Art Deco wrote:With Song out, we should be able to control the midfield pretty comfortably, even more so than last game I predict.
My only concern is Walcott and his pace on the counter attack. I'm assuming Pep will use Abidal instead of Maxwell.
My lineup prediction:
-----------------Valdes--------------
--Alves----Yaya-----Milito---Abidal
----------------Biscuits-------------
------Xavi------------------Keita---
--Messi---------------------Pedro--
-----------------Bojan---------------
That's exactly the lineup I'd go for. But remember our two wide forwards play level with the CF, not behind

(The difference between a 4-5-1 and a 4-3-3).
The only change I'd make is, if Iniesta is fit, him in there for Keita. Barring that, I think that's how we should lineup. Yaya has pace, power and reads the game well, which is better than playign Marquez who has led to us conceding virtually every time he played this season as far as I remember.
Abidal will have Walcott in his back pocket, his performances this year have been phenomenal. Defensively solid, reads the game well, gets forward, puts in excellent crosses and he's quick. I think Arsenal will get frustrated quickly when they realise Abidal wont be torn apart by Walcott in the manner Maxwell was, and when they get frustrated and we have all of the ball, the game's there for the taking.
I see nothing but a hard fought victory for us, but it wont be easy.