Arsenal have not won the Premier League for over ten years but are going to for an incredible hat-trick of FA Cup wins, as well as having to face the mighty Barcelona in the Champions League knockouts, but do the Gunners have a big enough squad to challenge on all three fronts?
Wenger said earlier this week that he would definitely be aiming to create history in the FA Cup, but he still made a fair amount of changes ahead of the tie against Sunderland and I have to ask if would he have risked playing all his first team players if we had drawn Chelsea or Man City instead?
Wenger himself has now come out and stated that, as Arsenal are a BIG club like Bayern Munich and Barcelona, we will go for every competition, in fact it can be positive to play all the extra games. “You have a rhythm [when you have a lot of games],” Le Prof said on Arsenal.com. “You try to check who needs a breather and who needs a rest and you do it. It is easier to keep the squad focused and motivated when you have many games.
“It has both a positive and negative impact. When you are on a roll and have no injuries everyone is in the same direction and it is easier to keep everyone on board. Everyone in the next competition thinks they have to play, and that is a positive.
“There is fatigue and injuries at the end of the season but you can’t say we are not a big club and that we can’t go for the big competitions, that is important.
“Bayern Munich go for the cup every year, Barcelona or Real Madrid go for the cup every year. Why? Because they are big clubs and you cannot say we won’t move out of a cup competition or national cup competition [and do well].”
This is definitely the right mindset in theory, but do we really have a squad that is big enough and talented enough to cope with a lot of rotation for big games? Here is an example. In February we are likely to be playing in the 5th round of the FA Cup (on the 20th). Three days later we have our home fixture against Barcelona. Don’t tell me Wenger won’t rest some players in the Cup game! Four days after facing Barca we have to go to Old Trafford, which could be a little tricky to say the least, and in the seven days after that we face Swansea on the Wednesday and then go to Old Trafford for the North London derby!
That is FIVE big games in just 14 days. Surely Wenger will have to choose which games to prioritise because how can our first XI play in every single game?
Old Trafford for the North London Derby? Lol….if not for the reoccurring injuries, I believe we have the right number of players to go for all 3 competitions.. As it is, My mind if off UCL..i don’t see us beating Barca(Unless 2 between Messi, neymar and suarez miraculously take a knock which will keep them out of both legs).
I believe we can do a double(League Title & FA CUP). I’m impressed with the team’s focus and determination so far this season. I must say they need to put in more effort. Barring Oxlade, the rest players are doing fine and I can’t wait till our injury prone players( Tomas Rosicky , Welbeck & Wilshere ) return…Next Stop, Anfield. I Expect nothing but 3pts.
guess we have talked bout this countless number of times….
Next story pls!
He obviously has to. There’s no way, we can get the double, with that squad. Sooner or later we’ll drop out in the FA cup. Since this is Wenger’s biggest chance to get league glory (cause of weak competition) . I’ m also sure that if wenger gets it done this season, then it’ll surely be his last season as AFC manager. And also, just that you know: pep is city bound, there’s no denial , Pep’ll be city coach in manchester next season.
Ever heard of Lucien Favre? Yes, this guy will be the successor to wenger. Wenger chose him. They already had several meetings over the last year. Elneny was a player lucien always watched (favre brought some young swiss-league players to borussia Mönchengladbach (e.G. sommer & granit xhaka) you don’t have to believe me, I never aked for that. Am just a die hard arsenal fan from switzerland, who knows a little bit more than others. IMO Favre is great speaks german french and english. He also knows how to develop raw football talents to superstars. Cheers guys! Have a nice week
i Like the fact that the said “Lucien favre” isn’t one of the big names on peoples Lips
but what makes u think u know a Lil bit more than others?
Does all Arsenal related info originate from switzerLand?
*not being offensive asking u this tho*
Surely not. But since Favre is swiss and since he has a domicile here, most Favre related info originates from switzerland
And if you would follow the Bundesliga, you’d know that he’s one heck of a trainer, getting Gladbach from almost relegated to championsleague qualification. He’s also known for his fluid passing game and quick counter attacking football style. Also Wenger follows gladbach since his childhood, where he and his father alway drove to germany to watch them play. Even if I wouldn’t “know a bit more” he’ll surely be one of the biggest contestents for the job. It’s like the perfect fit for him. Also, he wasn’t kicked by the board of BMG. To leave, was his own decision. Max Eberl was furious with him. They planned the future with him. And leaving to learn better English and later on taking over the Arsenal squad, sounds like a solid indication to why he’s canceled his own contract…
Arsenal have to secure the attack and get Alexis ready for the match against Barca and the remaining fixtures against top premier league sides.The team has to win against Barca and then beat them at Nou-Camp causes it really is irritating to see Wenger playing bad players in the big matches in the past, Arsenal have allowed themselves to be weak where Wenger is after the league means these Southhampton,Stoke,Chelsea get the luck against this side. Fast start gives confidence and decrease in pressure. Arsenal have to show intensity against opponents at home and make them look worried.
how many times are we supposed to answer this question
Honestly I would love us to defend our fa cup title and win the league also! Let’s go for the league & cup double! Coyg! RIP David Bowie “the thin white Duke”! Thanks for all the great music sir you will be missed!
would you gooners take a league double over the champions league?
Resting players doesn’t mean he isn’t in it for the win.
We are a big club and we should be aiming to win all the trophies we are in and to do that we need a SQUAD capable of doing it and not just a starting 11.
We need 2 more players, 1 who can play the wide attacking roles well enough to play against teams like Barca, we may not get Aumbayang but he is the type of player we need to add quality in depth.
the other 1 is a CM who can play the holding CM role but also capable of playing a def orientated B2B role, someone to compete with Coquelin but also to come on alongside Coquelin and help hold leads. Elneny seems to be that man.