Arsenal have got back on track in some respects, but as Arsene Wenger said a few times recently it takes a long time to build confidence and find top form while it can be lost very quickly indeed, so this week’s Premier League game at home to reigning EPL champions Leicester City is another huge one for the Gunners.
It is likely to be a very tough test for us as well, because not only have the Foxes begun to play and get results like they did on their way to the title last year, they also have the advantage of being a lot fresher than Arsenal. While we were playing a hard fought game for 120 minutes on an energy sapping Wembley pitch at the weekend, Leicester were able to put their feet up as they had no league match to cope with.
They will have had over a week to rest and prepare after the Champions League exit at the hands of Atletico Madrid and even though their recent upturn in fortune has removed the threat of relegation, I think Arsenal have to expect a committed performance from them, which is why I feel that Wenger should be looking to rotate his team as much as possible.
Of course we do not want to start the game without our best players, so I expect both Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil to start despite playing 120 minutes on Sunday, but Arsenal do have a big squad and Wenger can turn to the likes of Theo Walcott, Alex Iwobi, Mohamed Elneny, Coquelin, Bellerin and Gibbs if he wishes and I think it would be a good idea.
I also think it is time to go back to the previous system with four at the back which allows the attack minded full backs to get forward with a more defensive midfield to help the defence. We need fresh legs and we need to take the game to the Foxes, so is this the way to keep the fight for the top four alive?
Bob.
Looks like Wenger’s been taking advice from a cooking manual on how to manage a team …just to please the fans
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Yuck!
So it’s all bout keeping the Top 4 hopes alive? (from Bob’s concluding Line)
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I’ve Lost interest….sorry
Well its nice that Wenger is finally easing up on his rigid philosophy when it comes to tactics
No he needs to do the same with Transfers
For example, he has been extremely stubborn when its come to spending on a defensive midfielder. Wenger has even said he doesnt like to spend big on defensive minded players. He prefers attacking
Also Wenger needs to offload some players even ones he is loyal too
Nope….it’s too early to tell if wenger would alter his philosophy
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He’s under intense pressure from the fans, board and current situation of things
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Alot of factors may have been responsible for his new characteristics!
Come on Bob, we all know full well that Wenger doesn’t change a winning team, unless there is an injury.
Anyways, the next two games will give us a clearer indication to whether we’ll have our GroundHog season of finishing above the Spuds, yeah I know but I also didn’t really give a fork about this until the Spuds started poking fun and boastfully taking the piss out of us… So now I want it, if that’s okay? ??
Yes, it’s looking grim while we’re 14 points behind them with one game in hand but and that’s a very big Butt ? ? if the spuds lose to Palace and Us in their next two games then that will severely dent their moral and confidence and just as they bottled it this time last year, they will bottle it again, because those memories will come gushing out through their mental scars lol and since we always finish the season with a 7-8 game winning run, according to Groundhog laws of physics ?? I can see us (thanks to this movie been rerun more times than the wizard of Oz) leapfrogging the Spuds on the final day of the season.
And If by some miracle this movie fails to load ?? then Groudhog can officially be announced as being dead ??by the way, how did That Murray fellow stop the Groundhog days in that movie ?? did he have to fork that curly head bitch, for it to stop?? if so, then who do we have to fork then, for it to stop?… ?? Nah, surely not Mr Wenger? ?
Losers Theo Walcott, Hector Bellerin
Winners Oxlade-Chamberlain
I’ll like to see us play the 352 with Gibbs instead. Much faster than Monreal
If Monreal doesn’t score that goal I think many would say the same. One game can change people sometimes.
For the city game I think Monreal was the right choice, he’s a better defender, and city are dangerous. But as a wing back more often than not, I agree that pace counts a great deal.
Our next game is away to Spurs, so it might be worth making a few changes, but not too many as Leicester are in great form. Not sure’s who’s fit or not, but I’d go with:
Cech
Gabriel Mustafi Holding
Bellerin Xhaka Elneny Gibbs
Iwobi Sanchez
Welbeck
I think it was Welbeck who saved the day in this fixture, last season.
He Came on as a late sub and headed in the Winner.
The sad thing is, Danny Setback will more than likely get injured again before he loosens the rust of himself.
* Off … ffs???
WENGER never learns…if he stays ……
You can predict an Arsenal season before it’s even begun.
When it comes to tactics, Wenger is often found out.
It’s taken him years to finally realise you need to give up some possession for being tighter in bigger games, but there’s still no real variation.
Deluded quotes……..he said quote
We have leaders in every position”
Players don’t seem to believe in him
In crucial games in a must-win clash the players didn’t seem bothered.
He’s holding Arsenal back
WENGER OUT
I wouldn’t mind getting a look at Bellerin and Gibbs as wing backs just to get a fuller picture. We imagine that these two are ideally suited compared to others, so I’d like to see if it pans out that way.
I haven’t heard anyone speak of Wengers tactical change around the 35th – 40th minute. We were set up to soak pressure then trying to hit them on the break, then Wenger spoke to some players and all of a sudden we went at cities defenders high up the pitch but still got our men returning for defensive duties. I think it unnerved city with the timing, how the game just changed and they weren’t prepared for it.