villarreal – ArseSpeak

Arsenal – Villarreal. Champions League Quarter Final Second Leg (1-1). Ashburton Grove. 19:45pm

We play Villarreal tonight in what is arguably the most important trophy this season. After the poor start to the season we have created something out of the ashes – we still may end up with nothing, but a win over Villarreal tonight will put us through to a semi final against Man Utd or Porto.

Wenger has been talking about the mental strength of the side all year and tonight we have to prove it. In defence we are missing Clichy, Gallas, Djourou and Almunia, we looked weak in the first half against Wigan – but we will be up for the game tonight no doubt. Villarreal have also lost players to injury – Senna and Santi Cazorla, and wingers Cani and Mati Fernandez are possibly out too.

This team likes the big occasions the most and tonight Villarreal have to score – so the game will be open – another positive for Arsenal.

Wenger’s Pre-match interview|Comment

Adebayor commented:

“We did everything last season to achieve things and for me it is a little bit of luck in the quarter-finals of the Champions League against Liverpool last season that knocked us out,”

“This season we have the chance to do it and just have to take our chances.

“If you want to be a big club, of course you have to win things, which is normal.”

This is a knock-out competition so we have to take our chances, we have the advantage, but it will be hard work. I’m going to be very disappointed if we don’t make it through. We aren’t the strongest contentders for the CL this year, but we do have an outside chance.

We are currently unbeaten in 23 CL matches at home and have kept clean sheets in our last 4 CL home games, but of course form means nothing tonight.

I’m leaving for the Grove in a few hours, if you’re going tonight then get behind the team!

Villarreal First Leg Report & Highlights

Villarreal 1-1 Arsenal: Senna 10, Adebayor 66. Highlights here.

Arsenal came away with a valuble away goal against Villarreal last night, which places us well for the Quarter final second leg at home next week.

Adebayor scored an amazing bicycle kick in the second half to equalise after Senna had scored a long range goal in the fist half. The fact that we got the goal is most important – I will take the result, even though we could have finished them off in the second half.

The Fabregas/Adebayor partnership again provided crucial goals – making it 3 in 2 games for Ade, with Fabregas providing every assist!

I didn’t see the game, I downloaded highlights after the match – and I was disappointed to see us go a goal down. It hurt to lose Gallas and Almunia, and as Wenger said – this meant he couldn’t change things around at half time.

Gallas has knee ligament damage – so he may be out for the rest of the season – a blow seeing as our defence has been very stable since December. Almunia is out for a few weeks with an ankle injury – so we will have Fabianski in goal for the next few games which will define our season.

I think Fabianski will do good – but he has made rash decisions at times during games this season – this is his chance to prove himself – he made some good saves last night.

Overall a good result – some annoying injuries – but this looks promising. The fact that Porto got two away goals at Old Trafford means that they have a good chance of going through – no British team has ever won at Porto – and they have the advantage!

What do you think Arsenal’s chances are? Leave a comment below.