G Richards

Stevie on the right, Riera left, Xabi and Mascherano in the middle. Keane and Kuyt up top. Tighten the defence and we have a decent chance. The problem is, I can't see them not scoring the way they are playing, so we'll need two - a tall order - if we want the win. It will be a good game, and if we can do it without Torres (even if there's a chance he can make it I'd rather he carried on with the fitness work, rather than force it) it would be massive.

What a fantastic find this thread is. My football education has gone up several notches, many thanks to those who made that possible. It is clear we are pressing on towards level three football, and that all levels of the club are coming on very well.

If given a straight choice, I would rather have Torres in our side than Messi.

£10M is too much, as he is not from the top bracket. It is possible he could kick on as he is only young. If we achieve anything like his valuation, it will be via player swaps, with both clubs setting their own value on the player to suit. We will not get £10M cash.

In many things in life it is prudent to wait and see. This is no different. How is it possible to make a judgement now? Rafa is our man for next season. A good summer and hope renewed - what's to say we don't extend our lead to 20-18?

I'd prefer to be on top after 34 games in order to say '4 games from being champions'. Swapping results around gives a false impression of how close we are, since we can't be sure how the other teams would have responded in other games. As it stands we are a good team, and it is not difficult to see how we could mount a strong challenge next season with some good business this summer, coupled with carrying on the form we have shown since we've consistently played 4-2-3-1.

The referee came out in the media after he had looked at it again and confirmed that it was a penalty and that he felt he made the right decision. It was his call to make. He did it in real time and he'd do it again. Arsenal have no case. If the ref said "I made an error there" then Arsenal would have their hard luck story (but still no semi final). As it stands, the ref went to the trouble of speaking out after the match to confirm he had looked again and he was happy with the decision. Get over it Arsenal!

In the first two parts of the 'trilogy', both Arsenal goals have come from set pieces. Beautiful game indeed. Lumping it up to Adebayor is not beyond them either. Both of these aspects to their play are often overlooked. Of course they also play good football. No one denies that. But let's not go overboard with it, as they can be direct and they do have one or two cloggers in their ranks (with Flamini being the worst culprit on either side in the two games thus far). I think I read in the Sunday Times earlier today about Menotti (Argentina manager in 1978). At the time Brazil thought they should have won the world cup because they played the better football. Menotti's response? "Let them have their moral victory. We will have the actual victory." (or something to that effect!)

Same team as first leg. Come out fast, pressing all over pitch. High tempo, early goal. That's the ideal. If this happens then Arsenal will come looking for it that bit more, and the chance of picking them off on the break increases.

Reina Rafinha Carra Agger Aurelio Mascherano Lucas Bentley Gerrard Babel Torres

Very good!

If money is fairly tight I'd be happy with a £20M budget, plus whatever we can get from player sales. (I would have thought we could comfortably double the £20M budget that way). I'd would buy two players to improve the first eleven: Agbonlahor Young striker, could play on the right of the three behind Torres, fast, eye for goal, could fill in for Torres if he is injured. Alves He could offer the width we need, and if he bombs forward it is not a problem since we have two holding midfielders.

Agbonlahor was mentioned earlier in the thread. I think he would be perfect on the right of the three behind Torres. He would cost a fair bit (depending on contract situation) but he is fast, has an eye for goal, and looks to have a big future. He's a Villa boy and might not even want to leave, but at some point he will question whether or not Aston Villa can break into the Champions League, and where his career might best be served. We have a few players that could well be of interest to Villa in order to do the deal, including Carson, Crouch and Riise.

It might be that Stevie can move to the right of the three behond Torres and then we could bring in a player like Diego or Aguero. Both would be hugely expensive though. Agree that Agbonlahor would be very good for the right side though.

I'd rather not pick and choose. Instead, I'd like Rafa to send the boys out to win all the games. If we win the first three and the players are then tired, we can rotate/hang on/whatever. I wouldn't like the players to be fresh and ready to go for the last two of these five games, having fielded a weaker side - and lost - in the first three.