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Pick YOUR Arsenal team to beat Galatasary – Here’s mine!

My Arsenal XI to Face Galatasaray in the Champions League! by AT

After a rather unsatisfactory draw against Spurs in the North London derby, Arsenal welcome Turkish giants Galatasaray to the Emirates for the next round of the Champions League group stages. Following the defeat to Borrusia Dortmund in the opening round of fixtures, Arsene Wenger’s team will need a full three points to kickstart their European campaign .

Team selection will once again be a tricky job for Arsene Wenger, following calf and hamstring injuries to Mikel Arteta and Aaron Ramsey respectively. But here’s how I’d go about it.

Starting from the defence, Wenger will surely be wishing he had at least a few decisions to make, but he doesn’t. With Monreal and Debuchy continuing to stay on the sidelines, the Frenchman will have to continue with Kieran Gibbs and Callum Chambers at the full-back positions, while Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny will continue in central defence. It goes without saying that Wojciech Szczesny will start in goal.

Coming to the midfield, the injuries sustained to Ramsey and Arteta makes central midfield another area where Arsenal have little choice. I would start with Mathieu Flamini and Jack Wilshere at the centre of the park with Mesut Ozil playing in his preferred Number 10 role. There have been concerns over the fitness of Wilshere, so if the Englishman doesn’t quite make it, Abou Diaby will be in line for his first start of the season.

The frontline is where the Arsenal boss has decisions to make. As I watched the game against Spurs, I noticed that the Gunners had plenty of creativity but no cutting-edge. Keeping that in mind, I’d start with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Alexis Sanchez on the flanks, with Danny Welbeck once again leading the line. While some Gooners may suggest Santi Cazorla in place of The Ox, I really think that we could do with some direct running and dynamism on the flanks.

Arsenal: Szczesny; Chambers, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs; Flamini, Wilshere; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ozil, Sanchez; Welbeck.

While the Arsenal team may be severely hit by injuries to key players, this starting eleven certainly have the beating of Galatasaray at home. Here’s hoping that the team can get the job done and secure all three points when the Turkish giants come visiting.

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Tags Ozil Sanchez welbeck

42 Comments

  1. ——-Welbeck——–
    Ox——Özil——Sanchez
    —Flamini—Wilshere
    Gibbs-Mert-Kos-Chambers
    ——-Shezzers——–

    2. I dont think that Flamini is good enough to be even a cover at Arsenal… when we got Chambers i hoped we ll see him sometimes playing DM role, but not signing any CB at the end of the window means he is stack in back four for now… hope Diaby can adapt playing defensive (best option i see here) and if he doesnt pick up any injury, that could do the job more than fine.

      1. I would have to agree w ur assessment of MF20. I like the guy but he has really let me down so far this season. I blame him for City’s first goal a couple weeks ago because he fails to track Aguero into the 6 and it wAs clearly his man. He was also at fault for the spurs goal over the weekend! Not only does he give the ball away but does it in our defensive 3rd!! Not to mention him getting man handled by Adabayor like a premature kitten just seconds before he gives them the gaol!!
        Not sure if CC21 is the answer in the middle of the pitch but I know I wanna give it a try. At this point I would rather give the playing time to HB39 at RB and CC21 at Dmid with Jack.
        Just my opinion

        1. I really believe wenger was planning to use cc21 as a defensive mid. But wenger couldnt replace vermalen and debuchy got injured. So i think that halted the idea of using chambers at dm. I do believe he is more than capable of playing there. Like wenger said, he is a wonderful talent to watch. There are not so many like him . Having said that we cant afford him at dm right now. No cover for cb,rb!!

  2. Szczesny
    Coquelin Mertesacker Chambers Gibbs

    Flamini Rosicky

    Ozil

    Sanchez Welbeck Chamberlain

    A perfect team both offensively and defensively.

  5. Ospina
    Bellerin Mertesacker Koscielny Gibbs
    Flamini Wilshere
    Ox Ozil Podolski
    Sanchez

    Bring on Rosicky, Campbell and Chambers instead of Wilshere, Sanchez, Bellerin
    Rest Welbeck for Chelsea game. Campbell has got the experience of CL games so he is my choice. Ospina because he was not bad at all and he actually made good saves, we can rest Szczesny for Chelsea. Podolski can score goals as well as Sanchez.

  6. We haven on rotate tomorrow especially before the Chelski game:
    Szszcesny
    Coqulelin Mert Chambers Gibbs
    Flamini
    Ox Rosicky Santi Sanchez
    Poldi

    Bench: Ospina, Bellerin, Hayden, Diaby, Wilshere, Ozil, Welbeck

    You know how delicate our players are, we cannot risk anymore injuries to key players before the Chelsea game! This team should be good enough to beat Galatasaary at home, their only standout player is Sneider anyway. We must keep our better players fresh for the trip to the Bridge. Many of you may disagree with my comment here but I think this would be the best thing for us.

    1. Let me erase Diaby from the equation seeing as I actually don’t think he’ll be in the sqaud tomorrow by hearing Wenger’s press conference, I’d take out Diaby and put Zelalem in perhaps? Give him a real taster maybe? Bit soon perhaps?

  7. Will someone explain to me why Coquelin is even at the club if he’s not getting a chance? He’s 23 years old now and has been loaned out for two seasons already, yet when were in a position where 2 CM’s are injured (Ramsey, Arteta), Wilshere struggling for fitness, Flamini consistently play sh*t and Diaby not really ready yet, Coquelin is still not really considered to start? (Apart from at left back vs Saints..). Personally I think he’s better than Flamini and deserves more chances considering he’s no longer a youngster, would love if he got a game against Gala.

    2. He goes into crunching tackles, I would pair him with Flamini tomorrow, and if it works then play the same two against Chelsea with the other four players ahead of them doing the thing needed in attack supported by fullbacks.

  10. We cannot defend corners.
    We cannot take advantage of our corners.
    Opposition takes advantage of our corners by counter attacking.

    This is a serious problem in our team, corners, both defending and attacking.

    1. my girlfriend is chelsea fan, she wants me to go watch the match at their place since her parents wont be around and their tv is much bigger than ours…what if we loose badly and I fail to hold myself and cry in her presence 🙁 🙁 🙁

      1. lucky you 🙁 🙁 🙁
        my crush doesn even know soccer 🙁 🙁
        and she bikes 🙁 🙁 🙁
        shes awesome tho…. a little bit short but awseome tho…. 🙁 🙁 🙁

        1. wow, my big bro says short girls serve it hot n sweet! I’ve never done it so I won’t know the difference but he says short gals are goooood. you lucky pal. have you asked her out?

          1. just got my second date with her last sunday and expectin the third date this weekend 😀 😀 😀 😀
            wish me luck pal 🙁 🙁 🙁 🙁
            since im a virgin 🙁 🙁 🙁

            1. best of luck pal. if you manage to do it, rem to share the experience

  12. Bayern Munich are so boring, pass,pass and more passes. I don’t think they will win CL this season. Dortmund with a fully fit squad can win it, more direct and quick attack.

  13. Remember we started with both Flamini and Arteta last season at home against Napoli and the game was finished in the first half. A very composed performance and made us hard to break down and we attacked with fluency. Obviously Arteta is out but I would suggest playing Chambers there with Bellerin playing right back. The team i would like to see would be szczeny, bellerin, gibbs, bfg, kos, chambo, flamini, ozil (centre his best place), ox and cazorla wide and sanchez leading (welbeck for me looked lost against BD and could be useful on the bench) the bench would have osprina, hayden, coq, diaby, jack, rosiky and welbeck. So we will have the option to put the coq in if we need extra penetration (lol)

  15. Agree with the team,fingers crossed for an injury free game.my prediction two nil to the Gooners with Welbeck and Sanchez with the goals.

    1. Personally don’t think we should risk jack unless he is 100%. Santi can play in a 4123 formation

      Szczesney
      Chambers mertesacker koscielny gibbs
      Flamini
      Ozil cazorla
      Chamberlain Welbeck sanchez

  16. What the f**k with all this your comment is waiting for moderation bullsh!t? How long does it take to moderate?

    ADMIN COMMENT – You will NEVER have a comment approved unless you change your name to a family friendly one, and all swear words are disallowed automatically. One doesn’t have to swear in a civilized discussion….

  17. I’ve been reading recently about how some journos think Sanchez is disrupting Arsenal’s style of play. I do not buy into it @ all and don’t wana sound bias abt Sanchez, what I feel is that the manager is yet to find a balnced formation that includes Sanchez and Ozil. I pray he does cos I for one believe Sanchez is our most potent attacker.

    1. He takes 2 many touches and slows down play despite being world class. He needs to learn the Arsenal way.

  18. With the injuries our side almost picks itself! 🙁 looking beyond wed let’shope the xhChelsea players pick up a few knocks tonight, goodness knows we need all the help we can get!

  19. Szczesny;
    Chambers, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs;
    Flamini, Wilshere;
    Sanchez, Ozil, Carzola
    Welbeck

    BENCH:
    OSPINA, HYDEN, COQUELIN, OX,CAMPBELL,ROSICKY,POLDI.

  21. *OT
    For all of those who think we should have signed Carvalho take a look at him and see what a damn “bluff” he is. I’d take either Arteta or Flamini over him any day.

  23. Do people not realise that this game is more important than the Chelsea game? Calling for Coqelin to start is ludicrous, play our strongest team available. I think Flam/Wilshere can work but only if Wilshere is disciplined. Our 4 attacking players should be able to cause problems alone with Wilshere making late runs into the box, he needs to stop trying to beat so many players all the time and move the ball forward quicker. Poldi starting may not be a bad shout, although I can’t see it happening myself.

    Szcez
    Chambers Kos Mert Gibbs
    Flam. Wilshere
    Sanchez. Ozil. Ox
    Welbeck

    This is the team that should/will start.

  26. ——-Welbeck——–
    Ox——Özil——Sanchez

    —carzola

    —Flamini—

    Gibbs-Mert-Kos-Chambers
    ——-osapina——–

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