Arsenal v Anderlecht Preview, Line-up and score prediction

Arsenal vs Anderlecht Preview, line up and predicted score by KJ

Arsenal have finally hit some decent form now with 3 wins on the bounce including that amazing turn around against Anderlecht in the dying minutes. They come now to the Emirates and it’s a must win game for the Gunners if they’re to usurp Dortmund for the top spot.

Since we’re at home, you’d expect Anderlecht to sit back but they can’t really afford to considering the state of the group. They need to win and that means the game could be fairly open. This will probably benefit us as Galatasaray decided to play an open game at the Emirates and got absolutely destroyed. I expect something similar this time round as well.

With a lot of players back from injury in offence and midfield, we should have a lot more control than we did in Belgium and should be able to cause Anderlecht numerous problems from the off. You expect Arteta and Ramsey to be relentless with their midfield passing, Sanchez will no doubt create something out of nothing with his pressing/trickery and we also will probably see Theo come on if we’re winning comfortably (which we should be).

Line up:
Szczesny
Chambers – Mertesacker – Monreal – Gibbs
Arteta – Ramsey
Oxlade-Chamberlain – Sanchez – Cazorla
Welbeck

I think Wenger is slowly reverting back to the 4-2-3-1 and has finally realised that this team isn’t capable of adapting to the 4-1-4-1 or that it isn’t needed against the smaller teams.

Monreal has been very composed in the centre back position and I don’t expect him to really struggle much against Anderlecht. Swansea away might be a different proposition on the weekend with Bony leading the line.

Chamberlain was slightly better on the weekend but will need to improve significantly if he’s going to retain his position with Walcott’s return to the starting line up on the horizon.

Cazorla is fortunate that there isn’t any real pressure for his position because he’s been sloppy and has lost his end product at the moment. He needs a goal or a good assist to regain his confidence, hopefully he’ll get that against Anderlecht.

This should be a fairly easy game for us, 3 – 0 to Arsenal.

Tags Monreal

32 Comments

  1. One thing is for sure, it is pretty much impossible to be as bad as we were in the first leg! I think we learnt a lot during that fixture, and we will come out a totally different team! I see us winning this one comfortably ,we have a point to prove!
    COYG!

      1. Yes, I just don’t want to get over-hyped though, after what happened in the first leg! I am pretty sure we’ll come out all guns blazing though. I can’t see them dealing with an on form Sanchez though!

  2. as usual, hoping for rotation but expecting none.

    Play Rosicky, Bellerin, Sanogo (maybe not that extreme), Campbell, Podolski with Walcott, Ox, Ramsey, Cazorla, or Welbeck coming on if we aren’t winning depending on who is letting the team down.

    Szcz

    Bellerin Chambers Mert Gibbs
    Arteta Rosicky
    Campbell Sanchez Podolski
    Sanogo

    1. You really know wenger will not change 5 players from last XI at once, and sanogo deserve no start, when last did he even make a bench?? I see only Ramsey and may be just may be one more player to get a start.

      1. I’m pretty sure I stated how I know that this wouldn’t happen and I also stated that starting Sanogo was extreme and risky at best. You are right, what I expect is the same squad with Ramsey added in.

      1. @Drew.

        Are you wasted, man?! Lol.

        Maybe you meant that in a “good” way (like when you tell a lady she looks like a stripper, but in a “good” way).
        Maybe you need to explain yourself.

      2. LMAO forgot how sensitive we are on this site. my man Usmanov, thought you would at least give me ONE thumbs up lol..

        but yeah, sorry for using the N-word peeps, it’s just that i’m a N, as black as they come so i use it all the time peeps, sorry sorry sorry! 🙂

        but alexis is still my …..MAN !!!!!

  3. @Tidan2. do you really want to see that line up n the champions league considering all the factors surrounding the game tonight?

    1. It’s a bit extreme no doubt, but we are a home. Bellerin, Campbell, Rosicky, Podolski have all been good coming on as subs recently; Sanogo is risky at best so I take that back but

      Bellerin Chambers Mert Gibbs
      Arteta (or Flamini) Rosicky
      Campbell Sanchez Podolski
      Welbeck

      should take care of them easily and it leaves a very strong bench for impact subs if it all goes to sh*t. Also, Anderlecht had pace so Bellerin + Chambers is better than having Chambers + merte on one side.

  4. I dont mind the team that starts tonight, we should have enough quality to take down anderlecht at home no matter who we put out there. On one hand i want the same team that played on the weekend to play to keep continuity and also hopefully lead us to a big win to get our goal difference up. But on the other hand i want there to be rotation to keep the fringe players semi-happy and also to keep their performances sharp… One change i would make would be podolski in for welbeck, i think podolski has done enough to get a start.

    1. Sorry for using the N-word peeps, it’s just that i’m a N, as black as they come so i use it all the time peeps, sorry sorry sorry! 🙂

      but alexis is still my …..MAN !!!!!

      1. thas fnny actually, i live in a country whre Ns do call other Ns and they dont mind being called that by whiteys, mulatos or whatever. Of course another thing is if u get in a fight and THEN call them so hahaha

  5. Wish for today:

    At least a 3-0 victory
    A 1-0 win for Sneijder and Kompany
    Sanchez to get another brace 😉
    Cazorla to kiss his wrist 3 times. He needs it 🙁

  6. Actually, the Man U fixture is on my mind right now. We just cannot lose that game.
    Forgive me for paying little attention to these “smaller” games. Its a given that a club like ours with the class of players we possess, should win these games at least 70% of the time.
    I just feel that the bigger games are a real test of how far we have improved on previous seasons, And how much we need to do.

    “People say that we lack a physical presence in midfield, one profile at a Vieira or Petit, it’s true that this is what we need .”
    – Arsene Wenger.

  7. You Lot are really messing it up again……. I mean wat’s with playing carzoLa on the wings and starting OX again? …… WaLcott deserves a start (even campbell) and podolski is much preferable in that left wing compared to carzola ….. KiLL team AnderLecht early in the game

    1. Are u frightened u will be late mate its 7 hours 45 mins to kick off or is it a long afternoon in pub before the game!!

  8. I expect a better result than last time. We won but at the last minute. This time we will score early

    Just a gut feeling

    If we don’t, I just hope Wenger doesn’t wait till the 78th minute to substitute lol.
    Hopefully, we will have wrapped the game up by then. I’m desperate for a BIG win.

  9. I think this game is going to be a difficult hard game as we robbed Anderlecht from their win if i was the Anderlecht manager i would sit back and put 5 in the midfield to break down the midfield and go for a fast counter attack and score
    Having said that we need to be vigilant clever patient with good cover we should be able to win ideally an early goal should do it to break their game plan

    We need this win We need a coherent bunch on form to win it for us

  10. Starts: Szczesny…Chambers…Mertesacker…Monreal…Gibbs. Arteta…Flamini. Chamberlain…Sanchez…Podolski. Welbeck. Subs: Martinez…Ramsey..Walcott… Bellerin…Rosicky…Cazola..Cambpell. My CAMs starts will be the most prolific attacking midfield starts the boss has started this season. The will combine to overrun the Anderlecht defenses with sear penetrating pace and power.

  11. “I think Wenger is slowly reverting back to the 4-2-3-1 and has finally realised that this team isn’t capable of adapting to the 4-1-4-1 or that it isn’t needed against the smaller teams”
    Wenger would never admit that unless his job was on the line (FA Cup formation change when 2-0 down) don’t get too excited, he is only reverting to what works because his poster boy Wack Wiltshire isn’t playing.
    Mark my words, as soon as Wack is fit he will mess up the team and make them play 4-1-4-1 again

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