Wednesday sees the Gunners take on a Marseille side struggling in the French League, but leading their Champions League Group after two convincing performances. Arsene himself has said that if Arsenal can take 4 points from Marseille they will win the group. A win and an unfortunate draw at the start of their European campaign has seen Arsenal put in a strong position, but this should be their toughest challenge so far. Probable Lineup: Chesney Jenkinson Mertesacker Koscielny Santos Song Arteta Rosicky Theo RvP Gervinho On the Bench: Fabianski, Djourou, Coquelin, Benayoun, Oxo, Arshavin, Park That means no space for Miyaichi, Chamakh, Gibbs or Ramsey - there is definitely strength in depth in the squad, especially with Vermaelen, Wilshere, Diaby & Sagna to come back! I'd anticipate a full-strength team, though it worries me that Arteta and Rosicky are being asked to play twice in a weak knowing their previous injury issues. Theo NEEDS a good game, as surely Oxo is breathing down his neck after recent performances? Arshavin looked good during his cameo on Sunday, so perhaps he can stake a claim with his experience? Your thoughts // ideas // predictions are welcome folks!!
Marseillie have stormed ahead in our group and it's definitely a tough away fixture for us. But we are unbeaten in our last seven visits to France. I thought Marseille were a bit lucky to get all three points in Greece, but a 3-0 win against Dortmund shows that they have got real quality. I think we're going to need to put out our strongest team if we want to win, so I'd go with Arteta and Rosicky in MF I'd love to see Oxo getting involved in this game, I think his pace and power could really do some damage, not sure if he's ahead of Walcott yet, but he scored in his last two outings for us and got a hat-trick for the U21's so he can't do much more to prove that he's ready. I'd love a win obvs, but I think I'd settle for a point away from home 1-1 .... I reckon
AOC isn't breathing down Theo's neck. That's unfair on Alex more than anything. We shouldn't expect him to take over. However, Theo has been awful. I think he's trying to force a move to a striker role. What he doesn't realise is that we no longer have to players to do that. After all, without Nasri we'd have to play Arshavin there (with Gervinho on the right) and that wouldn't work. If Wenger had got Mata, Alvarez or Hazard it might have been different but not as it stands.
Make it relevant. Leave wenger alone. The team we have should put up a fight. I sneaky 1 nil win or a score draw is what im inclinde to say
I wasn't attacking Wenger. I just meant that if we had those players we could afford to have Walcott up front. As it is, we can't.
We dont have those players so no need to go into it. I would have loved the huge list apparently close to signing. I beleive in wenger and the signings he brought it. I even got a boner when arteta signed. IN WENGER WE MUST TRUST
I don't think a 352 is a good idea, but I very much agree with your observations about Oxo and Theo Samir A very well reasoned and articulate argument
Gibbs is confirmed out, so I expect this to be our line-up vs Marseille: ------------------Szczesny------------------- --Jenkinson--Koscielny--Mertesacker--Santos-- --------------Song------Arteta--------------- -Walcott----------Rosicky-----------Arshavin- ------------------v.Persie-------------------- Other options: Djourou for Jenkinson, Koscielny at RB Ramsey for Rosicky/Arteta Frimpong/Coquelin for Song AOC for Walcott Gervinho for Arshavin
I'm expecting the exact same team as Sunday but with Gibbs and Santos switching. Time to get some cohesion at the club innit.
Cohesion would be a great thing. Really need the lads to pull their socks up and grind on out from this. I'm optimistic that as long as they can retain possession and get their passing game going they can get a result here. Marseille aren't in a good place right now. A win here and it'll do the confidence the world of good.
------------------Szczesny------------------- --Jenkinson--Koscielny--Mertesacker--Santos-- --------------Song------Arteta--------------- -Gervinho----------Rosicky-----------Arshavin- ------------------v.Persie-------------------- Would rest/drop Walcott. Gervinho played on the right for Lille so I would play him there and bring Arshavin into the team. He has looked sharp for both club and country in the last few weeks. Andrey's drop in form came when Russia failed to make the world cup. Not been the same player since then imo. That was a massive blow for him seeing as he is their captain and that was probaly his only chance to play in a world cup. But now he has helped Russia to a place in the Euro's he should be on the up because his country is very important to him unlike some of the twats that wear the England shirt. If we get the old Andrey back then we can start to build a run of wins. On form he is THAT good. Also you could swap Arshavin and Rosicly at any time. Both can play behind the forward or on the left. Thats a bit difference from the time where Fabregas would and could only play in the middle.
Don't think rosicky will start, he cant handle 2 games in 3 days i expect wenger to start benayoun in mid with arteta and song, other than that team looks pretty probable. Result wise, away from, i think it will be close but i think the first 10 mins will give us an indication as to how we will play - tends to be the case this season.
18 man squad named: Wojciech Szczesny Lukasz Fabianski Carl Jenkinson Andre Santos Per Mertesacker Laurent Koscielny Johan Djourou Tomas Rosicky Mikel Arteta Alex Song Theo Walcott Gervinho Yossi Benayoun Francis Coquelin Andrey Arshavin Aaron Ramsey Robin van Persie Marouane Chamakh Expected Line-up: ---------------------Szczesny--------------------- --Jenkinson--Koscielny--Mertesacker--Santos-- ----------------Song--------Arteta---------------- -Gervinho-----------Rosicky------------Arshavin- ----------------------v.Persie---------------------- Fabianski, Djourou, Coquelin, Ramsey, Benayoun, Walcott, Chamakh. Maybe Ramsey for Rosicky or Walcott for Arshavin but I doubt it...
i would be happy with that line up. Think chamakh deserve a place second half (after RVP scores in first half) then bring on walcot and benayoun. Dont think he will bring on ramsey as just come back from injury.
I think we are going to struggle on this one away from home. Selection is vital and the trouble is Wenger is not sure which is his best side in the CL. I think he will go cautious and hope for a draw so we can beat them at the Emirates.
I am looking forward to seeing Santos in action, I like what I have seen from him so far and if he can learn a little more discipline in defence, he can be a real asset going forward as he looks to have many attacking qualities. His fitness has improved and he can be a real asset for us going forward. Draw would do nicely tonight, a win would be terrific but main thing is that we get something from the game. I hope our defence can show more solidity.
