Hey Arsene, how many selection headaches are you facing on Saturday?
We always knew the start to the season was a tough one. Away games to Stoke, Liverpool and ManCity are not to be pooh-poohed at, and it will all come to an early seasonal crescendo on Saturday, when we play the current leaders, Chelsea, at the home of football.
Before the start of the season, I wrote a post for ArsenalArsenal.wordpress.com in which I stated that the tough start to the season was actually good for us: it would help us to focus, and to hit the ground running from the first match day.
Given the circumstances of having to integrate a Frenchman, Spaniard and a German into this season’s team, and having to learn to live without the services of the traitorous Dutchman, Arsenal has done really well until now. We remain unbeaten, have only conceded two goals, and the atmosphere and believe in our club has, thank goodness, transformed during this relatively short period.
However, a win in the next game against Chelsea, the last match in a fabulous September for Arsenal, could really catapult us towards the top. This will not be easy though, and we have to be careful not to underestimate the challenge we face on Saturday.
It remains to be seen what sort of Chelsea we will face at Ashburton Grove. Will it be last season’s park the bus formation/strategy or will Chelsea come to us with the full intention to have a go at us. The latter would be welcome, as it would provide us with a lot of space to attack them, if and when we regain possession. The former would be okay too, as compared to last season, Arsenal has more players who have the ability to deal with ‘parked buses’ now.
I reckon Chelsea will aim to attack Arsenal and we will have to face up to three creative/ attacking midfielders, with just Torres alone up-front and two holding midfielders behind them. This will be a big challenge for our midfield, our ‘back-five’, as well as our ability to defend as a team.
So, assuming Chelsea will come to play football on Saturday, Arsene has to make a decision about three selection challenges: each one of them a headache, or a so called ‘luxury problem’, as we are lucky to have a lot of fully fit players in various positions at the moment.
Selection Headache One: which two CB’s from TV, Koz and Mertesacker?
This must be causing Arsene a headache at the moment. TV is our captain and has had ten days rest, Mertesacker is playing his best football since joining Arsenal, and Koz had a tremendous second half against Citeh and is freshest of them all. I really don’t know who he will choose, but if I have to make a guess: Koz will end up on the bench again.
Selection Headache Two: Giroud to start or back to a fluent/interchanging three up-front: Podolski, Gervinho and either The Ox or Theo?
If Arsene opts for a typical 4-3-3 formation, I expect us to start with Giroud in the middle, and Podolski and Gervinho on the wings. This seems to be our plan-A this season and we can always change to plan-B (Gervinho-Podolski-Theo/The Ox) if we need to.
Selection Headache Three: four or three in midfield?
The inclusion of Ramsey in our ‘4-3-3’ against Citeh – which was effectively more like a 4-4-2 most of the times – was a great tactical move by Arsene last weekend. Chelsea play not that dissimilar to Citeh and my guess is Aaron will get another start ahead of Theo or the Ox. Ramsey played very well and, especially in the latter part of the second half, his drive and incredible engine made a big difference.
Selection headaches two and three are obviously interlinked and my gut feeling is that, in order to deal with Chelsea’s creative strength in midfield, we will start with Plan-B on Saturday.
So, based on the above deliberations, I reckon our starting 11 on Saturday will be:
Mannone – Jenkinson – Mertesacker – Vermaelen – Gibbs – Ramsey – Cazorla – Arteta – Diaby – Gervinho – Podolski.
Total Arsenal.
Bergkampesque 
No doubt Gervinho is reluctant, he miss chances like nothing like on city game that through pass from Ramsey if he would have been Theo/Giroud it could have been a goal yet in crucial game like that,no excuse for missing chances. I would prefer Gervinho to stay on betch and comes in later not only on zt match but in most of the game.
Hi Lusiba, I can see your point re taking chances. However, Gervinho has scored three goals in the last three games and we should stick with him. He works very hard and get himself in the right positions. Who would you play instead of him?
..chamberlain shud be fine in gervinho’s position,he is a better finisher than gervinho and he works very hard also…..and moreso did u guys see his mouthwatering goal against coventry? He deserves a starting berth at least to keep gervinho on his toes wenever he is given a chance….gud luck to all gooners..
Hi Wizbuzz, The Ox is a very promising prospect and he scored indeed a fantastic goal against Coventry. Would I start him instead of Gervinho in such a big game on Saturday? I don’t think so, but he could come on in the second half to replace a pair of tired legs.
decisions decisions decisions. I think it has to be the same lineup that played against Man City, just with Kozzer swapping with Vermaelen. BFG can’t be dropped, he is red hot at the moment, and his timing will be imperative against all the little midfielders at Chelsea.
Having played midweek I think Giroud will be rested, but will come on late to test Luiz, Ivanovic, and the scum. Giroud is also still fitting in so I don’t think he will get much luck out of the Chelsea CB’s, so I’d prefer the “fluid-three” to cause trouble with speed and movement. Then we either see Luiz get could out of position like he regularly does, or Terry fall over…like he regularly does!
I hope Chelsea come at us like they did at Stamford Bridge last season because that was a ripper of a game, and really played into our hands well.
Also I would like Arteta and Verm to lay a good tackle on Hazard, just as pay back for being a greedy bugger, when his rightful home was with Arsenal!
Hi Oz, Vermaelen to sort out the Hazard – I like your thinking. I am still to be convinced about Hazard: a good, skill-full prospect but I do not rate him higher than the Ox at the moment.
TA. You will see from my PM tomorrow that we agree 9 out of 11.
A good read and if you do your PM’s on Friday it gives me the opportunity to steal your ideas !
Hi BR 🙂
Thanks.
I am not planning on doing the full-on, quality PMs that you do but will look ahead at the weekend games through a main theme (as you usually do as well). This time, I felt the formation headaches were a key theme, as a) a lot of players are pushing for a start and b) Chelsea are different this season, in terms of their style of football.
I think Kos in for Vermaelen. And Podolski and Giroud will not be on starting xi..
Wenger will play 4-5-1 with Arshavin include.. Striker will go to Walcott.
So the squad are:
Jekinson-Mertesacker-Kosquelin-Gibbs
Arteta-Diaby
Ramsey-Cozorla-Arshavin
Walcott
Go gunners..
Ok Ok Henry, you foresee changes! No TV, No Podolski, No Gerv. I cannot see it, but if you are I will call you the king of formations! 🙂
I like Kosquelin! A mixture of Koz and Coquelin? 😆
How are you doing anyway – and have you seen any Dutchmen you would like to join Arsenal recently?
If you are right*
Yes it sound rediculous..
I am not sure.. But with a lot of material to choose Wenger can give another surprise to Chealsea..
And we must win the midfield..
With Oscar, Hazard, Lampard and Mata play.. We really need a breaktrough..
In secondhalf we can bring Giroud for Walcott and Podolski for Ramsey or Diaby..
But let us see tomorrow.. hehe..
Can’t wait..
Go gunners..
Let’s feed those Chelski midfielders to the fishes tomorrow, Henry! 🙂
I completely agree, Ox is a better prospect. The world is his play thing
I’ll be gutted if Kozzer is ‘rested’..absolutely gutted.
Nice site TA
I like the efforts you have put in this, thank you for all the great articles.
Hey the Sharkster, fancy seeing you here! 😀
I love Koz, I love Mertesacker and I love the lion of Flanders – luckily I do not have to choose today.
Good luck, Arsene!
Couldn’t have said it better myself.
I just want to say I am just all new to blogging and site-building and honestly liked your blog site. Probably I’m planning to bookmark your blog . You amazingly have remarkable posts. Thank you for revealing your web-site.