I wonder which Arsenal players are going to miss out against Swansea City tomorrow, assuming that I have read the hints made by Arsene Wenger about making changes to the starting line up. If I am right then we should be seeing Jack Wilshere, Kieran Gibbs and Theo Walcott from the start against Garry Monk´s team but the boss seems perfectly happy that this will not have a negative effect on our performance4 and result.
The Gunners may have been doing very well with the same team in recent weeks, but the manager suggested this weekend that he was only keeping the same starting XI because the three players mentioned above were not fully match fit, as reported by the Arsenal website. So although the Gunners need to make sure of the win after Man City and Man United won this weekend, it looks like Wenger will be ringing the changes.
He said, “I’m ready to change but we had a stability on the tactical front, the confidence was there and I didn’t change recently.
“I have no problems changing the players because they are all in very good shape, the players who practice.
“Players like Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere, Kieran Gibbs for example were not completely there in recent weeks but now they are all there on the competitive front. There’s no problem.”
I think it is fairly safe to say that Aaron Ramsey will be given a rest after picking up a knock last week, even though he is now back in training. But Rambo has been used on the right so maybe Walcott rather than Wilshere will take up that position. If Jack is to start then it would be either Santi Cazorla or Mesut Ozil who drops out and of course it would be Monreal that Gibbs replaces. So will this be the Arsenal team tomorrow?
Ospina
Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs
Wilshere, Coquelin
Walcott, Ozil, Alexis
Giroud
i wld be surprised if that were the case. if it s broke, don’t fix it. walcott and wishere in? dropping cazorla? maybe a rest for the man u game… not sure though.we shall see…
Personally I don’t think Theo will start out on the right, Wenger has made a statement saying it is time for him to play more as a CF. If Theo starts then I would guess it is to rest Giroud for the UTD game as much as possible while being an option to bring on from the bench incase Theo doesn’t perform well. Otherwise I would say that Theo will come on for Giroud like he has done for his last 2 appearances.
With that in mind I do believe that Wilshere will be played out on the right, use his driving runs to penetrate the area or draw fouls at the edge of the box. Playing Wilshere out on the right could also open up his left foot for shots, Wilshere has lacked a final product when compared to players like Cazorla… Playing out on the right will give him more chances to either cut in and shoot or cross it, giving him experience in decision making. His hunger to get into the starting 11 will help in defending, closing down quickly etc which is something Theo isn’t as good at.
Gibbs in for Monreal? I see no reason why Wenger would or wouldn’t do that, both our LB are fantastic when in form. Would be nice to see him get some game time, from the start? If both Theo and Wilshere start then I would say there is less chance of Gibbs also starting, too many changes could cost us our stability which Wenger has recognised.
Depay will flop, he looks like a flop, I am gonna laugh so hard when he flops, I am still laughing at liverpool flop buys hahahaha! What a team of flops.
I say we stick to the winning team. Droping Carzola or Ozil for Wilshere is a sin.
And why is Sanogo an Arsenal player?
Wenger is right to rest key players for the UTD game, it would be monumental to win back to back games against UTD specially at old trattford. Cazorla/ramsay/monreal should be rested so it looks like theo/wilshere and gibbs will be playing against Swansea
Ffs how much rest does a super fit professional athlete need? Surely he can manage 1 match a week? At this stage of this season every player should be buzzing, we are chasing down runners up spot and back to back fa cup wins. Once top 3 is secured then think about giving some more of the squad a run out ahead of wembley, until then play the team that has got us to where we are now, only changing for injuries or if the manager feels a certain player needs a start.
For example against swansea, wilshire in for the injured ramsey, walcott and gibbs to share the match with giroud and monreal and bring the 3rd sub on for whoever looks the most in need of replacing. Hopefully we then secure top 3 against united and can then give the whole squad some match time against sunderland and west Brom.
I don’t really care if we finish 2nd or 3rd, the difference is just a few grand. But automatic qualification and retaining the fa cup is paramount.
You know I have been asking the same question, who brought Sonogo to arsenal what qualities did they see? Cause clearly no one else see those qualities not even crystal palace.
Give the kid a break, he’s only 22. We got rid of gervinho too fast and look how he flourished at Roma. We need to be patient with our players especially when they’ve only had 1-2 years in the EPL. I say by 25 this kid will turn into a an unstoppable force in this league mark my words, he has all the raw talent in the world (6’3) good technical ability but for whatever reason the kid just can’t find the net. Maybe he’s just all nerves when it comes to scoring 😉
I agree that Sanogo
is raw talent and could
develop into a monster.
My real concern is his injury issues.
@ Dennis
I did not mean to thumb you up please explain to me how Gervinho has flourished PLEASE. He is the exact same player in a much weaker league. People were on his n*ts last year because they want to discredit wenger (as usual) when Gervinho had 9 league goals but people made him out to be messi like. This season he has 2 league goals TWO so please learn the facts before you speak
Bendtner mark 2 …. Another season on loan and if nothing comes of it he should b canned… But the bigger worry is that wenger actually believes he already has the attacking options to win EPL and challenge for cl simply by switching the whippet to centre forward … Need to get rid of Walcott podolski Ryo and Campbell bring forward two of the youngsters and buy a world class attacking option … We have progressed this season but partly because two of biggest rivals didn’t … Next season more difficult and a serious manager would plan accordingly
I think Gab in for Per, Gibbs in for Monreal, Jack in for Rambo and maybe, just maybe Theo in for OG.
An interesting double pivot could well be Jack and Santi if AW wanted to give Coquelin a breather before the Man Utd game, and use Theo on the right. or rest Santi and use Jack next to Coquelin.
I do wonder whether jack is defensively more responsible now..it’s been some time since he’s played. Wonder what he’s been doing at training? honing his skills as a deep lying playmaker?
Sanchez simply refuses to take a rest – so I guess AW has no choice but to play him. The guy is one helluva machine. Is Ozil overworked? Probably not…2 massive games – Swans and Manure…then probably a rest for a couple vs Sunderland and WBA…freshen them up for May 30th
On the topic of Sanogo: He is a work-in-progress and folks should hold off writing his footballing epitaph…he wasn’t bought to be an immediate impact player…he will develop as @Dennis rightly points out. His decision-making and composure will improve as he matures with more game time. Whether that gets him to “world class” standards remains to be seen.
If we were in a battle
for third or fourth there
would be no changes.
I don’t think it is conditioning
its more Wenger does not trust
Walcott Gibbs and Wilshere
in big games. Now Arsenal is safe
for 2nd or 3rd and are at home
to Swansea he can afford the risk.
I think Gibbs is fine. Not sure where
Walcotts body or mind is at.
Against teams who have suffocting defences
Walcott has no room to use his speed
and he does not have the technical skill
to play in traffic. Wilshere is just so injury prone.
he comes back gets injured and so the team has to start again.
Thus Wenger has prefered others till now because we are safe.
I would love to see Gabs and the little mozart in action even for 30mins
Gibbs is not a helper for arsenal and he is very ultra attacking full back whom is susceptible to pressure and does not perform on that front. Walcott should have a hat trick day in order to stay in that team and he is missing chances. Wilshere played hull not a top team who are better tactically which may have created an illusion of his solo runs which is what the manager likes and he has no end product like the Man u game before injury. Arsenal should put Ramsey in mid and give gnabry a chance to run at swansea.
From now until the end of the season play the best eleven we have, then, when it`s all over, start shuffling the pack for next season.
I can imagine Giroud and Rambo will be the 2 rested. Giroud is key to us beating United and the one thing we don’t want is an injury to him. Theo needs CF time if Wenger truly believes he can be our new CF. Jack will play on the right and do the same role as Rambo does. Gibbs does a straight swap with Monreal.
I understand the need to get them blooded in case we need them in our coming weeks but the win has to take priority. I would much prefer just 1 player to come in for Rambo and leave it as is with early subs if he wants to get others game time.