The clear and obvious priority for Arsenal this season is to fight for the Premier League title, with a decent run in the Champions League a close second, which would be greatly helped by finally finishing on top of our European group.
So with crucial EPL and UCL games coming up and with Arsene Wenger having suggested that some of our key players were a bit jaded in the draw with Middlesborough on Saturday, a lot of people are expecting the Frenchman to make a quite few changes to the starting line-up for the EFL cup clash with Reading tomorrow, but I for one am hoping that he doesn’t.
While I can see the value of giving some Gunners a rest before the trip to Sunderland at the weekend, I think it is also important that we put the disappointment of being held by Boro to one side as soon as possible. A defeat or even a draw against the Championship side would further damage our confidence and halt our momentum and I think it is too much to risk.
A few changes is okay, with perhaps Olivier Giroud coming in for Alexis Sanchez, Gibbs for Monreal and Ox for Iwobi. But tinkering too much is not the way to ensure a win and do you not think that it is vital fopr Arsenal to get back to winning ways before the next league match?
Bob.
On the contrary, I think he should change most if not all of the team.
They were obviously jaded against boro and need to rest well for the next match. Sunderland are on the ropes and will come out swinging so we need to be very ready.
Further more, if a team with giroud, ox, perez, Gabriel, holding, elneny/Ramsey with Gibbs and jenko cannot beat a reading team whose form is currently poor in the championship, then they need to be reappraised as arsenal squad members.
The fact is our first team is aging and it is difficult to cope with 3 games in a week. So the coach needs to be clever in mixing up players for different tournaments so they don’t burnout. Ozil and Walcott were clearly tired against boro even the defenders were not at their best. So they need to rest well
I expect our reserve players and those that require game time to adequately handle an off form championship side
Rest most of our starters. Against Sunderland we need to make subs quicker and rest sanchez/walcott/coquelin in the 54-60 mins. Sunderland will just park the bus again so Giroud should come in after the 54th minute because we all know he needs 5 chances to score one or two.
how on earth does Dybala,Debruyne,Lloris make BDO shortlist and the Copa America player of the tournament- Alexis doesnt?
@Wishegz
Vardy and Mahrez did also. Go figure…
Don’t mind that nonsense, every body know that it is all about Ronaldo and Messi, and this year does not make any difference.
My point is whether he makes it or not it all the same.
They were really unfair to him though.