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Wenger Won't Be Resting Players

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has resisted any notion that he may rest any of his star players for tomorrow night`s lost cause against A.C. Milan. With the Italians protecting a four goal lead, the game is all but up for Arsenal. But the manager was in bullish mood today, refuting any suggestions he may rest players for the run in. After a couple of good results against close rivals and with third place in the crosshairs, there was a suggestion he may prioritise.

'It is not an argument for us," bristled the Frenchman. "We want to have a real go tomorrow, we want to make it possible.

"I would not be very credible to tell you we want to score five goals and then leave Robin van Persie out.

"We will not accept going out of the Champions League because we want to stay in. We will give it our best shot tomorrow."

I`ve seen some debate around this today and have to say I side with the manager on this one. For a number of reasons. Firstly, I think it`d transmit a poor message to his players if he tacitly admitted he didn`t believe in their ability to turn the tie around. Miniscule though the chances may be, there could be long term ramifications for the rest of our season if he sends that message. Arsenal have specialised in comebacks in recent weeks- albeit not to this magnitude.

But momentum has been built up and it`s important to keep it. Realistically, as a fan I want to see a good performance and for us to win the game tomorrow night, even though I don`t think we can win the tie. A healthy win and good performance sees us bow out with a bit more pride and helps keep that momentum. In any case, we need to go for it. If we are not two goals clear on the night at least, with half an hour remaining we can always reign ourselves in with some pragmatic changes. There's six days until the Newcastle game after tomorrow night and then a further nine days till our next game after that. We're not looking at the most crammed schedule. LD.

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Writer: Tim Stillman

Date:Monday March 5 2012

Time: 6:09PM

Your Comments

Two early goals and it will be game on! We have nothing to lose and should throw everything at Milan...really blitz their goal for the first 15 minutes...then see where we are.

Wyn Mills

Just have a good go at them..

Sajit

Good! The same set of players where possible should start. They were the ones who made this task insurmountable so it's only fair they attempt to restore some pride as opposed to being allowed to slink away and let some other poor sods mop up. It will bear all the hallmarks of the greatest comeback of all time though, we'll get three back before that lanky swedish git will doubtless break our hearts again.

nikolaijns

We should have a real go at it in the first half, and if the tie is still winable at half time keep pushing, if it's way beyond us look to bring RvP and others off. If we can get a couple of goals in the first half it will be enough to sow the seeds of doubt. It's very unlikely that we'll do it but stranger things have happened.

Rocky7

I agree with the manager on this one. There can and should be no lost cause(s) at a team like Arsenal. The fans have a role to play as their belief has to be passed on to the team. It won't matter when the goals start coming in as it takes seconds to score a goal and they can come in very quick succession. Let's go for it and just bring on our A game; that's all we ask.

Naijagunner

I also agree with Arsene for the reasons cited above, but can you imagine the rage he'd face if a certain someone was injured... PS: I definitely have NOT jinxed it.

ArsenalRob

Naijagunner

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1091601-arsenal-vs-ac-milan-zlatan-ibrahimovic-star-egoist-opportunist

Wyn Mills

Wenger: ""I can take a risk, because I have no choice, basically. ...I have only two midfielders, that is Song and Rosicky. That means we have to play with four strikers. I can play six strikers if I want. I have enough strikers: I have [Marouane] Chamakh, Park [Ju-yung], Van Persie, Gervinho, Walcott and Chamberlain." Death or Glory it is then.

Wyn Mills

AR RVP could go out on the ground training and he could be out. Remember Faith and belief. I just want them to play well andI know they will. Ng we think on the same line from the same book. What an extra lift it will be to prove those of little faith for our club they are wrong.

alwaysgunner

Agreed AG - There's no point in thinking "What if RvP gets injured", because he doesn't even need to be playing football for that to happened. Indeed, going by this season RvP is more likely to bag a brace than he is to get injured :)

Rocky7

Wenger: “Two things that can change: if they can score four then we can as well, why not? We will try. We know we can put a better performance in and you can tell Milan that tomorrow we will play on a football pitch, a real football pitch.” Words on marble.

Naijagunner

You guys might remember me being all for a second string run out tonight and it just goes to show how little I know! Completely agree that the team and manager should never look at a tie as not winnable. Even if we fans doubt their ability to overturn AC I am so happy that AW refuses to see it that way. These are things they don't teach you when you take your coaching badges!

No 10

Also with a good rest before Newcastle then extra time will not be such a scary thing.

No 10

Nice quote Naija! That's fighting talk where I come from!

Rocky7

I actually think we shouldn't risk RvP in this game. He's far too important and I can't really see us going through. We can give it our all, just not with him in the side.

Gooner_Vin

G_V, what's the use going into an important battle without your Warrior king and leader, just because you fear he could be scathed in battle, especially if a similar harm could befall him when sparring in readiness? One thing is for sure, RvP won't want to miss this game for the world. If we go down, he will want to be at the fore front when it happens; if we overcome, he deserves to be the one getting the accolades along with the team. He is that type of leader.

Naijagunner

Good luck tonight you Gooners, here's to a 5-0 kicking.

I'm not saying this for altruistic reasons, I just want you in the CL for as long as possible to knacker you out for the League games!

Spuds-U-Like

I'm forever miffed we have such a huge well paid squad and yet still find ourselves scraping together a makeshift team. What's the fecking point having all these players if half of em are never available (stand up Abou Diaby!) or not good enough (your turn Park) ? We'd stand half a chance if we could field our strongest players when it mattered.

Wyn Mills

There is certainly an element of squad wastage when you consider that Almunia, Park, Chamakh, Squillaci, Diaby, Wilshere, Gibbs and Benayoun combined don't amass 15 starts between them. Combined with big earners out on loan such as Vela, Denilson, Bendtner and Arshavin and you can see it's not the most balanced squad ever constructed. Something that needs to be rethought big time in the summer for sure.

Little Dutch

I think it's a little unfair to label Diaby, Wilshere and Gibbs squad wastage. If they hadn't been injured they would certainly have played the majority of the games, in Wilshere and Gibbs cases at least, and Diaby would have featured too.

Rocky7

I have to admit it was the tantalizing glimpse of Diaby on Saturday that really got my goat. The guy has been out of the team so long he looked like he aged 5 years! Then to come on, show us all what we've been missing, and then and hobble off only 20 minutes later... FF*%@K! I know it probably isn't his fault but someone is definitely having a laugh.

Wyn Mills

Wilshere harsh maybe, but technically true this season. Diaby and Gibbs not so much. They've been unavailable more than they've been available during their contracts to this point.

Little Dutch

C`mon Arsenal if Liverpool can do it in 45 you can do it 90 & at home .Play like you did against us & who knows ,they think they have it in the bag .
Only in your darkest hour do you truly find your finest ,bring it on .

big cockeral

Big C, There's only one problem. We don't have serial diver Gerrard to win us a last gasp penalty.

Wyn Mills

Ah come on Wyn, he was being all nice there too!

damiano_tommassi

Wyn Mean : )

Naijagunner

So... does anyone think we'll get through to the next round? It can be done, it may be done - anyone think it will?

damiano_tommassi

I must have misunderstood your context LD, I was assuming your squad wastage comment meant the manager having a large squad but not trusting them enough to use them, the likes of Park and Chamakh are what I would consider squad wastage.

Rocky7

Attack! Attack! Attack Attack Attack!!! I want these wh0res of Berlusconi strung up from lamp posts in disgrace when they turn home after losing 5-4 on penalties! I want to see that bell end zlatan who talks about himself in the third person (zlatan doesn't do trials - waaaa@nkkkkaaahhh) weeping on our pristine carpet his ego in tatters. How can you have any respect for a team that deliberately destroys their own pitch?? Not even stoke do that you cowardly sneaky cheats. Hope you bring our players handbags as presents and they laugh openly in your faces before we take you apart!!! (prob 0-0 though tbf)

nikolaijns

DT, it can be done. We just have to stop them scoring (can be done too). Blitz their goal area and they will just not know what hit them. We must keep the ball from them and dispossess them quickly, where they get the ball.

Naijagunner

Team lineup on Arsenal.com: Wojciech Szczesny Bacary Sagna Thomas Vermaelen Laurent Koscielny Kieran Gibbs Alex Song Tomas Rosicky Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain Theo Walcott Gervinho Robin van Persie

Wyn Mills

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Writer: Tim Stillman

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