Many Arsenal fans were not overly impressed with Unai Emery’s starting XI against Man City last weekend and felt there was little change from watching an Arsene Wenger side, but the Spaniard tweeked things in the second half and we were very much improved, although we still couldn’t score.
But it gave us a little ray of hope that Emery’s training was paying off, and the substitutions actually made a difference to our game plan, so maybe Emery will use that knowledge in this weeks game.
So who should start? Despite the focus on Cech’s misplaced back pass our Number One actually had a very good game and will be back for this one. No one seems sure that Leno is ready to play anyway..
Sokratis and Mustafi will likely start in the middle, with Bellerin and Lichtsteiner on the flanks, unless Emery throws in a wildcard of Welbeck as wing-back..
I think we all want Torreira and Guendouzi in the middle of the field, with either Ramsey (!) or Xhaka to help the front three, who I am praying are Ozil, Aubameyang and Lacazette..
So here is my prediction…..
Cech
Bellerin – Mustafi – Sokratis – Lichtsteiner
Xhaka – Torreira – Guendouzi
Ozil – Lacazette – Aubameyang
Who would you choose?
Admin
I bet your prediction would be correct, but I hope Emery doesn’t use Ozil as a winger because he really sucks there. I wish Emery doesn’t play Ozil at all, because he would be an easy target for Chelsea’s bullies
Ozil is not technically gifted enough to protect the ball and it has been a very long time since he created a perfect through ball to the other attacker. I’d prefer Emery to cut any no 10 bullshit scheme and use our wingers’ raw pace instead:
…………………..Cech
Bellerin . Sokratis . Mustafi . Lichtsteiner
…………………Torreira
…………Ramsey …… Guendouzi
………………..Lacazette
…….Nelson …………….. Aubameyang
Good line up except for the Ramsay bit.
Typical ramsey lover who sees Ozil as a threat to wenger s golden boy position he never had. Ozil and Ramsey are like sky and mud, youcant even compare them.
Wenger IS out !!!
ramsey to follow
Laca…Auba..
Ozil..Miki
Matteo..Torreria
Lich…Mustafi..Soc..Bellerin
Leno
If Arsenals hierarchy had any collective sack
they would banish Ramsey to the reserves
and attempt to sell him immediately to a
foreign club even @ a considerable loss.
Dude is a mercenary cancer that cant be
allowed to be anywhere near the 1st team.
Agree with you Ace about the club. Absolutely shocking club allows yet another player to pull this contract crap. Stunned Emery considers Ramsey captain material while he holds a club in transition hostage to his wage demands.
Yet another example of Kronke’s ineptitude as an owner. He should have addressed issue after Sanchez and Ozil. Thee disruption it caused the team and fans lingered the entire year.
It now falls to Emery to show some brass as a manager. We’ll find out if Emery has a pair bigger than Ramsey’s on Saturday; bench the wretch, or cave in and acquiesce to a pouty diva in need of more money.
Fully support that idea Ace!
Me personally though, I wouldn’t sell Rambo yet, I’d keep him in with the kids and highlight how no team will see him play for 12 months so good luck on getting a payrise for being a merc.
So yeah, offer him 150k a week now and tell him upfront that if he refuses this then next offer will be 100k a week after he hasn’t played on TV for a few months, in Jan it will be down to 50k.
Get the PR team to put pressure on Rambo, tell the media our offer to him, tell the media that we have backed him through injuries and all and now we are not going to be messed about by a player who wouldn’t have made it in any other club with his injury record… We stuck by him and he isn’t willing to stick by us.
People kept saying it was Wenger and I kept saying it was the board… As the ex manager is no longer with us and we are still having contract issues (running low and Iwobi payrise) so will people finally jump on the boards back about these contracts?
Midiemma, you know the answer to your last paragraph.
There will be no suggestion of a mistake by those who blamed Wenger for all our ills… even when the facts speak for themselves as in this case.
I was a Ramsey supporter as far as his footballing prowess is concerned, but I am sick and tired of our selfish players holding the club to ransom.
Judas RVP comes to mind when discussing Ramsey, especially their injury records.
Good shout from Ace, it’s about time this club stood up to these primadonnas.
For Saturday’s game, let’s go with the team that finished the match.
Emery must have been impressed with the way they never gave up and we did look so much better than before the substitutions were made.
Ken, NO , NO NO! Be fair. Most of us who wanted WeNGER OUT DID NOT BLAME Wenger for everything. We all knew that Kreonke and the board were an arrogant, out of touch, “care nothing for the fans” bunch of W….ers . Countless posts on here regularly attacked Kreonke, Gazidfis and Sir Chips, mine not least! It was overwhelming opinion that Wenger badly mismanaged the TEAM for years past and the thousands of empty seats FINALLY did for him , thank God. But it is dishonest of you to claim that we who wanted him gone, did not ALSO blame the regime above him. We did! And you know that, KEN.
Jon, I clearly said those that blame Wenger for ALL our ills and as you know, there are plenty of them out there.
Ken, I certainly didn’t, but my principal issue with Arsene Wenger is that, with all the personal credibility he had built up over the years, he didn’t stand up to Kroenke and the board and ran interference for them with his multiple excuses.
I hope Unai Emery walks if he is not supported by Kroenke and the board over the next say 3 years. If he does then good luck to Arsenal getting any decent manager/coach to come to the Emirates.
You dnt see the light yet 1945.
Youcan not compare RVP and. ramsey cos RVP did leave cos lack of ambition of everybody around him (destination he took is another ugly story), and RVP was a great player, ramsey was never great at all, wenger s shittyboy who willnow leave the club cos even his limited mind realised that he won t play much in new Arsenal.
Goundouzi is even now more suited for us then headless chicken(a.r.).
Maks, so why offer him a new contract?
By the way, Judas won one trophy while Ramsey has won how many?
Your also saying that Judas left because of lack of ambition, then say that Wenger has left a team of underperformers…. have you seen the light yet?
Not a mercany.
Why would you want emery to start xhaka in this type of game, he shouldn’t be starting against big teams or any aggressive fast teams either, he is too slow and immobile and can’t tackle and why would you want Ozil on the wing as well, sorry but your line up is not good enough. As much as i wouldn’t like to place hope in a 19 year old midfielder in guendouzi, the other options aren’t good enough. Ramsey is tactically naive, he always vacates his postion no matter where he is playing and shouldn’t be playing these difficult games. Elneny is a better option as he has energy and he more disciplined than ramsey, but lacks the passing to open up a team consistently like guendouzi. Guendouzi is the best option right now considering he has been impressive apart from the errors which i expect him to cut out. If emery wants a gk that can pass out of the back, then Leno has to start, also if monreal is fit, then bellerin should be dropped for lichtsteiner.
His line up based on fit players has to be;
Lacazette
Aubameyang…..Ozil……Mkhitaryan
Guendouzi…Torriera Lichtsteiner..Sokratis..Mustafi….Bellerin
Leno
That is a 4-2-3-1 formation with lichtsteiner at left back.
I would choose mind as
Cech
Bellerin – Mustafi – Sokratis – Lichtsteiner
Mkh – Torreira – Guendouzi
Ozil – Lacazette – Aubameyang
This team looks good, but I want concentrated Mustafi at theback.
I m afraid our defence will be a problem this season, again, but this is football, everythibg can happen.
Özil Xhaka and belerin must not play to get anything from the game
John
If bellerin doesn’t play who would you suggest to replace him as our right back bearing in mind we will be short on the left?
Why do we have to
play out from the back?
It is not compulsory.
Jorginho and Kante are very
hard to play through.
Just by pass their defensive strength
using long balls instead and have Auba
and Lacazette run on to the knock downs.
They have a new keeper and Luiz is a loose defender.
Hopefully they don’t play Christensen who is better.
Leno
Bellering, Sokratis, Mustafi, Lichsteiner
Torreira Guendozi
Iwobi Ozil Auba
Lacazette
Chose Iwobi over Mikhi as not a huge fan of his and even though I don’t rate Iwobi feel he is a bit more of a nuisance and a bit more of a headache for a full back running at them – we need a natural winger so badly!!!
The gamme now is work with pace, the way we play in.our tours is quite different from what if happening now, the slow build up from keeper, is of no use, remmember chelsea are rugged team and like to bully, arsenal, but we shoild show no respect to any team anymore, but with caution
Lets see this team play,
Cech
Listentner. Socratis, musttaf. Monreal
Toreira
Miky ozil auba
Lacazete
We shiuld go to the blues and mzke them panic, like we did in the. 2+2 drzw
But with caution
10 men?
Cech
Bellerin . Sokratis . Mustafi . Lichtsteiner
Torreira …….. Guendouzi
Mkhitaryan…….. Ozil…… Aubameyang
Lacazette
Bench: Leno … Ramsey…. Xhaka… Nacho…. Iwobi… Elneny…. Holding… Welbeck
In my thinking the first line up is excellent but when need comes in fast player change is good
Chec
Bellerin..mustafi..sokratis..licht
…iwobi…torreira…guendouzi
…………….ozil
…..laca……………auba
Iwobi is the only questionable pick but he is in better form than ramsey and miki.
Just drop Xhaka, Ramsey and Ozil.. Let’s select players based on their performances and not reputation. Why can’t we give Nelson a chance on the right wing instead of playing Ozil there.. Xhaka should not even be on the bench.. As for Ramsey, several times he has bailed us out in the past but its time we try Torreira and Guendouzi who have been impressive of late
Emery will decide and not the fans…
hes the coach and paid to pick the best 11 for the game…based on training sessions and etc
Are you mad? We all know Emery’s going to pick the side, this is just a selection of opinions
If Emery wants to use 4-2-3-1
Then he should better go for this
Cech.
Lichsteiner sokratis mavrapanos monreal
Torriera Guendouzi
Welbeck Ramsey Aubameyang
Lacazette
We need to go for all out pressing and that team will be able to do that with so much pace and strength from midfield to attack…..ozil,mikhitaryan and Bellerin should be dropped… They are too soft we don’t need that…we need men in our team…they can only come in second half if needed
If Emery wants to go for a 3-4-3
Then this should be his team
Cech
Mustafi Sokratis mavrapanos
Lichstenier torriera Ramsey Monreal
Welbeck Lacazette Aubameyang
That’s a very compact team….with a 5men defence and a torriera to sit back then Ramsey can be free to do his silly runs and stuffs as he pleases…..while the front three can press with raw pace with two good finishers to take their chances…..ibexpect Emery to use his brain…ozil and mikhitaryan can press so hard…they would make more sense against smaller teams
That’s all I have to put forward… Thanks..your one and only Chiza
343. surely has to involve bellerin as he could go foward more freely?
Ozil put in more tackles than Rambo against City if I am not mistaken, I remember Ozil getting back and helping Bellerin defend then later in the game he was put into CM and he didn’t run away from tackles but done what he could.
Ozil may not have had MotM game against City but he was deployed in the CM after sub changes and he looked better in CM than on the wings, he looked better than Rambo did against City and you listed Rambo as a starter… While saying Ozil is too weak… Did you not watch the City game?
he was bad, worse than ramsey was last week. We need to stop being sentimental about players we favor. This is why AW failed. Ramsey, Ozil should not be having the team built around them. They haven’t been enough for a while, and Arsenal would be fine moving them on and finding replacements.
Sorry RSH, but I watched the game a number of times on TV/replay to get a handle on what went on and I agree with midkemma. Ozil as CM with Lacazette in place of Ramsey was a big improvement. Ozil put in a shift, but is wasted wide. Ramsey has no tactical nous.
Predicting another “walkover”, by any chance, as you did before the City game? One thing I am glad of is that YOU are “the one and only.” That is about the first thing of yours I have ever agreed with you on; you being “the one and only.”
Hopefully Emil Smith Rowe is being readied for first team start soon.
If Monreal plays then Lichtsteiner to play right back. If Monreal does not play then Lichtsteiner goes to left back and Bellerin at right back. Xhaka should not play at all. Mustafi and Socrates completes the back four. Torreira and a Guendouzi in front of back four. Ozil in the middle. Lacazette up font with Nelson on right and a Aubameyang on left.
Don’t know which keeper should play. Cech made some good saves but didn’t even dive for City’s first goal and cannot play out from the back. We know Leno can hit short and long passes from the back and is a decent shot stopper but on balance I think Cech has more presents in his area.
……………Chec
Bellerin..mustafi..sokratis..licht..
….torreira…ramsey..guendouzi
…………………ozil………………..
………laca………….auba……….
The injury to AMN is a blow as his athleticism is badly needed in midfield to combat Kante who is now being deployed as a box to box player..From memory Iwobi and Welbeck both did well against Chelsea away last season and I suspect one of other will feature from the start on Saturday.Hopefully Emery will not be influenced by the price tags on Mustafi and Xhaka and at least leave out the latter who was useless against Man city.
Of course it is the call of none of us but in my opinion and having in mind that it is Chelsea away, I would play a 4231 and give Welbeck a chance. Atleast most of us agree he is a fighter and we need fighters in these huge games.
Cech
Bellerin-Mustafi-Sokratis-Lich
Torreira-Guendozi
Aubamayeng-Ozil-Welbeck
Lacazette
I wouldn’t pick Xhaka, I’d have Ozil instead who I would be getting to push forward into the ACM role when we have the ball and drop into the CM role when pressing to win the ball back.
Without Ball
Torreira-Ozil-Guendouzi
Mkhi-Laca-Auba
With Ball
Torreira-Guendouzi
Mkhi-Ozil-Auba
Laca
Ozil may have been slated for the City game but Bellerin wasn’t being left exposed like AMN was, was he? Ozil did get back to help the TEAM. Could improve and I do think his performance did improve when he went into the middle while Mkhi took the right side after Auba took the left, Ozil could move between the lines easier as a CM who is tasked to push forward and act like a AM at times… And the base of the CM is 2 hardworking players who isn’t afraid to put their foot in to win the ball back.
We all know Mkhi and Auba work well together, we have seen how Laca and Auba seem to have struck up a golden friendship as well, this would be the foundation for the attack.
It stumps me
When Koscielny and Mertsacker were in their prime they were excellent CB pairing. Our FB were good too. All we needed was a Defensive Midfielder.
Now we got one we are weak with CBs and one FB.
No matter who we put out we will be weak in a FB:
If Lichtsteiner is a RB then our LB will be weak. If Lichtsteiner is a LB we will have Bellerin as a RB who is consistently weak.
Also Mustafi and Sokratis are not the best CB pairing we’ve ever had. Far from it.
Maybe for Chelsea we should go back to 3 at the back and use Niles or Nelson and Welbeck as RWB and LWB
…………………..Cech
…Mustafi…Sokratis…Lichtsteiner
Nelson………..Torreira…………Welbeck
……….Mkhitaryan………..Ozil
….Aubameyang….Lacazette
I need a lineup with no zcech ramsey and bellerin .
All this talk about putting players that will just press (Like play Ramsey at 10 and not Ozil is a little misguided in my opinion).
We cant play the same style every match (that was one of Wenger’s errors). A high press against a position based team like City or Barca makes sense, Chelsea are more direct and if our players are out of position because of chasing the ball they will murder us with the gaps left.
Notice how City didn’t mess around with the ball each time they had it they went straight for goal (this is how Lpool catched them cold too), have certain players to press and in specific zones, win back the ball, pass to an intelligent player to pick up a perfect pass our drive the ball to goal.
Lets not over emphasize the press only, it requires intelligence, balance and anticipation. A mix of players is way better than having all that energy without brains on the field.
Check out new Alex Iwobi film titled TRAILED . ???
No Pat! No, we don’t “all want Ramsey(!) or Xhaka” helping the attack. I want both these men out of Arsenal ASAP and BARRING AN INJURY CRISIS, WOULD NEVER PICK EITHER EVER AGAIN. Surely you have seen all the many posts on here slating them both? I certainly have. I posted some of them!
LENO
BELLERIN SOKRATIS MUSTAFI LICHTSTEINER
TORREIRA XHAKA GUENDOUZIN OZIL
LACAZETTE AUBAMEYANG
Play 3-5-2 formation with
Leno
Mustafi………………..Mavropanos……………..Sokratis
Lichtsteiner…..MKitaryan…….Torreira…..Monreal(Welbeck)
Iwobi
Lacazette……Aubameyang
Remember, Chelsea is the team i am tipping to win the EPL because of its midfield of Kante, Kovacic and Jorginho. So in order to offset their central midfield, we should use powerful wing-backs and defence.
Otherwise, put in the same championship level players in Ramsey, Xhaka, Bellerin, Cech and I can see only one winner (Chelsea) with a goal margin of 3+ goals.
Play 3-5-2 formation like yours but
————————–Cech
Bellerin………………..Mavropanos……………..Sokratis
Lichtsteiner…..MKitaryan…….Torreira…..Welbeck
—————Ozil
Lacazette……Aubameyang
We know Cech is already in the lineup. Bellerin will help make-up for pace with Lichts. Mkhitaryan in the centre, we had Wenger speak about the possibility to play him there. He might just be a revelation next to Torreira and the same level as Carzola. Ozil with the two lethal forwards ahead of him, That would scare Chelski deep down their boots they would just drop balls in the midfield to run back and defend!
this should be the starting 11 but i have a feeling Ramsey will find his way into the line up….. there most be something the coaches see in him that we don’t… well we have to live with that i guess
Cech
Bellerin Sokratis, Mustafi, Lichsteiner
Torreira Guendozi
Iwobi Ozil Auba
Lacazette
For me the best line up to face an attacking Chelsea team is
Ospina
Belarin mustafi. Sokrate/moren. Lichsteiner
Xhaka. Torreira.
Miki/Ramsey. Ozil. Abanmuyang
Lacazet
I want to believe you are trolling right? Ramsey & Xhaka in the same team playing chelsea? We will get a spanking.
It now seems almost unanimous on here that no one wants Xhaka to play against Chelsea. Or , as in my case, not ever again in our shirt. He must easily be the biggest big buy catastrophe. Useless, slow, unaware, no peripheral vision, seemingly, rash in tackling, positionally hopeless BUT tall and good looking. So, does anyone suppose the producers of the next Bond film will take him off our unfortunate hands?
SO YOU RATE XHAKA THEN? Well good luck with trying to convince ANYONE else on that one! You won’t!
I would keep Xhaka and Ramsey as far away from our line up as possible. Mhkitaryan has also been very poor & I wouldn’t play him & Ozil at the same time. He (Mhkitaryan) doesn’t help out defensively, he left Niles exposed so many times against Walker & Mahrez.
Cech/Leno
Belarin mustafi Sokrate Lichsteiner
Ramsey/Guendozi. Torreira.
Miki/Ramsey. Ozil. Auba
Laca
Prediction (not necessarily my choice):
—————————-Cech
Bellerin——Mustafi————–Sokratis—-Lichtsteiner
———–Ramsey—–Torreira——Xhaka
—————————Ozil
————-Lacazette———–Aubameyang
I think we’ve got to play Ramsey, because besides Lacazette and Aubameyang, no one else in the Arsenal side is likely to score!
We need a goal threat from midfield and Ramsey is it.
I think Xhaka will play, just simply because he’s been identified as a “key player” by Emery.
At present the defence kind of picks itself, at least until we get our left backs fit again.
I don’t presume to know the players better than Emery or his coaches. I believe that Emery is working extremely hard with the squad to get them used to his way of playing, so much so that I read an article suggesting we played Crystal Palace on Monday in a behind closed doors game. The idea being to give the players more playing time to get used to the new ideas.
If the rumour is true, then I think Emery is going about it in exactly the right way.
For starters Ramsey and Xhaka to the bench, Lichsteiner LB if Monreal not available, If Monreal is available I would play Lichsteiner over Bellerin so He can mark Hazard.
………….Cech
Bell…Must…Sokr…Monr/Lich
……..Torr….Guen
Mhki…….Ozil……..Auba
…………..Laca.
I want to believe that this is our strongest 11. Subs Guen – Elneny, Mhki – Welb, Ozil or Auba – Iwobi If we are winning
Haven’t we realized that playing mhki and ozil in the same line up wont work? We need to drop one of them and use welbeck/Nelson/iwobi with the other coming in as a sub. My take tho. And I don’t want to see Ramsey anywhere near our starting lineup. He can come on as a sub but Neva as a starter. If our left backs becomes fit, I would like bellerin to drop to the bench in favour of light. I think aub and laca should both start our matches with both swapping places as wingers and cf depending on the defence we’re facing. Torreira and guendouzi should start all our matches