Arsene Wenger has made wholesale changes, six in total, to the Arsenal starting line up for the opening game in the Champions League group stage. Going on form and reputation, tonight´s opponents Dinamo Zagreb are the weakest team in the group and with a massive Premier League clash with Chelsea coming up early on Saturday, you cannot blame him.
The players coming in are no mugs either, with Ospina, Debuchy, Gibbs, Arteta, Giroud and Oxlade-Chamberlain all more or less unlucky that they are not regular first teamers already, so as long as they are properly prepared for this game and the boss gets his tactics right, there is no reason for us not to be heading back to London in a few hours with all three points.
It remains to be seen exactly how the players will line up but this is a fairly educated guess.
Ospina
Debuchy, Gabriel, Koscielny, Gibbs
Arteta, Cazorla
Chamberlain, Ozil. Alexis
Giroud
Subs: Cech, Monreal, Chambers, Flamini, Coquelin, Walcott, Campbell
This is a big game for the club captain Mikel Arteta who needs to show that he can be a viable alternative to the brilliant Francis Coquelin, while both full backs will also want to impress the boss in order to challenge for their places in the first team.
I really do not know a great deal about this Zagreb side other than that they did an invincibles season in the Croatian league last season, so hopefully Arsenal are on the ball from the first whistle. COYG
disagree with this line-up
we have chelsea at the bridge in 3 DAYS! early kick off
rotation wenger
dont get his logic here
With what part do you disagree though?
my logic is weird il admit- but read below- theres method to the madness
#europa league
Alexis is one of those players who probably could play all 60 games in a season (like Ronaldo and Messi).
After the West Ham defeat this lad stayed at the Emirates doing sprints. He’s not going to get worn out from playing games in a week. Besides he can always be substituted after 60-70 minutes. Özil, I belive, will be substituted Wenger-early.
I’m surprised for the amount of changes. Anyhow, good line up, Bellerin and Ramsey not even on the bench – they are sure starters for Chelsea then. Of course I want to win but wouldn’t too much for a point. These Eastern European away matches are always tough.
iv got a bit of vendetta with chelsea cos of what happened on wengers 1000th game,
that game is the one for me. want all personnel available an rested
abit ott maybe
All those Giroud c*ck suc**er should come here and tell me this guy should be putting on an arsenal shirt .
Simply made of the wriong stuffs
WHY THE F*CK ARE WE PLAYING ARTETA ?!?! WHICH TOP CLUB IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WOULD DEPEND ON HIM ??! HE WOULDN’T EVEN MAKE IT INTO EVERTON’S 1ST TEAM !!!!! GOSH I’M F*CKING PISSED !!!!!!!!!!!
Walcott better than giroud .
The fear of a counter attack is your first line of defence and Walcott does gives you that counter attacking option .
Giroud does not .
ok he has rotated abit…ahem
but still! ozzy and alexis
play or second string!
europa league winners 2016? we can do it lads
The biggest truth of today’s football : Any “weaker” team can’t be taken for granted.
dude i want us to win europa league
does no one wanna win in europe??
im not underestimating zagreb- just tired of this competition an never competing
Take your negativity somewhere else seriouslu
look my biggest fan!
how are u cupcake…care for a toblerone?
Come on muff just get behind the team. This is a big game and we need to win. Plus wenger rotated pretty perfectly and you still complained
Yeah ur right. Was at the emirates for anderlecht an monaco. ..perhaps have unresolved issues there.
Sorry lads…
Whoa one goal an one man down.
lets fight lads. Goal back COYG
we ought to be ashamed of ourselves…….just take a good Look at us!
Wenger could not find players better than what he has .
ARTETA
FLAMINI
Its a good effective line up! Can live with this!
I’m happy with this lineup
Ox on the right
Ozil in centre
Alexis on left
Absolutely perfect
Giroud should do fine but Walcott will be on bench just in case
Arteta should do fine but Coquelin on bench.
Walcott, Ramsey, Coquelin, Bellerin, monreal should all have enough rest for Chelsea
Very happy
COYG
Also, How cool is it too have Ospina as number 2 GK. He will play matches like this when we have a congested week and probably FA CuP AND League cup matches
Ospina will do great
I hope Ox, Debuchy, Gibbs, Ospina and Arteta have a big game…. They hardly start so they need to show us what they got today…..Lets bring our A-Game against Dinamo. COYG.
This line up is underestimating Zagreb and we all know that in the champions league there are no easy games!
How is it underestimating?
Ospina, OX, Debuchy, Monreal are all internationals, you’re making it sound like they got promoted from League One.
whats wrong with league one??
#shots fired
If the Premier League is Beyonce, then League One is Kim Kardashian – trash!
#beef is on son!
Well when u put it like that lol
How is it underestimating Zagreb?
Most of our key players are there and nearly all but one of our WC players are playing ie. Koscielny, Cazorla, Ozil, Alexis
Also, when you have 3 away matches within 7 days, you neéd to have some rotation
It’s impossible to have the same 11 for every match. They will be too tired to perform at their best and more susceptible to injury
Shoul’ve played Giroud and Sanchez up top in a 4-4-2. Get both in goal scoring positions buil confidence
Good enough to get a result.
COYG’s!!
Nearly got my prediction for the line up spot on with full backs n d.m was also hoping ozil or santi would be on benched instead but not bad, still think this team is more then capable of beating them. Just hope the likes of ospina,arteta,gibbs,debuchy give Wenger a real selection headache for the weekend with some outstanding performances because if they don’t them bench seats will have their names on them for quite some time. Think Giroud even though he scored over weekend needs to have a really good game no more “sitters” he cant keep doing it and think he will get away with it.
COYG
let the real Arsenal…please turn up……
prefer eminems version
Should’ve actually started with Joel on RW.
Over OX and Walcott?
Why?
I don’t mind Joel playing in League Cup but I’d prefer OX or Walcott over Joel in CL any day.
Ox will do fine… maybe bring in Joel for Alexis or Ox… after 60-65 mins.. but only if we are in a strong position…
I personally think the lineup is good enough for a win. Maybe I will be proven wrong, but it looks strong enough
We need some rotation as we have 3 away matches within 7 days. We can’t play the same 11 for each match.
Probably in Chelsea match Cech, Mertsacker, Walcott, Coquelin, Monreal and Bellerin will play.
Maybe Gabriel will show another good performance making Wenger to think once again…
Haha good joke Wrighty….Thought the back of Lineker’s head was European cup…
walcott needs games, he should start on the right and would give the option of moving him to the middle later if needed
Roma v Barcelona….need another telly
A perfect night would be Arsenal, Olympiacos and Tel Aviv all winning but I will settle with just an Arsenal win lol.
Ox needs a big game…expect at least one goal
YOU WERE RIGHT!
Not even fit, too overweight.
Arteta starts. That guarentees this will be an exciting game. Oh wait…
At least he’s got a decent haircut at last
Not a very strong bench is it…
Somebody slip Martin Keown a Prozac
2-1 to Zagreb.I am calling it early. Where is my Cock??????????
LOL
loooool. pathetic
Nice defending OX, goes for the amazing record (Monaco…)
Oh…FFS
Damn it. 1-0
To both Zagreb and Chelski
Not a great start
Damn it, how i miss bellerin…
That was offsides
I dont even enjoy watching Arsenal anymore,,,,,,,, Admit it we played better during the fabregas nasri era,, so slow these days,, should have got a LB CDM AND STRIKER,,, Gibbs awful in general, looks lost when he runs with the ball
I don’t agree with anything except about Gibbs he just looks so lost and he hasn’t progressed at all
He is one of the players who slows us down, and in an attacking sense we used to play better
Spot on … Wengers failure to bring in 2 quality ayers then has cost us ever since … Wenger is old tired and has been ., his teams will always reflect his personality
arteta i soo useless………..Damn it
Big problems without Coquelin
THE FUDGE IS DEBUCHY DIVING FOR. STAY ON YOUR FEET IDIOT
Spurs football here we come!!!!!!!!!!!!
and still wenger think that arsenal do not need a DM…… hahahaha
This team is pathetic. Heads dropping already.
We are closer in being a second Spurs then a champions leauge team who competes for this competition.
That literally makes no f*ckin sense great logic kid
How to defend against Arsenal:
make sure the ball goes to Giroud
Friggin idiot donkey!
No great loss…he’s playing like a log
THANK YOU FOR THE MEMORIES, GIROUD
why always me??? hahahahahah, girout….. well done arsene
French clown.
Kills me to be at work and unable to watch the match…
Don’t worry you are not missing anything. Giroud’s just being a f’n donkey as usual
Damn just saw the update. I didn’t think it could have gotten any worse for Giroud so quickly after being booed by the French fans, I guess when it rains it pours…
How is going up for a ball while someone undercuts you a foul on OG? Then what is up with our supposedly fans here?
How is that a bookable offence?
This ref has been garbage
Giroud you waste of space.
Wow. Just. Wowwwwww.
Own goal and sending off
Have we even had a shot on target yet either?
Wenger: “We can win champions league”
Giroud missed sitter and clear header…worst display ever
Until the next worst display.
Bad in game management by Wenger . He should have ltaken the lamppost out earlier
Ozil false 9 anyone?
I’ve wanted to play ozil as a false 9 in a 4-3-3. I’m honna send an article to admin but now is not the time for a false 9 with no walcott he’s the only 1 to run in behind
4-4-1 I pretty much the only way to play with 10 men.
Arteta should go to the USA or Dubai FC. Giroud . hahahahahaha
we needed a DM and a striker. Both have had a Stinker. One man to Blame. Wenger.
10 years and waiting……
Say Goodbye to the striker role Donkey. Its Walcotts place now.
bit harsh bro
To all you Ramsey haters…look at the team without him…
You mean team without coquelin?
Nope
At least Aaron tries something, takes a man on, makes runs, shoots….all missing tonight
look at the with ARSENE WENGER…………..
look at the team with ARSENE WENGER…………..
its actually coquelin, Arteta is lost and finished. Coquelin gets a long term injury and our season is done.
LOL… Giroud… LOL
To be fair first yellow card was not a yellow card, and second was questionable, as is the ref. They have time and time fouled and stopped our build up play, yet no yellows from the ref.
No exscuses…completely useless embarressment
To be fair… giroud is useless…end off
I dont blame the team, i just blame wenger! Hes the only person who cant see what we need in the team…. The sooner he leaves the club the better!
Completely agree
He should have been sacked straight away for not signing a striker in the first place
I cant wait until he is out the fcuking club!!!
Wenger is naive! Playing tonight with no recognised DM…. Arteta is not a proper DM
Ugh how the hell does our striker get 2 yellows? Take his wages…
Not trying to be funny but I agree with you regarding strikers period. A straight red is understandable after a crazy tackle or something but to get 2 yellows for pretty much making the same mistake twice is hard to justify…
How? how is mouthing at the ref and a stray boot the same bookable offence??
Goddam… Two soft yellows, but no excuse for the first one. Don’t mouth at the ref in the CL, you get away with it in the prem, but not here.
Ox… Track bate mate, can’t give your man that much space, no excuse.
Not understanding the Arteta hate. Has done nothing to justify the way people are rating his performance so badly.
coquelin-ramsey
chmberlaine-ozil-campbell
Alexis,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
vs chelsea
Arteta Cazorla were never ever CDMs
Okaaaay.. ???
Giroud was on a mission to get back to the dressing room before the rest of the team!
He must have spotted a fit hot croatian tart hanging outside the corridors ???
Ox at the halftime whistle looks like we have already lost. What a loser. Pick yourself up and fight!!!
@Budd i hope nw u understand how sh*tty sh*t giroud is ?
compared with whom? Messi? You’re right.
even gomis is better than him
Even Budd would make a better striker then Giroud if it wasnt for him picking an arrow in the knee.
It’s matches like this when I wish Wenger had gone for Martinez and Kondogbia in the summer lol
Anyway, a nightmare first half
If we can end up with a draw we will be very very lucky
I’m feeling soooooo sick in my stomach
I haven’t eaten dinner and don’t feel like eating after this display
4-4-1 is the only chance we may get anything back from it.
Dump Arteta…his legs are past it and get Coq. Lot more defending to come in second half…hope the deluded one takes off his rose tinted glasses and reacts
Much better than Debuchy.
this looks like “the walking dead”, too many walkers……hahahaha
from this match, we all know against ultra defensive team, giroud is no no…
faxk…. donkey….. ruin our play so bad….
Btw Chelsea 2-0
That’s like twisting the dagger that’s already impaled our flesh tonight
Nightmare in Croatia. Well first half at least
Great
A great team still can perform with 10 mens, let’s see our wenger team are a great team or not.
sell giroud and arteta in january
At least one of the OGs scored tonight
Our OG scored and OG.
I was talking about on the pitch
Put Joel on for Ox. That guy seems overweight. He only give 40%, not reaching full potential. Then have Sanchez up top, our best finisher.
Joel Campbell is useless
Yeah sure criticise a guy who doesn’t play for Arsenal on a regular basis
Just stating a fact mate
I’ve been saying Giroud is shit for three years… yet supposedly my opinion is still wrong despite it being 3 years later and were still waiting for him to lead us to the promised land… and we’ve actually seen him play…
doesn’t make Joel Campbell any good
Perfect game for him to have started to be honest
Is time for some fans to find excuses now, make me laugh of your excuses than watching the game. If ox can’t perform when getting his chance than he is not even fit to be on the bench. Most of the players are so lethargic, like having a hand over.
If we want to win this game Walcott and Bellerin now start of the second half we need to make up for man down so we need both of our sprinters for attack and defend
Gigi you french loving clown, where are you lurking?
I swear Wenger said he would have signed ANY player in Any position that would have been an improvement to what we already have????,, why didnt he sign anyone then, Kondogbia would have been an improvement to arteta and cazorla, and they’re getting old anyway
To everyone that over hypes THE OX’s so called defensive abilities….
Arsene with his bunch of white walkers, lol, the akbs have all gone into hiding and subtly thumb down comments, waiting for another “statistics show that we can win four trophies” hahahaha
I just hate watching this Giroud play. Just so frustrating to watch. Where are those Giroud lovers, OMG!!!!
Wenger needs to take off Arteta and the Ox
and bring on le coq and Walcott
4-4-1 formation
I will take off Ozil and bring on Coquelin and play on the counter…
Wenger thinks Arteta can cover for Coq, please Arteta is very much over the hill, KMDT.
Just like
mertesacker
Flamini
Rosicky
Wilshere
and 2nd half begins……. With the same starting Line-up ……….no backup plan…we screwed!
Still no changes?. Why am I not surprised??
Oh Yer.. Its Wenger.. That’s why
See
This shows exactly why Wenger failed this summer
Instead of getting a Top striker like Cavani, Martinez, Dybala, Lacazette and a Top DM like Kondogbia, Krychowiak, Schneiderlin
Wenger keeps faith in Arteta and Le Donkey
This match is a direct consequence of a failed summer transfer window
Arteta, Flamini and Giroud are simply not good enough to win us CL or PL
There is no movement, and absolutely no urgency.
What does Arteta even dooooo?????
arteta, debuchy, gibbs and girout are playing like sh*tte
Mesut Ozil is actually a better centre forward then Giroud. No joke
Wenger thinking andd putting ll eggs in one basket regarding Chelsea…
it came to bite him…
he gambled and is losing…again
Even Ozil is playing better than Giroud.
Haha I just want to say that.
Roma v Barcelona for me….
Bye Bye Wenger!!
2-0
come on lads..we can win this!!! theres still time
No Height No Power In midfield
Did you see the replay of 2nd goal, how gibbs defend a corner.
We really miss Bellerin, 1st goal would’ve never been scored with Bellerin.
STUPIDDDDD BACK PASS FROM GIBBS WHICH LED TO THE CORNERR
Then Gibbs freakin ducked
Please mr wenger just f****** retire you are yesterday’s manager
Am I just blind, or did Gibbs really jump 6 inches and then duck on that 2nd goal?
shtttttt as always, for d past ten years its been shit upon shit
You happy Akb’s. Does it seem that Wenger has a clue what the hell is happening?
In what do you guys actually trust?
i knew it when i saw all the comments…even from here and articles …people were only thinking Chelsea…
now…well..lets keep on thinking Chelsea cause at ten men…no striker…and 2 down…Arsene better win the league…
UCL is over
and the Ox..? wasnt he at fault at Monaco too?
Come on Wenger…
Get Ox off now, and put Walcott on, we have nothing to lose.
God we suck tonight. But then again it’s the champions league so it comes as no surprise, we never even mount a serious challenge we just make up the numbers.