Official Arsenal XI and preview of Wolfsburg clash

Arsene Wenger has gone with an almost completely different Arsenal starting line-up to the one that took the French club Lyon apart yesterday, with just our club record signing Mesut Ozil keeping his place. The manager must be very happy with the fitness of the German international to play him again so soon and he is clearly happy with Ozil’s form.

Quite a few of the stars of yesterday are on the bench for the game against Wolfsburg today, such as Ramsey, Giroud, Iwobi and the Ox, while Jack Wilshere and Petr Cech who were not involved against Lyon get the starts that the manager promised against the Germans.

Cech
Bellerin, Chambers, Gabriel, Monreal
Arteta, Cazorla
Reine-Adelaide, Ozil, Wilshere
Walcott

Arsenal subs: Martinez, Debuchy, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Giroud, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ramsey, Akpom, Coquelin, Hayden, Iwobi

Another interesting bit of news is that the former Gunners striker Nicklas Bendtner will start and I’m sure he will be keen to show the Arsenal fans what he can do, although I am more worried about Kevin De Bruyne and Andre Schurrle. Our defence will need to be switched on, especially with Arteta instead of Coquelin protecting them.

And I am also hoping that Jack Wilshere gets some time in the middle rather than being stuck out wide the whole time, although with Arsenal needing a couple of goals to win the Emirates Cup then he could have fun going forward, with the pace of Walcott in the middle to link up with.

Surely that trophy is staying in north London this time isn’t it?

Tags Cech Walcott Wilshere

85 Comments

  1. Doesn’t look as exciting a team as yesterday. There’s just something about having Arteta in the starting 11 that tells me it’s going to be a slow game. Hope I’m wrong and we get another entertaining game.

    1. So far your right, we best play better then this next sunday as chelsea will be less wasteful!

      1. Wolfsburg are a better team than Lyon. Even the commentator mentioned how tight there unit is compared to Lyons. Also we had a more balanced and better team out yesterday, do you not think this might have something to do with it instead of saying oh its Arteta’s fault and Coq was the reason for yesterday… well?

  2. Wenger playing Walcott upfront hoping he scores 2,3 goal so he can come out and say we don’t need striker.

    If Walcott gets his demand for a higher wages in his new contract, it shows how poorly the club is. He isn’t among the top 5 players at the club, arguable even if he is a top 10 player at the club, and for him to get a high wage is not justifiable.

    I won’t be surprised if Wenger misses out on a top striker in this window because he was waiting and ends up getting Llorente or Dzeko on the last day.

    1. And you know really absolutely nothing at all, and have no idea what you are actually talking about. But we should totally trust your opinion and not that of professionals, right?

      Seem to forget that before Theo got hurt against Spuds you were all swinging off his nuts as he carried this team.

    2. And another thing. If Theo starts bagging goals up front, why the hell would we need another striker? Opens Ox to play primarily off the wing and then we have a real scary team.

      I wish I wish I wish I had the time to dig through message boards to find some of the cries of our dumber fans when Arsene Wenger wanted to play some French winger up front, calling for a top striker to lead the line. It’s all so familiar its almost sickening haha

      1. IF IF IF…

        what if sanogo starts banging in goals. lets give him a pay rise!
        u want to win something? then dont bank on IFs.

        hes right. walcott is overhyped by arsenal fans.

        i would love to see him banging in goals for fun though. but just cant see that happening.

      2. Have you forgotten We are still waiting for Walcott to be prolific. You always think Walcott can become the next Henry. This is where your mistaken.

        There is no question Walcott can score goals against 2/3 the teams in the league whilst being the striker. But can he do it in the big games continuously? Perform in the champions League? Even in those games you have to look at how many clear chances are converted. There is a gulf of difference between a top striker and Walcott. But I get it you will settle for Walcott, for now and of for the future. You waited over 6 seasons and you will continue to wait.

        Professional, what professional do you speak of. Those that overate some players? Or those that think we need a new striker?

        1. I’m a fan of Walcott’s but I don’t think he can become a T. Henry (that’s Adelaide’s job), I believe he could become a M. Owen type striker though.

  3. Big game for Walcott, he needs to show that he is capable of knocking them in on a regular. Great to see Adelaide starting, looked really silky from the few touches I saw of him yesterday.

  4. Cazorla and Ozil will run the show, i want Wilshere to step up, cuz if cant find his best form, i can see him a lot on bench this season

  5. Someone previously asked for a team that would pressure us on the ball more. Definitely got that wish.

  6. According to reports 33yo free agent Marco Amelia could move to Arsenal replacement for Martinez who could be loaned out

  7. Benzema has a slight Thigh injury/niggle & trained away from the main group with Modric.
    [L’Equipe] are we in for modric as well ????????

  8. our midfield is just a cluster of playmakers, and Walcott can’t stay onside or finish. I don’t think Wenger would ever use these players in an actual game thankfully. Monreal MOTM so far.

  9. Arteta slows our game so radicaly its not even funny, Walcott needs to find his scoring boots, Ozil is simpy magestic

    1. I agree. At least Flamini has quicker distribution. And is honestly still an upgrade defensively compared to Arteta so far. Every Wolfsburg counter has looked good and I can’t find where Arteta is on any of them. I’m glad this game is happening though because it shows the flaws in our team. Wolfsburg have been better so far.

      1. The Arteta comments today are all showing huge signs “confirmation bias”. Wolfsburg are simply better than Lyon, defensively sound also. Why not congratulate Mert or Giroud giving them the credit for yesterday instead of singling someone out today to say why it went wrong.

  10. Gotta say, Wolfsburg have looked the etter side so far, put us under a lot of pressure. Walcott seems to be hit or miss thus far, inconsistent.

  11. This is exactly why we need top class CF, when things arent going our way, someone who can create something from nothing, only Ozil and Alexis are able to produce such magic, we need CF with that abiltiy

  12. When you compare arteta and coq, you can really see the big difference. Our defence were under so much pressure without a real cdm in front. How many corner we have conceded for the 1st half?

  13. Unless we get slaughtered we can loose and still win trophy as long as we score.
    Peace and Love

  14. I don’t think we play that badly, just one change, coq for arteta, I think will be good enough to take them on.

  15. No wonder wilshere gets injured so often. The guy just doesn’t want to pass the ball and runs straight into players. He could learn from ozil the sooner you let go of the ball the less likely to get tackled. And the wose thing is that he always has an easy option, i think in his brain he thinks that the more you get tackled equates to world class. So frustrating, combine ozil and wilshere hell of a player but life isn’t fifa.

  16. When you give him the space and he will kill you with a simple slot in goal. Walcottttttttttt.

  17. Great goal. Great run and finish.
    WELL DONE ARTETA excellent vision and pass to start the attack

    1. Yes that a good pass to your opponent. Yes he can make good passes but his defensive is the worst trade he process.

  18. Further enforces my belief Walcott is much more efficient coming from a wide position. Nice finish, and nice assist from the new boy.

  19. This is why I hate when wenger sAys he sees chamberlains future in the middle. He is perfectly made for a winger

  20. Great performance by Jack, but maybe we should start putting bubble wrap around his ankles…

    1. Very promising but too show off his skill when he can just pass the ball, anyway he is young that youngster do.

    2. He played well got an assists. Made mistakes but the beauty of it is that he’s only 17. A lot of promise in the kid.

    3. has potential, great dribbler, assisted on his debut. Looked a bit out of depth at times but stayed in the game always. Can’t really ask more from a 17 year old.

  21. I hope ox stay injured free all season, I pick him to be the up coming star of arsenal, like a new signing.

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