Official Arsenal team and preview of Middlesborough trip

With Arsenal desperately needing some kind of confidence boost as well as all three Premier League points from this evening’s away game at Middlesborough, Arsene Wenger will have been very relieved to welcome our best centre back Laurent Koscielny and the first choice keeper Petr Cech back into training this week, and it is no surprise that both are in the starting line-up tonight.

What is a surprise, though, is the absence of Shkodran Mustafi from the team or even the bench, so our bad luck just keeps going and Wenger has had to go with Gabriel. There is a also a rare start for young Rob Holding with Hector Bellerin dropping to the bench after his poor form led to some abuse from the fans in our defeat at Crystal Palace.

Also on that Arsenal bench are Elneny and Coquelin, with Ramsey and Xhaka preferred, while Oxlade-Chamberlain and Giroud join Alexis Sanchez up front and Walcott and Welbeck miss out, the latter out of the squad altogether.

Cech
Holding, Gabriel, Koscielny, Monreal
Ramsey, Xhaka
Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ozil, Alexis
Giroud

subs: Martinez, Bellerin, Gibbs, Coquelin, Elneny, Walcott, Iwobi.

Can this changed Arsenal side produce a change in fortunes that the Gunners so badly need?

Bob.

96 Comments

  1. God damn it, put the ox next to xhaka ffs. Ramsey is a ham roll. Backwards, backwards, sideways, backwards.

      1. we’ll see if it changes during game but the official arsenal account shows 343
        Cech
        Gabriel-Kos-Holding
        Ox-Ramsey-Xhaka-Monreal
        Ozil-Giroud-Alexis

    1. True mate, I got suprised, since i was born this is the first surprise I’ve witnessed from Wenger

  2. Though i am really gutted with our performances this season but i am kinda keen to see how this formation plays out. Very interesting. Wenger has never done this. But damn ramsey.

    1. yeah the changes are… interesting. No Welbeck at all, no Mustafi even on bench. (are they injured?) At least Bellerin finally got dropped. Glad to see Holding starting at least, I look forward to seeing him play.

      1. Bellerin would’ve been better as a WB than Ox, that way he could’ve focused more on attack knowing there is an extra CB for cover.

        1. “Recently we lost a lot of direct fights centrally. So it will get us a bit stronger in the air,” said Wenger when he was asked about his new formation just now on Sky.

        2. True, and I guess Gibbs could be a better option over Monreal.. he is more attack minded than side passes and back passes Monreal

        3. Ox has put in better crosses than Bellerin lately. I just think Bellerin is beyond out of form at the moment and after all the flak he got from fans in the stadiums lately, probably mentally jaded. I think it’s the right call to keep him out of lineup. its a shame too cause 343 seems like the perfect system for him.

      2. First I thought wenger removed non performing players when i saw bellerin on the bench, no mustafi too, no headless chicken welbeck too. But then i saw ramsey in the starting line up and i was like damn the old guy never learns.

  3. I doubt it’s 3-4-3. If it is, then the right side is so weak defensively – Ozil,Ox, Ramsey, Paulista.

    But If it is true that Ozil and Sanchez both playing behind Giroud, then there could be a lot of goals.

    1. I dont find Ox weak defensively. His work rate is massive and he always tracks back to win the ball back. Gabriel is 50-50. On his day he can be good.
      Lets not talk about ramsey and ozil.

  4. Far to late to change the team like this and to put that French plank up front my god. He needs chance after chance. Should put TW tbere but coz he spoke the truth after CP game aW don’t like it.

  5. I think the players have said let’s change it up and having young holding in the team is good. But no HB? We are about pace but saying that look at the plank up front

  6. what a line up , definately a 3-0 win for us , and when its over wenger will reveal how long his new contract extension is !.what a perefect night all round . god save us please , lol.

  7. Wenger said himself Gabriel is at RB so not sure what everyone is getting excited about

    1. Actually looks like a back 3 now that the game has started. My fault for listening to what Wenger said

  8. How much i hate my fellow fans at times. Some time before i could swear fans comparing Wengers Son to Zidane and him being better than Bale, bahaha, now it seems people have seen the light. Fans being a bunch of idiots for excusing failuare is one of the main reason that we are where we are

    Todays game is a must win like every other game

  9. 24 minutes passed and all I see is 0 opportunities made. constant sideway backward pass. Yawn…

  10. Chambo and holding started well, Xhaka is not an Arsenal player and never will be
    I like how we’ve started but need Sanchez to come
    Inside

    1. Xhaka was waste of money. he doesnt fit the pace. just passes long range. long range pass doesnt work if you dont have anyone running the flanks.

  11. I am shocked! I’m happy tho as I was curious what AFC would play like with 3 at the back? It seems like it’s getting quite popular this season. Surprised to see AW going with the times

  12. Wenger protecting bellerin after the other nights game or trying to show actually he is a modern manager who’s moved with the times?
    Maybe the players fancied it.

  13. Nice goal.
    Now let’s see some character and game management.
    Will Wenger now revert to 4 at the back? And will will score from a counter tonight?
    We need this to secure Europe League next year 🙂

  14. Holding has started really well
    I will say it again we are 3 top players of being a top side

  15. Sanchez shaking his head ad he comes off.
    Injured annoyed with Monreal, (went for the same ball).
    And yes got to try and look for a positive it’s holding and ox down the flank ad far as I’m concerned.

  16. They can’t score but who do they score against?
    Downing good delivery.
    #theyrealllaughingatus

  17. I don’t recognise our team on the field. Their game is like a mid table team. Something has changed in the last few games. Weird.

  18. Theo Walcot to come on for the rescue? I think so, he is our second best goal scorer plus he is suited to this kind of games

  19. This is not good. Wenger might think the performance is good enough to sign contact extension

    1. We like that chick at the bar that has had too much to drink, you know the one that you just buy a drink and let it do the rest.

  20. Can’t defend set pieces at all, rudi gestede is not even on yet!
    Is Wenger still sitting down?

    Good old ox

  21. The players should be ashamed of themselves. As the season is f***ed the reserves might as well be played.

  22. Bellerin could get a lot of goodwill back for himself getting a haircut for charity – accomplishes a multitude of things – fans back on side for him, money for charity, and getting rid of a haircut that is generally acknowledged to be worse than Gerry Francis’ mullet.

  23. Who’d take negredo? I actually thought he did well initially at least when he was at city.
    On a par with giroud?

  24. Alexis looked overjoyed …. I know we’ve been in cr@p form recently, but I think that’s the happiest I’ve ever seen him….

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