True Asa.
We'll just have to see what kind of results we can dig out while he's injured.
Getting Cesc and Song back plus Ramsey as back up would help enormously as it would eliminate the need to play either Denilson or Diaby.
Cesc and Nasri link well together - I'd expect Nasri to score more with Cesc on the pitch.
We have a real problem with Cesc missing, as we saw in this match, not just because he's such a quality player but because he's the only player we have who really looks for the forward pass whenever he can, and does it exceptionally well.
Burnwinter wrote:We have a real problem with Cesc missing, as we saw in this match, not just because he's such a quality player but because he's the only player we have who really looks for the forward pass whenever he can, and does it exceptionally well.
Denilson reached new levels of awfulness yesterday when he decided to abandon even the sideways pass in favour of backward ones.
The one to Clichy (if I remember correctly) right before halftime was particularly impressive.
asajoseph wrote:y va marquer wrote:They're hitting an even worse run of form away from home now Asa.
All those jammy draws are turning into losses.
We've been far more consistent since Christmas.
Their superb home record has kept them in this.Our form since Christmas has been built about 80% around the brilliance of Van Persie. Now he's injured.
I know what you mean but even without Cesc, we are still creative and I know you may disagree but I also feel that we've been quite defensively robust. Losing Robin is a massive blow but for whatever reason (maybe hopless naivety) I do still feel more positive about this team. A lot of that has to do with the fact we have a 'new' GK, an amazing 'new' talent in Jack and 'new' (more confident) Nasri. The only issue that remains, is a striker who we can rely on for goals and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Bendtner can prove himself.
I'd like to caveat all this by saying these comments derive from hope more than belief. 
we need cesc back asap if we are to any hope of winning the league. we aren't able to control the game without him. our passing game is very inconsistent and lacks any real purpose. cesc is really what keeps the engine running and links the forward three with the rest of the team.
Next league game is in 2 weeks so you'd imagine Cesc and Song will be back for that. The game after that is in another 2 weeks which Robin and Theo could be back for, though even if they're not, we should be able to beat Blackburn without them.
i think cesc will be ready for barca on tuesday.
Kel Varnsen wrote:i think cesc will be ready for barca on tuesday.
Thats no brainer. Ofcourse he'll play.
Cesc would have whole body cortizone and anaesthetic treatments to play in this particular fixture. I half suspect him of bringing up the hamstring problem with this match in mind.
Personally, I'd rather not risk Cesc unless he's 100%. League should still be our priority and we shouldn't seek short-term victories to the detriment of a longer-term dream.
Plus, Nasri will fill in fine for him. 
Cesc will play. He is already half fit, he will insist he is 100% fit and Wenger will go along with it.
If you recall in the first leg his effectiveness seemed to be slightly impaired by the importance of the occasion in his own life. Bit of a worry but on the other hand, it could also lead to great things.
We need Cesc to step up like he did for 2/3rds of last season. RvP and Nasri have done their bit to be match winners this season while Cesc has been off the boil because of his injuries, now he's really got to play himself into some world class form.
Fair point. We could also do with a resurgence of scoring form from Nasri. He came very close from long range a couple of times against Brum the other day.
Nasri looks really hungry for a goal. His best form came when he was playing from the right so maybe that will help him as well.
Nasri looks much more of a goal threat while playing on the right. Which is a little strange for a right footed player.
Yeah, I wonder why that is.
I'd suggest it's a coincidence partly caused by the fact that Nasri was scoring heavily when van Persie was out injured, and his move to the left when Arshavin was benched happened simultaneous with van Persie's return and resumption of goal-scoring responsibility.
Nasri has a good sense of when he needs to back himself to score and when he has quality partners up front.
I hope he scores a freekick soon. He's been very close a number of times now. He's good at getting it on target, but there's not quite enough pace on it to make it unsavable.
His effort against Sunderland was a beauty, just needed to be a foot further to the left. He has all the technique he needs.
asajoseph wrote:y va marquer wrote:They're hitting an even worse run of form away from home now Asa.
All those jammy draws are turning into losses.
We've been far more consistent since Christmas.
Their superb home record has kept them in this.Our form since Christmas has been built about 80% around the brilliance of Van Persie. Now he's injured.
The thing is Y va, winning all or at least nearly all of your home games is a minimum prerequisite for winning the title, and they are actually won on the road.
Nobody wins it losing at home to the likes of Newcastle & WBA, the lowly status of the opposition the nature of the surrender and lack of professionalism suggest deeper rooted problems.
