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4-4-1-1 gibbs for santos,
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Written by Mean Lean on Tuesday, 20 September 2011 09:35
The Carling cup swoops in from the sky to save us from the evil clutches of the Premier League season. An injection of youth, new personnel and a different atmosphere could be just the tonic for Arsenal supporters up and down the land. The Carling cup has often been a chance for the younger players to play in a far more relaxed environment yet still play first team football, I suspect that the pressure will be a little more intense than previous early Carling cup games, given our results of late.
Opposition
League two side Shrewsbury Town are the visitors tonight and it will be the biggest game of many of the players careers. They have started their season in far better shape than ourselves, picking up 17 points from the first 9 games.
Defence
Carl Jenkinson will come in for his first game since his red card at Old Trafford. He is likely to be partnered by the out of sorts Johan Djourou who is desperately in need of some good fortune. It is amazing to think that before his shoulder injury at Old Trafford he was seen as a vital part of this Arsenal team. Whenever he played we won and he was growing into his role, a calming figure at the heart of our defence and he formed a very good relationship with Laurent Koscielny which let in the fewest goals in open play over the course of last season. For some reason that is now a long way away and it is important that he finds some form quickly. The other two players are not quite as easy to guess. There is an argument that Mertesacker needs as many games as possible to adjust to our game but given that we already have Vermaelen injured and important Premier league games coming up, you would imagine that keeping our first teamers fit would be the priority. Ignasi Miquel is a young player who is close to the first team and he needs games, he would be a good left footed balance to Djourou's right.
Just to totally contradict myself, I think Andre Santos should play as he looked short of match fitness at the weekend. He looked a step behind the others, unfortunately literally when it came to the Blackburn first goal. He has plenty of work to get anywhere near the fitness of our former left back.
Having said that, Kieran Gibbs has not looked his best since returning from injury and another 90 minutes may bring him closer to his best form.
Midfield
Emmanuel Frimpong will be a certain starter in the midfield engine room. It will be interesting to see who partners him. Yossi Benayoun should start as the more creative player while Francis Coquelin is another option. I am not quite sure if Tomas Rosicky has recovered from his injury. If he has then I would imagine he would start the game. I suppose much depends on the formation that Arsene decides to play.
Attack
Ju Young Park will be a certain starter and I would imagine that Marouane Chamakh will also start the game so that throws up some interesting questions. Which position will Ju Park play? Chamakh can only really play as a central striker so Park will either join Chamakh up front or play a wider role. If Park plays a wider role then one of Ryo or Chamberlain will have to drop to the bench. If Wenger does revert to 4-4-2 then one of the midfielders will have to drop down to the bench so I am intrigued to know what will happen there.
Injuries
Many of the first team injuries will be irrelevant tonight as not many of those players would not have played if fit. Tomas Rosicky is one of the players who may have featured but I have not heard anything of hus injury since he missed the match against his former club in the Champions league.
Injured list:
Bacary Sagna, Abou Diaby, Jack Wilshere, Thomas Vermaelen, Tomas Rosicky, Sebastien Squillaci
Mean Lean's Predicted Line Up (4-3-3)
Mean Lean's Predicted Line Up (4-4-1-1)
Hopefully we do get the chance to see both Ryo and Chamberlain in wide areas regardless of the system that is played. Both players are quick and can provide good quality crosses. Both Chamakh and Park are good in the air so it would give us an extra dimension in attack.
I just hope we can get to see a fluid game of quick attacking football and that the youngsters play with a freedom that has been missed from the seniors in recent months. There will be plenty of quality on show so lets get behind these youngsters.
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20-Sep-2011 12:06 | | AnonymousDoes anyone now will it be any streams for tonights match???
Some links would help....
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20-Sep-2011 13:00 | | jd - Waste of timeWhy does anyone waste their time wondering if wenger will play a 4-4-2 and what it might look like. Its like he has forgotten there is any other formation other than 4-3-3.
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20-Sep-2011 16:04 | | Man United KillerSeriously, this squad looks almost as strong our first team if not better
..that is how rubbish we are at the moment!I hope the some give the manager genuine selection headaches.
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20-Sep-2011 17:43 | | Kodoni - MrML good atticle but AW will not play 4 4 2 and Santos is not even in the squard.
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20-Sep-2011 20:32 | | HP
I like your predictions and i hoped that Wenger would have choosen a starting line up like your 4-4-1-1 prediction. I think that the 4-4-1-1 formation you suggested would have fit the team perfectly. Especially because I think I've read that Park likes to play behind the main striker and he can deliver some good passes. And I think Chamakh wouldn't be struggling so much if he had a player like Park to make some good passes and opportunities for him.
And with Park and Rio on the wings with their good pace they could make some good crosses for Chamakh. And if he gets those good crosses he will begin to score a lot more with his head like we saw it in the Blackburn game.
From the predictions I've seen you make so far, I sometimes wish that you were the Arsenal manager. Or at least the guy who made the starting line ups and then Wenger could take care of the tactics
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21-Sep-2011 07:37 | | SpectrumHP - "and then Wenger could take care of the tactics." Ha-ha. Funniest thing I've read all week. We should let him take charge of the defence, too. Hang on, he DOES. Along with Pat Rice and Boro Primorac. The same coaches he's just said he will stick with, rather than bring in a NEW defensive coach.
You couldn' t make this stuff up. ( Because it IS A STUFF UP. )
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