Epic picture. Always like to see the players smiling and in photos together. There have been murmourings about all 3 of those players and how happy they are at times this season and it's good to have them all smiling together. Can't wait for Cazorla to sign a new contract!
Seems the team everyone wants is: --------Sczc--------- Sagna---Kosc--Mert--Whoever is fit ------Flamini---Rosicky---- Oxocube----Ozil---Podolski ------------Giroud------- With Wilshere and Cazorla to come on from the bench. Does anyone think Wenger will start with this team? I think we will see Jack in next to Flamini but otherwise i think it's the likely line-up.
Why are the forums so quiet before saturday games these days? We used to get far more pre-match discussion on saturdays (bar the early kick-offs lazy bastards).
Everyone seems to be forgetting Arteta and unless he's suspended or something I expect he'll be in the managers thoughts. Whether thats alongside Flamini, Wilshere or Rosicky remains to be seen on who's fit and how we fill in the LB spot. If Gibbs or Monreal are fit then they will start at LB, but if not then theres a couple of options. 1. Vermaelen at LB. I doubt this will happen because he's only just back from injury and was never great at LB anyways. 2. Flamini at LB. Would mean Arteta plays in midfield, probably alongside Wilshere. A possibility but I think Flamini would be much more useful in midfield against the rugby players of Stoke. 3. Sagna at LB, Jenks at RB. My preferred option. Jenkinson is still developing, but he is over 6 foot and height always helps at the back against Stoke's set pieces. Sagna can play LB almost as well as he can RB so that's not a problem. Would also keep Flamini in CM where he can protect the back 4. Unlike most people, I'd like to see Wilshere start in CM as well, as he was brilliant against Sunderland and can hopefully keep up that good form. Also, Rosicky is good at pressing the defence and closing them down quickly, but not so good at tackling or marking players. He would be much more suited playing further forwards.
I'd not be adverse to Arteta playing with Flamini in the middle if Arteta plays the role of attacking the ball in the opponents half like he has recently. I think if Monreal or Gibbs are not fit then Vermaelen will start as Wenger will want to get him plenty of game time to keep him at the club. Stoke don't offer lots of pace an so i'm not too bothered about Verm playing there.
Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Arteta, Wilshere, Rosicky, Cazorla, Podolski, Giroud so nobody was right then...
So Flamini Ozil and Oxo on the bench. -------Sczc------ Sagna--Mert--Kosc--Gibbs -----Arteta---Wilshere--- Rosicky---Cazorla---Podolski ---------Giroud-------- Subs: Flappy, Jenkinson, Verm, Flamini, Oxocube, Ozil, Sanogo (I'm assuming those are the subs?)
