Ospina in goal, Alexis back, FlamShere to protect? Match Preview

TotalArsenal

Very little time to write a preview, and what is there to say anyway? 

Cannot wait to see mini-hulk in action again!
Cannot wait to see mini-hulk in action again!

It is a must-win game, and what happened on Saturday and what will happen on Sunday is totally irrelevant. We had a bad start in Dortmund and were outclassed. But they still have to come to the home of football in the penultimate game of the group. Before that happens, we will play Galatasaray at home and Anderlecht home and away. We can get nine points out of those three games which should get us in a strong position to qualify for the next group; and maybe even win it.

I don’t know much about the current Galatasaray club or their players. UEFA.com have the following likely line- up for Galatasaray: Muslera; Semih, Melo, Chedjou; Tarık, Selçuk, Sneijder, Dzemaili, Alex Telles; Burak, Olcan. I know Melo a bit, and Schneider quite well. The latter is a fading force, but in a free role he is always capable to do something special. He is actually quite a lazy and limited player, but the few strengths he has are of the highest calibre. He is brilliant at set-pieces, corners as well as free-kicks and we should be wary not to give too many of the latter away. He also has an eye for a quick pass and has a great shot. Other than that he is rubbish! 🙂

Maybe other bloggers who are a bit more familiar with Turkish football can fill us in….

I think we will play a similar team to the one we finished with on Saturday. Furthermore, I reckon Arsene will want these players to come through well and uninjured, so they can take on the Chavs as well. As others have mentioned, we need some consistency now and the team more or less picks itself.

My predicted Line-Up sees Alexis start on the left and Ospina getting a chance in goal. The latter is a gut-feeling, as I believe Wenger will slowly ease Ospina into direct  competition with Bond’s favourite villain. Alexis is needed for his goals AND fitness/willingness to work his chilli-peppered nuts off. At the moment, and judging on last season’s goal per game ratio, we do not have many regular goal scorers in the team with Ramsey, Theo and OG out, so Alexis has to be a must. No doubt we will also see Pod play a part in this game, especially if we have not scored (enough) after seventy minutes or so.

Jack appears to be fit, so I reckon he will play as per the importance of this game. He is likely to sit back a bit more in 4-2-1-3 line-up, although we will surely ‘officially’ start again with 4-1-4-1. Ozil in the hole, Alexis and Ox (or very possibly Santi) on the wings and Danny-boy to lead the line.

Predicted Line-Up:

Ars v Gala Oct Final

COYG – Let The Canon Roar!

Written by: TotalArsenal.

 

 

97 thoughts on “Ospina in goal, Alexis back, FlamShere to protect? Match Preview”

  • nice one skipper –

    love your starting 11 !!! but don’t think JW will play though, so I reckon Rosicky might get a chance to play with the OX putting in a shift both centrally and on the wings interchanging with Sicky as my amigo 17HT calls him .

    had a nice little chuckle at my favourite villain

    it will be a tough game though, we must score from set pieces as am expecting another PTB .

  • I think rosicky and podolski will play
    Bellerin not involved in u19 clash so maybe he gets a run in place of chambers
    If the Chelsea game was’nt next i think Chambers might have got a chance at DM

  • our youth team won 5-1 against Gala – it would be nice to score 5 for a change as I can’t remember the last time we scored more than 4/5 goals .

    might have been the game 17HT went to actually vs Newcastle .

  • yep and Poldi does well against Turkish sides, I think he scored a brace against Fenb and then got injured an year or so ago ? @ Neeraj

    good shout, with Welbeck starting from the bench and being sort of rested for Chelsea , I like it !

  • Yes, it is another game where I know what I liked to see, but probably will not get?

    Ideally, to balance defence with attack, we need two DM’s to support the behind the wingbacks. and we need two strikers tow occupy both CBs, pulling them away from there comfort zones. which leaves two spots for attacking/creative midfielders. Thus: Szcz, Chambers, Mert, Kos, Flamini, Coqelin, Ox, Ozil, Alexis, Welbeck.

    Which is your team bar Ospina, who I think will get a run after Chelsea, not before, and Coqelin for Wilshere, who will be kept for Sunday.

    The only difference is I would keep both Alexis and Welbeck up top, but let them do the pressing high up. Rosicky and Poldi may be the impact late on, with Hayden replacing Flamini or Coquelin.

    Of the Gala side, Burak is that multiple scorer two seasons ago, but was much quieter last season ..were were ‘linked’ with him, of course. Dzemaili I remember him from his previous club, but I cannot think where, so not much help. A midfielder though?

  • JB – if the senior Gala side play anything like their Under 19’s it will be a tough game. I did a mini report at the end of the previous post.
    Well drilled I think is the phrase. But ready to attack on the counter … which is why I want two DM’s operating.

  • If jack is picked to start then i think you’ve got that line up bang on the money TA!

    would love to see the introduction of Akpom and/or Hayden later on once we look comfortable 🙂

    Crowley looking like a young David Silva was great to watch earlier, lets hope the seniors can emulate the score line COYG!

  • thanks for that @ Gerry

    ok, but the trouble is that your starting 11 doesn’t have a LB and last time we experimented with Coquelin there, it backed fired ?

  • Lets see whether Jack plays. Wenger rested players midweek…. Arteta and Ramsey and guess what… they still got injured at the weekend. If he is fit, I reckon he will not be saved, as Arsene also likes to play very strong line ups in the CL, especially at home…. something to do with sponsor as well.

    I love all the line up thoughts though, and I am not precious about it. Whoever plays will do so with their heart on their sleeves and their pecker up. COYG>

  • I don’t know if you already know, but the game is on Sky One ( channel 106 ) tonight !. It sometimes catches people out when CL games are on Tuesdays on ITV !.

  • oh cheers @ Glic’s

    what’s your prediction for tonight ? give us a scoreline, will ya 🙂

  • by the way, I got the update on Mrs.Monster, all it means is that you must behave yourself and play nicely 🙂 fingers crossed, hopefully she will get placed on the list soon and then the count down begins – it can be a long wait though .

    now leave all the petty stuff aside , the differences and what not – drown them and rise above it .

    what I don’t understand is as to how you know what channel it’s on when you never watch a game live – well it’s different to watching it sat on the sofa facing towards your tele as opposed to hiding behind it, ha

    that’s true @ Skipper – the resting of Ramsey and Arteta backfired and we are looking at the state of our pitch now as well, AW has gone into paranoia mode ( 7 years too late) but as they say, better late than never !

  • Thanks for the info, Hamez !.
    I didn`t know it was on Sky One myself until Jnr Gooner walked in and told me. I always thought Sky One was an entertainment channel and Sky Sports was for the…erm…sport !. That’s all I would have needed is to hide behind the sofa and put on Sky One and see a Gala goal go in !.
    Score line ?. Being at home I expect we will over run them for 90 mins, but it will be a tight 5-0 to Gala !.

  • Personally, I wouldn’t play Jack.

    I would play

    Szcz

    Chambers Per Kos Gibbs (if Kos is a risk, I would swap bellerin for Kos, putting chambers at CB)

    Flamini Ox

    Sanchez Ozil Santi

    Danny

    However, I don’t expect Arsene to go with this team.

    Who knows what the team would be.

  • blimey, at first glance I thought you meant sky sports one but since you said it again, what the fcuk is wrong with these sky nutters ? they have 5 skysports channels yet they use an entertainment one for the Arsenal match -( I don’t have that one on my phone and package, yikes)

    am gonna go for a 1 -0 to us .

  • Arsenal

    Wojciech Szczęsny; Chambers, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Flamini, Cazorla, Ozil, Alexis, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Welbeck

  • Now I disagree there, Hamez !…….I don’t have Sky Sports and thought everyone had Sky One on their TV !. So great as far as I`m concerned !.

  • That looks a decent team to me on paper !…………but I want a decent performance on the grass !.

  • 9/11 ah well next time better. I guess we are going to attack and dont worry about our midfield defensive duties. Bring it on.

    Catch you all after the game.

  • Hey Boys…I hate to say I told you so, but… 😀

    Wenger goes with the exact line-up which finished the match vs Spuds… Bellerin and Le Coq make the bench, but not Hayden…

    We need a win AND a better performance. If we can afford to take our foot off the gas and get some good minutes for some subs, all the better. Time to get this season in gear, I say…

    Go on…

  • We do look bright early but it’s breaking down in the box… Ref letting them play so things are very wide open…

    Galatasaray a bit dangerous working down our right side but the shot is well off…

  • Time to practice them counter attacks! Let’s not concede some silly goal, or get a red please…

  • Bad two footed challenge from Melo on Alexis…Looked a straight red but we only got it on replay, as they were showing Pandev’s weak shot at the other end…Yellow only…

  • Well… Not much to say when things are flowing like that? “Besiktas played like crap” is going to be the media headline…

  • Nice write up Totes,
    Just 1 player different to the line up, just Jack for Cazorla. A wise choice i think with Jack and his ankle, even more so now after what we have just seen.
    They have played great, every single player for us so far tonight imo.
    COYG.
    Take them to the sword. 5-0 would be great.

  • Wow, what a ball from Alexis to Ox, who maybe should’ve shot instead of passed…

    Good pace, good movement thus far in the match… A good prep for Chavs, maybe?…

    HAT TRICK—Welbeck…. 4-nil

  • He’s done us a massive favour by getting sent us – now we will probably end us topping our group .

  • Am hoping it’s 3 – this way we can easily top our group ; )

    Straight red is normally 3 but if it was me then I would probably do a straight 30 games ban for him , ha .

  • But seriously do you lot see my point now ? Some people never learn and he has way too many brain darts to learn the basics .

    Normally he gets this in the knock outs and costs us dearly … The main reason for our CLIENTS exits in the past hence I’m happy he’s got this out nice and early .

  • Not just CL… All the cups as well mainly when he has played and like I said to you before … The only reason we won the FA cup was fabianksi.

    Anyway we need to bring coq on for ozil.

  • Jack instead…for Messy…

    I dunno, 007… Your hatred of the Szcz seems a little extreme. Fabianski couldn’t organize a set piece in that Final and we were lucky only to concede the two early goals…

    On the other hand, our #1 needs to do better when he comes out and goes to ground, 1 v 1… Plenty of time for him to work this out, I think…

    I’d say that you should try and keep an open mind, but I fear that ship has sailed… 😀

    Ospina with a FINE save from the header, however…

  • I rate Szsc he is a great shot stopper, but his disission making is bad at time.
    I get the feeling Ospina is a bit wiser, i like em both though.

  • Ahhahahahahaha

    But to be fair…basel are a good team… they play as a team and for each other same like atl- madrid

  • Sorry 007…

    Obviously, Sir Chez has a real weakness in his game…and I understand that you’ve wanted to see others get a chance. Still, to judge him completely bereft of quality seems too much. Also, blaming all troubles on him makes it hard to take seriously…He rolls the ball out and 2 passes later Flamini is knocked off the ball, but it’s still (ALL) his fault?!…

    Somehow I doubt I’m gonna convince you…So I’ll leave it there. Again, Sorry…

    Finishes 4-1…

  • We are going to win against that moron’s Chelsea – bring it on… i can’t wait !!! It’s written in the stars we are going to put them in our rightful place.. London is red !

    Been a pleasure as always gents until next time …

    Ps : stares at 17th .

  • I’m not talking about the flamini one . That’s done .

    I was talking about CL . 3 years in a row .

    Enough said – let other people make their own minds up as clearly you have been under the influence of TMHT , ha

  • Basel is a good team, and they’ve had good performances these last years AND they had injured players (had no defenders at all on the bench!). They apparently deserved the win too!

  • Agreed that the farts still don’t go away and that’s a big worry JB, especially in cup games, but also agreed with 17ht that he does have great qualities. Anyway Ospina will be our CL goal for a bit or more, and may get his chance in PL if Arsene wants to send him a message…

    It’s a pity we didn’t have the opportunity to control the game and had to fight more than we should have.

  • Chezzer does have it in him to produce both sublime keeping and then also something a bit daft.
    Up until the penalty he had to do nothing – and then got bored. Twit.

    But Jimmy, Bondy, Heffalump (that’s his secret name – so say nothing) is totally potty to find nothing to praise in our PIG. 🙂 And as for ‘speechless’ – do me a favour. Those little fingers are itching to go. 🙂

    By the way, James, how are you? 🙂

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *