Arsene Wenger has bolstered Arsenal’s COC attacking options by drafting Olivier Giroud into his 18-man squad for tonight’s match with Reading.
The French international played 90 minutes for the Gunners against QPR on Saturday and looked certain to be rested ahead of this weekend’s trip to Old Trafford, but despite the ankle injury sustained by Gervinho will travel to Berkshire.
Although Giroud proved his pedigree in the last round of the COC when he scored his first goal in English football against Coventry, Wenger has the option of starting his summer acquisition on the bench with Theo Walcott, Andrey Arshavin and Serge Gnabry a possible attacking trio.
Argentine Damian Martinez will continue in goal, despite rumours of an early return for Wojciech Szczesny, while Laurent Koscielny and Johan Djourou are likely to be flanked by Carl Jenkinson and Ignasi Miquel.
The boss has stayed true to his word by resting Jack Wilshere this evening, although Emmanuel Frimpong, Thomas Eisfeld, Francis Coquelin and Nico Yennaris will all be hoping for playing time in the midfield.
Full Arsenal squad
6 Laurent Koscielny
12 Olivier Giroud
14 Theo Walcott
18 Sebastien Squillaci
20 Johan Djourou
22 Francis Coquelin
23 Andrey Arshavin
25 Carl Jenkinson
26 Emmanuel Frimpong
29 Marouane Chamakh
36 Damian Martinez (GK)
40 Hector Bellerin
46 Thomas Eisfeld
47 Serge Gnabry
53 Jernade Meade
54 Ignasi Miquel
60 James Shea (GK)
64 Nico Yennaris
eisfeld to score again!
Messischmidt!!
Martinez
Jenks/yennaris…..djorou…..koscienly…….ignasi
walcott/Eisfeld…le coq……frimmers……..Gnabry
…..Arshavin…..
…..Giroud…….
4-4-1-1….Bet arshavin dictates play.
probably wants a goal out of that mammajamma before saturday
Feels like Giroud might be there as a bench option just in case things go sour. Surely he won’t start after playing the whole game on the weekend?
Hope for 90 mins for Fimmers, Eisfeld and Gnabry (which is pronounced GUH-Nabry as far as I’m concerned, like GUH-Nasher in the Beano)
I would stick Walcott up top through the middle, although it’s only a COC game may give the boss an indication of what he can do
agree. if he shines, great. it’s always good to have options in the middle. and if not, it proves that the playing position is nothing more than an excuse for not signing a new contract…
Is there a better opportunity to play Theo a chance up front than tonight? Surely him with Gnabry and Eisfeld supporting with Arshavin threading those balls between CB and FB will get him some goals? Instead he’ll start that donkey Chamakh who’s more than happy picking up his pay packet each week sitting in front of the telly at home not playing. Readings CBs are slow, surely playing against Theo against them will cause some carnage?
What is even more irritating – Chamakh is not paying for Emirates tickets!
You accuse Chamakh of being happy to pick up his pay without playing and at the same time you seem unhappy about the prospect of him earning his keep by actually playing…..
If rumours can be believed, Arsene would have been happy to shed him from the squad but Chamakh Attack wasn’t really feeling like taking a pay cut. He’s like that guy who’s not even anyone’s friend who hangs around forever at the tail end of a party.
Chuba Akpom pulled out late, Giroud replaces him in the squad
Why did Akpom pull out?
Maybe he didn’t want to be a young dad like Jack?
Plenty of single nights down Faces await him.
Oh man, that was funny.
zing! ole! ba dum tsss!
Definitely should start with Theo up front, he’s still got something to prove. Would keep Giroud on the bench for as long as possible, only bring him on if we’re struggling.
Optimistic about our chances, weirdly enough, because the youngsters usually have a good positive attitude to them, something that’s been missing the last week or two from the main team. Should be good for their development one way or another.
I’d line up;
Martinez
Miquel………Djorou…………….Koscielny………. Jenks
Eisfeld………..Coq………………Frimp……………..Yennaris
Arsh
Theo
I personally think we should keep a number of first team players in the squad even with Utd coming up. While I know a lot of fans hate them, Barcelona don’t often make wholesale changes even in cups. They have a set 7/8 players and then add and change the other to provide consistency and also to increase the confidence a win would bring to those players.
Confidence brought on by winning would only help for Saturday
Barcelona and most of Europe have a winter break…the prem don’t!!! So resting our senior players is vital.
1) It’s October, fatigue shouldn’t be setting in that badly yet as the season has only just started. If the players need the odd day off as they can’t keep up with playing for an hour and a half with 4-5 days of training (that’s not as intense as a match), then so be it. 2) We need to win something. While we need to make sure qualification for the CL is guarantee’d, winning breeds winning. I feel an early trophy would set us on our way to winning more. 3) As I said, consistency in the team builds playing… Read more »
1) Yet we were ‘tired’ for the Norwich and Schalke games…
2) Agreed, but you really should learn what an apostrophe is for.
I’d play Walcott through the middle tonight, with Gnabry and Arshavin on the wings. Keep Olly G fresh for the weekend, and give Walcott a chance to prove he can do something through the middle.
Just think – if he turns out to be a quality striker, it would be like a new signing for us…
I’d line up:
Miquel Djourou Kos Yennaris
Coq Frimpong
Elsfield Arshavin Gnarby
Walcott
Would like to see get a sense for how much Theo and Arshavin can contribute this season and lots of time for the young guys
LOL… Squid is still here?
I look for Giroud, Gnabry & Eisfeld to have a big game.
Play a Walcott-Giroud Strike partnership!
Just win the game already, will ya?
With the benefit of hindsight, next time you feel like saying that would you mind awfully including “without giving us all heart failure” in there somewhere?
Thanks.
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I wanna see Gnabry, Eisfeld and Arshavin start, and Feo as striker. Ive really liked what ive seen of Nico at right back, but now i would like to see him in his original position, as DM.
jenks , djorou , kos , the coq
Yennaris , frimpong
Gnabry eisfeld Arshavin
Theo Walcott
i think theo deserves 60 mins tonight , give the coq chance t left back it be interesting to see possible 3 rd option for that position. im not impressed with that santos guy at all
It will be a tough game i think, We will need a few of our bigger players to win this one. Giroud hasn’t played that much this season, so he should definitely start, i wouldn’t even bother with Chamakh, we have more talented young players that deserve there chance ahead of a wage leech. Walcott should play weather it is on the wing or as a CF, it would be great to see him give Giroud some of the good service that he gave the grey and black rat last season. Arshavin is probably a good sub option, but he… Read more »
Arshavin will rule the midfield tonight.
Talentttttt!!!!!!!!!!!!
diaby kicking racism out of football
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GEB-TYLMmQ&feature=related