Posted on Saturday, 8th December 2012 by Tony Merakli
I don’t know what you guys think, but today is a must win game for Arsenal. Not only to climb up the table and mount a serious challenge for a top four finish, but for the players to regain their confidence and something for the fans to cheer about – lord knows we haven’t had done this in some time.
The pressure seems to be mounting on Arsene Wenger and the players to turn the tide, and rightly so, especially after recording just ONE win in Arsenal’s last five outings. In fact, our last win in the Premier League came against Spurs on the 17th November, and even then many question whether or not Arsenal would’ve snatched all the points had Emmanuel Adebayor not been given his marching orders.
In any case, this game against arguably the surprise package of the season so far – West Brom – at The Emirates could define our season, even at this early stage.
A win will see us jump to sixth, if of course the four teams above us record poor results, behind The Baggies, who currently lie in fifth place. A draw or, heaven forbid, a loss will simply not do. Not after what has occurred in recent weeks. Fans will simply not stand for it anymore. I’ll probably go as far as saying that if we come out of the game with a point or nothing at all then Wenger should seriously consider his position at the club. Perhaps a crazy thought to some, but an honest one from a diehard Gooner.
Taking all this into consideration, what should our starting XI look like? Who should Wenger play?
Well, here is how I would like to see the Frenchman set out the team today:
Szczesny
Jenkinson Mertesacker Vermaelen Gibbs
Arteta Wilshere
Cazorla
Chamberlain Arshavin
Giroud
With Bacary Sagna sidelined, Carl Jenkinson will have to step in, while Kieran Gibbs retains his position at left-back.
With Laurent Koscielny out, Thomas Vermaelen and Per Mertesacker are our only two worthy candidates to start in the centre of the back four.
The midfield trio should remain the same, while I would start Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain ahead of the frustrating Gervinho.
I would have picked Theo Walcott to start the game but he is out with an injury, so I think, and this may not go down well with some of you lot, Andrey Arshavin should be given a run out – why not?
Olivier Giroud should lead the line. Four goals in his last seven outings is not a bad return for the Frenchman. Besides he is our only decent striker available at present.
So, who do you guys reckon should start for us today against The Baggies?
Give us your thoughts on the matter below
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Tags: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Andrey Arshavin, Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Bacary Sagna, Carl Jenkinson, Emmanuel Adebayor, Gervinho, Kieran Gibbs, Laurent Koscielny, Olivier Giroud, Per Mertesacker, Theo Walcott, Thomas Vermaelen, West Brom
Posted in View From The Sphere | Comments (15)
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December 8th, 2012 at 10:21 am
Rosicky start the match
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December 8th, 2012 at 10:23 am
Szczesny
Jenks Vermaelen Mertesacker Gibbs
Wilshere Arteta
Rosicky
Cazorla Giroud Ox
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oluwasegun Reply:
December 8th, 2012 at 10:57 am
I love this line up…wenger should change the information and we are missing diaby
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December 8th, 2012 at 10:47 am
My starting X1- szczesny jenkison metashaka vermalen gibbs arteta wilshere rosicky ramsey chambalian girioud
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December 8th, 2012 at 10:48 am
Szczeny jenkinson mertesacker Vermaelen Gibbs coquelin(holding mid) rosicky Arteta. Cazorla Oxlade Chamberlain Giroud(and id keep that young German boy eismann? as a reserve)
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December 8th, 2012 at 10:49 am
TR should be in the squad period. Ox on the bench please.
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December 8th, 2012 at 11:02 am
mannone
bellerin vermaelen mertesacker gibbs
eisfield
rosicky cazorla
oxlade-chamberlain chamakh arshavin
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December 8th, 2012 at 11:03 am
My line up should be szcny jenkin verma merter gibbs wilhsere arteta rosicky carzola ox giroud the my bench arshavin ramsey cocuelin chamak estifield….can’t wait have full squad szcny sagna koscieny mertasacker vermalin santos gibbs arteta diaby carzola ramsey rosicky wilhsere arshavin walchot podoski giroud ox gervino cocuelin mannone
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December 8th, 2012 at 11:43 am
I actually think it will be a draw, but even then I wouldn’t hit the panic burton.Changing the manager now would do us much harm than good. Do you actually think Chelsea, just because they changed the manager, will win the EPL or even challenge? I doubt it. Talking of a crisis for me doesn’t lead us to a better situation. in fact thats what crisis- mongers like The Sun and Daily Mail want to hear so that they stoke it.
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ivorstephens Reply:
December 8th, 2012 at 12:17 pm
Anyone who wants a change of manager should be careful what they wish for.If you think that the club will allow any putative successor to smash the wage structure and start spending hundreds of millions of pounds is living in cloud cuckoo land.Most top European clubs would bite your hand off to have Wenger at the helm.Guardiola mightnt be so brilliant without messi and xavi and iniesta to conduct the orchestra.As for mourinho, that represents selling your soul to the devil, I for one am not that desperate for a trophy.There is everything there at the club already to challenge for a trophy ib my opinion
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December 8th, 2012 at 11:50 am
Szce jeken permet t verme gibb. Wilsher artet cazola rosiky chemb giroud
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December 8th, 2012 at 12:20 pm
Wow! It’s amazing how some people can’t spell names properly. Anyway I think the starting XI should be:
Szczesny
Jenkinson
Mertesacker
Vermaelen
Gibbs
Arteta
Wilshere
Rosicky
Chamberlain
Cazorla
Giroud
4-3-3
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December 8th, 2012 at 12:38 pm
Szczesny
Jenko TV5 Mertesaker Gibbs
Whilshere Arteta
Rosicky
Cazorla Giroud The Ox
Subs: Arshavin/The Ox
Gervinho/Rosicky (Cazorla switches to mid)
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December 8th, 2012 at 1:27 pm
Arshavin is not playing and you know it.
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December 8th, 2012 at 1:35 pm
.Let Oxlade Chamberlain play off Giroud and make sure to keep WBA’s midfield occupied chasing the ballArshavin shouldn’t play he’s had so many chances and never seems that bothered about things.Compare his efforts at club level with his international form where he plays like a man possessed
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