It is a huge relief to Arsene Wenger and the Arsenal fans that the France international Laurent Koscielny has passed a late fitness test and is able to start for the Gunners away to West Ham today. With the home side in good form and with Sakho and Carroll in the goals, it could not have come too soon for the Arsenal boss to be able to name a strong back four.
The manager has given Kieran Gibbs a rest but Nacho Monreal is a very able replacement and with Mathieu Debuchy ar right back, that is the best defensive line up we have had for some time. There is more good news on the injury front as well, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain also in the starting XI.
But because of Giroud’s ban, the England international looks like he will line up in the front three, with Alexis on the other flank and Welbeck in the centre. A second game in two days is too much for Rosicky, though, and Wenger is obviously expecting a lot of pressure from the Hammers, so he has gone for young Coquelin along with Flamini in the centre of the pitch.
Szczesny
Debuchy, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal
Flamini, Coquelin
Alexis, Cazorla, Chamberlain
Welbeck
subs: Ospina, Gibbs, Chambers, Campbell, Walcott, Podolski, Akpom
There are plenty of attacking options on the bench for Arsenal if we need them but hopefully Wenger will be able to bring Walcott on with a nice healthy lead.
Ok Burnley have drawn with City with a few minutes left
This “could be” a dream weekend
Please hold on Arsenal
we are hidding again?¡?¡?¡ do not be a facking pussy rat, arsene
We are going to regret the chances we are wasting..
Eat your words out.
Cazorla man of the match without a daubt. What a game.
Do you reckon with some slight of hand we can swap adrian for schez after the game, adrian> schez
Anyone else pulling there hair out! Were playing well and he takes welbeck off for Gibbs which will completely unbalance the team. Now we will have all pressure on us. Why not Gibbs for Montreal and welbeck for walcott
Because West would want to start lumping long balls from the corners. Montreal was struggling
We going to nick this. West ham players look so tired.
Alex Noendproduct-Chamberlain
assist…
Ox got an important assist in the game i watched.
WOW, pussy mode on……. this is for real¡?¡?¡
Talking about yourself ? Coz you may be in it for something.
why have we not learned loading up w defenders means you have no pocession, gonna be a nail biter, dont need be
lol, pathetic. The so called mighty Arsenal, fearing the likes of West ham.
If the City/Burnley score remains the same and we win, I will be thrilled (despite how we played)
we play for the draw….unbelivable… and shez, wtf
haha, way to prove you have no idea what’s going on in football, Shez dominated in the back the entire match, only right at the end he didn’t punch the ball out enough, he single handedly took Carroll out of most of the match.
Isnt attack the best forn of defence? Walcott, poldi, akpom….why bring them if not to play them?!
Ref, you piece of shet.
arsene, the rat, wenger
insane
We don’t have to finish every game like this
Wow fcuk my heart
Solid performance..
Sanogo giroud welbeck, now tell me . WHO DO YOU LOVE
akpon, lol
I think welbeck is the worst of the two as a striker, better off as a winger, the boy can’t shoot, got pace tho but there is something about sanogos game that always adds something although he is still raw, giroud is my best,
Watching this team I’ll die when I’m 50
Ha ha
1. We win away
2. Chelski drops points
3. United drops points
4. City drops points @ home
5. Southampton drops points
Not a bad Sunday
but the way that we finish the game today is not acceptable….
What is normally “acceptable” will not be the same this season because of Wenger’s acquisition negligence.
But just holding on against a W.Ham team that has been stellar at home this season is huge and we should celebrate it.
Even though we won, somehow i felt we lost. Fak you Wenger for making West ham look like some equal rival to us. With these kind of games, Arsenal will never be able to win against big teams.
Cong to the 3 points, have a good/day/night.
There has been much to criticize about Arsenal and Wenger this year but……
This was a big WIN!!! If you can’t enjoy this Arsenal win just pack it in.
Boy, do we need to buy a defence
Massive. Beating W.Ham at their home has not been easy this year.
Exactly, i think were the first to do it.
Thank god for that! Up we go 5th now 🙂 Walcott, poldi fresh for new years day?
Coq’s best game by far. Super job.
He played well and deserves a chance as DMF especially since we are limited there and because he is a proper work horse, ran the entire match, just what we needed for this match.
Thank you city, chelshit, man pussy, for loosing points
Heart attack!! How many chances we missed..!!!!!
The biggest news is from Germany guys. Jurgen Klopp has lost his job.
Source please..? I dont see anywhere.