Why Arsenal Should Not Risk Alexis Against City! by AT
Going into the crucial top of the table clash against Manchester City, Arsenal sit in second place, just a point above the opponents we will be welcoming to the Emirates. With just hours to go before kick off, the question on everybody’s mind is whether Alexis Sanchez will be fit enough to make the match day squad for the visit of the former champions.
The Chilean international has not featured for Arsenal since hobbling off against Norwich three weeks ago, but now seems to be in contention to face City thanks to a speedy rehabilitation process aided by the physio of the Chilean national team. According to what the Gunners boss Arsene Wenger said in his last press conference, the former Barcelona man is yet to return to full training. So should Arsenal risk their star player against City?
In my opinion, I think Arsenal should play it safe and save him for Southampton. While I do understand that this is probably the biggest Premier League game so far this season for the Gunners, I really don’t think that risking Alexis would be wise. With the hectic Christmas schedule fast approaching, Arsenal simply cannot afford another setback on the injury front, especially if it’s Sanchez!
Looking at Arsenal’s wide options, Theo Walcott has just recently returned from injury, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain isn’t really in the best of form at the moment and Joel Campbell is still getting used to playing in the Premier League. With that being said, I think our Chilean maestro should be eased back into the side and not be risked against City.
Even if he’s on the bench, it will be difficult for Wenger to resist the temptation to throw him on should the situation demand it. Personally, I believe Arsenal have what it takes to beat City without Alexis Sanchez. Manuel Pellegrini’s side have been woeful away from home and I firmly believe that with the right tactics and work rate, we can see off City and keep the wheels moving on the quest for the title.
Anurag
City might have been woeful, but this is a big game in which anything can happen.
We have seen Bournemouth which has one of the poorest performances this season beating Chelsea, Norwich beating United. So City have a decent chance of beating us. Giving Sanchez a rest even till February does not guarantee that he cannot pick injury in his first match on return (God forbid)
Therefore, we should play our best legs available and fit, Sanchez or other bodies.
The 5-point gap already entrenched by Leicester City is giving me great worry.
if it means Alexis Lasting until the season’s end injury free……… Then there’d be no point risking him against citeh……… Everybody knows he’d be the player to watch, every citeh player knows he’d be the danger man to be marked properly and placed under microscope… But what they don’t know? Is campbell or walcott or even Ramsey can rise up to the occassion and present em a surprised bombshell package
.
But my main point is……if sanchez is Fully fit (i mean F-U-L-L-Y) ,then he could start, but should there be slight doubts, i’d say don’t risk it……
This game shows how weak our subs are, Gibbs and Oxy need loaning out there defensive game is woefull. Gibbs just stands in front so far away not getting close and marks space he was at fault with the first as not closing down fast Camble is better at defending than Gibbs. When Coq back Wilshire Alexis and new signings in Jan hopefully as the subs now are the weakest Chambers is a defender he should be on before for Campbell, as for Theo well done you have become a more complete player. CB
Not going to say to much on the result just hoping we win! Ozil seems fired up in a few statements iv read this morning so hoping he does fire on all cylinders with Campbell on Rw n Walcott on LW…. Sanchez does not start this game but if hes been training etc… can come on for Campbell or Theo for last half hour to ease him back in to the team and keep him fresh so he recovers properly and we have him through the rest of the season. Koss too will need a we break also so Gabriel might get a start on boxing day, we lose koss were in serious trouble!
When is Coquelin back?
Sanchez says ‘thank you for the concern but I’m playing bro’
Hahaha
If Sanchez starts then I would imagine that he pinned Wenger up against the wall and demanded that he is playing,
Otherwise, common sense would see Sanchez start from the bench tonight.
(I’m sure that City are in the same dilemma with Aguero)
Good luck to the boy’s tonight, they are going to need,
What with all the over confident comments coming from some of our player’s.
@FatBoy Gooney
Exactly Fatboy. what City did in their last match has zero bearing on how they’re gonna perform tonight. Same goes for us…
They need the win just as much as we do. Whoever wants it more, is gonna come out on top.
Any doubt he shouldnt play after all campbells coming good.May be wworth having sanchez on the bench though even if he doesn’t come on it gives pellegrini and the city players something to think about.
@koss the boss. I believe coquelins months away, Feb?
Sanchez didn’t trained with the squad. Chances for him to play are small on Wenger standards but I guess it will all depend whether he wants to play or not. Personally, I hope he can get some rest. This is not a decider game for any of the teams as we still have more than half a season ahead.
Leicester winning formula will be cracked eventually and then there will be tears. Not sure how Wenger will play this game. Safe or full guns. We will find out pretty soon.
Hahaha
Leicester won’t crack while Mahrez and Vardy are in their starting 11.
If they win their next two games against Man City and Liverpool then everyone will start taking them seriously!
Mahrez has already said that “he would be stupid to leave the club in January, whilst sitting on top of the league”
Which goes to show the belief they have at the club.
Arsenal don’t have a lot of good attacking options other than Sanchez who is probably a important player that can dominate the match. If Sanchez played with Walcott it would have been Arsenal to dominate the match but Campbell he isn’t the kind who can change the scenario of the match.Plus with flamini they drew last time these two met. They have to expect City to dominate because of the intensity they can create and Sanchez has to play at some point of the match.