Well, Dortmund are almost certain to target our right side then... Let's just hope it's not a repeat of when Jenkinson was thrown straight in at Old Trafford...
Who's available for this game? I know about our back line, but what about midfield and forward options? Any new injuries or suspensions?
https://twitter.com/emimartinezz1 Latest tweet claims Bellerin is starting, as Oxo just stated. Apparently he is very good offensively, but is still learning positioning as a RB. Used to be a winger, and occasionally played there last season for the U21s. Only heard good things mostly though, so hope he can put in a top performance.
Arsenal XI: Szczesny, Bellerin, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Gibbs, Arteta, Wilshere, Ramsey, Alexis, Ozil, Welbeck
So looks like Ozil on the wing again, unless Jack is there (unlikely). Not too sure about this 4141 formation with Arteta holding, he is far too slow to cover the ground between defence and attack unless we are sitting a lot deeper than we have been this season. Mkhitaryan (Dortmund AM) is also very quick and skillful, so could expose him quite easily. Still, we should keep the ball well with that midfield, and Sanchez and Welbeck offer pace and dribbling to get in behind.
"I give him freedom to play inside and outside and he enjoys that." Wenger on Ozil's position. He drifts inside. His starting position doesn't really matter because he will be in the middle regardless
Bellerin might well get destroyed tonight, but he is a fine talent and sadly I would put good money on those ****s at Barca trying to buy him back in a few seasons.
Ozil plays from the left, but he hardly stays there. The guy drifts all over the place. Against City, he found himself in the middle many times, but could not produce a telling pass. His issue right now is a lack of confidence, not his position.
Another thought about Ozil and Bellerin tonight. Against City he started on the left, but swapped fairly early on with Sanchez, who would track Zabaleta much more. Can see Ozil starting on the left, with Sanchez being told to help out a bit more. Gibbs has more experience and can handle a 2 on 1 occasionally, but Bellerin could quickly become flustered if that happens a lot at the start of the game.
That's fine but it leaves the team out of shape. If he's free to drift inside then start him inside..
This is modern football. Most top teams have these players who drift from the wings. Look at Silva for City as a prime example. A very similar player to Ozil, who also played out wide for Madrid and it was not an issue for him then.
Or even look at the best player from Dortmund as an example. Reus starts on the left, but always drifts into the middle.
I'd have started Arteta and Flamini or asked Wilshere to stay back and have a double shield to provide a more defensive outlook. Probably with Rosicky on the left as he offers good counter attacking prowess but will cover the full-back more. Bit worried about the full-backs being exposed on this.
