Match Day Thread Nottingham Forest vs. Arsenal (EFL Cup 3rd Round) 2016/17 Official Match Thread

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Venue: City Ground
Tuesday, September 20th 2016
KO Time: 19.45 BST

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Head to Head Against Nottingham Forest:
Played: 97
Wins: 49
Draws: 22
Losses: 26
Goals For: 148
Goals Against: 104
Goal Difference: 44

Last 6 Meetings:
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Arsenal
Arsenal 2-1 Nottingham Forest
Arsenal 2-0 Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest 2-1 Arsenal
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Arsenal
Arsenal 1-1 Nottingham Forest

Arsène Wenger has given an update on the latest team news ahead of Tuesday's night's trip to face Nottingham Forest in EFL Cup action.
Here's what the boss had to say when he previewed the trip to the City Ground:

on the latest team news…
Everyone came out of the Hull game well. Giroud is still not available - we will see at the end of the week if he can join in [ahead of the Chelsea match].

on Gabriel…
He has a chance to play against Forest.

on Carl Jenkinson…
He is improving, he is not quite back in full training yet.

on Aaron Ramsey…
He is still out - I don’t think he will be ready for the weekend either.​

 

The worst team we could have come up against, they have the best striker in the world, not sure if our defence can hold out...

 

Ospina is going to have to bring his A+ game for us to have a chance. Even then us winning is down to the whims of The Lord himself.

 

We're ****ed

 

Call me a cynic but we were discussing Ramsey on the way to Hull on Saturday.One of the lads said Ramsey wouldn't be fit until after the international break meaning he won't be fit to play for Wales in the World Cup qualifiers

 

Hopefully if he isn't fully up to the required level, he doesn't play for that **** sheep shagging lot, risking further injury and focuses on being fit for Arsenal

 

As much as i want Ramsey playing for us, Wales need him more than we do. At least we have good depth and can play Xhaka or Elneny there with Cazorla and Coqs as DM. Job done.

 

I couldn't care less how much Wales need him! I want us to have as many players fit and competing for spots as possible.

 

Well in my opinion i would go for a Carzola, Xhaka and Coqs midfield.

 

It depends who we are playing, who is on form, who is injured and on top of that its good to have different options from the bench depending on how the game is going. From the bench Ramsey is a more offensive option.

 

You just know that Bendtner is going to score in this game.

 

Well i got .25p on a 5-1 or a 6-0 so im nervous as ****! ha

 

Hope the Jeff starts in this one, he looks like he can be something special, also if he does start, hope the OX does not stink the place out with yet another dire performance, in fact, I would be tempted to play Chris Willock instead.

 

It's worrying that Ramsey and Giroud both seem to be joining the trend of injured players we've had were Wenger says 'they'll be back by the weekend' then when they aren't he says 'they are a little short and will be back by the next game' and on and on... I mean Giroud only had a stubbed toe for Christ sake and Ramsey was injured on the 14th of August and yet might not be back until after the international break!

 

Is Giroud really injured or is Wenger teaching him a lesson for a being a stupid prick in the PSG game? Hopefully the later.

 

How do y'all think we'll line up

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So you think Wenger will continue to try turning Bielik into a CB? I know he's played him there once (or is it twice?) but I always assumed he'd bought him as a DM. Not really seen much of him since we bought him though.

Gabriel might be back though by this game and will be needing game time. I'd have thought we'd have the Jeff in the middle with the Ox out wide, or Iwobi in the 10 slot.

Don't think Giroud will make it - it seems like one of those 'ohh it's a nothing, stubbed toe injuries, he'll be back... soon' and it turns out he's out for like 2 months!

 

Oh if Gabriel is available then he should be in there along with Holding. Bielik was very good at CB in pre-season. If Giroud is still out then Akpom should get a start. I would personally play Iwobi, Ox and Perez. But I reckon AW will most likely rest Iwobi.

 

It would be good to see Akpom play but I'd imagine Wenger will use this game as a chance to see Perez in his preferred position - CF. Not sure Iwobi needs the rest as Wenger seems to want Sanchez and Theo as his first choice wide men, so Iwobi won't be in the starting X11 unfortunately and will have plenty of rest as a result.

 

For under-21 Bielik has been playing as a CB for a year and in an interview he said he was not sure in the beginning but now likes it. So I see him as a full time CV. But who know s with Wenger.