I Wilshere is off form then i'd take an Arteta and Rosicky combo in the middle. Also, i'd have Cazorla and Ozil switch places if Ozil is having a quiet game. I thought Cazorla did very well in the centre against Palace.
don't know if rosicky has actually ever started in a deeper role for us. he's usually deployed on the wings or behind the striker and harries the opposition defence constantly. he won't be able to do that from deeper. if wilshere is still not fit, then maybe have Ox in the CM role again with Rosicky on the right wing.
Nothing wrong with that if Wilshere is fit and on form but if he's struggling (if) then Rosicky would make a good choice. Whoever is selected, they have to not only track Gerrard, but also run up and down all game and attack. So Wilshere is the natural selection with his youth and eagerness. Can Rosicky still do it?
Out of our midfielders, Rosicky is better skilled defensively, so having him in the deeper midfield role would make sense and is one of our best mdfielders in terms of keeping the ball and having things tick along. I haven't been watching much of him recently, but does he still have the legs?
Only about 40 of them, tremendous energy levels for his age. Prob down to limited game time / long injuries.
How can you not watch the l'il mozart?! He's my current favourite Arsenal player (though Per's gangly charms are growing on me)and charges about like a three year old. Brilliant. I'm oddly optimistic about this match and I think it's because we're top of the league and playing quite well... I think our problem lies with missing Theo more than Aaron, Flamini or possibly Jack. Having to think about that pace changes the whole mind set of the opposing team. Liverpool are in blinding form at home with a really great attack so, being realistic, I'll be happy with us only winning 2-0.
Obvs my pessimism is purely because Tomas might not start! On a more serious note I think Liverpool are 2-3 players from having a cracking squad. I'd say we're 1-2 off that mark and Chelsea just the 1 (United 6-7, Spurs 11...). City have enough for 3 title challenging teams but that's because they're greedy twunts. Either way Saturday should be a cracking match between two teams who play some sexy football. We've been playing within ourselves recently and I think if we don't step it up to what we're capable of then we may be undone. Part of me has thought we've been holding back on purpose to conserve enegry but it's probably wishful thinking! I'd love to see us step it up when it really counts though rather than just limply dropping off. Everyone expects us to lose against "big teams" despite us being top so it'd make a cracking statement to come out firing. Either way I'll be watching from behind the sofa without any civilised people around to hear my "commentary"...
That's something I don't understand with Liverpool, as you said they're 2-3 players away from having a legit title winning squad, but at the moment, they're always linked to and buying players who aren't at that level.
another point in our favour for this game is that liverpool will actually attack, rather than defending with 11 men for 90 mins (i'm looking at you palace). this will give our attackers space to run at their weak defence. would have been a perfect game for theo, but hopefully the ox can make some deadly runs in behind and get us a few goals. with our defence being rock solid atm, that should get us the win. i think a 2-0 for us is very possible.
Weird isn't it. I think a couple of improvements would give them a blinding starting 11 but still, as with us, I think they'd still be lightweight should they suffer injuries. Maybe it's simply the lack of Chumps league football as a draw for players.
Im not sure about that. For me they have a SUPERB forward line but the rest of the squad is pretty damn average. I think they need at least 4 top players to challenge.
I agree , they are just a bit hit and miss though fortunately . What grinds my gears is ......... If we won the league , there is not one pundit who would say it was down to our outstanding resilience. They would all be " you won because city dropped off " Chelsea didnt have time to gel under Maureen . It was the wrong kind of snow . nothing we do gets the credit .... f**k em all !
That would be Maureen's bullshit excuse. On paper, both Man City and Chelsea have better squads and have spent shed loads on them, more so Man City. Whoever wins the league will have to be the most consistent over the whole season. There really is no excuses for anyone this season and if we win, we deserve the more respect because we've done it the right way!
I dunno. I think Mertesacker and Kos are starting to get the plaudits they deserve, as is our ability to withstand pressure. Make no mistake though the media have zero interest in Arsenal winning the league. They want either 10 goals a game City or that soundbite friendly ****'s Chelsea. An efficient, quiet and finanicially sensible team has no part of their back pages.
This... t'is a shame that the Media continues to fall for Jose "sound-bites" and but for the cash.. where exactly would City be? Obviously hoping for a win against you lot, would take a point if offered to, got the potential to be a cracking game. I don't have a second team but if we can't win the league (which we won't...) would like a team like Arsenal, that have gone about "building" a team on good footballing ethics and financial planning. Most/true football fans will give you guys the credit should you win, table at the end of year doesn't lie! Good luck (not so much against us on Saturday...) for the rest of the season!
That's the problem, they love listening to that gob****e Maureen. They talk more about him than the teams he manages, that tells the whole story! Also there is no surprise that Arsenal are most people's second team of choice.
Good isn't enough to win the league though and we where discussing what would be needed for you guys to win the league. Your forward line is the only bit of your team that is title winning quality. Your midfield isn't good enough and neither is your defence imo.
