I know that every single game is now a must-win fixture for Arsenal, but Saturday’s visit to Upton Park is even more important that that! A win will not only keep us ahead of the chasing pack (which includes the Hammers) but will also keep us in the hunt for the title if Leicester start slipping up.
Arsene Wenger has made it clear that he will not be making many changes from the Arsenal starting XI that destroyed Watford, as he said today: “I’m always reluctant to change what works,”
“[It is] down to the confidence gained from our last two games. Team play has improved in those games and our game is based on mobility, speed and technique. We have found a good balance in our game.”
One change that I am certain will make is to bring Petr Cech back in place of David Ospina. I know that the Colombian has performed admirably during Cech’s absence, but the Czech international will bring even more confidence to our back line.
So this is the Arsenal starting XI I am sure that Wenger will pick on Saturday:
Cech
Bellerin, Gabriel, Koscielny, Monreal
Coquelin, Elneny
Iwobi, Ozil, Sanchez
Welbeck
This outfield side has scored six goals without reply in our last two games, so it is very understandable that Wenger won’t disrupt the side, even if Ramsey is back to full fitness. Wenger knows there is no room for error at all: “We know that we need nearly the perfect run and we know as well that we don’t look only in front of us, we look behind us as well.” Le Prof continued. “We are chased by a group of teams who can make it very difficult for us so we have just to focus on our performance and hope we finish [the season] in a very strong way.
“As long as it’s mathematically possible, there’s a strong possibility [Arsenal can catch Leicester]. You look at the difficulty of the Premier League and they have been very consistent but every game is very, very tight. That can go the other way.”
That’s what we are all hoping for Arsene, but it won’t mean anything unless we beat West Ham first to crank up the pressure.
Onwards and Upwards!
That’s the best team to put out there
Eleney, Iwobi, Welbeck all deserve to start over Ramsey, Walcott and Giroud
We need to try until the end. If we Win at West Ham and Leicester drop points this week ends. Then things will change a lot. So this week ends will tell us Very clearly about who will win the league. The Gap is too much and I assume we need to win 6 at least and draw at City in order to win the league. It means Leicester needs to drop 10 points. Very very difficult. Until we keep winning, we have to keep our hope alive.
I agree with that line up and that is what we should stick with but with Ramsey now fit to play my fear is Wenger might look to fit him in somewhere thereby disrupting the balance of a starting 11 that has won 2 games on the bounce…
Yes, dropping Ospina for doing absolutely nothing wrong will be good for his morale.
We can still do it, and West Ham is a massive game for us.
They are a very strong and physical side, can’t wait to see how Coqneny will cope with their physicality in midfield.
A win is a must in this one!
Just a thought, Can Iwobi play this match???
Definitely the line up I would chose. Arsenal to win in a close one.
Personally I would not change the starting x1. I think we should be looking to keep ospina this summer and showing some confidence in him when the total is “lost” would not hurt Cech too much.
That said I think wenger will recall ramsey and Cech at the expense of iwobi and Cech.
It will be interesting too as to who makes the 18 as for the first time in ages wenger has the luxury of leaving some out. I would like to see chambers join wilshire and rosicky in the u21s tonight and also arteta or flamini. The u21s need to get promoted this season so that our young players are playing against the best again next year.
Anyway back to the west ham squad, I would like to see no changes with Cech, gibbs, Mertesacker, ramsey, Campbell. Walcott giroud as the bench. Though as I said I think ramsey and Cech might start with ospina and iwobi dropping to the bench.
Only an idiot would drop Awobi for a player just back from injury,or any one else, but on second thoughts,no Wenger is not an idiot. Is he CB
West Ham are a good team now but I like this arsenal line up its got a better balnce to it with coq and elneny in midfield and also Iwobi is a player other teams have not figured out yet and he is dangerous. It would not surprise me if arsenal won all of their remaining games and look the best team in england by far (we have seen this before right?) and just fall short.
Sunderland are fighting to stay up so lets hope they grab something from the leicester game.
Spurs all mess up even more than us we will catch them and finish above them just need leicester to drop points as they have been riding their luck a bit in last 3 matches
Still waiting for Leicester to slip up… Hahaha ?
Isn’t that getting boring now?
The truth is that Wenger is more worried about what’s behind him than in front of him and finishing ahead of the fourth place team is his desire at this stage of the season.
The best we can hope for is to finish above the Spuds,
Unless Leicester get hit with multiple injuries to half their squad, there’s no way that they will lose their grip on the title.
The only invincibility that continues with Wenger is his excuses and job status at the club.