Arsenal are busily preparing for their biggest European night (arguably) since Sampdoria came to Highbury in the 1995 European Cup Winners Cup Semi Final.


That night two goals in a minute from Steve Bould was enough to settle this Gooners nerves, but I suspect it wont be an enjoyable evenings viewing. Don't get me wrong, I think we are in this match, but I always prefer relaxing after the game with a result in my pocket over stressing over every pass and shot.

Samp made a match of it that night with Vlad Jugovic among the goals in a 3-2 Arsenal victory and you suspect that Madrid will be more of a factor tomorrow than they were in the Bernabeau.

I said at the time that they can't play that badly again and I wondered if we could play as well as that again. We should have beaten them by more, but we have what we have. Let's move forward now and get behind the team.

The latest team news from the swanky new look Arsenal.com concerns the return to the squad of injured duo Robert Pires and Manu Almunia. Pires will need to put his contract negotiations out of his mind for the night as I think he could be a key player if we have to play Madrid on the break. His ability to link play and pick the pass could be invaluable. Not sure if he would be in my starting XI but he will certainly make an appearance.

Almunia has been nursing an injured hand and it is important to have your first choice reserve gloveman (if that makes sense!) on the bench.

Arsene Wenger also confirmed what many of us had suspected when we saw the reserve team sheet on Monday. Theo Walcott is likely to be on the bench (he didnt feature in the 1-0 second string defeat to Fulham) and in the blue sky scenario he could get 10 mins at the end when we are cruising through!

I never like to predict teams but I think we could line up like this...

Lehmann

Eboue
Toure
Senderos
Flamini

Fabregas
Gilberto
Ljungberg
Hleb
Reyes

Henry

The objective being solidity but with Freddie and Jose pushing on to support Henry when we have the ball.

Its going to be a tense night...

JimmytheCuckoo

I agree Buddy, this is going to be a massive game.. I really cant wait. I missed the last game due to Work and didnt even get to know the score until the afternoon after but when I found out that we actually won it was a massive suprise.. Lets hope that we have a solid game and no mis-placed passes from Hleb and Gilberto. Come on the Arse..

And J, Golfs going well mate, crappy weather so not out as much.
Take it easy Fella :)

JTC! BEHAVE! you are just iterating the nervous feelings of all of us! the team you've selected is the team that has played the best footbasll for us in the last three months! i called the same team but coz it's your shout you got there first! i'm pooing myself two weeks later coz after the nirvana of the bernabeau i'm now terrified that we should have taken all those chances we created in that fantastic performance in madrid!

hey buddy,i saw the match in berneabue.but i cant deny it,i was so nervous until the final whistle.but with the advantage,we should cruise to the next round.