OFFICIAL Arsenal team and NLD preview – Walcott in, Giroud out

I cannot help but feel a little bit sorry for our centre forward Olivier Giroud, who gets more than his fair share of criticism from fans of Arsenal and the France national team, despite his record being pretty good. He does a good job for us and was a big part of the Gunners winning the last two games against Ludogorets Razgrad and Sunderland but once again he finds himself on the bench today for the visit of Tottenham.

The Frenchman may well have a big part to play in this north London derby but I cannot blame Arsene Wenger for leaving him out of the starting line-up, because the return to fitness of the in form England forward Theo Walcott allows Arsenal to go back to the system and formation that has looked so good this season, with Alexis Sancjez through the middle.

Cech
Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal
Coquelin, Xhaka
Walcott, Ozil, Iwobi
Sanchez

Subs: Ospina, Gibbs, Gabriel, Ramsey, Elneny, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Giroud.

The other major team news is that Wenger has gone with Xhaka instead of Ramsey in central midfield, with Cazorla still not ready, while Momnreal and Gibbs are both in the squad with the Spaniard getting the nod.

The news from the spuds is that Kane does start up front and they are clearly hoping to stifle our attacking flair with Dembele, Dier and Wanyame all starting in midfield. Will they be able to do that? Will Kane continue his good record against Arsenal?

Or will this game go by current form and finish in three more points for the Gunners?

Bob.

Tags kane Ramsey Xhaka

82 Comments

  1. Wenger seems to be getting it right this season..if it was before, he would start Ramsey but he’s gone with our winning team..and he’s been making early changes this season… whoop spurs!!! COYG!!

  2. Iwobi taking too long on ball, he needs to decide quicker.

    Wish perez was available, but ox must step up

  3. Now I see why Monreal got skinned in earlier games, Iwobi is a defensive liability and he’s been poor going forward so far as well. Wish Perez was available but the Ox has to take his chance now because Iwobi has been fading since the Chelsea game…

  4. Need a professional second half now. One more for good measure but I’ll take winning by the own goal.

  5. IWOBI LOOKS OUT OF CONFIDENCE AND CANT WIN A BALL WHEN DEFENDING!!I THINK ONE PLAYER WHO COULD OUR ATTACKING PLAYER MORE FLUID AND ALSO SUPPORTING LB PROPERLY IS WELBECK,HE IS FAST,STRONG AND CAN DEFEND WELL THAN IWOBI……

  6. Arsene please take Iwobi off, yes he not at fault for goal, butchers been poor in defence and attack.

    1. too attacking. Ramsey nor Xhaka are the most discipline players. Coq has been great so far, made a lot of interceptions.

  7. The subs make perfect sense, we have to win so Coq off makes sense. Walcott and Iwobi had decent games but should have both scored

    1. hasn’t scored from any of his hollywood balls in years. Needs to cut it out his game, look for a pass. These final 10 minutes are disappointing. We have almost all attacking players yet were not banging on their goal like a home team should.

  8. This is the main issue with Chambo and Rambo though, too many misplaced passes and poor control at times

    1. and that’s why Iwobi usually keeps his place. Poor finishing but at least he doesn’t completely ruin attacks and kill the momentum. I should’ve just been Giroud subbed on first and Iwobi off.

  9. Great game at least, unfortunately we ll have to settle with the draw and Clattenburg made good calls all around

  10. The difference 2 points make from 1st to 3rd. If Liverpool win then it’s 4th. This is why you win your home games and not keep throwing points away.

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