My God, we are in big big trouble now with Walcott AND Podolski out, Podolski hasn't been fantastic, but you know there's always a chance for him to score sometime in the game. Walcott's been one of our best goal scorers this season, and so we lose 2 of our main goal scorers right there, meaning we will have to most likely rely on Gervinho on the wing, alongside OXO, both of whom have been average thus far, especially Gervinho. If it was up to me, I'd actually play Santi out wide, with Rosicky occupying Santi's midfield spot, the 2 can even interchange, and have Gervinho take Podolski's place, I wouldn't start with OXO and Gervinho together as our wing men.
I would even start Arshavin in the middle and shift Santi out wide just so that both the OX and Gerv do not start in the same team. We might just be able to carry one of them in their current form.
I think that might be the greatest insult Gervinho has ever received. For Kyle, of all people to say that, really does say something about poor old Gerv.
Gerv has been awful since he's been back in the team. He was awful on Saturday, he was awful on Tuesday, and there's a 90% probability that he'll be awful again next Saturday. At least Ramsey is just consistently crap, rather than being absolutely woeful when off form, like Gerv. Lesser of two evils.
Gervinho is by god AWFUL, but he can probably make something happen, like he did against Olympiacos, and in games earlier this season, when he was no where to be seen, he just managed to score. Ramsey on the other hand, isn't capable of doing ANYTHING, so that's why I wouldn't go with Ramsey on the wing, plus it's not his position and we will be handicapping ourselves by putting him out wide. My team would be: Shezza Jenkinson Merte TV Gibbs Wilshere Arteta Santi Rosicky Gervinho Giroud Rosicky and Santi can interchange with one another from midfield creators, to wingers. We have to start Rosicky, no way the likes of Arshavin, or Ramsey, should be starting ahead of him in this game. Arshavin and OXO can be brought on as subs if we need to make them, which we most likely will as Gervinho will fade out of the game and have to be taken out, and Rosicky, will tire eventually and need to be substituted around the 70th minute mark. Don't forget we got a big cup game in mid-week, so the likes of OXO, Arshavin, and Ramsey will most likely not start as Wenger will look to start them on Tuesday. But having said that, since Walcott and Podolski aren't playing on Saturday, and would have had a week's rest, if both are fit, I'd include them in the squad for Bradford, and even start Walcott, like we did against Reading when he returned to fitness.
In the end that's what I will go for as well. Ok, Oxo is not in great form, but from the left I think he can do a decent job if he sticks to the basics. Gerv is just too confusing for his own good.
Oxo is in and form but a good game here could jumpstart his season. Plus he's shown flashes of his quality in that position HE'S NOT A FREAKING MIDFIELDER WENGER. I think this could be a good game for him. Gervihno on his day can be good, but he's too damn inconsistent. Ramsey is a CAM but he won't get in the squad so he should go out on loan. If we stick to the basics and up the tempo we can win, WBA isn't on the best of form (2 losses in a row) and really we SHOULD be winning these games.
Young players are throuh to the Round of 16 of the Next Gen Series. Heard Eisfield, Toral, and other guys played well. That's some positive.
Yep, saw that. The next gen is an excellent youth competition and it's good that we have progressed. Playing against the best in their own age group can only make them better.
Thinking my 1-1 prediction might be a bit generous with the injuires. If Wenger goes for Cazorla central with Oxo and Gervinho wide i think we'll lose..
Some pics from training. please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Pod is in the first pic, I thought he was injured?
