After an exhausting game against Leicester just three days ago, Arsene Wenger is certain to make some changes, although with five days to recover before facing Man United there may not be as many as usual, but all those that faced the Foxes may be suffering. Wenger agrees that tiredness could be a problem. “Some players had two tough games at Tottenham and at Leicester where they were a high level physically,” he said. “I will have to analyse that and make my decisions.”
Also he thinks that EPL teams have much more pressure in the domestic League. Wenger said when asked if English teams were at a disadvantage in Europe: “That’s the problem – when you go to Leicester and see who sits on the bench, that has changed in England,”
“It makes every game very difficult and demands a lot of mental concentration to get it right as well.
“We want to do well in the Champions League and when you’re a big club you have to face that and deal with it.
“I don’t know if other teams look at [English clubs] with more or less fear. I believe that the Premier League is very, very tough. Is that an influence or not? I don’t know but it’s a bit early to come to any conclusions.”
So this is why Premier League clubs need practically two full teams to have any chance in other competitions, and Arsenal are not far off that right now.
We know Wenger will play Ospina tonight, as he has already said that Cech will be dropped: “This is not just because I have decided Ospina plays in the Champions League,” he said. “It will go game by game and there can be a different decision.
“I need to give him games. He is a top-level goalkeeper. It is of course harsh that he is on the bench.”
And with both Flamini and Arteta out Le Prof must decide whether to risk Coquelin. Giroud is suspended so surely Walcott will start? Gabriel returns from suspension and will likely replace the BFG, but what other changes do you think will happen?