Great NEWS Gooners...?

We need Vermaelen against Chelsea more....So i think he should sit out as a precaution.

LMAO @ your genuine relief over a bit part player being fit for a friendly competition. Still, Arsenal has to take all the success it can these days I suppose, no matter how trivial it might be. @ Nutty Gooner - Every single one of the big clubs play their youth/reserve sides in the early rounds. The difference between Ferguson and Wenger is that Ferguson realises that as soon as he comes up against a side who will field a strong side, he changes his lineup accordingly, because this usually happens around the quarter final stage when only a few more victories results in a trophy - let the kids do the ground work and then it's only a couple of extra games for the senior players. Hence why Arsenal was absolutely smashed by City and why United beat City in the semi-final. Edit: More concerned with what? Ensuring that your lads were adequately prepared for the ritualistic spring-time capitulation or laughably trying to out-play Barcelona in their own backyard which resulted in them utterly destroying you? When a team hasn't won a trophy for as long as Arsenal hasn't, some would call that poor management. As for the Leeds game, yes it was embarrassing but shocks happen in football, they're called giant-killings and every big team has them in their history. LMAO @ you thinking that one game determines a team's quality. The fact is, United finished TEN points clear of Arsenal, and would've likely progressed further in the CL had Rafael not been so naive - at least we gave Bayern a game, and likely (but not definitely of course) would've progressed further if it wasn't for that. Additionally, I wasn't laughing at Arsenal being knocked out by City, I was simply pointing out the fact that it makes infinitely more sense to adjust the lineup in the CC once it becomes clear that the side has a realistic chance of winning it. This is what United, Chelsea, City and Liverpool do. So I ask again, more concerned with other things? Competition effectively decides which football teams are best because most other measures of comparison are utterly subjective, and if a team isn't winning trophies... Edit: I've always maintained that the Carling Cup is worth winning once the latter stages have been reached with the youngsters/reserves. The gravitas of the competition has no bearing on whether it is worth winning or not - it's only the third best domestic trophy, but it is still something worth winning if it means only having to risk the senior players for a couple of games to do so. A Cup final is still a Cup final. How else should success be measured? This is why competitions exist in the first place - to measure success. If we didn't have them, how would we know which teams are the best at a given point in time? You could take that further and suggest we shouldn't keep score. Yes, our defeat to Leeds was embarrassing, but you're missing the point. I never said that Arsenal's defeat to City was down to anything other than questionable squad selection from Wenger (although they did bounce you in the league at the COMS too to be fair, when Arsenal fielded a full-strength side) - at least Fergie tried to win both domestic cup competitions, and succeeded with one. As for the 'get over yourself comment', oh please - you're the one who responded to my answer in the first place. Edit: Lol yeah I did, fair enough, but still, it doesn't invalidate what I've said here. It's because it's not just Arsenal who field the kids and reserves in the CC, it's just that Fergie has the nous to play the stars whenever he feels it necessary to progress in the competition, he's a manager who wants to challenge for every trophy going. Arsenal doesn't have a particularly small squad, so I find it mystifying that their fans be satiated with such an approach considering the trophy drought. Anyway, yeah enjoy the season looooool nice talking at you :D

as a united fan i am also pleased vermaelens injury isnt as bad as it was first feared to be noone should want to see players seriously injured

That is good news for you guys. I can't imagine Campbell being the best of replacements.

FQ: Of course hoping for a draw. But to make it a good match, 4-4 or better.

great news indeed but wenger said that he wont be in the squad on sunday as his injury needs further assesment

will man united play the long ball.

i hope the mancs win so i can listen to the drivel spouted from wengers mouth.sorest loser ever.feck him

im tottenham and looking forward to a good game...honest, i hope the **** get stuffed... but i hope its a really good exciting match

thats good, will song be playing then?

i reallllly hope vermy will be good to play :S thank goodness its not broken!

And united will still beat you and you will all have some other excuse

Im so pleased!