Suggesting Arsenal players will pull out of tackles because of big games coming up is hardly a threat. In general he's basically saying the same thing Wilshere said before the Barca game.

He's ill informed in thinking it's not something we get in pretty much every single game.

I hate that we're still viewed as a bit of a 'soft' side by other teams. Wonder how long it's going to take us to lose that tag.

You know that answer Flobs......Until we win a trophy.
Results like the fiasco at Newcastle stick long in peoples memories.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/wenger-out-of-excuses-in-trophy-quest-2548061.html

Each Arsenal follower has a personal deadline for success. For many six years is already too long. Others count their blessings from watching so much sumptuous football and say they can keep waiting. A few even accept fruitlessness as an acceptable price for good housekeeping. But now Wenger's men have given themselves a problem.
By escaping the victim role against Barcelona they have shown themselves to be eminently capable of ending the vigil. So now they must, without ifs or buts.

Time to set off. It'd appear from Brislen-Hall's tweet that Miquel is starting today.

So we're in for a Squillaci - Ignasi central defence then? Bit of a worry.

asajoseph wrote:

Oh dear.

Be some excellent fodder Wenger's critics should we lose. I suppose Koscielny is exhausted and Djourou's back is still dodgy.

I don't know about that, it's obvious that some of our second string simply are nowhere near good enough. Miquel's just another weak link in a chain that's already made of spaghetti.

Cheers Dools. We're going to be in for a game itd appear.

James wrote:

Time to set off. It'd appear from Brislen-Hall's tweet that Miquel is starting today.

:o

What did he say, good luck or something?

Best of luck to the kid if that's true. Koscielny and Djourou did have a really hard game against Barca. I guess Arsene has no choice, with all due respect to the kid, he wouldn't play Miquel if he had other options.

Yeah, exactly Ricky.

Young Guns reckon he's starting too.

He did indeed Ricky.

Running well early. Stopped off at pins for one. So different on a non match day.

No one dropping their guts every 10 seconds.

otfgoon wrote:

Just occured to me that should we win this we'll be 2 games away from another trip to Wembley (well technically 1 but semi-finals at Wembley don't really count).

Another big opportunity for a trophy.

I'd got with the following:

Almunia 🙁

Sagna - Squillaci - Koscielny - Gibbs

Denilson - Song - Rosicky

Bendtner - Chamakh - Arshavin

Such massive changes have not worked this season but with a tough 90 mins against Barcelona gone, and with two vital games in Stoke and the LC final coming up, we have to rest most of the side really.

That's the official lineup apart from Miquel in for Kos, otherwise me and Wenger basically of one mind 8)

We haven't been a soft side for a while. Wilshere Song, Nasri and Fab for example can give as good as they get. Not sure its anything to do with success Biggus, more the style of football we play.

Just hope it won't be a case of Orient players being so psyched up before game they'll cripple one of our lads in first five mins. Have no problems with the darker arts of the game, they're an integral part of football, but there is a limit. Two footed challenges from behind just to 'let them know you're there' being case in point.

Haven't seen much of Miquel, what's he like?

Chamakh is due a big game, tired or no. Will be interesting to see how much Andrey will be up for it too. His game is gradually getting back to where we know it can be