Now that we have had all the players returning from the internationals, and have been given a full injury update by Arsene Wenger, how would you pick the Arsenal starting XI to face West Brom on Saturday?
The best news we’ve had is that Hector Bellerin will be back on the firm, but that has been tempered by the fact that Laurent Koscielny has got Arsene Wenger worried about his state of mind. The big problem with that is that Gabriel only arrived back from South America yesterday, along with Alexis Sanchez, and their fitness will have to be taken on trust. It is going to be hard for Wenger to choose who partners Mertesacker (who has had two weeks rest) at the back.
With the Ox and Ramsey still unavailable, Wenger will simply have to give in to Alexis’ desire to play again, despite playing two full games for Chile in on the other side of the world in the last fortnight. Let’s hope he doesn’t suffer from jetlag. I know I do every time I return to the UK…..
One thing is absolutely certain is that Olivier Giroud will be leading the line as Theo Walcott is still going to be out for another “week or two”, and I think, without any other options, Campbell will yet again play on the right. So anyway, I am going to take a stab at predicting Wenger’s choices for tomorrow with the limited assets at his disposal…..
Giroud
Sanchez Ozil Campbell
Coquelin Cazorla
Monreal Gabriel Mertesacker Bellerin
Cech
Can anyone see Wenger changing any of those?
We may see Koscielny in the line up,
As he took part in training ?
We may be more effective if Sanchez and Campbell swap their wings.
We may actually be more effective in swapping Campbell with Gibbs. It worked a treat. Wenger decides.
Admini, your guess of the Boss’ starts is good. But you’ve not accommodated Debuchy in your starts but I’ve accommodated him in mine. And I believe the Boss will also start him if he’s startable. I prefer to see the Boss starts Bellerin on the bench and starts Gibbs at left wing-mid while Sanchez is started on the bench. My starts: Cech; DebuchyRhino’DeAberuMonreal; CazorlaCoquellan; CampbellOzilGibbs; Giroud. My bench: OspinaBellerinChambersFlaminiKoscielnySanchezAdelaide. Cazorla MUST wake up from his Arsenal slumbers and score a couple of goals or give assists to score goals on Saturday against West Brom at the Hawthorns. He has scored 3 goals for Spain so far this season, but scored zero goals for Arsenal in as many games he has started for the Gunners this season. Why this lackluster performance for Arsenal by Cazorla? Let him answer that question with a remarkable performance for Arsenal tomorrow.
My thoughts as well. We will see tomorrow.
The reason he is not scoring much is because of his role in Arsenal. He has defensive duties here and creates chances for Giroud to squander. This the problem , in Spain there are lots balls created by other greates easy for him to score. Arsenal lacked finisher since Henry left. Lamp posts like Giroud don’t score they just tap the ball in.
66 and counting. I predict 100 before any lamp goes dim.
I think Campbell should play on the left and Alexis on the right as so
Giroud
Bellerin…Koscielny…Mertsacker…Monreal
Coquelin….Cazorla
Alexis…..Ozil…..Campbell
Cech
sanchez MUST be rested, everyone else can play
Due to state of mind of Kos and Sanchez’ fatigue, I would deploy:
Giroud
Ozil———Cazorla——–Campbell
Coquelin———Arteta
Monreal–Gabriel–Mert–Bellerin
Cech
Is Ospina back? Otherwise
Bench:
Sanchez, Koscielny, Debuchy, Iwobi, Gibbs, Macey.
As Wenger said, there is no easy game. No jock plz!
…hino and Rando.. whether singly or plurally should be dealt with by the back line, and the 3 points are ours.
Batshuayi worth spending money on?
Yes.
Iwobi + £30M or Ox + £15M might work.
Got to rest A S and stick MF out there as he can play all over the park. Just for the EPL game this week why not. CL game well I would piss it away as we don’t want Thursday football at all. Good luck Arsenal keep a clean sheet
Well GIBBS is a good option in the attacking half without Sanchez and Campbell to given his ultimate chance to redeem himself.
The main sticky point is who get to play the wide roles?
Sanchez (LW) Campbell – What Wenger is probably going to go for
Gibbs (LW) Sanchez (RW) – This got us the goal against Spurs and balances the team well…
Campbell (LW) Sanchez (RW) – This could work but I really don’t see it happening
Sanchez (LW) Ozil (RW) – This allows Cazorla to be in a more goal scoring position as CAM. Ozil can also play the RW well by his own admission.