Arsenal: Szczesny, Chambers, Gabriel, Koscielny, Gibbs, Flamini, Cazorla, Welbeck, Ozil, Alexis, Giroud
Subs: Martinez, Mertesacker, Monreal, Rosicky, Walcott, Coquelin, Akpom
Middlesbrough: Mejias, Fredericks, Omeruo, Gibson, Friend, Leadbitter, Clayton, Adomah, Tomlin, Kike, Bamford.
Subs: Ripley, Nsue, Husband, Vossen, Reach, Whitehead, Woodgate.
—
Enough up front to beat any side! Hope it’s 5-0 up after 30 and Alexis can enjoy watching an easy win from the bench.
Does anyone have a link so I can watch the game live?
Wow – strong upfront, defence a bit iffy, poor Szcz.
Let’s see, hope Alexis survives.
COYR.
Why is the defense iffy? Care to explain?
Chambers at RB explains it all
Really starting to think Arsene wants Chambers at RB and only considers CB as his emergency position when all the CBs we have are injured…
He had some bad games at rightback. That doesn’t make him a bad defender. And you’ve not seen these 4 work together yet to come up with that assessment
That’s the problem, established partnerships/communication in defence cover up for individual weaknesses.
I think the argument otherwise for him being a good defender is that he is young and has a strong stature/body…but to me from all the matches I’ve seen him play, his natural instincts for defending…positioning, how to face attackers coming at him are very poor and I don’t know if those can be changed…and those weaknesses are worse when he plays on the flank…even to me if he develops as a CB…he would have a very low ceiling…like I said the only advantage I see him proving his detractors wrong is his age…
For the first season Chambers has done quite well after bing thrown into the deep end and covering positions at RB, CB and DM. Can you you tell me 5 quality players who could do that at 19 without a season under their belt.
Eradicate the negativity and be a supporter who ‘supports’ their team.
If we win with a clean sheet I’d like to hear the response.
Forever COYG!!
Well, Maddy, Chambers played pretty well today. What have you got to say now?
Both Kos and Gabriel are better on the left of central defence (see Kos on the first goal v Brighton when he was on the right hand side, he was poor), Chambers hasn’t played much. Plus the 4 have not played together at all (obviously), and it is another variation of the defence that Szcz plays behind that isn’t the first choice and has at least one player out of position.
Plus no Coq – we are relying on Flamini and Cazorla to protect the defence…
So, what do you think about that iffy defense?
flamini worries me
This boro team is an excellent side but we should have too much for them. Can’t wait to see Gabriel and really surprised to see Alexis
Alexis to start, knee isn’t that bad then :j
Very strong going foward,seems as though alexis has put a plaster over his knee and shown the gaffer to get on the pitch!
Language barrier will be interesting for Gabriel,let’s see what words he’s learnt?
Any who,let’s hope for a comfortable win,hoping to see welbeck back in the goals..
“John Terry is a cunt” along with Parlour’s standard courses should be enough for now.
I bet Gabriel will score his first goal for the club from a corner tonight! If my memory is right, his predecessor in #5 also scored on his debut from a corner!
Worried about the functionality of our midfield today.
The 4 changes in the back 5 won’t disrupt us too much though. Well, a lot depends on Gabriel’s debut but I’m expecting him to do just fine.
Only real concern is how we’ll build from the back and whether or not the distance between Flamini and Santi will be too great at times. Flamini’s passing range isn’t the hottest.
Fancy Welbeck for a goal today, he’s well overdue! COYG
This line-up means cazorla is cm along with flamini and ozil is deployed as no.10 with front three of welbz-giroud-alexs. there will be goals. but i don’t see why wenger is risking alexis so close to the CL game.
Our biggest worry should be today, not the match against Monaco. Besides, there’s a trip to Palace in between.
Hope Jack’s in the squad for that game. Bit concerning not to see him included today.
One game at a time. Looking ahead helps you lose games.
going to first emirates for first time to watch brazil vs chile, where would be the best place to seat, is in between up high in west stand or anywhere behind one of goals
Higher up gives a better perspective on the game. Behind the goals is harder to see how things are going, though I saw Thierry score at Highbury v Man U from behind the goal and was great. Similarly Arsenal 5 Leeds 0.
Overall higher up IMO, you’ll appreciate the game more.
Agreed on the better perspective from high up. For Brazil Chile I’d recommend that. If it were an arsenal game I’d recommend somewhere in north bank lower. Best atmosphere and most get to stand to watch the whole game. So long as you’re at least 10-15 rows back the perspective is alright.
Cazorla and Ozil together in midfield? Exciting!
We will be in the pot on monday. Good move by Wenger…taking no chances.
This team has the potential to dissect Boro into pieces. There is pace from back to the front. Hoping for a good understanding btw Gab and Kos.
COYGS
No bellerin on the bench. Who’s the sub RB?
Coq
Mertesacker.
Though seriously, Gabriel will probably more across. Or Nacho.
Bit nervous with this defence and Flamini protecting. Why have chambers who will get skinned at rb. Would have liked to see him at cm. feel we need to respect boro more.
Why are we playing Alexis?! This has the makings of a disaster. Ugh. Walcott/Welbeck are the ones that need sharpness
it’s called taking the cup seriously. we’re in it to win it. fine with what he’s done here. variation of squad rotation and assurances to play for a win.
I agree, but surely winning the cup will also necessitate keeping our best players fit for the following games? Insofar as a partially unfit Alexis might not be the difference, why not play fresher players who can still score?
I’m not advocating for a complete flip, I just feel that the selection of Alexis is an unnecessary risk, especially after Arsene’s quotes about him.
Sell jack!
This Middlesbrough team plays very compact defensive game and leaves only one man upfront hoping to link him for a counter. The truth is that with the sort of options we have upfront we could be able seal the win in the 1st half because they (Boro) normally come out different in the 2nd half with more attacking intent but by then we must have booked our last 8 spot.
Exactly. We start the game set up to outscore them, allowing AW to rest Coquelin and Mertesacker. Once we are significantly up, later in the second half, I expect we’ll shift to a more defensive mindset.
C’mon you reds
Is Bellerin injured? Anyone know why he hasn’t made the bench?
I guess it’s because Gabriel can cover right back as well and Wenger didn’t want three defenders on the bench?
Strong attack, untested defense. We should outscore them. No excuses.
Who’s captain when Mert and Arteta are out?
Good goal giroud coyg
Nice second
Seconded!
Reading the comments after the game is hilarious
Do many negative inputs about the team
Santi and Ozil
Welbeck
Chambers
Flames
Some of you should pause and take a moment before writing
Or is it anxiety ( covering yourselves just in case we fail)
You can say I told you so… Lol
Arsene’s been doing this for sometime…picking the team that wins