When Arsene Wenger gave us the latest Arsenal injury update the other day, there was a lot of concern that our annual bad luck was coming back to cause us problems at the worst possible time, with the first north London derby of the season coming on Sunday.
Although it still looks like the manmager will not be able to call on a fair few of the Gunners for the match against Tottenham, the biggest problem seems to have been avoided, with Metro reporting that our Spanish left back Nacho Monreal will be fit to start after all following his short spell in the treatment room with a muscular problem.
Monreal himself posted on social media, ‘Good feeling training today !! Looking forward the derby.’
There was a big concern there because the England international Kieran Gibbs who had replaced the Spaniard while he was injured has himself picked up a knock this week and is unlikely to be fit. That would have left Wenger with a big problem in a crucial game and he would probably have ended up playing the right back Carl Jenkinson there, even though Jenks is only just back from injury himself.
This would have given Spurs encouragement and a clear area to target, but now it looks like Arsenal will start with a full strength defence to provide a platform for our in form attack. So has Monreal just ended the spuds’ last hope of a result?
Bob.
Cech
Bellerin Kostafi Gibbs
Coq Xhaka
Ozil
Theo Iwobi
Alexis
If we are winning, Ramsey for Theo/Iwobi, El Neny for Xhaka
If we are losing, Ramsey for Coq, Giroud for Iwobi, Ox for Theo
I don’t know. Playing 10 players is a bit risky lol 🙂
I think we should play with 11 players
Add Koscielny 🙂
‘KOSTAFI’…get it?:-P
We are winning and you take Xhaka off?? What’s the logic??
Jenkinson was less convincing during the week so Bellerin returning is welcome. Gibbs didn’t cover himself in glory for Ludo’s second goal, but then again neither did Monreal in the first leg. The real difference was the clean sheet. Monreal has looked vulnerable of late to wingers of no known repute from Swansea, Ludo and most recently for him Boro. If Gibbs is fit, I would give him another run. I have an inkling that Monreal’s troubles on the left this season are down to the change of personnel ahead of him in Iwobi. Alexis made his job easier defending from the front while Monreal sensibly forayed forward when it was safe. Gibbs is more adventurous and might complement Iwobi’s wanderings through the middle by defending his position from the front.
Thankfully, with Sissoko suspended and Lamela injured, Spuds haven’t a lot of options at RAM at the moment and might shoehorn Son or Jansen there for this game if Kane starts.
They are weak and I can smell blood, North London will be RED again on Sunday!
Their fullback could be a problem though, Iwobi is gonna have to do better in future as Monreal can’t cover two men. I think allot of Monreals difficulty has been standing off a winger because the winger has an option to play to unmarked fullback, or vice versa. His confidence was knocked making him indecisive. If our winger became a rash to wide players I feel Monreal would be back to his best in no time.
We really need Cazorla for that game.. I thought he was the ‘super spaniard’ being talked about here.
.. but if he cnt play then Xhaka in his stead n nomore changes to the team. Xhaka will need to be more mobile though, I have no doubt Wanyama has no chance of bullying Xhaka unlike Santi.
As good as Cazorla is I have to admit it was rarely good enough when playing Sou with Wanyama & Schneiderlin, they overpowered, winning most midfield battles and fifty fifty balls. I look forward to seeing Arsenal’s physical strength against a physically strong midfield.
I couldn’t agree more. spot on
Thought it was Carzola. Gibbs is solid alternative for Monrael.
Super Spaniard, that’s Cazorla right?