Arsene Wenger has revealed the latest team news ahead of Sunday’s game against Middlesbrough in the FA Cup on Sunday.
As expected Aaron Ramsey is out due to his hamstring strain, however estimates that he might miss four weeks seem to be slightly wide of the mark with the Arsenal manager saying it was a simple Grade One strain, and he should only miss a couple of weeks.
It’s not yet 100% clear if Alexis Sanchez will be available but he’s a doubt with the Frenchman saying he could be short of fitness having sustained a knee injury against Leicester on Tuesday night.
However, there was some good news with Jack Wilshere back in full training, and it remains to be seen if the England man will be thrown in for his first start in three months.
Speaking about him, the manager said, “He’s motivated and focused to come back as quick as possible. He needs competition.”
There were also hints that Gabriel could make his Arsenal debut having settled in well since his arrival from Villarreal.
It was also confirmed that Wojciech Szczesny will start in goal.
Should still win but it is a banana skin game. Szcz with another different defence in front of him if Gabriel plays. Let’s hope they don’t muck around with the team too much.
if Szcz mucks about in this game he’s really not doing himself any favours. He needs to put in a rock solid performance. Boro are an attacking side and our defence, given how awful it was against Leicester, will be tested. Its important for Szcz to be counted tomorrow, none of the flapping, running yards out of his area and bad kicking will be acceptable tomorrow.
Wasn’t so much the defence, which did OK, but the complete lack of cover from the midfield!
Either way I don’t think you could put the Brighton goals on ar’ Ches
Why not? He was as cuplable as anyone.
Glad he’s back for this game and hopefully he will be very focused.
He can do whatever he likes tomorrow.
I wouldn’t recommend a day-long bender, shisha pipe, or a late night pants-down outside the club. But if he wants to get all the flapping and running about out of his system, I’m all for it.
Asked my Boro supporting friend, who will be there at the match, and he says:
‘I think any result is possible here….Arsenal is so up and down….we have been v tight….if you get a couple up within the first hour then it could be a v big win for you….if we keep it scoreless until 60 mins the pressure on your guys could be interesting for us….
Let’s hope for a good game. We try to play pass and move, so it might at least be good quality, even if not high scoring.’
Your mate is clearly a genius at footballing insight: “any result is possible”, “could be a big win”, “if we keep it scoreless the pressure is on”, “we try to pass and move”…
Give that man a job next to Robbie Savage.
To be fair, he could have said something like, “I guarantee that one of the teams will win by at least 4.” I don’t think a few reasonable comments should earn him a sarcastic insult.
Gus, I’ll guarantee you he is brighter, cooler and better guy than you. He wasn’t born in Tottenham and was sh*te.
Give us your smartarse views and then we can rip you apart. Try to include your knowledge about Boro, like this Boro fan has, to try to help us get an idea of what the oppo think.
Anyone who underestimates Middlesborough is a total mug. Listen to the Arsecast for the interview with Kay Murray to get some insight as regards why Boro are flying high (great interview Arseblog). Aitor Karanka is the real deal and has turned the the entire club around in less than a year and a half. Middlesborough are not going to show up intimidated as this is the level they believe should be playing and (hopefully) will be playing next season. A number of Villa fans want to poach him (as Newcastle fans also wanted). If Arsenal do not approach this as… Read more »
Underestimate Boro at your peril. Aitor Karanka is a force to be reckoned with. In less than 1 ½ years he has turned Middlesbrough around, has them heading the Championship with a fantastic squad spirit. He was Mourinho’s understudy at RM, took coaching badges with Pochettino and as friends both have lent him players to bolster the team. He has a deep squad that he rotates with abandon as plans were put in place to challenge on several fronts from the off. Many Newcastle fans wanted Karanka poached to replace Pardew – a similar situation just arose at Villa. Nobody… Read more »
I hope Szcz is not seriously tested on Sunday, but if he is and is he makes a several good saves he will keep his place. I like what wenger said on the presser that Szcz impressed on training that is great to hear, and now every player know what a competition can do to you if you don’t play well especially Szcz.
Well I’m sure we’ll go through to the next round and we’ve (on paper anyway) got a strong enough squad and injuries are part and parcel of the rough and tumble of the premier league but on a lighter note fuck you Upson you clogging bastard and all the other orcs who kick lumps out of our forwards. may their ears turn to arseholes and shit on their shoulders. Thankfully Alexis is tougher than Reyes. COYG
Excited to see Gabriel play. Think he could be vital player for us in the foreseen future. COYG
Does anybody even bother to ask him about Diaby these days?
What’s a “Diaby”?
Its the capital and second most populous city in the UAE according to Wiki
Poor guy I feel just bad for him at this point
Such a huge talent wasted. Got to feel for the guy and hats off to the club for giving him every chance to come back, very classy. Unfortunately it doesn’t look like he’s ever going to pull on the red and white again.
He’s in the two week vortex
I am picturing one of those scenes where Diaby is given the all clear in the treatment room and as opens the door to leave, it opens into another treatment room and that room opens up into the same treatment room and this has been going on for the last 3 years.
Twilight Injury Zone.
“Err Mr Wenger, we’ve had a look around and discovered that it’s all simply down to getting the floor plans wrong when we built the training ground and Abou just happened to be stood in the middle of the site when we built it…”
I think he said that diaby now has a calf injury if i’m not mistaken.
Fuck it, put Diaby in goal he deserves a game!
Point well made about the “Szczesny wth an unfamiliar defence” scenario that might cause us to cack some pants but realistically a game we should win. COYG!
Overall, It’s still a good time to rest Alexis, and Szczesny is more than good enough to keep a clean sheet against Boro even if he plays with an unfamiliar defence.
COYG’
Why is it a good time to rest Alexis? You must be part of the fourth place trophy being the most important trophy brigade.
Depends on which trophy. Sure, the FA Cup would be nice to win but not at the cost of top four. Given the financial impact of no Champions League, not to mention our ability to attract the kind of players we need if we’re to challenge for more meaningful trophies, a season in the Europa playing those killer Thursday nights doesn’t bear thinking about. Besides, I’d rather see us get to the quarters or semis of the CL, which we’ve chance of doing this season. Though very exciting for lower-league clubs who’ve nothing else to compete for, the domestic cups… Read more »
I would normally agree with a lack of interest in the FA Cup, however…going back to back would be epic! It would also edge Arsenal past Man United with a 12th win, as all-time highest FA Cup winners. I also don’t like the idea of giving a cheap win to a side most here seem to be underestimating (I already posted a reply concerning Aitor Karanka and a resurgent Boro which seems to have disappeared into the ether). Arsenal are too weak mentally to write this game and the cup off – this would do damage we do not need.… Read more »
Well said, I will second that view.
Quite agree about Sanchez. We ought to have more than enough fire power to score against a Championship side without him and it would be a disaster if he were to play unfit again and get injured worse (FA Cup ties being notorious for ‘competitive’ tackles). Keep Sanchez for the league and especially for Monaco. Against them we’ll need our best strike force fit and rearing to go. They don’t score much themselves but there’s a reason they topped their group: they’re tactical, they fight and are very hard to break down. Welbeck needs games, Giroud has only just started… Read more »
Recon we’ll see Wlbz starting up top with Akpom coming on at 60 minute mark. Maybe save Giroud for Monaco? Time for Theo to find some form, and maybe we should go with Flamini in midfield. Don’t want to strain our Coq, we’ve used him alot lately!
Yes, I worry about overusing the Coq. Also Bellerin as we’ve no real cover at right back. Thankfully Wenger seems to be thinking the same. Interesting that he says (as reported in the Guardian) he wouldn’t be surprised if we lost.
Gabriel should get his debut and I am beginning to miss the sharpness and agility of szcency in goal . A much better keeper than Ospina . rosisky start for Ramsey and we welbeck for. Sanchez . Oil should be rested .
Your spelling has given me a headache.
I cracked up when I saw Oil.
Maybe we’ve signed Olive Oil?
Yeah definitely rest Oil though. Don’t want him inflaming anything, or burning out.
I hear he’s great at lubricating our midfield engine.
He’s just such a slippery customer, so hard to pick up.
Apparently an offer came in from Scotland to offer Oil a move away from England. You can just guarantee people will pay money to see him.
Some people don’t like Oil, and would rather we used FabreGas instead, like in the old days.
Is Welbeck fit? Was there a reason he didn’t feature against Leicester?
Rested – he’ll play on Sunday.
Chill I got this FA is my thang if you didn’t already know that
Would be good to give Welbeck and Akpom a start.
I’d like to see Chambers, Gibbo, Welbeck and Wilshere all start. And I’m not even English. I’d keep Coquelin in the side though, same with Santi.
If Per is rested, it would be a treat to see Rosicky wearing the armband again. Love him more than I’d care to admit. No mucking about, get the result and rest a few legs ahead of a tricky trip to Palace!
rosicky, jack and santi together would be fun to see in action again.
This might be a game where we see a bit more of Chuba. Looks a bull of a young man, not unlike a young Kevin Campbell.
More like a young Lenny Henry?
If you remember that unfortunate comment…
Nice to see the FA will *not* be punishing Costa for Head-butting and then strangling McCarthy. It’s a conspiracy, Maureen, a conspiracy I tells ya!
It’s clear they changed the rules to allow strangling, without telling anyone. Giroud, you know what to do when Chel$ki come round.
Ivanovic though.
Who cares, they’re all cunts
They would have to be particularly stupid to punish Costa for the actions of Ivanovic. But I wouldn’t put it past them, them being the FA and all.
The FA should charge Costa just for being an elephant-faced mercenary cunt.
I much prefer elephants…
I say give sanchez another rest even if he is fit. Their is the champions league coming up and all, would be a shame if we lost him to injury again.
no no, i cheked already earlier with the fa. Strangling and chokeholds are ok!
Don’t worry mere mortal……….. i’ll return the favour next season by leaving you on your arse atleast ten times and then scoring 5 goals
Charlie Adam performed an excellent piece of chokeholding on Alexis if i can recall correctly. Great play by the talented lad.
Szczesny,
Chambers, Mertsacker,Gabriel, Gibbs
Coquelin, Wilshere (from the manager’s tone, he will play), Ozil (in the middle)
Walcott, Giroud and Welbeck on the left.
Bench:Osp, Bellerin, Kos, Monreal,Rosicky, Cazorla, Akpom.
No chances.
Agree, except I’d have Martinez on the bench. Very promising young keeper who did well when he played in the first team and who needs chances if he’s to improve. Otherwise we could lose him (like Fabianski) just when he’s getting to be really good. No point putting Ospina on the bench. He’s got the number-1 spot and no longer needs to be made to feel wanted.
Costa’s eyes are so close together, it freaks me the feck out.
Best thing is it don’t matter what will happen Sunday. Either we win the fucker and that’s obviously great, hopefully get a few goals in and a bit of the old tiki tekkers from Jack the Lad and Tommy the Rose, or we’ll lose. In case of the latter, we won the whole thing just last year AND did better this year than both our only real rivals in the land. Can’t lose like Parker Lewis. COYG
What was that in English please?
I kind of understood it until he said “Parker Lewis” but thought the premise of it was utter bollocks imho
Lets not have a load of conductors in the middle from now on.
Our best perfs this season have been with a balanced team.
Get the wingers on, and one of the maestros. Ozil, Cazorla or Rosicky , not all three, or even two of them.
One is enough.
I don’t think Wenger will rotate too much, maybe bring in Gibbs and Chambers along with Wojech and possibly Welbeck for Walcott (as at Tottenham), but the rest who have been playing lately will play. He needs to rotate of course, but also has to be very careful about making too many changes as what usually happens when the big clubs have been knocked out by lower tier teams. We need to get up early and put the game to rest so he can get some of the ones playing big minutes out in the 2nd half. I am sure… Read more »
Alexis not fit! Thanks a fucking lot ex-Arsenal bloke I can’t remember the name of!
Sorry, just realised your point.
I wouldn’t like to see too many changes in defense against an attacking team. I’m hoping we’ll see Ozil in the middle, but am prepared to see him on the left. But I do think it would be a good time to give Santi a rest. He tailed off a bit the last two matches. It will be interesting to see how interchangeable Jack and Aaron are, given Jack’s left-footedness. Do we know how they compare on Wenger’s “Preferential Vision” chart? It might be Rosicky covering for Ramsey given that Ramsey spends more of his time on the right-center. Sadly,… Read more »
I should say I suspect, but the truth is I know Middlesbrough would plan to park a banana and pineapple loaded lorry in front of their goal. They’d want to get us on the counter. Our defence would need to be extra wary of those mourinho-type tactics.
There is no point trying to rush Alexis back. We need to be very wary of Boro given their current form. Prob need to keep as much consistency as much as possible. Likely we should have either of Welbeck or Giroud up top. Ozil and Santi given. Prob Walcott starting. Rosicky next to Ramsey. Flamini is not as bad as people would imagine him, he nearly had two assist in games against City and Villa but Rosicky is the better player going forward. Coquelin to retain his position ahead of Per and Koscielny (Gabriel can be introduced I feel if… Read more »