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cubeadvance

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Stagger Lee

Stagger Lee

Posted
Posted

I was hoping we would start with Ox in the centre and either Rosicky or Wilshere on the right. He and Arteta worked well together against Palace and I'd like to see more of it.

Wilshere was pretty dire last night and Giroud looks like he needs a week or two holidaying with Diarby.

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The Fox

The Fox

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I really can't see how Ox would cause Arteta any more issues defensively than Wilshere already does. Surely it's worth a go in the cup game.

Sczcesny; Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs; Flamini, AOC; Wilshere, Cazorla, Podolski; Bendtner

We'll probably lose because it's lacking a bit of quality, but that XI is surely better than wheeling knackered old Giroud out to plod around again, or running Ozil further into the ground.

Obvs I'm not writing Jack off - he's still young and is at a similar stage to 2012 Ramsey in terms of regaining form/confidence after his lay off. But as that @RoamingLibero article I posted said, it's a bit concerning that all the problems he had a year ago don't seem to be improving at all (although actually, last night, he was sloppy at stuff he's normally decent at). At the moment I think his best position in this team is right midfield. The last two games he's been a liability in the middle with Arteta, and it's hardly the first time that's happened. Liverpool it was his constant errant positioning, and last night he was uncharacteristically appalling on the ball.

I might have said this before, but this is surely the slowest team Wenger has ever assembled. We have one really quick player in the squad, who's barely been fit all season, plus Ozil, Ox and Gnabry who are capable of good bursts. That's it. Time after time last night Ozil would break forward and...nothing. No one to pass to. No runs in behind. He must be flabbergasted; he's gone from laying stuff on a plate for Ronaldo, to...this. And that lack of speed hurts defensively too; players like Cazorla, Arteta, Ramsey, Rosicky and Wilshere are fucked if they lose the ball high up the pitch, because they're too slow to recover.

This squad needs a few things really. Another attacking 'outlet' besides Walcott. A striker who will make runs towards goal once in a while, and who scores more than 1 in 3. And a more athletic, speedy defensive midfielder. At least we've solved last season's problems with creativity, but predictably the failure to sign a striker better than Bendtner is coming back to bite us in the arse.

But hey, we're only a point behind the leaders still. It's gonna be hard (if Ramsey has any more setbacks then I think we'll really start looking over our shoulders at Liverpool/Spurs), but stranger things have happened. Possibly.

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The Fox

The Fox

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Yep, my principal point was some lovely build up play, including some class from Ozil, then Giroud just basically doesn't bother trying to get on the end of it.

Still I'm not gonna be too down on him. He is what he is: a situationally useful but ultimately limited centre forward, who depends on other players to have the maximum positive impact. It's not his fault he's all we've got (although having said that, there's IMO a legit case to be made for Bendtner at this point).

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Lucky

Lucky

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Cazorla is out of the cup game due to illness. AW has already said he'll rest a few with the Bayern game in mind so he probably wouldn't have started anyway.

While we shouldn't throw the cup game altogether we should definitely rest a few.

My starting 11;

Fabianski

Sagna/Jenkinson Per Kos Nacho

Flamini AOC

Podolski Rosicky Gnabry

Bendtner

Could still be strong enough to get a result. Also the bench could be strong.

Viviano, Sagna/Jenkinson, Gibbs, Arteta, Wilshere, Ozil & Giroud

Could even include the likes of Zelalem & Sanogo on the bench and give Ozil/Wilshere & Giroud the weekend off altogether.

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Lucky

Lucky

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A bit surprised AW started on Mourinho as he must have known his comments would provoke a reaction from the 'special one' 'happy one' 'chosen one' or whatever he's calling himself nowadays.

Mourinho & Pellegrini have been going at it for a couple of weeks or so and AW has been left alone. I would have thought he'd prefer it that way.

Then again, maybe he felt left out and wanted to play too.

Edit: looking at the two press conferences AW looked pretty relaxed, honest and believed in what he was saying however JM looked a bit flustered and rattled.

He'd either just come off the training ground or he'd spent a little too long under the sun bed a la Rodney Trotter.

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pinholestar

pinholestar

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I'll admit I quite enjoyed his presence when he was here the first time & thought that he brought a bit of character to the usual line-up of Bob McDullness managers, but since his return his faux piousness & the obsequious arse-licking of the football press has been pathetic. Supremely talented manager but an absolute tit of a man.

I'm really not sure how Arsène's going to juggle the squad for these next two games. He'll never admit it but he must surely recognise that the FA Cup represents a far bigger opportunity for a trophy this year, although compromising against Bayern could leave us liable to a thrashing which could put us back to square one as regards confidence & momentum. Hope Santi's illness isn't too bad.

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Gabe

Gabe

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Liverpool will have played three times in a week though. Their squad depth is poor so they either have to draft in substandard players, or play guys who could be knackered.

This is the truth, and something I've moaned about in the Liverpool threads over the last 18+ months. As I was struggling to get through the Fulham game I once more looked at our bench and lamented the fact that we have no game-changing options to call on - nobody is going to be scared to see Joe Allen coming on when we need to up the pace/chase a game.

I do think you'll win tomorrow and probably not too uncomfortably, either.

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Rev

Rev

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Posted

I'll sign you up but if you don't hit form

I'll break your legs until you conform

And when you're back I'll boast to the press

It's like he's signed again, looks keen, no stress

I'll throw you straight into a London derby

But if you mess it up, you're the new Diaby

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