Coquelin to start, bloody hell. Cazorla, Walcott, Arteta getting rest... I'll see you guys on Saturday
It's a big problem for all the travelling fans that have bought tickets! It is annoying when Wenger is talking about "possibilities" yet players are mysteriously being dropped. Would these same players be dropped if we had a more realistic chance? Again the priority seems to be getting a top 4 spot than actually competing.
It doesn't bother me tbh. Even with a full team we'd still have a real struggle on our hands and more tired legs for Saturday. At last it seems Wenger is getting his priorities right. Beating Swansea is all that matters.
I'd rather we beat Swansea than Bayern. We need the three points and getting back into the CL is a priority rather than trying to be heroic (we all know it's impossible anyway).
hes played a weakened team for all the cup competitions this year , saving his strongest lineup for the ethereal 4th place trophy . This is the only time his decision is justified , because its clear even to him that we have no ****in chance. The other cup comps were easier to actually win but he ****ed them up. as for the idea of "what would we do if our weakened side actually won " My old man used to say ...."dont worry about things that wont happen . "
We have had ten days to rest since our last game. This should not be an excuse. Play the strongest team we can and try and achieve something. Even just a win over there would be some feat, as we would be the first team to beat them in their own ground this season.
The CL is a distraction we can't afford this season. Remember where Chelsea finished last season. We haven't got a hope of winning the tournament so its probably for the best if we go out tonight, have a strong finish in the league, get 4th and put a stop to this depressing decline in the summer with some bold signings and then full steam ahead for the new season!!!
I think that it's an awful message to send to the players if he fields a weakened side tonight. It's basically telling them that they've got absolutely no chance of beating Bayern and that they're not good enough. How's that going to feel for them? Can't be good for their confidence, surely. What would happen if he rested players tonight, lost the game and then goes on to lose to Swansea, anyway? The squad's morale would be in the toilet.
Hes decided to sacrifice his [1] 25/1 shot in a very tough contest (going through tonight) for a 100/1 shot (weak team tonight). In favour of his [2] 13/8 shot (top4 in the PL) not becoming a longer shot. Also an admission, that he fears his strongest team may get comfortably dicked tonight, which perhaps he thinks would have terminal consequences for [2] Bottom line is that there is NO REAL EXPECTATION from him of progress tonight and that the normal formality of top4 is far from a formality anymore. Its synonymous of the gradual decline that fans have been moaning about for few seasons. It would appear that Wenger has finally acknowledged it himself!
Many thought we should rest players against Milan this time last year in the second leg. But, Wenger played his best team and we saw the team put in a brilliant performance and they had Milan on the ropes. In the end we did not make it through, but I have no doubts that game helped our confidence and gave the team the added boost we needed for the run in last season.
True but that was at home to a poorer team than this Bayern side. there is a snowball in hell's chance of this arsenal team winning 3-0 away to Bayern!
No, but there is chance that with our best team we could put in a good performance, we probably need Bayern to have an off-day, but with our best team, there is still a chance of getting a good result. If Wenger drops the likes of Cazorla and Walcott, than we have zero goal threats and I can only see us getting hammered.
Fixed. It was 30/1 on Betfair to qualify and 15/2 to win in 90mins with most bookies before the changes were announced TBF.
