Arsenal News

Official FA cup teams and preview of Man Utd v Arsenal

Okay Arsenal fans this it, the latest chance for the Gunners to take advantage of the struggles of our old enemy and get one over Manchester United. There is the small matter of a trip to Wembley for the FA cup semi-final as a prize as well.

Louis van Gaal has made just one change to his side, with Luke Shaw coming in for the banned Jonny Evans and Rojo moving from left back to the centre. So Di Maria and Fellaini keep their places and Falcao stays on the bench.

Arsene Wenger has been a lot more liberal with his team selection, making five changes to the Arsenal line up that beat QPR last week. It is no surprise to see the boss bring Danny Welbeck in, hoping to get some of that fgormer club effect from the England striker.

We already knew that Szczesny and Mertesacker were set to start, with the other two players coming in the Spanish left back Nacho Monreal and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in central midfield. Giroud drops to the bench so Ozil will be playing in one of the wide forward roles with Welbeck in the centre and Alexis on the other side. Cazorla moves back to his favoured CAM role.

Szvcesny
Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal
Coquelin
Alezis, Chamberlain, Cazorla, Ozil
Welbeck

subs: Martinez, Chambers, Gibbs, Ramsey, Walcott, Akpom, Giroud

Posted by

Tags Chamberlain Monreal welbeck

219 Comments

  1. Why is Ox in the middle… even if that is the actual formation he should be on the wings injecting pace

    1. Cazorla might be in the middle as a b2b with ozil as the #10 and Alexis and ox on the wings but I’m not sure

      1. That’s what I’d assume. Very bold from Wenger, playing both Cazorla and Özil as our midfielders. I would’ve expected a more solid team away at Old Trafford. Let’s hope it pays off.

    2. im gonna try an stay positive here
      but im very concerned with that line-up
      this game is so huge- COYG

      mother of F*CK- im nervous

      2. Chill.Flexx. Let the game begin and the adrenaline will kick in. Then you will not be nervous anymore. C’mon! Don’t give up hope now.

      3. @muffdiver
        WE GOT THIS GOONERS!!!
        They want the Cup, they gotta take it from US. And until they do(if they do), let’s have faith in our Club on keeping it. Not just tonight, but until we lift it up again at Wembley…
        COYG

    3. Y start with Danny Welbeck? This guy can’t win any ball. He’s such a plunk! Him and Wenger.

  2. Giroud should start he would take alot of pressure off the defence with his jold up play plus he could mark toilet brush head fellaini at set peices

  4. I would have put Giroud up front and Ozil in the centre. On the wings you can have any combination of two of the following players: Alexis, Walcott, Welbeck or Ox.

    I don’t get not using our in form striker. Giroud scored against United in November

    Anyway, I HOPE Wenger’s gamble works

    1. The gamble hasn’t worked so far. We need aerial dominance up top. Giroud can provide that. Welbeck off instantly.

  5. very ballsy from wenger here.

    that midfield…shezza back.
    he is either gonna get crucified or be celebrated as a tactics guru

    we believe lads- come on u arsenal

  8. This is a vital match. If we lose our season is more or less a failure because it’s our most realistic chance of a trophy, so Wenger should really start with our best 11. Giroud is our best striker. I’m a bit shocked really.

    Anyway, lets hope we win. There’s still enough quality there.

  9. Think Wenger’s going the old Gibbs as a left winger route for late on if it is still tight. Bringing Giroud on later for height for corners/long balls might pay off, as could having the pace of Walcott to use at anytime we please. Just want a f*cking hard working performance from everyone tonight!!!!

    1. OG always plays better from bench, if 0-0 won’t be surprised for home to score winner or equaliser

  10. We all expect more from Welbecks output next season and onwards, but is Wenger got an eye on his education right here, right now in the home of his old classroom? To show just how far he has come along.

    It’s been 10 years since we have own at Old Trafford…whatever whoever says we are the underdogs.

    Let’s be safe and precise.

  11. Very mobile team…we need to play like Man City game.
    Man utd are crap…3-1 to Gunners
    Get into them!!

  14. very bold and frankly scary!
    Suprised Giroud with his strength is on the bench.
    Welbeck in due to his work rate and pace against a possible 3 at the back?
    I think VG will go 442 tonight.

  16. Rosicky should have at least been on the bench. We need a player like him who can drive forward with the ball.

  17. It depends who does better job today Blind or Coquelin. I am happy carrick is not playing but Blind has also been doing a solid job for them. Hope coquelin does an effective job himself.

  18. Mmmmmmm worrying to say the least.

    Not the time to tinker. & Wellbeck is our cutting instrument..

    Let’s hope his ability to score goals has exponentially improved since the last time he played?:(( I doubt this but hope he proves me wrong.

  19. I agree with what many have mentioned we need to look at the glass half full but looking at this line up is like wenger does not want to win.

  21. Biggest game of the season, our only chance of a trophy and Wenger already has us on the back foot. This is ManU away! Not some average side. Cannot believe he’s dropped Giroud for Welbeck. Shocking decision! I imagine Ospina must be injured, as he’s not even made the bench.

    Even though we’re away, I believe this is probably the best chance of beating them in years. Although ManU could easily stuff us considering what happened at home against a depleted Monaco. I just hope, for once, we can keep it tight at the back and let them come onto us.

    COYG!!!!!

  22. that is one bold line-up..hopefully it works out well…absolutely buzzing for this tie..
    lets beat the scums…
    COYG!

  23. buckle up! here we go!
    Fears for me are : Scez and Mert.
    Degea could have a big say in tonights result.

    Do us proud guys, COYG!

  24. i dont understand this worrieness, its not like we are playing against barcelona, their back 4 are very slow, and wenger is trying to use this, so this means we will counter attack, fine for me, cuz possesion dont mean anything, remember first game!!! LETS DO THIS!!!!

  25. Please Szczesny, no mistakes tonight. Play like a Golden Glove winner should play.

    Lets Win. I don’t want to go through this again.
    COYG WIN WIN WIN

  29. Hoping our Gooners in the stands break some Man U ear drums tonight too. That will get our squad going.

  30. Fellaini and Blind. We may struggle physically in the midfield with Cazorla and Özil.

  41. I would rather chambers at cb than mert, going to be a long game for bellerin wilk we end up with 11 men?

  44. Welbeck has messed up 2 chances. Going back to Old Trafford might be too overwhelming for him. Giroud starts all day long for me.

  46. Rojo doesn’t get booked for same foul as Bellerin. Arsenal corner not given. Poor Refereeing.

  48. Theo on after 50 minutes. Reason: United open right up in midfield when they lose possession and their back four is slow.

    But would you play him as ST or on the wing?

  56. Nachooooo! Composure now guys. Game on. At what point does ozil come off cazorla push up and ramsey come on?

  57. Goal!!!!!!!

    If Monreal had missed that…..oh boy
    Great play by Ox

    And don’t forget Ozil for not being selfish. He could have tried to go for goal himself

    Woohoo
    0-1
    Great start
    COYG

    2. Was actually a great cross. If Mert was marking Rooney and not Fellaini he would have saved it. Koscielny was just too short.

  64. CRAP, spoke too soon.

    The grandmother fudger scored

    And a penalty not given to us

    From joy to blah within minutes

    Anyway, COYG

  65. Cracker match.
    Arsenal far the better team.
    Utd score against the run of play.
    But great header…
    Arsenal still look the better team but goals is what counts.

  66. Szczesny’s first blunder of match
    Should have caught ball
    Lets hope it’s his last
    Concentrate

    2. BTW I wasn’t talking about Rooney’s goal

      I’m talking about dropping the cross afterwards

  67. Open you eyes and think before you write something koncielny and mert left Rooney all on his own to execute sczesny. He might not be playing well lately but don’t blame him for every mistake.

    2. I you responding to my comment
      I wasn’t talking about Rooney’s goal
      I was talking about Szczesny not catching the cross afterwards and mishandled the ball.

      I don’t blame him at all for the goal

  68. Alexis is the worst passer and link up player in our squad, he can’t pass the ball to save his life..

  70. And Alexis has got to stop being one dimensional, he always cuts into traffic time and time again.

  76. 50/50 game. Would’ve hoped for a little better but at least we haven’t bottled it for once.

  77. shezza looks nervy.

    bad kicking, poor choices. luckily his saving is on point.

    really miss ospina

  78. Good half but we have to criticize Koscielny sometimes, I think that was kossy’s fault. He seems to struggle with ariel balls and we just let him off most of the time..

  81. welbeck has zero composure and sanchez is taking way too many touches. I won’t be mad if the scoreline stays the same after 90.

  83. Ian Wright was right about Welbeck. He said that Welbeck doesn’t hold the ball long enough.

  85. Alexis brings so much to Arsenal, but he really needs to know when to pass often holding on too long.

    There were a few times he could have put Welbeck through on goal or made a pass to Ozil / Cazorla that would open united.

    Hope for an exciting 2nd half and bring on Theo

  86. Good game apart from a few little moments. We look comfortable.. But Sanchez has got to work on his link up play and passing, his passing is so poor, it’s not improving..

    Kossy struggles with high balls and gets found wanting lots of time, the defending for that goal was poor from him..

    Welbeck might as well not be on the pitch, his first touch is so poor, wow.. Everytime the ball comes to him it just bounces off him and pressure back on us.. I don’t rate him at all..

    But all in all a very mature performance so far..

  88. Wish we could swap mert and de gea. De gea has better agility, feet andeye for a pass than the rhino 🙁

  90. Welbeck is running around like a chicken without a head. Poor first touch and no pressure on their defenders. I wish Wenger would just once and for all buy a top top CF, I am tired of no presence up front. Theo needs to come on to replace him at least Theo shoots and is more direct. We are also not moving enough off the ball on attack, often our midfielders have to pass sideways. Contrary to their goal, I think our defence has been pretty good and contained them to an extent. This is the type of game where we need the Ozil’s and Sanchez’s to really step up and make a difference. COYG tired of getting beat by these mancs, let’s go home tonight with a victory. COME ON LADS

  91. We can’t wait for subs til 70th minute. Wenger has to shake things up now. The Danny plan has flopped. Gironde is in form. Play the guy before we go down!

  92. Fellaini already broke Le Coq’s nose again.
    If the Chezzer drible the ball one more time take him off. WTF was he doing?

  93. We can’t even celebrate a 1-0 lead anymore. Always conceding and always in a dumb way.

    1. Or even Giroud. Stick Welbeck on left and Alexis on right.

      Anyway, nothing can be done now
      Maybe Ramsay will have a great half.

  99. Not messing around, how many fouls is Fellaini allowed to make before he gets booked? This is ridiculous.

  100. How to keep faith with a manager that don’t even know who he going to make that sub.

Comments are closed

Top Blog Sponsors