Wenger is loving the UEFA Cup and League Cup games as much as many of us do. On Arsenal.com he said:
“If you look at the number of minutes played by all of these players since the start of the season, many of them are in very competitive shape and that should be an advantage for the rest of the season.”
Bang on, Arsene, and what a fine position to be in! A win tonight and we are through but the boys and men will have to put in a performance to achieve this. We rode our luck against Red Star Belgrade a few times but a fine goal by NaNaNaNaah was enough to bring home all the three points. Let’s hope our eleven will want it badly and put in a performance for the home support.
This is my predicted line-up, with the BFG to captain the team:
Here is another good chance for the youngsters to shine and the likes of Wilshere, Iwobi, Theo and Giroud to show Wenger that they can replace first team players if he wishes to do so. We all look forward to seeing Super-Jack doing his three-dimensional magic again, and let’s hope Walcott is fully focused. I am also hoping for a good game from Iwobi, who really needs to step it up a bit. Furthermore, Chambers and Holding have an opportunity to get closer to the first team, and who knows, a certain youngster may come on late to score a brace or more…
Come on You Rip Roaring Gunners!
By TotalArsenal
Bergkampesque 
Hi all..
Hi TA.. I loved to see Mertesacker and Chambers in your team..
But what about Debuchy..?? Hehe played a solid games..
And what happened to Elneny also..??
It Will be better to put him beside Wilshere than Willock..
I love our 3 Strikers.. but still wanted to see Nketiah again.. hehehehe..
Good shout on Debuchy – would be good to see him again. I reckon Chambers needs the game though. I expect Elneny to play against City either from the start or later on. So he should be rested for this one.
Mertesacker? Maybe only because we want to have the captain on the pitch; very unlikely. It will be Holding, Debuchy and Elneny, just as with the reverse fixture. Unless Wenger plans to play him VS City, I expect Coquelin to play alongside Jack. Pity, Cech won’t be getting any rest owing to injury situation of Ospina and Macey may be on the bench. Either way, no sweat on the keeper pick.
COYG!!
Mustafi will be back on Sunday… Wenger’s secret weapon! 😉
Yeah, I gotta agree with ‘Eris about the back line, plus Cech as keeper. Elneny as middle-middle is a work in progress but I’ve always enjoyed AW trying to move people into different spots. Unfortunately, Gooner-critics are more than quick to latch on to any mistake and “out of position” accusations. Also, I’m pretty sure Wenger has said that Chambers (along with Mustafi) are out through the next Int’l break. I gotta go with ‘Eris’ pick of Coquelin over Willock, too. The others, I reckon, you’ve got right… Though isn’t it Nah-Nah-Nah-Nanana-Nah?… 😀
I’m hoping to take the doggie on a decent size walk in the sunny November (mid-day) weather while we’ve got it. After that, I’ll try the live-blog thing, if that’s OK…
Go for that walk Seventeenho and practice the Giroud song in the woods! Looking fwd to the live blog. I hope to be home when the game starts or there about. Currently travelling through a very dark Dumfries and Galloway.
I like Willock and would have liked to see him start tonight, but hierarchy has to count for something as we need Coq match ready, whenever he may be needed. Ordinarily, he plays games like City to provide physicality in midfield, but he hasn’t gotten the right number of games, I reckon.
Team sheet is out….
Arsenal confirmed XI: Macey, Debuchy, Elneny, Holding, Coquelin, Willock, Nelson, Maitland-Niles, Walcott, Wilshere, Giroud
Subs: Cech, Tutu, Sheaf, Dasilva, Mcguane, Akpom Nketiah
Red Star Belgrade confirmed XI: Borjan; Stojkovic, Savic, Le Tallec, Babic; Srnic, Kanga, Donald, Krsticic, Radonjic; Boakye
Didn’t get the sub list for our guests but….
So, Macey starts and Willock is in too. Iwobi isn’t even on the bench, which begs the issue; is he injured?
Wikshere not getting picked for England, and Southgates quote makes me worry.
I’m afraid Jack might get frustrated about getting no league games, and we need him to renew with us.
But we can discuss more later. I like the continued use of youth in these games. Let’s finish this group today.
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