Arsene Wenger has handed Arsenal debuts to both of the players that he signed towards the end of the summer transfer window. So Shkodran Mustafi starts alongside our France international star Laurent Koscielny at the heart of the back four, while somewhat surprisingly the Spanish striker Lucas Perez starts ahead of Olivier Giroud.
I wondered if Lucas might start but thought it would be in one of the wide forward roles if he did, especially as a home game against Southampton is the sort when Giroud’s abilities as a target man would be more useful than his lack of pace would be a hindrance.
Perhaps not so surprising is that Wenger has left Alexis Sanchez on the bench as well after his long round trip and late return from South America, with Oxlade-Chamberlain coming in. Perhaps the boss has more than one eye on the Champions League tie with PSG on Tuesday but I hope he has not taken too many risks with this Premier League game.
We do have a fair bit of goal threat and creativity with Walcott, Ozil and Cazorla in the starting line up and so let’s hope that Wenger’s team selection proves to be the perfect one, for today as well as for Tuesday.
Cech
Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal
Coquelin, Cazorla,
Walcott, Ozil, Oxlade-Chamberlain
Lucas Perez
Subs: Sanchez, Giroud, Ospina, Holding, Iwobi, Xhaka, Elneny.
Will this Gunners side be able to take all three points off the Saints?
Bob.
Arsene the tactician!!
Tactically, I can see what he is also trying to do here. Let’s hope it works.. ‘cos if it does, its gonna be great!
It sure is a good thing to have a complete squad, isn’t it?
It’s a good line up considering the international break and the up and coming champions league game against PSG.
I would have preferred to see Xhaka in there instead of Coquelin, at least our attack is full of pace.
I’m expecting a goal or two from Lucas perez today and Ozil to smash the assist record this season.
COYG’s
This lineup should do the job
I am happy Alexis is getting rest for PSG
I agree. I can see an Ozil assist to Perez
Hopefully, Ozil can take Henry’s record this season
Easy there, Fatty!
I am also hoping that Lucas has a very good game today.. maybe one goal to top it off. It helps if a new-comer gets a wonderful debut game. However, I am careful not to expect too much.
As for Xhaka.. I’d say Coquelin is a better fit defensively for this kind of all-out attacking set-up today. Xhaka comes in against PSG.
Feels a bit odd seeing Arteta at Old Trafford today.
I’m a bit OK with the way that game ended.
I’m surprised and excited. Confidence is a big deal with forward players, and he’s new, so we need him to get off to a flyer. No Xhaka either, this is a surprise too. Wenger must have the recent clashes with sou on his mind. Coquelin and Cazorla complement each other so it’s still all good. We need a big season, Ox Theo, are you listening.
You’ve got two strikers there Bob, Lucas and Perez 🙂
Thats THREE debuts!
I hope Perez can quickly get off the mark,it’s important for a striker to get a goal early as a new signing
I’m going to take a punt that both debutantes will score today 🙂 perez from a walcott cross and mustafi headed goal from a corner. Hope I’m right. Coyg!!!
Oh yes. Perez and Mustafi start.. .
Knowing Wenger, I didn’t see this coming. Good one coach.
Let’s win this as we have Psg in view. Southampton are our boogie team in recent years. Hopefully, we put them to the sword today.
It may seem a BT uncharitable but it’s refreshing to see a team fielded without Wilshire and/or Ramsey.
Let’s do this!!!
Insane depth in midfield there! And Aaron isn’t available. Great line up, let’s get the points!
Typical start to an Arsenal match
0-1 Southampton
Gonna be a long match 🙁
Typical Arsenal indeed with lost of aimless possession,Arsene Wenger is a poor man’s Pep Guardiola he has failed to get the team up for this game they’ve started way too slowly!
Hardly Wenger’s fault. The manager ‘needs to get his team up’ for this game.??
FFS they’re professionals. Wenger going mental on the sidelines because of the slow play.
easy for Southampton this
What is going on… No sense of urgency
We must be the only top team where other teams love playing us at the Emirates.
great line up, just loosing in possession & on the scoreboard…
Arsenal is playing like the away team under pressure
Unlucky Cech! Cmon Get back into re game guys.
Equalised and win the Match to make it a short Day or The Dark Horse Sutton prevail…
Goooooooossssssh
Kos!!
Acrobatic boss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
1-1 Come on gunners!
Bossielny has done it
AW has done it again.
Walcott, Ox and Cazorla are not enough defensively. The first 2 have no clue defensively and Cazorla albeit very skillful and a great attitude doesn’t have enough physique. Playing all 3 at the same is typical wenger and will cost goals.
Meh, 15 minutes supporter. That’s what you are.
Jesus Özil come get the ball and get in the game, all I’m seeing is Coquelin and Cazorla in midfield…
Ozil-Lucas-Ox axis isn’t connecting well.
Boy, Lucas needs to improve massively in his next games…
Maybe if he scores that would get him going.
But we’ll give Theo and Ox year after year after year of injuries and underperforming.
Makes sense
Arsenal’s system of play is the reason a lot of players are not doing well. Too much passing around at the back. The game need to be a bit more direct and quicker to force Sutton to make mistakes.
Calm down guys. It’s Lucas first game. Don’t be quick to judge. Pogba had a poor game today. You don’t hear manu fans bashing him.. Just saying
agree, needs to get his feel w this club,
cazorla . fan favourite for a reason
how about that track back & brilliant defense
Ohhhh Santi Cazorla!!!
BTW get Ox off !
I’m tired of watching the Ox play now, he will never improve.
ox really did nothing… was hoping he would develop into a threat…
we cannot afford to drop points here
we need to win.
We are struggling at home and Spurs winning away 0-4
Very depressing
Please Gunners SCORE!!!
Yes Arsenal_girl, spuds are pulling away from us again and then we play catch up at the end of the season as per usual.
That’s our goal right? The ahead-of-Spurs trophy..
Looks like new players, same s*hit
1-1 it is. 8 points behind. 4 games played. #Stats
Too depressing for words….
We spent money got the required positions filled but same mentality.
santi > ozil
minutes played w Ox & Walcott on the pitch at the same time are minutes wasted
Penalty! Come on Santi
Come on Come on! Jeez talk about last minute!!!
Peno
Come on SAnti please scoree
Kos injured. Typical
kicked in the face,
Woo Hoo
no problem w this match, easy 3 pts… lol
94mins
Santi and Kos against the rest today…
Ooooooh Santi Cazorla!!! Özil needs someone to challenge him for the #10, it’s a shame Santi is on the wrong side of 30…
kos playing w 1 eye shut, classic warrior, the guy is tough, almost reminds me of carles puyols, the heart and soul of this team imo
sometimes JML one clutches at straws. We ain’t gonna compete and we aint gonna win it. Been here too many years to think anything else but the day spuds finish above us then we really have lost it!