Arsene Wenger has made three changes to the Arsenal starting line-up for the away clash with Aston Villa. But they are not the changes that a lot of us may have expected, because two of the players that have been dropped from the starting XI, Jack Wilshere and Alexis Sanchez, have been arguably our best two Gunners so far this season.
I am not going to second guess the manager, as I have usually been wrong when I do that, but I hope that he has seen something in training that the rest of us have not. Maybe the introduction of Santi Cazorla to the Arsenal team will at least mean that our under fire German international Mesut Ozil will play in his favoured number 10 role and that he will start to prove his ever increasing band of doubters wrong.
I am happy that Oxlade-Chamberlain is starting today, as the young Englishman gives the team real pace and drive. The other change, Calum Chambers for Hector Bellerin, should mean that the Gunners are more solid in defence and hopefully that will give a platform for the attacking talent in the side to do it’s stuff.
Szczesny
Chambers, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs
Arteta
Chamberlain, Ramsey, Ozil, Cazorla
Welbeck
subs: Ospina, Coquelin, Diaby, Alexis, Rosicky, Wilshere, Podolski
So Gooners, will this change in team selection lead to a change of result for Arsenal?
It’s a shame that Ozil has no aggression because he is lightning quick. The only players faster at Arsenal are Walcott, Bellerin, Welbeck and Koscielny. He is much quicker that people think.
& the ox
Alexis is quicker than Ozil but Ozil is quicker than Ox, Campbell and Gibbs. Wind back the clock to his games for Germany in the World Cup like the 4-1 drubbing of England plus a few counterattacking Madrid and Werder Bremen goals and you will see the pace. He looks slower because he ain’t aggressive.
He is quick but definitely not as quick as Chamberlain, Gibbs and Campbell
hes probably just as quick as Gibbs actually. He rarley sprints but when he does he’s actually pretty fast.
And Alexis of course
Good early cross from Chambers.
I think Wenger must sub Chambers soon.
We have been down to 10 men too often
And bring on Diaby for Arteta
Arsenal back to it own self again.
Really hope that we can get our first clean sheet today.
P.s. This may be the end of pardew. Bye bye!
We come alive for 5-10 minutes every game, then go to sleep again.
now is the time for some substitution, fresh legs and boost of energy, but wenger……………..
Nice play by #11
Do you see how our Fullbacks are bombing up the pitch unnecessarily even though we are 3-0 up which in return exposes Arteta and our CB’s? Villa are still able to get to counter us.
This is the same reason why we keep conceding when we’re ahead.
Wenger should sacrifice an offensive player and plant Diaby next to Arteta like Mourinho would do when he brings on Obi-Mikel when Chelsea are holding onto a lead.
Such a shame we don’t have a player to cover for Chambers so we can take him off and not risk him getting a red.
3-0 up but we’re still bringing pressure on ourselves.
#11 is starting to look likes he really wants to play for arsena
ramsey need some games in the bench…. very average today
Is arsenal scared to win big.
Why ain’t we trying to score more? Goal difference comes in handy at times.
Podolski coming on soon. All three substitutes coming on.
finally rosicky will gonna play, cheers…
Did anyone else want to see Diaby on?
Don’t know why – can’t remember what he’s like…
Rosicky is alive… wow
What after 75 mins again
20-80 possesion lol
villa fans r offski
2nd half performance was too casual. A man city or Chelsea would go for more goals. We would have been able to make it 5
Cos arsenal don’t aim high, 4th will do.
nah….they had hard game on wednesday, quite rightly played at their own pace anf won 3-0 away, no injuries…some people just have to moan…
That why you got substitute.
so you’re not happy with 3-0 away at in form villa, after a midweek defeat, welbeck’s first goal, ozil coming back to form, good display from ox, defence comfortable….f@ck off
happy but waste of a 2nd half. why do we never try to go for big wins anymore? Villa didnt even turn up for the 2nd half and we didnt take advantage. Well still 3 points so hooray.
OT: RM win 8-2 WOW
despise that scoreline >_>
What a boring 2nd half.
Bloddy hell 3 nil, be grateful.
delighted for ozil , delighted for welbeck , delighted with clean sheet , disappointed with worthless secomd half performance ,. villa were there for the taking , and as we all know goal difference often plays a big part at the end of the season , we could have run up a record score today if wenger wished to .but hey , aint taking anything away from this wonderful victory , lets hope this is the spring we need to push on .
Good win, clean sheet no injuries and an Ozil sighting, he was all over the field today , scored his goal from the MIDDLE OF THE PARK, was not stagnant out wide today.
i think we should have gone for more goals today, but did not mind the outcome, we had a rough Tuesday and the clean sheet gives the keeper and defense confidence
Arteta looked comfortable today because villa was not pressing him, i by no means feel comfortable with him in our midfield, ramsay had a better game but still was a little bit sloppy him and kos mad some unnecessary poasses when there was nothing left in the game.
Again good win on to the next game hope to have a DiaBY sighting
Actually happy to see Alexis rested and Rosisky playing. Would have love to see Campbell for a few minutes as well. We have options going forward but terrible in defensive numbers. Chambers almost got a red