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.
God damn it, put the ox next to xhaka ffs. Ramsey is a ham roll. Backwards, backwards, sideways, backwards.
Three at the back???? This has to be the first formation change in about a decade
I bet Gabriel is playing at right back.
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
Oh wow, that is interesting. Thanks for the update!
and thats according to official Arsenal twitter. The one in article is wrong admin.
True mate, I got suprised, since i was born this is the first surprise I’ve witnessed from Wenger
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.
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.
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.
“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.
True, and I guess Gibbs could be a better option over Monreal.. he is more attack minded than side passes and back passes Monreal
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.
Bellerin couldn’t cross his legs
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.
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.
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.
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.
This formation is wrong. Wenger has first time playing with 3 cbs its a 3-5-1 today
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
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.
Wenger said himself Gabriel is at RB so not sure what everyone is getting excited about
Actually looks like a back 3 now that the game has started. My fault for listening to what Wenger said
Wow I am surprised, actually excited for the game now.
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
Boro to please do us the favor. I prefer not to play on Thursdays.
Boro scored yet?
New formation for a new manager to assess. 😉
24 minutes passed and all I see is 0 opportunities made. constant sideway backward pass. Yawn…
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
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.
Both teams are sh*t.
Tell me why Elneney was 5m and Xhaka 35
It’s the battle of the two teams with relegation form
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
Am I watching premier league?
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.
Great formation, wrong players.
If I’m city fan I’ll very happy to see the standard of arsenal team no worry.
Hahhahaha. Poor fans
did you see the movement on that ball!
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 🙂
One man team
When he goes.
Lolllll
I love u alexis.
He’s gone! PSG apparently. Who else out there wears the #7? Wishful thinking
least 4 minutes of added time. don’t know what the ref smoking.
@sggunner.
I agree but haven’t you anything positive to say?
Is there any positive to look for?
Yeah is time to announce contract signed.
Holding has started really well
I will say it again we are 3 top players of being a top side
Oh and a top manager
Looking forward to our summer business.
if not making ucl means wenger going so be it
arsenal wenger has over stayed his welcome…
19 goals for Alexis (and 9 assists)
My goodness Ramsey is barely championship level
He’s better than Xhaka
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.
Goooaaaal!!!!! Score some more!
Feck me, the worst team in the league scores against us. Can it get worse??
wtf is kos doing man… OMFG
have mercy with us
our defense is school boy errors man omg….
nigredo suddenly becomes messi.
Best team AW got since invincibles :))))))))
We are p.o.o.p
With fans who think Giroud is better than Kane then don’t expect anything bigger
No worry still think arsenal will win this game, I am so positive.
Can’t wait for the next 3 losses.
Cmon MB help us get rid of Wenger
They can’t score but who do they score against?
Downing good delivery.
#theyrealllaughingatus
Has Gabriel been drinking lol!
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.
Lol ye an improvement from championship division team
Sanchez having a pop at Monreal. Leave nacho alone at least he tries and mostly gives a fo*k!
Wow boro got a Messi.
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
Oh cmon, now wenger here for ever
Game will now suit Walcott
We’re making Traore lokk like Messi as well….
This is not good. Wenger might think the performance is good enough to sign contact extension
what a basket case this team is, embarrassing… this is 4 win squad we are strugging with
Do we never learn to close up after a goal? Or maybe we just can’t close up
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.
Ozil is a bully!
See I know arsenal will win this game cos I found a team worst than arsenal.
Can’t defend set pieces at all, rudi gestede is not even on yet!
Is Wenger still sitting down?
Good old ox
Seriously kante is two players xhaka is -1, he gives nothing.
Did we make any sub?
Do Arsenal want to win this game?
The tongue
Boro deserve to be relegated.
The players should be ashamed of themselves. As the season is f***ed the reserves might as well be played.
Brace for impact… now Boro believes
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.
Time to get rid of Ozil while we can still cash on him
Boro make a sub that help us a lot that no 37 is sh*t.
Who’d take negredo? I actually thought he did well initially at least when he was at city.
On a par with giroud?
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….