Totti Sees Red

By Boris Mellor
February 23 2009

Arsenal will be without Arshavin, Eduardo, Fabregas, Rosicky, Adebayor, and Silvestre for this 200th game in all European Competitions, W97, D52 and L50 times. Arsenal have gone 22 games unbeaten at home in CL since the defeat by Chelsea in 2004. Arsene was asked how he would deal with the fact that the second leg would be away, would he be cautious. His reply was "we will go for it".

He is hopeful that Roma will attack more than Sunderland, possibly, but their breakaways will be more deadly. The last time Roma came to Arsenal (2002-3) Totti was sent off, and the Gunners drew 1-1. However the Gunners had won the first leg 3-1 so Roma were demoralised before they even started.

Totti's prayers unanswered

Totti saw no point in mixing it with Arsenal's Keown, preferring, on 22 minutes, an early bath. A bit of close attention might not work as well this time around. Roma have won only one of their last 15 away games in England, failing to score in the last three.  Arsenal have entertained 12 Italian clubs and only lost twice.

Roma are 16 points from the top of the league, and Arsenal 17, so the pair are well matched. What's that you say nil - nil? What's the chances of that happening? Well according to the bookies you can get  9-4 for a draw, or evens for a win.

Some fans are comparing Wenger's season to the Last Days of the Graham Empire. One point about the last days of Graham's reign, as Arsenal were no longer capable of challenging for the league, the Gunners  became a cup team. Maybe Arsenal are becoming a cup team again, we shall know soon enough.

Diaby is the only addition to the squad that was available on Saturday. Could he have one of his good games in five? I do hope so as we don't see him that often.

Beware the curse of the ex

Arsenal always suffer the curse of the ex player, so the defence need to keep a tight eye on Baptista, the world's slowest breakaway artist. I say that without mockery, the bloke runs at 2 miles an hour and still takes defences by surprise. The dreadful Lawro cracked on R5 that his nickname should be the nanny, not the beast. He wasn't laughing after the nanny put four past Liverpool.

A positive note to end: Wouldn't a trip around European backwaters on a Thursday night be good experience for our youngsters?

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