Pick the Arsenal team to face Man City from our full remaining squad list

Now that the transfer window is over we now know which players will be making up Unai Emery’s squad for his first season at the Emirates, so here is the full remaining squad (courtesy of Untold Arsenal). This will still be reduced by sales abroad or loans of which are likely to be David Ospina, Carl Jenkinson and Joel Campbell at least, but there are more than enough to have Emery scratching his head for most of the season….

So here is the list…

Name Position HG
1 Aaron Ramsey Mid Y
2 Alex Iwobi Forward/MF Y
3 Carl Jenkinson RB Y
4 Cohen Bramall LB Y
5 Danny Welbeck Forward Y
6 Deyan Iliev GK Y
7 Emiliano Martinez GK Y
8 Hector Bellerin RB Y
9 Rob Holding CB Y
1 Andre Lacazette Striker N
2 Bernd Leno GK N
3 David Ospina GK N
4 Granit Xhaka CM N
5 Henrikh Mkhitarian Midfield N
6 Joel Campbell Forward N
7 Laurent Koscielny CB N
8 Lucas Torreira DM N
9 Mesut Özil Mid N
10 Mohamed Elneny Mid N
11 Nacho Monreal LB N
12 Petr Cech GK N
13 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Striker N
14 Saad Kolasinac LB N
15 Shkodran Mustafi CB N
16 Sokratis Papastathopoulos CB N
17 Stephan Lichtsteiner RB N

 

So there you have it. Let us not debate right now whether that list is good enough for us to challenge for the title, but let’s just start by picking your very best team for our opening game against Man City on Monday….

 

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48 Comments

  1. Cech
    Lichsteiner
    Mustafi
    Sokratis
    Maitland-Niles
    Ramsey/Guendouzi
    Torreira
    Ozil
    Miky
    Auba
    Lacazette

    1. Only saw your line-up after I posted mine but they are quite similar.

      I just would not play Ramsey until he puts pen to paper just to make sure we only had players that want to be part of our future under the terms we can afford. Not another Sanchez situation please!!!

      Prefer Leno to Cech. Leno is our future and needs to adapt as soon as possible to the PL and that won’t happen from the bench.

        1. Who will sign him if he hasn’t played for a full season? I would give him two weeks to make up his mind and if he doesn’t sign he doesn’t play. He’s had the whole summer to think about it and the longer it drags on the more it will affect the squad e.g. Sanchez. A whole transfer window has been wasted while we were waiting for him to make up his mind, enough is enough it’s time to get tough.

          I always supported Ramsey until now!!!

      1. I wouldn’t risk Leno in a high intensity match like this. I’d rather ease him in. It could destroy his confidence for good when faced with an attacking prowess as strong and as determined as City’s. Cech is used to this sort of intensity and would love even more to prove a point. Hence my choice of Cech. We’ll need to take time with Leno and gently ease him in.

      2. Your opinion is almost 100% my position which I discussed about 30 minutes ago. I only did not discuss the goalkeeper selection but I agree with your opinion on that. I hope Emery will ensure he plays Aubameyang and Lacazette together. We need that Aubameyang-Lacazette-Ozil combination. It will be like the M-S-N combination of those days in FC Barcelona.

  2. I would go with a 4-2-3-1. I feel our attack is sharpest with.
    Lacazette
    Aubamayang. Ozil. Mhki

    As for the 2 deeper midfielders that’s a tougher call. Torreira gives the defense we need to put out fires and protect the back 4. However his partner has the following issues

    1. Ramsey lacks discipline and balance. Offers more in attacking, but abandons partner and could be disastrous against City.
    2. Xhaka lacks mobility and is rash in challenges. Both are serious problem against squad like city.
    3. Guendouzi lacks the experience. Great passer, always looking forward, but inexperience at this level could really hurt the team.
    4.. ElNeny lacks the quality, lesser in attack than Ramsey, lesser passing range than Xhaka.

    Tough call, really depends on tactics of Emery, and how much we end up chasing City.

    Personally I would go with Guendouzi; forward passer, great linkup, willing to sit deeper but can still sting with long passes, and has Torreira to help any mistakes.

    1. I wouldn’t start Ramsey because he’s coming off slight injury (imagine that) and has been outperformed by Guendouzi to be honest.

      Torreria is the DM we need, and Ramsey is nothing close to DM.

      My concern is if Ozil shoved to RW, Mhki on bench, and Ramsey starts, Sane will kill us on that wing. Bellerin was ragged by Hudson, Sane will skin Bellerin, Ramsey sits too far forward to be any help defensively, Ozil doesn’t really play defense, and Mustafi and Sokratis together is hair raising on their own.

      Hence, 4-2-3-1 and drop Ramsey to ensure midfield balance with Guendouzi, and Auba, Laca, and Mhki deadly on counter with Ozil pulling strings. That combination keeps us balanced, and City has to respect our counter attacking.

  3. len
    lichtsteiner-mustafi-sokratis-AMN
    torreira-guendouzi
    ozil
    mkhitarian-laca-aubamayang

  4. 4-3-1-2 for me
    …………………….Cech………………………
    Litch…….Mustafi………Papa…….Niles
    Guendozi…….Torerria……Xhaka…….
    ……………………Ozil………………………….
    ……..Aubameyang….Lacazette……….

    Yes this is my first 11, Ramsey shouldn’t be in this match seeing how rusty he was when he played during pre season and fact that he’s just resuming training

      1. I don’t think the entire city has enough to trouble us.

        General Mustafi, sounds like a mob warlord badass son of the most evil dictator ever. Papa, well that’s easy, who”s your Daddy. Lichtsteiner, Litch for short, sounds like he should be locked up in one of those silence of the lambs yolks, shackled from head to toe. Niles sounds like a brain box, the brains of the operation. Are we gonna bring it, Cech, are we gonna demolish, Cech, are we gonna kick ass, Cech.

        City, you walked into the wrong Den, matey’s.

    1. Do you want Xhaka sent off? He is so prone to mistakes that he is an accident waiting to happen especially in a high intensity game like this that may define the level of confidence of the team moving forward. In goal I’ll play the experience of Cech against Leno but will opt for the raw fearlessness of youth by playing Guendouzi instead of Xhaka and/or Ramsey.

      1. Yes,he’s rash since he played City home and away last season and got sent off THREE TIMES!!! I can’t even remember when he was last sent off,saying he is rash isn’t just it,would you rather use a former Lorient player who has only played a few preseason matches?Mo Elneny?or a Ramsey who doesnt defend as Torreira’s partner?

        Oh!You could play ESR there too and come back here to start your EmeryOut campaign when we get trashed!!

  5. ………………Cech
    Lich….Mustafi..Sokratis….Niles
    ..Ramsey..Guendouzi..Torriera
    ….Mkhitaryan……………Ozil
    ……………..Aubameyang (BatMan!, BatMan!, BatMan!)

    (LT, don’t think he’ll play though, and Ramsey would worry me with the knock? he got and time he missed)
    (Defence also worries me, I wanted to put in CC, and even almost went for Holding, Emery will have a better idea than us though because of time spent in training).

    1. Twice! Let’s hope he’s still on the treatment table. Or better still sold to some Italian outfit.

  6. ……………………………Cech
    Lichtsteiner… Mustafi…Sokratis….Niles
    …………………..Torreira… Ramsey
    Aubameyang…………OZIL….. Mkhytarian
    …………………………Lacazette

  7. ……………………….CECH
    BELLERIN..LICHS..MUSTAFI..NILES
    ……….TORRERIRA…….RAMSEY…….
    ………………………..OZIL…………………
    MIKHI……LACAZZATTE……..AUBA…
    SUBS
    LENO, PAPA, XHAKA, KOLASINAC, GUENDOUZI, WELLBECK

    I know lichs is no CB, but he can mark very well and is much more active and pacey than papa. Just for this game

  8. I would use a 4-3-3 formation:
    Leno
    Lichtsteiner
    Mustafi
    Socratis
    Maitland Niles
    Torreira
    Matteo
    Xhaka
    Ozil
    Aubameyung
    Lacazette
    I have gone for Xhaka instead of Mhkitaryan because having both Mhki & Ozil on the pitch against Mancity is suicidal. I know Xhaka is not the best defensively but we need a bit of his physicality & height in midfield.

  9. It won’t matter what system we play with 2 donkeys at centre back and a right back that can’t defend if bellerin is selected and a make shift left back looks a complete shambles city will create chances for fun it’s just a matter of how many they score!!

  10. Leno
    Lichtsteiner paptholosjfhdhr mustafi A.M.N

    Torriera………….xhaka

    Ozil

    MKH. Auba. Lacazette

    1. Nope, giving the ball away, misplaced passes, losing tackles and running down blind alleys, he’s looking frustrated already, and it’s only the first game. Absolutely love it.

  11. ————-Czech—————-

    Bellerin–Mustafi—–Sokratis—–AMN

    ——–Torreira——–Gouendouzi/Mikitaryn

    —————-Ozil———————–

    Mikitaryn/Iwobi–Aubmeyang–Lacazette

  12. …………………….CECH
    LICHT..SOCRATIS..MUSTAFI..NILES
    ……….TORRERIRA…….GUENDOZIE…….
    ………………………..OZIL…………………
    MIKHI……LACAZZATTE……..AUBA

    A balance team to face city and sure to get away with a point

    1. Like this lineup except Ramsey instead of Guendozie. I am also unsure how long it will be before Leno starts instead of Cech

  13. Beating ManCity will mean clogging the middle and pressing at the top. It will require stopping the service to Aguero. Sokratis should ride Aguero out of the game. Then Lichsteiner and Mustafi need help from Ramsay and Welbeck to prevent being over run. Defensively, Toreira should shadow the ball defensively never allowing a direct run at the back three. Guendozi should have the freedom to link with Ozil or pass through to the strikers, or even bring the ball up, old school.

    Then ability to attack with speed and directly. Through the middle and on both wings. Dribbling at high speed is essential on the wings. Arsenal should not allow time for City to re-group. Try shooting from top of the box too.

    Being tough and physical is necessary… at the back and middle.

    4-3-1-2
    ……….…………….Cech…….…………………
    Litch…….………Sokratis…..…….Mustafi
    Ramsay…Guendouzi..Torerria….Welbeck
    ………..……………Ozil………………………….
    …..…….Aubameyang….Lacazette……….

  14. 4-2-3-1
    Leno
    Belerin, Licht, Sokratis,AMN,
    Guendouzi,Torerria,
    Ozil,
    Auba,Lacazette.

    Defence is difficult and with no recognised left back but we need a bit of pace on the wings so gone with Bellend and AMN with Licht as captain.

  15. Mustafi and Socratis a pairing that fills me with dread.Both bang average players who could be torn apart By Man City,Liverpool etc.I hope Emery has the good sense to leave out Xhaka as we now have much better options in midfield.

  16. 3-5-2 is the best formation for our players.
    Leno
    Mustafi…..Mavropanos…..Sokratis
    Lichtsteiner…….Torreira…..Mkitaryan…….M-Niles
    Ozil
    Aubameyang……………………Lacazette.

    But if Emery decides 4-2-3-1, then
    Leno
    Lichtsteiner…..Sokratis…..Mavropanos…..M-Niles
    Torreira…..Guendouzi
    Mkitaryan…..Ozil…….Iwobi
    Aubameyang

    That’s why central midfield is our number one weakness because beyond Torreira, non of Xhaka, Ramsey, Elneny are good enough in the holding midfield role because they cannot dictate play

  17. The weakest links in our squad is undoubtedly at centre back, so why would you play three of them when two will suffice .In any event Emery will never play a back three fprmation.

    1. Have always been saying our weakest link in defence is bellerin, so have replaced him with Lichtsteiner.

      playing Sokratis, Mavro and Mustafi, these are three no-nonsense defenders. remember even mourinho has one (bailly) but we have three.

      Now coming to midfield, aside from Torreira, all other midfielders (bar attacking midfielders ozil and mkitaryan) divide opinion amongst even fans so none of them is guaranteed a starting place. It is simply because none of them can dictate play the way likes of David Silva, Kovacic, Cazorla, Iniesta etc do it.

      That is why central midfield is our weakest link and it is the midfield battle we are going to lose to our big opponents. Sorry if it is hard for you to see. You’ll realize it later.

      1. Also remember Torreira is equivalent to Kante, and Kante does not dictate play rather he breaks up play.

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