Arsene still has to go, one win does not cover the bad performances. by Konstantin Mitov
We beat Hull. That’s 3 points we just had to take. But honestly we weren’t that good especially in the second half and worst is that again the subs were so late, when up front we were really missing.
Lucas and Welbeck gave us a much improved look at the end and we got the points, but my god why so late? I really find no explanation as to why we don’t dare touch the bench before minute 70 and against Bayern it will cost us.
Hull had chances! A better side would punish us like Chelsea did and sadly this is being talked about over and over again! I’m not confident, but the Champions league is another tournament, one where 2 games decide our fate and hopefully some of the players will turn up.
I’m looking at Ozil, who hasn’t had a top performance in a long time and if we play with the attitude we did today, nothing good will show up. We need bold decisions and Arsene will not make them. I’d drop Ozil, put Alexis on the number 10 spot and go with Welbeck, Giroud and Lucas up front.
If Theo, Iwobi and Ozil all start against Bayern, we’re dead before the game starts. I suspect we’ll drop the Ox for Xhaka and that’d be another bad move. I like the Ox in the middle. At least he tries. One of few players who show some kind of spirit and fight.
I’m hoping we don’t get battered and if we could snap an away goal that’d be great, but I don’t think Arsene can mastermind a good result so we don’t die in the first game like we did so many times before! I have high targets. The Champions league is the last thing we’ve got. If we fail, it’s another dead season. Worst thing is, Arsene suggested at the press conference he will stay!
People have become accustomed tired and frustrated of the movie we watch on repeat every year. A lot of fans have in their own mind the belief that this will be Arsene’s final season, but if it’s not will he handle another transition if Sanchez and Ozil leave?
There’s a lot of uncertainty going on around Arsenal, but one thing is for sure, Bayern will be a daunting task and the players need to sit down and take a look at themselves and remember which club they are playing for. Champions pull out the best of them when their backs are against the wall.
I haven’t seen Arsenal turn up with a big performance for a big game, and I don’t expect them to do so on Wednesday, but hell do I wish I am wrong…
Konstantin
It is players like the Ox that will excel. We need those with pure energy and skill.
We are going to win there. I take 1-2 for us.
But they will come at us in the second leg. Getting to Q final
Predicted lineup
Giroud
Sanchez Ozil Walcott
Coquelin Ox
Gibbs Koscielny Mustafi Bellerin
Ospina
You’re probably right (but I hope you’re wrong)
Although I don’t think Walcott was as poor as many folks thought yesterday, I’d love to see a front three of Sanchez, Lucas and Welbeck to really get after Bayern. I’d start Ozil but make it clear to him that he is on notice. If he doesn’t shift his current form then he’s gotta be benched. As long as Ox still has something in the tank he has earned the start. Throw Xhaka in to see if he’s learnt anything. Montreal instead of Gibbs and Ospina instead of Cech.
the team that can beat Bayern
Ospina
bellerin,mustafi,koscielny,gibbs
xhaka,Coquelin,Elneny
lucas-alexis-welbeck 4-3-3
Just read this on the BBC football site:
“Claudio Ranieri admitted he may have been too loyal to his Leicester players”
Wish AW would make a similar statement – and then do something about it!
We can beat Bayern. We have the squad, we have the talent. What we don’t have is the morale and tactics. It is that time of the year where we all say “what if” when we debate the crashing the race for the EPL. But look, we beat more powerful Bayern teams with this squad. We put in an outstanding performance and we did that without Sanchez few years ago. Boost the morale, come with a proper tactic and we do have a good chance.
I don’t know who said it the other day but I tend to agree on using Xhaka and Ox as deep mid respectively B2B. Ox lately is having the grit of Coquelin but his linking from defense to attack is by far better than Le Coq. A lot has to do with his performances but when the manager does not play you when you are in form and put outstanding performances it does have an impact on your game. I guess we will know more in the next days.
OT: Did anyone recall Jamie Vardy’s statement about his rejection of Arsenal at the beginning of the season -“It was an easy decision to turn down Arsenal”. While we may not be strongly positioned for the league title yet we are joint top scorer of goals in the EPL at the moment and we can still finish a lot stronger. Sorry, Jarmie…wish you luck in the Championship.
lmao we can’t beat bayern.
Guys havent we been here before?
vidal costa robben lewandowski and alonzo are too good for our rugged midfield.
Lets just hope it doesn’t end 11 0
I just dont want it to be game over after the first game !
I hope that Wenger will field a strong midfield and defense and our focus
should be not conceding and score on the counter. I will definitely start with Alexis,
Walcott and Welbeck for our counter attack and play Coq and Elneny along with AOC as our midfield. We need to be absolutely strong in the midfield if we have to have any chance whatsoever or they will rip us apart and it would be game over after the first match.
I’m of the belief that Iwobi has not played his way out of the starting 11. If anything, his technical ability and close control will be an asset in a game like this.
Theo should be dropped for Welbz, as he gives us the same counter attacking option, plus more technical ability and ball retention.
Le coq and ox provides better balance and complement each other better than le coq and xhaka. Xhaka doesn’t really venture forward in a B2B role, so therefore Francis is asked to get a bit higher, and that’s just not his game. Ox hasn’t played his way out so deserves to be retained as well.
another option is;
ospina
bellerin,mustafi,koscielny,gibbs
coquelin,xhaka
lucas,iwobi,Welbeck
……alexis
What bugs me the most about Konstantin and the likes is that he never really gives us any chance. “If Theo, Iwobi and Ozil all start against Bayern, we’re dead before the game starts.” – give the guys an effin chance. Theo and Iwobi have largely been impressive this season. Ozil’s been pretty quite in the last few weeks, but we all know what he’s capable of. “I haven’t seen Arsenal turn up with a big performance for a big game, and I don’t expect them to do so on Wednesday.” – how about a 2-0 win at Bayern a couple of years ago, or does that not count? All you gotta do is believe and keep hope alive. Get behind the club, and support the players, as well as Arsene. After all, he IS still our manager. As for Ox, and his “at least he tries” – I swear, I want to smack people when they say that. Ox put in a couple of decent performances as of late, but he has yet to prove himself. “At least he tries” just doesn’t cut it. He has to put in solid 90 minute shifts both on offensive and defensive sides week in and week out. When he achieves that level of consistency, he may be ready to get more playing time… but not until then.
To be fair, the trio he mentions had the most of chances to prove it. But hey, CL is so much different than EPL so who knows.
We have the talent to beat Bayern.
We need to be careful for the first 60 min, with good defending and pressure in midfield.
This is why, I wouldn’t start neither Welbeck nor Lucas, but would have a 3-man midfiled with Coq, Xhaka and Ox + Ozil in front of them and 2 front men with Sanchez and Giroud.
It would allow Giroud to hold play, help defensively for set pieces and get our opponents tired. With Sanchez and Ox, we would still have the possibility to counter.
And for the last 30 min, we could bring both Welbeck and Lucas (in place of Giroud and either Xhaka/Coq) to devastate the defense.
It is going to be tough away to bayern. if we can get a draw, that will be OK. I would play Xhaka, Iwobi, Ozil in midfield. Front 3 of Sanchez, Giroud and Welbeck. We need to score in this game. Why i chose Iwobi in midfield is because of good ball playing skills. he is very comfortable on the ball like Cazorla. Can serve as an outlet for quick counter. We wont have most of the ball away at Bayern. We need Giroud to play as a target man. Welbeck on the left and Sanchez on the right. Xhaka needs to time his challenges. Discipline, good shape, good finishing are needed. we can knock Bayern out of CL.