Written by Mean Lean on Friday, 28 September 2012 20:31

At the start of the season, I glanced at the fixture list and I am pretty sure that I let out one big gulp. Stoke City away, Liverpool away, Manchester City away and Chelsea at home all within the first six matches of the season, you gotta be thinking 'Are they taking the pee?'

How on earth were we supposed to reshape a new team with new players on top of a new assistant coach and be ready for what could well be the most difficult start to a season on paper for many years. Well, as starts go; this hasn't been too bad has it? Unbeaten and improving.

When you give at the very least as good as you get at the home of last season's champions then you have every reason to be optimistic about our chances for the next game. From one financially doped club to another. Chelsea FC who have the points on the board but perhaps have shown an air of vulnerability are next on our fixture list this afternoon and I am sure the players will be confident that a result is very much a possibility.

It doesn't seem like that long ago where we couldn't win these matches, we would get caught by sucker punch after sucker punch against those above us, but this is a different Arsenal team. It may seem a little early to judge but it looks as if we have a squad of experienced players who are good enough to stand toe to toe against the leagues best.

London Colny feels a little like a tube journey from Oxford Circus to Finsbury park in the middle of rush hour such is the abundance of players we have actually on the pitch rather than being shared by our treatment facilities. It feels a little weird to be honest, that said I certainly do not take that for granted, we know how playing two games every three days can quickly change that.

I am hugely intrigued to know how today's opposition will approach the game. Last season they drove by in their blue bus and parked it pretty well. They played on the counter attack and frustrated us. Chelsea this year have been molded in a more adventurous way so their manager has a choice on his hands. Does Di Matteo place the likes of Oscar on the bench and select a more defensive minded player, playing a similar way to last season. They then have the option of Moses, Oscar and other attacking threats from the bench if need be. Or does the manager play Oscar, Hazard and Mata, attempting to impose their attacking game on us? You would think that a manager with a squad worth so much money in transfer fees and wages would be more than willing to do so but I cannot see that happening. Chelsea playing an open game against us and trying to out pass us could be suicidal. I suspect that we will see a more conservative Chelsea team even if that means not starting with certain match winners.

Both teams are unbeaten so far and certainly would give either side a massive boost if they were to win the game. There is a lot of quality on both benches so I wouldn't be at all surprised if that was to play some part in the result.

Arsene only has a few choices to make when it comes to his starting eleven. It could be said that many of the league cup players have given Arsene food for thought and perhaps that is the case further down the line but I would think that those who played 90 minutes are highly unlikely to start today. It was no surprise that Chamberlain, Coquelin and Giroud did not last the full 90 minutes. I suspect that those three will start on the bench.

With captain Vermaelen back in the squad, Arsene will have to decide which two from three (four to make Djourou feel a little better) will start at center back. Arsene has said that he will rotate his center backs depending on the opposition. Mertesacker has played all the big'uns so far and had his best game of the season so far at Manchester City but I feel that this would be a pretty good time to rest the big f-ing German. Chelsea are not particularly a big side and they have many nimble quick players in their squad so Vermaelen and Koscielny could well be reunited again for the first time this season.

I would imagine that Ramsey will start on the right after his absolutely wonderful display last weekend. If Ramsey can produce a similar performance then you would imagine that his spot would be his to lose. I expect Gervinho to continue playing as a free roaming striker, the rest of the team will be the players who have performed so well this season.

Mean Lean's Predicted Line Up:

It should make for a very interesting game of football. While I am confident about the players continuing their good form, I am starting to feel a little bit uneasy by the amount of people expecting us to come out on top, I have too many bad memories of that back firing but as I said, this is a different Arsenal so more of the same.

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Comments (47)

• 29-Sep-2012 09:09 | | SuburbanGoonerChris  - Line up
  

  Interesting choice Mean. Almost the same as my choice but I dropped Rambo for Giroud and swapped the Foreheadian to right, based purely on the fact that I think Cashley would prefer to come up against someone like Rambo and not the trickery or pace of Gervhino. Totally agree on the BFG though. Come on Arsenal!

• 29-Sep-2012 09:58 | | okey  - Gunners 4 life
  

  I'm expecting an open game today, cos chelsky can not spend all the money they spent on players and decide to play defensive. my prediction is Arsenal 2 chelsky 0.....up gunners!!

• 29-Sep-2012 10:02 | | Waterboy
  

  100% percent agree with your line up. I'm still in two minds as to whether Koscienly will actually get the nod over Mertersaker though as the big German has been playing fantastically well in recent weeks. That said, I agree with you thou that if the likes of Oscar, Hazard and Mata play for Chelsea, Kossie is better suited due to his mobility.
  
  I can't shake the feeling that this Chelsea team will be a really challenging test for the Gunners! Concentration, dynamic movement, possession and clinical finishing are going to be crucial!

• 29-Sep-2012 10:10 | | Eze 4 blues
  

  I tink remires should go on bench let us try moses and betrand

• 29-Sep-2012 10:37 | | Lord Bunde  - Technically Accepted
  

  Hey...Kos should Start as Oscar ,Torres and Hazard are Flexible......Mer 's foot are not in cleaning the pace..this gives Kos an upper hand

• 29-Sep-2012 10:40 | | aviral agrawal
  

  maybe theo should start today just coz of his past performances against chelsea instead of ramsey

• 29-Sep-2012 11:01 | | IndoArsenal
  

  Mmh.... Diaby Last 2 games is not so good, I prefer Rambo at Diaby place, Gervinho on the right flank, and Giroud/Walcott on the center-forward

• 29-Sep-2012 11:10 | | mika blues  - no gunner for blues...long life chelsea..
  

  3 point 4 chelsea

• 29-Sep-2012 11:37 | | Dotun
  

  Predicted line up is spot on..well done.

• 29-Sep-2012 14:37 | | FunGunner
  

  Uncanny prescience, ML. A real shame about the result because we really had the beating of them today - with a bit more assertiveness, the game was ours.

• 29-Sep-2012 16:10 | | craig  - the dark tunnel
  

  9 points from 6 games and 7 points off the leading team. That's 2 points better than last season which was one of the worst starts by Arsenal for years. Thoughts anyone??
  
  IAWR

• 29-Sep-2012 16:15 | | MeanLean
  

  Stoke away
  Liverpool away
  Manchester City away
  Chelsea home
  
  Lost one game. Thoughts anyone?
  
  IWWT

• 29-Sep-2012 21:52 | | Waterboy
  

  For me the Sunderland and Stoke results were more disappointing than the lost to Chelsea. I expect the home and away matches versus Man C, Man U, Chelsea and even Liverpool to be close and go either way, but against the rest of the EPL sides, I think with the quality and depth of the squad we really should be winning those matches, home and away.

• 30-Sep-2012 07:42 | | Don Oloo
  

  It's very disappointing how the game went. I felt we controlled the game relatively well, but also gave possesion cheaply to the opposition.
  There were those moments again, when we couldn't hit the target regularly.
  
  I was particularly disappointed with Giroud's miss at the end after dribbling past Cech. That hurt the team, but even more, it certainly hurt Giroud's confidence and it's not a good way to start.

• 30-Sep-2012 08:19 | | paspartu
  

  we dont like the result but it was not a bad performance ..thats football...you outplay the opponent and you concede a goal from nowhere and youre chasing...arsenal had the better chances..cech had a good day..kons was unlucky ...the games that give titles are the other ones..not the derbies. ourteta was phenomenal..again...what a panic buy...hehe..
  
  also that kid oscar ..very good..but he was kicking our players...where was our enforcer to kick some smurfs ?
  
  bravo tottenham!!! whoever beats manure is a friend for the day....watch rio chasing bale ..hillarious....and fergies face when tots second goes in..pure gold !

• 30-Sep-2012 12:42 | | Waterboy
  

  WIth Diaby looking like he is out of at least the Champions League match versus Olympiacos, who do people thing should come in to the starting 11 to play that role next to Arteta?
  
  Personally I would start Coquelin along side Arteta in the two deeper central midfield roles, with Arteta assuming the more attack minded role.
  
  Arteta's combination play with Cazorla has been really impressive so far this season and I think if Arteta was played in the more attacking of the two deeper central midfield roles that combination would be more beneficial to Arsenal's attacking play than if Ramsey or Coquelin were to start in Diaby's normal role.
  
  I also think the match versus Olympiacos is a suitable game to give Walcott an opportunity to play in the central striking role. Whilst Gervinho again played well in the central striking role versus Chelsea with his touch and dynamic off the ball movement and Giroud's off the ball movement, when he came on, was effective, I have a concern with both players' striking technique.
  
  Both players seem to have a tendancy to strike the ball with the blade of their foot as opposed to their instep, when attempting a shot on target. Whilst I think striking the ball with the blade of your foot is certainly a credible shooting technique when you are trying to generate significant power in a shot from a distance (e.g. Ox versus Coventry), I don't think that striking technique is consistently as effective for a central striker to use when inside the 18 yard box and being presented with the opportunities that the like of Giroud (e.g. Sunderland, Liverpool and Chelsea) and Gervinho (e.g. Man C) have been presented with since the start of the season.
  
  In those instances if the players had used the instep and tried to place the ball past the opposition's goalkeeper (e.g. Walcott versus Southampton) rather than try and smash the ball into the goal using the blade of their foot, I think their conversion rate would be much higher.
  
  I do recall Adebayor having a similar tendancy when he first joined the club. But he came good once he modified his shooting technique following some advice from Henry (if I can recall correctly). So I am hopeful Gervinho and Giroud can to likewise.
  
  If there are no further forced changes to the squad that took on Chelsea and Diaby is infact injured and unavaliable for the Olympiacos match, my starting 11 would be:
  
  Mannone (GK), Jenkinson (RB), Mertesaker (RCB), Vermaelen (LCB), Gibbs (LB), Coquelin (RCM), Arteta (LCM), Ox (RCAM), Cazorla (CAM), Podolski (LCAM), Walcott (CF)
  
  Three important matches coming up for Arsenal (Olympiacos (H), West Ham (A) and Norwich (A)) and with the quality and depth of the squad they should win all three.

• 30-Sep-2012 21:32 | | craig  - the dark tunnel
  

  Diaby injured again. Wenger's season gamble backfired on him. Another 'epic fail' !
  
  IAWR

• 30-Sep-2012 21:52 | | MeanLean
  

  "Wenger's season gamble backfired on him"
  
  ???? One player is injured... what exactly is your point? Apart from the wanting Arsenal to fail point of course. What is your actual point?

• 30-Sep-2012 21:54 | | MeanLean
  

  Waterboy I agree with you. I think Coquelin would give us that added strength in midfield, he was very good against albeit a poor Coventry City side.

• 30-Sep-2012 23:08 | | paspartu
  

  What is your actual point?
  
  ml dont take this the wrong way but i thought you knew.....his point is to antagonise you ...... his point it to taunt you and your support to arsene wenger whenever a result doesnt favour us...
  
  its very simple really....
  
  do you think he;d be here crying s.o.s from his dark tunnel had arsenal won the game?
  
  you shouldnt let his ridiculous comments put you off, in fact you should laugh at his notion that he is fit to comment on arsenal and the work of wenger ...i do ...all the time....

• 30-Sep-2012 23:55 | | Indigooner  - Sad at loss
  

  I am disappointed with the fact that we lost and they did not win gives me confidence. I am glad that we were not torn apart but it us costing us the match. If i am correct all goals that have come against AFC in Pl are due to individual error and could/can be fixed.
  I am not sure why did we put 2 center back on bench while playing against Chelski and choose JD in place of Le Coq Is he injured or sick?
  If thats the case who come in as DM at CL. If not its the time for LeCoq to stamp his authority and claim his place in the team.
  When we lost Diaby could we have put Per on the filed and Kos playing a DM?
  
  Thoughts anyone?
  IWWT

• 01-Oct-2012 09:56 | | Spectrum
  

  Yesterday....all our troubles seemed so far away.....now it looks as though they're here to stay......
  
  "IAWR"

• 01-Oct-2012 10:27 | | MeanLean
  

  One defeat.
  
  That's perspective for you eh?
  
  Man U are probably on the verge of relegation. Oh sorry, that only applies to Arsenal right?

• 01-Oct-2012 11:00 | | Spectrum
  

  Mean Lean - You asked what was Craig's point regarding Diaby. Why are you playing dumb here ? Surely you KNOW what his point was ? Wenger refused to replace Song with another defensive midfielder during the transfer window. Instead trusting in Diaby staying fit for the whole season ( ! ) W.T.F. ?
  
  This is what Your Great Leader said back in July when asked if he was considering adding Yann M'Vila to the squad this summer ; “No I am not interested. We wait on Diaby and Wilshere,” Wenger told the club’s official website. “When you look we have Song, Ramsey, Coquelin, Wilshere, Arteta and Diaby. “In defensive midfielders and box-to-box players we are not short if they are all coming back ".
  
  So let's see....of the six he mentioned above, one has left the club,one is out of form, one is sick, one is STILL not ready to come back, and the one he relied on ( Diaby ) is a perma-crock who will now be out for three weeks. That is an irresponsible and UNNECESSARY gamble, given Diaby's shocking history of injuries. Particularly so when the club has just announced a 40 million profit, and a total of over 150 million in the bank.
  
  What was I saying about leaving the squad depth so thin, and not allowing for injuries ? Well it's already started - and with the most LIKELY candidate first off the rank.
  
  "Diaby’s injury record is not good," said Wenger. "I was concerned about him of course. It was a gamble, but I was calculating as well that Wilshere was coming back, Francis Coquelin is here but was sick and Emmanuel Frimpong is back.
  
  "Tomas Rosicky is coming back so we have many midfield players. We don’t have many physical players but Mikel Arteta has shown he can be a great defensive midfield player."
  
  "He was outstanding in that area against Chelsea. We’ll see overall if it was a good or bad decision at the end of the season."
  
  He admits himself that it was a GAMBLE. Then he nonchalantly proclaims that "we'll see if it was a good or bad decision at the end of the season."
  Why even put our fortunes at risk when he could have signed a top class DM to reinforce the midfield for when this VERY OCCASION arose ? It is these sort of risks that end up being expensive later in the season - Wenger suggested as much himself ! Is this wise management ? With the wrong team selection last Saturday ( Koscielny over Mertesacker ), he's exposed two blunders in one week ! ( At least HE'S got form ).
  
  "IAWR"

• 01-Oct-2012 11:07 | | Gooner80
  

  Oh so our whole season was based on Abou Diaby was it Spectrum you knob. why not support Manchester United and their super deep midfield. Oh!

• 01-Oct-2012 11:14 | | paspartu
  

  Why even put our fortunes at risk when he could have signed a top class DM to reinforce the midfield for when this VERY OCCASION arose ?
  
  ahahah this boy is so stupid .....so because song left we should have replaced him with essien ...right ?
  
  go play fifa13 ..this muppet kid thinks arsenal is in the football business to pay idiots whatever they ask for so that mugs like spectrum are convinced about ambition.....LOL....

• 01-Oct-2012 11:28 | | Spectrum
  

  Mean - "One defeat.
  
  That's perspective for you eh " ?
  
  I was not talking about the fact that we lost. ( we did okay, but they were the slightly better team, and the result was a fair one, I thought ). No, by "troubles here to stay...." I meant our defending at set pieces. Against City it was our zonal defending. Against Chelsea it was allowing them too much space. Bould has done wonders, but it's obvious that set plays still need working on.
  " IAWR "

• 01-Oct-2012 11:52 | | Spectrum
  

  Gooner 80 - Typical A.K.B. exaggeration. I am not claiming our whole season IS BASED on Diaby. But Wenger is featuring Diaby as one of his important midfield players. And he would, wouldn't he ? He's one of Wenger's favourites - along with Ramsey - another one he plays regardless of whether he's in form or not.
  
  From london24.com - (quote ) "Wenger admitted recently that the 25-year-old French midfielder has now had 28 different injuries in the past five years, and that all of them, mostly muscular, relate to the first one, suffered in a crunching tackle by Sunderland’s Dan Smith in the closing moments of a game at the Stadium of Light. "
  
  "A player who is averaging less than 20 starts a season in all 
competitions after almost six years at the club, is now running out of time."
  
  "Although he is under contract until the summer of 2015, how much longer Wenger will be prepared to wait for him to fulfil his potential is under debate ". ( end of quote )
  
  In my view, Diaby has talent, but apart from him rarely stringing a few games together ( not his fault, by the way ), he's inconsistent, and lazy. The upshot of it is that we're carrying him, and paying him 50,000 a week ( or however much it is ), to be a spectator, or to lay on the treatment table. We should be firm on this - sorry, but he's become one of the deadwood, and should be cast off. But it won't happen. Because he's a Wenger favourite, and we know how he loves to protect his own, even at the expense of the team as a whole.
  
  "IAWR"

• 01-Oct-2012 11:54 | | craig  - the dark tunnel
  

  Gooner80, I never said the whole season would rest on Diaby. Wenger decided not to replace Song and stick with an injury prone player. That tactic has come unstuck.
  
  IAWR

• 01-Oct-2012 12:02 | | Spectrum
  

  Gooner 80 - Wenger ; "we'll see if it was a good or bad decision at the end of the season."
  I repeat, ( for your benefit ) ; "It is these sort of risks that END UP being expensive LATER IN THE SEASON - Wenger suggested as much himself ! Is this wise management " ?
  
  .......any clearer now, knob ? Time to fetch your master's slippers......
  
  "IAWR"

• 01-Oct-2012 12:10 | | Spectrum
  

  Wenger ; "Tomas Rosicky is coming back, so we have many midfield players". Ha ! Guess what ? Rosicky's injured too ! Bet no-one could've forseen that. And he's another crock that Le Senile COUNTS ON, when the evidence suggests he's another Diaby.
  Inspirational stuff, eh ?
  
  "IAWR"

• 01-Oct-2012 12:11 | | paspartu
  

  lol diabby has been one of our best perfromers this season when he;s played and spectrum calls him deadwood ? lol .........
  
  of course wenger will protect his players..he knows them and knows what they can do/offer . YOU DONT ...
  
  and i can only laugh at the tunnelboy with his insistance on song when only 5 months ago he was complaining that he wasnt a proper dm ..ahahhaaha
  
  comedy club ......

• 01-Oct-2012 12:41 | | Spectrum
  

  Golum - You said it - "WHEN he's played ". He had one good game, one average one, and another average one against Chelsea, before he ( inevitably ) broke down again. It's not just injuries though - like I said, he's inconsistent, and lazy ( i.e. drifts in and out of games ).He's a luxury we can't afford - not when we already have a high wage bill that Wenger HIMSELF created, by paying kids and deadwood inflated wages.
  
  And on replacing Song ; you're surmising. I never said "let's get Essien". He's past his best. But there are other quality DM's out there that we COULD have gone for, but OGL made the conscious decision to risk our season yet AGAIN, by not having enough cover. Why play fast and loose, when we're presumably aiming to win the league ?
  
  
  Oh, and I see he's declaring ( yawn ) that this is his "best ever Arsenal team". Same as he said the two seasons before that. And our last "best team" finished 19 points adrift of the champions ! Thanks for the kiss of death, Arsene.
  
  The man's a fool.
  
  "IAWR"

• 01-Oct-2012 12:53 | | Spectrum
  

  Golum - Read again WHY I called him deadwood. It's his record over the LAST FIVE YEARS, and his inconsistency and demeanour on the pitch, that make him more of a liability than an asset. A player who is averaging less than 20 starts a season in all 
competitions, after almost six years at the club,whilst collecting 50,000 p.w. or more, has not become deadwood ? What's YOUR definition of deadwood then ?
  
  Try exercising those six brain cells you have left, a little harder.
  
  "IAWR"

• 01-Oct-2012 13:06 | | Spectrum
  

  Oh, and Golum - You ridiculed me a while back, for saying that Andre Vilas- Boas was a good manager, and could even be a candidate for the Arsenal job. Well he's not doing too badly NOW, is he ?
  
  He got sacked from Chelsea because he wanted to make changes that some senior players felt threatened by. So they gave him a hard time, and it affected the results he got on the pitch. Now that he's free to organise the Spuds without hindrance, his talent is coming to the fore. Did you see how the Spuds took the game to United last weekend ? And the signings he's made ? And it hurts to say it, but they're also ABOVE US on the table.
  
  I'll check my letters for your apology.
  
  "IAWR"

• 01-Oct-2012 13:08 | | paspartu
  

  but youre an idiot mate ...one day you say yellow and the next you say purple ..there is no consistency in your words you little fool...you will twist things to serve your personal agenda of taunting anyone who respects the manager of arsenal..
  
  i know what motivates you boy ...
  
  you aint fit to call any of our players as deadwood you fucking mug ...lol..youve never played the game at any level and youve never coached anyone in your miserable fucking life..so sit tight and let the pros do the work and the talking.....
  
  as for song's replacement ....lol fuck him ...we have another 3 songs in youth set up ..why spend money on "essien" type players/celebrities?
  
  you aint got a clue what arsenal is doing mate .....

• 01-Oct-2012 13:11 | | paspartu
  

  and if you want to cry over diabbys 20 appearances per year go complain to the monkeys in the f.a who have allowed for years agressive tackling against arsenal players going unpunished...
  
  if you want to be fair.....and since this is a business environment...shouldnt our club take these players and managers to courts for inticing violence on the pitch ? shouldnt we at least make them pay for the medical bill....?
  
  focus on that first and then talk about diabby....you fucking mug....lol.

• 01-Oct-2012 13:16 | | paspartu
  

  What's YOUR definition of deadwood then ?
  
  in a club as serious organised as arsenal is ...coached by one arsene wenger..there is no deadwood...only players who need their time to reach their potential
  
  deadwood is paying berbatov 32 million and 120 per week to rot on the bench mate
  
  deadwood is paying winston bogarte 3 years when bogarte is having holidays in thailand
  
  deadwood is paying 35million for carrol and loaning him out to a team that just got relegated
  
  players that cost 1,5m and 2m and are still 22 23 24 25 are not deadwood you idiot......

• 01-Oct-2012 13:17 | | Spectrum
  

  Golum - Your list of our deadwood players, please........here, I'll make it easier for you and any other A.K.B.'s that may be reading......
  
  1) ..........................................
  
  2) ..........................................
  
  3) ..........................................
  
  4) ..........................................
  
  5) ...........................................
  
  You all should be able to come up with AT LEAST five, eh ?
  
  "IAWR"

• 01-Oct-2012 13:18 | | paspartu
  

  - relegated
  +promoted

• 01-Oct-2012 13:41 | | Spectrum
  

  Hey everyone - Headline news - Golum says we don't have ANY deadwood at Arsenal. So all those that are repeatedly crippled and / or who aren't good enough to get a game,( Chamakh, Park, er, remember him ? ) Squillaci, Almunia, Bendtner, e.t.c. and picking up huge salaries whilst reading the latest financial reports - are ALL doing their bit for the cause, huh ? Now the poor boy's really lost it. L.O.L.
  
  "IAWR"

• 01-Oct-2012 14:37 | | paspartu
  

  i said you aint qualified to determine who is deadwood and who is not
  
  learn how to read muppet
  
  picking up huge salaries? lol who is picking up huge salaries? squilaci? lol......
  
  that some players arent first team material is to be expected...no team has a roster of 25 players who are all at an equal world class level. you silly muppet troll twisting my words ...

• 01-Oct-2012 14:38 | | paspartu
  

  i dont support arsenal to call our players deadwood...i leave that kind of support to totenham trolls

• 01-Oct-2012 14:41 | | paspartu
  

  why dont you give us 5 ...no not 5 just 3 things you like about the team you say you support
  
  
  1...
  2...
  3...
  
  
  lets hear it mug ...
  
  i would have gone for 5 but i think even 3 is a tough test for you ...

• 01-Oct-2012 17:58 | | craig  - the dark tunnel
  

  I know what Diaby "offers"- a full time job for the club medic!!!
  
  IAWR

• 01-Oct-2012 22:18 | | paspartu
  

  well someone has to keep them occupied
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

• 01-Oct-2012 22:35 | | paspartu
  

  we wouldnt want to be accused for having any deadwood in the medical stuff too you know.....then we;ll get spectrum coming in complaining like a virgin - "why pay physio x, y amount of money..we dont need physios....noone is injured anymore...wenger out!!" ..

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