I love the upturn in form that's happened. The players are gelling well, and they're doing enough to win without exhausting themselves - which bodes well for the remainder of the season. However, I'm worried that the starting line-up is so set, and that these players in particular will suffer before the end of the season. The Arsenal team is currently almost nailed-on to be: Chesney Koscielny Vermaelen Merts Santos Song Arteta Ramsey Theo RvP Gervinho With Theo & Gervinho coming off after 70ish mins. There is barely any rotation, which has allowed the players to build a good understanding on the pitch, but also leads to tired players and makes the team easier to stop. I'm not sure where I'd like more rotation however, as almost all of the back-up is lacking game time!! Certainly not in the back 5.
LOL Bon When I saw the title of the thread I thought you were talking about our neighbours I have similar concerns and a lack of playing time too could see players looking to move. Perhaps Arsene is trying to settle the first team in before bringing in the others. I imagine we'd all love to see more of some of our young stars in the making like Ryo Miyaichi. Casting my mind back I have a niggly feeling one of our championship sides was largely unchanged for most of a season. Can't remember which one without looking back... Cheers
I'll be surprised if you don't change a couple of players for the Dortmund game. Am I right in thinking that a draw or better will see you through, or there abouts? Ideally I'm sure you'd like to be fielding full strength teams in all you CL games to give you the best chance of finishing top of the group but I think you have to prioritise the league and look at it again when you get to the second round, kicking in around February. Walcott should be fit enough to cope with the schedule but you'll not want to push RVP and Vermaelen too hard and it'd be good to have some confidence in your back up plan if something were to happen to them.
we're already through. just need to top the group. Diaby is finally back and around new year Sagna and Wilshere should return to the team - making us considerably stronger! We need Chamakh to find some form or Park to make an impact and we should be fine.
We still need a point to qualify but we've got two games to get it - and hopefully more to top the group. I think we'll make a couple of changes for the Dortmund game. I think we've got enough numbers in the squad, but players like Diaby and Chamakh are going to have to make more of a contribution than they have recently. What's happened to Frimpong ?
I relish seeing Oxlade in the team often...The boy has something in him that makes him stand out from the rest and if we looking for a CF to take the goalscoring burden off RVP, i say give oxlade more chances to prove himself or whats the point of keep a £15mill asset on the bench... He is a very direct player and has an eye for the goal.. Wenger should play him more..
I think Walcott is keeping him out of the team at the moment, but I think there's got to be scope to include them both.
I dont think wenger can play them both but it will be beneficial for the team if wenger can sub oxlade for either gervinho or walcott just for the lad to get more Premier Lge game under his belt.... Oxlade will never develop his true potential if he doesnt play.. look how long its taken Walcott to develop..
To be fair, he's only just 18, so he's going to have to be patient. But he's definitely got enough to be pushing for a starting place.
