There is a full Premier League fixture list scheduled for midweek, and Arsenal boss Wenger may opt to rotate some players as they host Huddersfield on Wednesday.
The Terriers were unlucky to succumb to defeat at the hands of Premier League leaders Manchester City on Sunday, and have proved that they are certainly no slouches, but it remains to be seen whether their squad can handle playing twice in short succession.
Our fringe players have been playing regularly in the League Cup and the Europa League this term, and have been doing extremely well, earning a place in the knock-out rounds of the latter competition with a game to spare, and Arsene Wenger may well opt to field some of those players, especially with Manchester United coming up next weekend.
Jack Wilshere for one could be in line to feature, albeit in a central or more advanced role, while Mohamed Elneny and Ashley Maitland-Niles should also be included in the line-up as we look to freshen up our squad ahead of next weekend.
Mesut Ozil has already been ruled out of the midweek clash with the Terriers, and his replacement for the win over Burnley Alex Iwobi will be keen to keep his place.
Danny Welbeck and Olivier Giroud will likely battle it out in a bid to lead the attack against the recently promoted side, with Alexandre Lacazette rarely allowed to play 90 minutes of a match, let alone to start twice within seven days, and after his performance against Spurs he will be wanted to lead the line against the Red Devils next Saturday I’m certain.
Will Wenger rotate our team for the midweek clash? Do we have to show Huddersfield respect and field our best possible XI?
Pat J
Ozil was only absent because of an “illness”. He would be back for Huddersfield.
Even if he goes missing again, Wilshere or Welbeck is ready play alongside Sanchez and Lacazette. Wilshere showed good teamwork with Sanchez in the Burnley match.
You say “He would be back for Huddersfield”. So how come you know better than Wenger who says he won’t be fit to play against Huddersfield?
It was the doctor who examined him who sent him straight back to London from Burnley, perhaps as a precaution against infecting anyone else in the team with whatever he’s got – who knows?
So it was NOT Ozil thinking ‘I don’t fancy playing today so I’ll fake an illness and have a day off’ as you imply.
Wenger already confirmed that Ozil will be out for Wednesday’s game against Huddersfield. And frankly, I’m all up for it. Yes, we missed him in Burnley’s game but I think we should be able to take care of the Terriers without our German maestro. Would rather have him fresh for our game against ManU this coming weekend.
Again Özil is ill.
Wilshere can take his spot against Huddersfield.
Would go with strongest team! Would only consider resting Ramsey with Elneny coming in as we need his bob to box energy on Sat…
If they play well and are two up Wenger can afford to take off Laca, Sanchez and Ramsey.
Need three points to go into Man U game on a high and with confidence!
Bring down the mouning Mou?
That’s a good point, the utd midfield battle will be tough. Ideally you’d want to rest Xhaka too, he can tire mentally. Mustafi and Kos, they’re also crucial at this stage, I wonder if Ozil is even injured not rested.
It’s 3 points at stake and we don’t get more points by beating Man u. I suggest we take it one game at a time and grab the 3 points at Huddersfield first because this can really be a banana skin.
I hope Ozil will be back… if not then anyone other than Iwobi!!!
Keeping in mind utd next weekend I think he will twink it up a little but not too much. We are not in such a strong position to be able to rest our top players for the big games. We need to go all out to win every single game that comes our way. But I’m sure that wenger will have one eye on utd. First we need to beat huddersfield though,so I expect a team that can blow the terriers away particularly keeping in mind their terrible away record so far this term…..
I don’t think we can rotate too much, because Huddersfield have been doing very well, and we really don’t have much strength in depth. Although we’ve already qualified from our group in Europe, not one player has stood out as good enough to play in the league. In fact, I am very worried about our youth system, because none of the youngster are showing anything, including our reserves like Giroud, Coquelin, Elneny, Holding, etc.
I think Nketiah might come in handy with a throw of the dice late in a game. Like those games when you have to throw the kitchen sink at them to try and sneak a goal. Not saying he’s ready, just that other than Lacazette if the ball fell kindly to him he knows how to strike it, and he’s another one of those who can be hard to pick up because he’s looking for half a yard over his man or he’s looking for a rebound. Other than that yes I’d have to agree. Our youngsters need to just throw down the gauntlet by fizzing about like those Liv forwards, put everything into it even if you’re told to stay patient. Alexis doesn’t look patient, take a leaf.
For once, I take a different stance with you, on the matter of our “reserve” players. Maitland-Niles and Nelson I am convinced will make our first team standard, M-N even before Nelson as a regular. Slightly further behind are Nketiah and Willock, both clearly talented. I also don’t call or think of Giroud as a reserve. Don’t rate either Coq or Elneny, both are distinctly average and Holding , though just about worth keeping, is still very raw and a liability as first choice. I think most teams would be content with the standard of our so called reserves, perhaps City and United apart, and also Chelsea but NOTHING ever satisfies them, even sacking a manager who won the Double and then finished second,in Ancellotti. Abramovitch must be a miserable old git, nothing is ever right for him. Imagine him at dinner, moaning that the fork is dirty, the napkins unclean , the potatoes too well done. At least our old git, Silent Stan, would just sit and eat in silence. I heard a rumour that he can actually talk, Anyone know it it’s true!
We are not there yet. We need the 3 points so issue of fringe players or rotation should not arise. The momentum should not be disrupted.
Bring in only Wilshere. They are coming to gun for a draw so we need our best players if fit.
The 3 points at stake is important.
Must say that the teams who come up these days are much tougher than a decade or more so ago. Burnley Swa Bou aren’t that long solidifying themselves. Hud Newc look more difficult than I thought they’d be. Yeah the top teams should be beating them but it doesn’t always go that way, from about eight place and down they’re all at a similar/close level with maybe an odd exception.
The passing was poor at times yesterday and I too thought of Ozil during the game. Though that can go both ways if people are honest enough. Yes he strings things together with ease at times, but there are times when he is not in the mood for a battle, or to face a battling team should I say. We might have become a little softer in CM, though our final third passing would likely improve with him in team there is also an argument for more Burnley attacks too. People will believe what they want to believe, I get that, I really do, but I think sometimes we should try not to back ourselves into a corner.
I don’t really uinderstand the point you are making in your last sentence.
When Ozil plays well it is the proof his followers need. When he has a bad game his detractors do likewise with it reaffirming their own belief. Sometimes people should try and take it all in rather than back up their own opinion. I think Ramsey commentators do this allot, he can do ok to good for a bit of a spell, then one game is all some will need for it to be the proof on everything that they believe about him. It’s not only these two players, the last sentence was me trying to say how I do it too, esp if I’m trying to win an argument.
Huddersfield haven’t scored an away goal since the first round (and that was against Palace).
We should have no problems beating them, AS LONG AS we turn up.
We should field our strongest team. 3 points against Huddersfield is just as important as 3 points against Manu. If we can get a good win on Wednesday it will set us up nicely for the game on Saturday. We should target 6 points so got to win against Huddersfield first.
Personally I wouldn’t change to much with the exception of Monreal I think he is a liability. he got off with one yesterday.
bur, Doubt many will agree with you on Monreal as CB this season. Many think he has adapted to his new position rather well, me included. Of course we would all like a younger, stronger, taller, proven quality CB. But we are where we are, and under Wenger, the last decade has not exactly been awash with top CB’s , I would remind you.
weegor is trying to make him into something hes not and will never be. he pushed the attacker in the back and was saved by the linesman. on an other day it could have been a penalty. he gets himself on the wrong side and hasn’t the speed. just you watch.
BUR, Yes I agree, on the specific case you mention and I certainly don’t proclaim Monreal as the next Tony Adams or Sol Campbell. But I try to use perspective and none of our CB’s, even Kos, are of that standard. I merely say Monreal is IMO one to use in a current back three, since Merts is too slow, though has great positional sense, and Holding is very raw and I simply don’t rate Chambers at our level at all. BTW, all three of ours were dishing it out , esp in the first half. On the general point of Wenger consistently playing so many players in their wrong position, well yes, I am as frustrated as you and countless thousands of Gooners. I have long wanted Wenger out but that is a different thread and much written on.
I am amazed Xhaka continues to be played despite being consistently average at best. If AW does not trust Wiltshire to start against Huddersfield he will almost certainly sell him next year.
Kozcielny,Lacazette,Xhaka and Ozil shoud be keep fresh for Manchester game.
Mertersaker,Girou,Coquelin(defensive position) and Wilshere to reeplaced them.
Lasazette and Sanchez must play. If Arsenal play Giroud, Sanchez should play the role behind the strikers. As others have said 3 points against Huddersfield is as important as any other win.