Don't have a good feeling about this game at all. Wigan are full of confidence and have nothing to lose. We are exactly the opposite. We have no confidence and everything to lose.
The problem is that pretty much all our fit players are either just back from injury or in awful form
Gibbs, Chamberlain and Rosicky are all facing late fitness tests. Bearing that in mind, here is how I would line up: ------------------Szczesny------------------ --Sagna--Mertesacker--Vermaelen--Monreal-- -------------------Arteta------------------- -----------Ramsey-------Kallstrom----------- -Cazorla----------------------------Podolski- ------------------Sanogo------------------- Don't really see who else we can play, unless we go with Gnabry on the right, with Cazorla in the middle.
If I were Wenger I might change the back 4 entirely. Go Jenkinson (whatever happened to him?) Sagna at CB, Mertesacker, Monreal. Different but can't be worse than Verm + Monreal. They remind me on the Squillaci, Clichy combo from several seasons back.
Yes, as much as I think Arteta's been poor recently I 'll be amazed if he's dropped for this game. Cazorla and Podolski will play wide which will suit Wigan perfectly
Bearing in mind players fitness I'd do this: ------------------Fabianski------------------ --Sagna--Mertesacker--Vermaelen--Monreal-- -----------Ramsey-------Arteta------------- -Gnabry-----------Cazorla-----------Podolski- ------------------Sanogo------------------- I thought Aaron and Arteta were excellent together at the start of the season so would like to see more of that. I'd also prefer to see Santi in the middle as I think it's his best position and obviously Ãzil ain't around. I'd prefer Gibbs to Nacho Nacho Man but I doubt he'll be back in time.
Don't think it's down to Arteta entirely, the Flamini/Arteta midfield doesn't work. Been shown up time and time again. Now with only Arteta with Ramsey alongside and maybe Cazorla in the middle, we may stand more of a chance. Play Gnabry out wide if necessary.
Indeed. Flamini has the bite we need but lacks the discipline that the Arteta/Ramsey combo had. Cue it being utter sh*te now on the weekend (if they both play)!
A lot will depend on who comes through the fitness tests, but I'd definitely rather Sagna at LB and play Jenks than Monreal & Verm playing together on the left side.
It looks like injuries and fitness will pick the line up for this one. Hopefully Ramsey is fit enough to play the full 90 mins. Looking forward to this game. After our recent disappointing crumble away from the title race it's nice to have a game that could set us up for a cup final. It's at Wembley and it'll be a different atmosphere. We've been good in the fa cup this season and I think the players are desperate to win a trophy so I think we will see a lot of effort. Wigan won the cup last season and have put out city for the second year running to get to the semi final, so it isn't going to be an easy game. But I'm expecting the team to put in a strong performance and get us to the final.
I'd go for: -------------Szcz------------- Sagna--mert--verm--Gibbs ----Arteta----Ramsey----- Oxocube---Cazorla---podolski -------------giroud-------- If they are all fit enough to start. With whoever else is fit on the bench.
We <heart> Fabianski. Remember his flap for Titus Bramble to score the equaliser at the DW, before N'Zogbia scored the winner? Two more of our old boys who went on to "bigger and better things", incidentally.
He'd stick with Fabianski, I'm sure of it, whether it's the right decision or not. It's part of his integrity that drives so many of our fans bonkers. It just so happens that as things are going I actually think he's playing better than Chezzers so it's not a bad thing.
I don't think that combination is great offensively, but I think that the whole left side is suspect defensively without Koscielney there being heroic. Put TV behind Arteta with Monreal there as well, then put Podolski (or Cazorla) in front of them and you have a disaster looking for a cause! The team I would like to see: Fab Sagna-BFG-TV-Gibbs Ramsey-Kallstrom Gnabry-Cazorla-Podolski Giroud
