Written by Mean Lean on Saturday, 30 October 2010 00:46

There is a feeling that the Arsenal engine is beginning to purr rather nicely prior to the visit of West Ham to the Emirates stadium. The monkey was partly shaken off the back last weekend when ten men Manchester City got Nasri-ed. The rest of the monkey will be dislodged when Tottenham and Gareth Bale are put to the sword on the 20th November.

The not so appy Hammers have had a stop start but mainly stop, stop season so far and Avram Grant is starting to feel rather sweaty around the collar as they have only picked up one victory in nine games so far.

Arsene Wenger has a problem with injuries for this afternoons game. We do not have enough of them.

For the first time in quite a while, Arsene will have somewhat of a selection headache to have to overcome when he names his starting eleven. Arsenal's very serious and experienced, no nonsense Carling Cup team was missing most of the players that beat big spending City but shhhh, lets not talk too much about that. Anyway his second string side performed well and a few of those players will be pushing for a starting berth.

The cobra is likely to regain his place in the side after a very impressive return to the first team after a back injury. I was astonished how Koscielny managed to perform at pretty much the same level he did before he was forced onto the sidelines, especially in his first season in English football. Without doubt, one of the signings of the season and I am sure he will become a fantastic player for Arsenal for the foreseeable future. On the downside, Johan Djourou could well be relegated to the substitutes bench as the experienced Sebastien Squillaci should return to the fold.

Guessing the rest of the back five should be straight forward, it is further up the pitch where competition really kicks in. Theo Walcott's two goals in midweek and electric speed gives him a big chance of making the starting eleven on the right of the Arsenal attack, the trouble is Samir Nasri is currently occupying that same position and is one of our most influential players this season. Arsene has two choices, either playing Nasri on the left attack in place of Andrey Arshavin which would be controversial, especially as Arshavin had the night off on Wednesday, and would be raring to go.

Arsene's other choice would be a very offensive and highly interesting choice. Samir Nasri more than often plays his best for Arsenal when he is playing in Cesc Fabregas' position but when the captain comes back into the team, Nasri gets pushed back to the wide position. Both Cesc and Nasri have not played more than a couple of games together in a three man midfield. I suppose the reason for that is because Nasri is not naturally a ball winner, Not a tackler. Cesc could play as that second midfield position but his goals and assists further forward have been very important to Arsenal over the last few years.

Wenger usually picks an in between midfielder, someone who can put their foot in. Wilshere and Diaby will not be available whilst Denilson played the full 90 minutes against Newcastle after playing the full game against Manchester City last weekend. I cannot imagine that Wenger will pair both Nasri and Cesc together along with Alex Song but I am sure hoping that is the case. The idea of Cesc, Nasri. Arshavin and Walcott all interchanging at pace is pretty exciting.

Mean Lean's Predicted Line Up

(Click image to enlarge)

One to watch: Theo Walcott

With 90 more minutes of sharpening under his belt along with his two goals, Theo should enter the Emirates pitch brimming with confidence. With the more creative players around him, I think he will get into some more goal scoring positions. I have a good feeling that Theo will continue to be amongst the goals again this afternoon.

Mean Lean's Match Prediction

Arsenal 4 (Walcott [2], Cesc, Chamakh) West Ham 0

We need to continue picking up three points against these sides, especially at the Emirates. West Ham are bottom of the league and only a victory will do. Let us hope that our football and commitment can continue from our previous games.

COME ON YOU GUNNERS

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Comments (13)

• 30-Oct-2010 10:31 | | goonboy
  

  can theo play up front as a pair now as the pace will give us a extra option?

• 30-Oct-2010 10:37 | | MeanLean
  

  He practically plays as a striker on the right of a three. He makes strikers runs from that position. We won't change our system so I would expect him to continue in his position.

• 30-Oct-2010 10:57 | | Larry Mbaco
  

  Fabianski
  Sagna, Squillaci, Koscielny, Clichy
  Fabregas, Song, Rosicky
  Nasri, Chamakh, Arshavin

• 30-Oct-2010 10:58 | | Anonymous
  

  well i am tempted to go for song, cesc and nasri in mid field with theo,chamakh and arshavin. That would be mouthwatering but i have a problem with it. The problem is attitude. Fielding such a team means we are underrating west ham and believe they pose no threat of their own. That being the case i would then opt to have denilson in mid and start with the same team that started at city with only koscielny coming in for djourou. Once the game is put to bed we can then introduce theo, rosicky, and niklas.

• 30-Oct-2010 11:04 | | Salim
  

  ________________fabi____________________
  
  ____sagna____kos____squllaci____clichy____
  
  ____theo____fabrigas____den____rosckey____
  
  ____________nasri________chamakh____________
  
  subs:
  chezza, eboue, dj, song, arshavin, bend, jet, vela.

• 30-Oct-2010 11:07 | | gizzleswag of 9ja  - walcott
  

  God! Dis boy's got quality...i see him as d nxt big fin in england since england defeated germany.pace,finishing,good looks...go gooners!!!

• 30-Oct-2010 11:12 | | Atheist Gooner
  

  The cut-out heads are back!
  
  
  Clichy is the weak link in that line-up, but now we just gave no other choice at left back, do we?
  
  Come on you gunners !

• 30-Oct-2010 11:13 | | Goonerfish
  

  I went for the same line up (and oddly the same score too) and I have to be honest the thought of a Nasri - Fab midfield makes me stupidly excited, then that attacking 5 makes me giddy but then picture that with RVP in the side and I become ....... well......... don't think there's a word strong enough for how excited I am.
  
  Then include Rosicky, Wilshere, Ramsey, Bendnter all coming off the bench, it's a good time to be a gooner!

• 30-Oct-2010 11:22 | | John
  

  I dont think this will be a stoll in the park granted WH are bottom but have improved in recent weeks.
  
  I really think Arshivan needs a spell on the bench the front three being
  
  Walcott Chamakh Narsi
  
  I know Arshivan stats are excellent but football is a team game i.e. playing when we have it and working hard when we dont , Arshivan offers nothing when we dont have the ball and is part of the reason why Clichy loooks so exposed at times. If Narsi stood around up front waiting for the ball he have acored more goals and have more assits, what Narsi offers the team is great work ethic when we are without the ball and excellent creative when we do.

• 30-Oct-2010 11:53 | | younggun  - go boys
  

  Asharvin is d weak link,d team has more than enough creative force to do without his assists.he makes our left very vunerable and his attitude sucks

• 30-Oct-2010 12:33 | | metalhead
  

  I'm pretty sure Walcott will not start this game. He'll come in as a sub. If Diaby is fit he'll start him ahead of Denilson.
  
  ________________fabianski____________________
  
  ____sagna____koscielny____squllaci____clichy____
  
  
  ________ Diaby/Denilson__________Song
  
  ____Fabregas________
  
  _____Nasri____________________________Arshavin
  
  ___________________chamakh____________

• 30-Oct-2010 13:14 | | double dapper  - spot on ml
  

  I would luv it if he plays that side today, not sure he will but if arsene does it wont matter if west ham score as we have so many goals coming from all angles. I know arsh isnt always the perfect arsenal player but the pace of him and theo will cause so many problems. There is no reason why cesc and nas er ree samir nas er ree cant play alongside each other with song behind. Ohhhh its making me drule all over my keypad just typing about it

• 30-Oct-2010 13:19 | | podge
  

  Dont see why Nasri cant play in a deep role he has before and done well he is much stronger these days than in the past so im sure he can handle it. Theo just started in midweek so will probably be on the bench at kick off either way he will not play 90mins.We trust the boss to make these decisions. Who should star up front is just as important B52 has been scoring goals and looks sharp and ready to start Chamakh missed the last game and wasnt great against man city but he scores for fun at home. West Ham look set for relegation this season and with the Arsenal in good form a big win has to be expected; the usual suspects in a 5-0 rout [Theox2 Chamakhx2 and Nasri]. Is it jumping the gun that im calm and confident when Fabianski is in goal?

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