UEL Round of 32 1st Leg: Benfica vs Arsenal | Thursday 18th February |20:00 | BT Sport

[albakos]

Ok what's the backstory of jeans and boots on this thread

 

[Mitch]

Drop Luiz and Bellerin for Holding and Cambers and keep the rest of the side the same as yesterday.

 

[Rimaal]

Why does it feel like 1996 in here?

 

[say yes]

FFS :rofl:

 

[Red London]

Why am I seeing some teams on here which are heavily rotated like we’re playing Antwerp in the group stages? This is a EL knock out game vs Benfica, our only chance of a trophy + CL.

 

[Red London]

Leno
Cedric Holding Gabriel Tierney
Ceballos Xhaka
Saka ESR Pepe
Auba

 

[celestis]

Give me a pair of boot cut jeans over these weird super skinny jeans anyday or the weird fashion of buying trousers that don't cover your ankles or men not wearing socks or wearing socks with flip flops and trying to make them out to be cool by calling them "sliders".

Also nothing wrong with a unseason chicken, healthy meal right there.

Bellerin trying to bring back boot cuts I heard.

 

[Penn_]

Matt Ryan for Leno
Martinelli on Left
Pepe on Right
Laca on for Auba
Should probably try Nelson in #10 role as ESR looks tired but he was subbed off early so could still start and give 60 mins. Ode could play last 30 mins.

Saka and Auba looked knackered towards end of Leeds game. They both should not start.

Erm this isn’t a group game.

 

[GoonerJeeves]

Why does it feel like 1996 in here?

Top of the charts in 1996!

 

[<<reed>>]

Runarsson
Chambers Holding Mari Cedric
Elneny Partey
Willian Nelson Pepe
Nketiah

 

[AberGooner]

I'd play the same team as Leeds with Tierney if he's available. Possibly drop Luiz for Holding, Gabriel played quite well yesterday I thought. Bellerin had such a good first half but so poor defensively in the 2nd but I can't see Arteta dropping him.

 

[Blood on the Tracks]

Best available starting eleven please.

We may as well sacrifice the Man City game. 90% chance they'd beat us even with our best 11 out anyway.

Europa League is our most realistic route back in the CL. It has to take priority.

Let's not underestimate Benfica, whatever issues they're going through. We don't want another Olympiakos situation.

 

[GoonerJeeves]

I'd play the same team as Leeds with Tierney if he's available. Possibly drop Luiz for Holding, Gabriel played quite well yesterday I thought. Bellerin had such a good first half but so poor defensively in the 2nd but I can't see Arteta dropping him.

I think we will see more rotation than that perhaps. Looking at the fixture list, there is a lot of games. Pepe will probably get a runout I would think.

 

[Riou]

 

[Riou]

Also want to reiterate that the fact this is a home and away tie, with neither team playing at their stadiums and without fans is so stupid.

 

[Penn_]

Are away goals still in effect? Could easily see that screwing us over in a tie where there is no home or away.

 

[Yousif Arsenal]

Are away goals still in effect? Could easily see that screwing us over in a tie where there is no home or away.

Yes it's stupid but it's Uefa.

 

[tap-in]

We have to play our best 11 available. EL is winnable, we have to go for it. Imagine finishing our worst season in history by qualifying for CL!

If Tierney available

Leno
Cedric Holding Gabriel Tierney
Ceballos Xhaka
Saka Ødegaard ESR
Auba

Pepe and Martinelli on the bench. Willian at home!

 

[tap-in]

Also want to reiterate that the fact this is a home and away tie, with neither team playing at their stadiums and without fans is so stupid.

What's your alternative suggestion?

 

[Rimaal]

Haven't watched Benfica at all this season, so I'm going in with zero knowledge and no expectations.