It is safe to say that in recent years, Arsenal have really just been making up the numbers in the Champions League. Despite qualifying for the group stages year on year and going on to qualify for the knockout rounds, that has been as far as we go.
And after making a meal of the group again, letting Anderlecht pinch a draw after being 3-0 up, it looked like being the same old stary. But not anymore, because a favourable draw (for once) has given us a good opportunity to progress. Perhaps more important is our new found defensive team solidity, which many people have suggested that any club needs to have a chance of winning the big European trophy.
The Gunners are also boosted by the injury list getting smaller, with some key players like Walcott, Giroud and Ozil back again, with Wilshere and Arteta soon to follow as well as the signing of Gabriel to boost our defence. So while the players on loan are not in the squad anymore, Wenger has been able to add the names of Giroud, Gabriel and Coquelin, while some players like the Akpom, Ox and Bellerin can be included in the B squad as they are young and have been with us for at least two years. Below is the revised Champions League squad from Arsenal.
A squad:
1. Wojciech Szczesny 2. Mathieu Debuchy 3. Kieran Gibbs 4. Per Mertesacker 5. Gabriel 6. Laurent Koscielny 7. Tomas Rosicky 8. Mikel Arteta 10. Jack Wilshere 11. Mesut Ozil 12. Olivier Giroud 13. David Ospina 14. Theo Walcott 16. Aaron Ramsey 17. Alexis Sanchez 18. Nacho Monreal 19. Santi Cazorla 20. Mathieu Flamini 21. Calum Chambers 23. Danny Welbeck 24. Abou Diaby 26. Emiliano Martinez 34. Francis Coquelin 35. Gedion Zelalem
B squad:
15. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain 27. Serge Gnabry 38. Chuba Akpom 39. Hector Bellerin 42. Isaac Hayden 43. Ryan Huddart 44. Deyan Iliev 45. Alex Iwobi 47. Glen Kamara 52. Tafari Moore 54. Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill 64. George Dobson 70. Ainsley Maitland-Niles 73. Stefan O’Connor
That looks pretty strong, deep and talented to me, but is is good enough to actually win the thing?
Well personally I’m confident that we can and will beat Monaco with that squad. It’s the round after when it’ll come down to form and availability (neither of which can be reliably predicted)…and probably a bit of luck. At that point there won’t be any ‘easy/easier’ fixtures, so we’ll have to be on TOP FORM to progress further.
Monaco failed to score a goal in 120 mins vs Bastia this week. No reason to underestimate them of course but Arsenal simply are major favorites now.
There are 3 or 4 teams we would struggle to beat over 2 legs – but can beat any team in a final. Need a kind route to the final and a bit of luck. Do-able but not probable – this year at least.
Round of 16:
Arsenal v Monaco
Quarter final
Arsenal v porto/bacel
Semi final
Arsenal v atletico/psg
Final
Arsenal v Madrid/bayern
Final is all about luck, more than the 2 leg game.
ARSENAL champions of europe! #COYG
listen if we get a draw that generous i actually fancy us for a one off with bayern or real in the final.
park the ferrari
Why are Diaby and Wilshere in A ? And why is Chambo in B ?
@gooner lad, AGE MATTERS together with homegrown rules!
Just like we are due for a victory over Man United, we are due for a UCL quarterfinals run. We already broke the “can’t beat big teams” barrier this season. So now let’s break that “can’t make it outta the round of 16s” barrier.
Football is a stressful game and players need to unwind
#Wilshisha
Moyes says he rejected arsenal offer n when he says it people laugh, well let me also take my laugh hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
@ayzay, may be he means on FIFA of PES, who knows?
@ayzay-
david moyes played football? bloody hell
Let’s concentrate on the great Harry Kane and the mighty spuds first hahaha
I said a few months back that with a
favourable draw we could go all the way.
We drew Monaco, so far so good.
Monaco are about on our level
but play in a weaker league so
Arsenal start favourite.
What’s meant by A squad and B squad please?
Why isn’t Ox and Bellerin in A squad?
Sorry for my ignorance. I don’t understand
B squad is Under 21’s I think….
Squad B is for younger players. In order to be eligible for Squad B, a player must be born 1991 or later and he must have already spent at least two full continuous seasons at the club. There are no restrictions on numbers in the B squad. So the idea is to maximise the Squad A places by putting those that are eligible but might still be starters in Squad B – Ox and Bellerin for example.
Ox, Bellerin are in B not because they are B, but they age allows us extra space to register even a donkey in A, n still hev the luxury to play Ox even if he’s in B……No big deal….
@Frisco
It does not really matter what Wilshere does in/on his free time…
I won’t be surprised if he smokes and drinks in the comfort of his own home, but that’s his problem.
He is not important for the team (may be he will realise that when he wakes up from his hype).
For people who like the stats: Wilshere has the lowest pass accuracy % in the squad and we won only 5 games out of 15 when he was playing (3 or 4 defeats, I think).
Since is being out, we won 12 out of 17 and we played way better (2 defeats).
Why did Wenger trust him with the team “keys”, only he knows…!
With a fully fit squad (which rarely happens), Wilshere does not even have a place on the bench (so his Diaby and Sanogo. Personally I think Akpom is a better prospect than Sanogo).
As for the Saturday game, we know the drill.
Losing or draw is not an option… The league does not matter tomorrow, we all know that.
The Spurs need to understand (again) who is their “daddy”.
Depending on our form and the draw, we have a good chance of going deep into the UCL. We need to not take Moncaco lightly, even though the majority of their Ligue 1 games I’ve seen have left me half-asleep or bored. I’d see us getting through Monaco with no great trouble if we are in good form. After that tie is when our form would have to change from good to excellent to progress to the semis/final. Ready for tomorrow’s NLD. COYG!
No is my answer. I will be realistic.