Rotations will probably speak volumes abut what’s coming up in a massive week. by KM
FA Cup time! With all the talk of the title and Barcelona, we’ve taken the eyes off the prize which apparently saved Arsene’s job a few years back. He said it would’ve been “difficult” had he not won it. It was against that same old Hull City we’ll be facing today and we’re more than likely to rotate.
This could spill out who will face Barcelona. There’s been talks of Welbeck starting the game and I feel if he’s fit enough, 60 minutes won’t hurt him. He had a massive lift with his title-challenge saving goal, but now it’s time for hard work and with the tough run in, we’ll need all the players available.
With him up front, you feel like Chambo might start in the FA cup and Theo will be left for Barcelona. Now I love the Ox and the potential he has, but his stats are the reason he rarely finds a first team place. We’ll need pace against Barcelona, because the NSM combo, despite being sublime in attack is not very well known for helping in defence.
We’ll need to stretch them and we’re most likely going to go for a front three of Alexis, Giroud and Theo. Sadly none of the three is in great shape, but if playing Barcelona doesn’t bring the best out of you, I don’t know what will.
In midfield, Elneny will likely start with Flamini, but I keep questioning the decision to bring a player, who is not in shape to enter the squad. I’m all up for signings but I feel like January is not the time to bring a player whose one for the hopeful future, especially if you are playing for multiple trophies.
The defence is a tricky one, but I expect Mertesacker with Chambers. Rumours are the Boss will be fit, but it’s likely he’ll be saved for Barca. Or maybe we’ll put Chambers at right back to rest Bellerin? Monreal will get the rest he deserves for being one our most consistent performers, with Gibbs coming in.
Ospina may replace Cech for this one, but I still feel it will not be a stroll in the park. It just never is with Arsenal, but we’ve managed to get an uplift when it all looked lost, so hopefully we’ll be focused enough to dispatch Hull and set ourselves up for a huge next week.
Enjoy the game Gooners
Konstantin