.

 

You keep harking on about our trouble beating the top 4, but we've beaten 3 out of the last 4 PL games at Anfield

[Gooner Spy]

You keep harking on about our trouble beating the top 4, but we've beaten 3 out of the last 4 PL games at Anfield

 

And how many of those have been between two teams who were 'win or bust'? From my recent memory, every time we needed to win at Anfield, we did???

[DJS]

And how many of those have been between two teams who were 'win or bust'? From my recent memory, every time we needed to win at Anfield, we did???

 

You cant seriously suggest that you've EVER come to Anfield thinking "Oh dont worry lads, we dont 'need' to win this, so just relax and whatever happens can happen"...

 

You (not just you personally, i mean anyone) virtually always 'need' to win matches, regardless of if you're in the title race or not. Especially games between the top four - you're either chasing the title or trying to cement 3rd/4th place, so you do arguably 'need' to win those games more or less all the time.

[Guest Jon_G]

And how many of those have been between two teams who were 'win or bust'? From my recent memory, every time we needed to win at Anfield, we did???

 

You're beaten us twice at Anfield in the league in 15 years.

[DJS]

You're beaten us twice at Anfield in the league in 15 years.

 

Yeah but they approached the other 13 as preseason friendlies, apparently...

[Gooner Spy]

You cant seriously suggest that you've EVER come to Anfield thinking "Oh dont worry lads, we dont 'need' to win this, so just relax and whatever happens can happen"...

 

You (not just you personally, i mean anyone) virtually always 'need' to win matches, regardless of if you're in the title race or not. Especially games between the top four - you're either chasing the title or trying to cement 3rd/4th place, so you do arguably 'need' to win those games more or less all the time.

 

No, you missed the point completely. What I was saying was that, in the "not need to win; nothing at stake" games, i.e. 1998,2007 - you have done very well. However, in recent years, whenever we have gone to Anfield with something at stake we have done good. The Cup games last year, to Bobby Pires' goal (with 10 men).

[DJS]

No, you missed the point completely. What I was saying was that, in the "not need to win; nothing at stake" games, i.e. 1998,2007 - you have done very well. However, in recent years, whenever we have gone to Anfield with something at stake we have done good. The Cup games last year, to Bobby Pires' goal (with 10 men).

 

Yeah i get the point, but you seem to imply that you can win 'at will', depending on what's at stake - there's always something at stake, because invariably, you've been chasing the title...or, as was the case last season, you were chasing Spurs who humourously spent most of the season in 4th place, causing your lot to crap yourselves at the prospect of finishing 5th...until the last days when Spurs quite literally were crapping themselves after 'lasagne-gate'...

 

So there's always a need to win, whether it's a one-off cuptie or whether it's 3 league points, because when you're chasing titles or top-four places, it's tight and 3 points are valuable in virtually every game.

 

As for the cup ties last year, sure you won both and did so comfortably. This time though, our keeper will have hands

[Gooner Spy]

Yeah i get the point, but you seem to imply that you can win 'at will', depending on what's at stake - there's always something at stake, because invariably, you've been chasing the title...or, as was the case last season, you were chasing Spurs who humourously spent most of the season in 4th place, causing your lot to crap yourselves at the prospect of finishing 5th...until the last days when Spurs quite literally were crapping themselves after 'lasagne-gate'...

 

So there's always a need to win, whether it's a one-off cuptie or whether it's 3 league points, because when you're chasing titles or top-four places, it's tight and 3 points are valuable in virtually every game.

 

As for the cup ties last year, sure you won both and did so comfortably. This time though, our keeper will have hands

 

Can't Dudek play again????

 

My point was, us going to Anfield always seems to come very late in the season, where we either needed to win, and invairably did, or came at a point where it didnt matter, like last year, like 1998.

[DJS]

Can't Dudek play again????

 

My point was, us going to Anfield always seems to come very late in the season, where we either needed to win, and invairably did, or came at a point where it didnt matter, like last year, like 1998.

Nope, poor Jerzy's been quarantined out in Spain

 

Do you not think that, given us and you are basically always in the top four, and that you're often challenging for the title or making sure you finish 4th (and we're doing the latter too every year), it basically ALWAYS matters?

Edited March 31, 2008 by Dj Sydney_A