Arsene Wenger has revealed the latest team news and Jack Wilshere will miss the trip to Sunderland through suspension, having picked up five yellow cards. Aside from that, there are no fresh problems from the midweek trip to Anderlecht.
The manager also revealed he’s considering a return for Theo Walcott, although he seems inclined to give him a bit more time, saying, “I’m not sure about involving Theo. Certainly next week. He has to get used to contact again. It takes time to get used to being kicked again.”
Walcott joked last week about being booted around the training pitch by Mathieu Flamini, but given the Frenchman’s recent form he probably missed him anyway.
The England winger has been out of action since January after rupturing his cruciate ligament, but after a good period in full training and 45 minutes for the U21s against Blackburn last week, he’s on the cusp of a first team action
Meanwhile, there are still concerns of the seriousness of Laurent Koscielny’s injury, leaving Arsene Wenger with a decision to make about who plays alongside Per Mertesacker at centre-half.
Nacho Monreal has started the last two games, but struggled in an unfamiliar role, so the manager may consider using Calum Chambers and handing another start to Hector Bellerin.
Would like to see Bellerin start and put Chambers at CB
Can’t say I disagree, but maybe Wenger doesn’t want to shift Per to left centre back, where he has played when Chambers has been his partner this season. Playing on that side of the centre is not entirely natural for Per either.
What’s happened to Diaby? I don’t see the point in getting him fit and not playing him.
I hope I’m not the only one who wants a fairy tale with Diaby, with Ozil out. He probably would have had limited chances but, oh the fucking irony, with injuries in our squad, he can certainly stake his claim.
It would be a damn shame otherwise.
He has a slight calf injury. his injuries don’t make news anymore
Isaac Hayden pls
I think he might be injured? Considering he didn’t play the U21 match pre Hull and then Semi Ajayi was called up to the first team last minute to fill in on the bench, one would assume an injury to Hayden…
unfortunate timing for the lad if that is the case… that said given how thin we are it might not be long before another chance comes his way.
I hope that Wenger opts for Chambers in the middle rather than Monreal. I don’t think Monreal is as bad as people make out, however he’s a left-back and shouldn’t be asked to do a job he’s not familiar with. It may have worked with Sagna to an extent, but Monreal couldn’t handle Anderlecht so I’d rather not continue to try it against a Sunderland side desperate to bounce back after an 8-0 thrashing. Chambers may not be that familiar with it either, but his qualities do work better with Per than Nacho’s do. Plus, Bellerin has been solid at… Read more »
Not sure we can afford to be playing Monreal and Gibbs every week, totally screwed if one gets injured (which has probably happened while I’m writing this). Chambers alongside Per, where he seems more comfortable, with Hector at RB.
same argument against playing Monreal & Gibbs could be made against Chambers and Bellerin while Debuchy is out. But still on your side, CC seems a more natural centre back than NM… and based on past experience those on the left seem more liable to breaking down.
If the problem is that Theo needs to get used to being kicked again and Sunderland aren’t the solution to that problem, then I’m deeply confused about that.
Although perhaps it was a veiled reference to the way they didn’t bother against Southampton last week?
I think his point was sending Theo to Sunderland to get used to being kicked again is like jumping into a pool of man-eating piranhas to ease back into swimming again after not having been in the water for a few years.
That slip in midweek in thebsecond half summed up Montreal at CB for me. And he looks too light weight. We have to go for chambers, right?
Wilshere out? Hate to say it, but that is a blessing in disguise.
I normally don’t consider any kind of an absence a good thing, especially if it’s injury related, but a one match break due to a suspension is certainly not a disaster. We’ve got coverage, and I hope we use Ramsey + Arteta centrally, with Cazorla ahead of them.
Monreal played well against Hull. Sometimes we judge players too harshly based on their last performance.
However, I would also prefer Chambers and Bellerin. It’s time to give the young players the chances they need. And I think they’ve earned them. If Bellerin was good enough to let Jenko go on loan, why no trust him to do the job he was promoted for?
yes, yes and yes.
Hopefully Bellerin at RB and Chambers in the middle. And more game time for Podolski. Alexis might just set up a few chances for him. We are playing awful football so need to play our best penalty box finisher., to take any chances that break to him. If Wenger gives him just 10 mins at the end, Pod is not going to be able to pull the rabbit out of the hat every time.
Can Monreal play RB btw? We really miss Sagna’s versatility.
The thing with Podolski is when he starts he usually does nothing all game and then comes off after 60 minutes. Whereas when he comes on after 60 minutes he typically looks quite dangerous. He may not like being a super sub but his performances reinforce the status.
both hayden and chambers did pretty well against a strong s’ton unit during our league cup exit,yes we exited but i really don’t see why that shouldn’t continue,either of them will do just fine
I have a feeling we will put in a performance at Sunderland. Our best games this season has been Villa and Gala with Jack only coming on as a sub late in the 2nd half of each game. I know I’ll get killed for saying it, but his suspension could be a blessing in disguise.
I agree Jack’s been pretty off the last 2-3 games but I think I have to point out that: 1. As a team our best offensive performance was the 2-2 draw with City where we really shouldnt have let them score either of the 2 very soft goals. We controlled the game for most parts, created a lot of good chances and really outplayed the current Champions 2. As a team our best defensive performance (even though we lost) was Chelsea away – we made it really difficult for them for majority of the game to create much and it… Read more »
Hope Kos ain’t going to end up long term. Getting a bad feeling about his injury. Chambers central Bellerin RB please.
I think Hayden is injured. He didn’t play in the last u21 game and wasn’t on the bench for Hull a day later.
Shame about that. On the rare occasions he’s managed to mke it onto the pitch for us he’s been very good. I would have loved to have seen him in the middle per Per and Chambers out wide.
Still, Chambers in the middle and Bellerin out wide will be fine. Bellerin is raw, but he’s been mighty impressive so far.
Obviously we don’t know all that goes on behind the scenes, but I really feel Bellerin deserves his chance at RB. Barring the game at Dortmund, where no-one played well, he has given a good account of himself. An inexperienced full-back can still use pace and some decent positioning to defend his flank. But an inexperienced (and out-of-position) CB can and will be cut down by any half-decent striker. Also, why isn’t Hayden in the matchday squad at least?
i like jack,think he is a fantastic player,but never when played with ramsey,it’s just not happening,when wither of them plays the “ball carrier” role (i knw,sounds dodgy), we gel as a unit,i too think jack’s suspension is a blessing in disguise but not because of jack’s ability
Perhaps Aaron can be the ‘ball carrier’ while Jack ‘plays in the hole’. Oohh matron……
Monreal is f***ing liability. Give Bellerin a shot, especially as Chambers has already proved himself at CB. Will miss Wilshere but if we still can’t beat a team that lost 8-0 last week then we’ve got serious problems. Get well soon Kos, Per looks lost without you.
we have a pu**y squad.
I feel people are being way too harsh on Monreal. Given that Kos looks to be out for quite some time, we need something of a lasting solution here, which means Monreal is likely to be given quite a few chances. Let’s see how he performs over time before being too critical.
lets give monreal chances, who cares if we loose.
Right, it’s obviously not gambling to use a completely fresh 19 year old as a right back, just so we can use another 19 year old in central defense.
Which one is the greater gamble? Monreal + Chambers or Chambers + Bellerin? I certainly don’t know, and I doubt anyone around here does. We simply haven’t seen enough of either Bellerin at RB or Monreal at CB to have an answer. A few matches just isn’t enough.
Is that a puppy squad? A puffy squad? Punny? Purry? Putty?
After last match, I think Bellerin is more convincing at right back than Chambers. That speed means a lot if we stand high.
Chambers should start alongside Per in the center, he’s been great there.
Based on the last couple of matches, the majority of our team is completely useless and should be replaced. However, it’s not as simple as that. Far more time is needed to make a verdict. If Bellerin truly was better than Chambers, there’s a good chance Wenger would have spotted it.
Wenger’s certainly not a flawless manager, but he does have an eye for talent, and he’s generally good at playing them at the right time.
With that said, Wenger always does the opposite of what I think is a good idea. So im sure we’ll see the same backline as against Anderlecht.
Chambers looks better than monreal at cb and bellerin looks better than chambers at rb, given he has the pace to get up and down and recover when beaten.
Play people in their natural positions!
Someone else rightly pointed out that Gibbs as monreal on the pitch at the same time is suicide with their injury records. Whose next in line at lb? Flamini? Oh dear
Wilshere has only 4 yellow cards? Why is he suspended?
He has 5.
Everton, Villa, Southampton, Sp*rs, Hull.
Sick of the who plays where shite, wherever you’re playing go speak to Alexis about 100% commitment for the full 90 minutes
Well said!
Of course! All we need to do is play Sanchez at CB and all our defensive problems will be solved. Genius!
Don’t be daft, you know that is not what he meant.
He was referring to how Alexis gives 100% and never stops each game whereas some of the players look at times as if they can’t be fucking bothered.
Practise what you preach. “Who plays where shite” is a load of bollocks. For all his hard work, Sanchez would be a crap CB, wouldn’t he? Obviously it does matter where someone plays.
Not a lot of humour around here
Why not play monreal rb and chambers cb. ‘azzuacottaidiot’ of chelski plays left back and is right footed. So why not an experienced left footer at right back in monreal. With jack out would like podolski to play or could Campbell. wenger may go for oxo but he was not great in last matches…
What is happening with Wenger. Thought he loves to give opportunities to youngsters. Where is the coach who gave chance to Cesc even when Vierra, Edu and Gilberto were still in the team? Or can we say he is starting to change his adored philosophy because I can’t just imagine why he won’t give Hayden and Bellerin their deserved chance.
Szez
bellerin per chambers gibbs
Flamini ramsey
alexis santi ox
Welbeck
We should be ok, as long as Alexis is healthy
Recall Jenks!