Danny Welbeck says he’s determined to help Arsenal go further in the Champions League this season, starting with Wednesday night’s clash with Monaco.
The French side travel to London sitting in 4th place in Ligue Un, but having overcome a little blip in form during which they drew twice and lost once.
It means it’ll be a tough test at home, but for which the Arsenal players are excited according to the England international.
“We’re obviously all looking forward to playing against Monaco,” he said. “Any team you get in the Champions League will be a difficult opponent and it will be no different with Monaco.
“They have strong players and it’s going to be a big challenge for us over the two legs.”
Welbeck was instrumental in the win over Crystal Palace, although he may find himself sidelined for Theo Walcott as the Gunners look to take a first-leg lead, but he’s hopeful of making progress in the competition.
“I would love to keep on progressing to the last stages of the competition and that’s the aim for all the players here. Testing yourself against the world’s best players in the Champions League is a great challenge.
“It’s massive if you can get far in the competition and that’s what we’re going to be doing this season.”
I’ve got a lot of time for Welbz. #Datguy
we’re going to win the champions league.
Mmm, not completely impossible when you consider that Greece won the Euroos, but we’ have to improve our preparation and tactics.
Against Monaco our best bet is the make use of our pace. Their defence is really formidable, best in the CL group stage, only conceded one goal, so no point relying on patience or luck to break them down. We should be aiming to score within seconds of kick-off, with Bellerin moving like lightening and Walcott overlapping before they’ve even woken up and realised what’s happened. Otherwise I foresee a boring (and nerve-racking) nil-nil.
They also have the least number of goals against them in the League 1 (19 – the same as Lyon the league leaders). With the draw it appeared we had avoided the big guns, but frankly (as Welbeck notes) if we are not razor sharp here, this will be a major test. I am hoping they do not have the audacity to press us from the off. That’s not generally the style of a team away in the CL but they will have reviewed the Arsenal games from this season… The post is spot on – we really need to… Read more »
Bellerin has an ankle problem, no? Anyway we shouldn’t be looking for a defender to bomb forward, and although it is a home game where Walcott can excel, I wouldn’t take off Sanchez or Welbeck for anything, given their forms this season.
I’m sure Wenger will agree with you. He’ll urge patience and, if we’re drawing at 70 minutes, he’ll bring on an extra defender – though to be fair to him, he did once do the unpredictable thing in starting Sanogo v. Bayern, which was very nearly successful.
As for Bellerin’s ankle, I’ve no idea, but I thought the view on here a few days ago was that he was probably being rested at the weekend purely as a precaution so he’d be fit for tomorrow?
Hopeful things: Toulalan is suspended and they’ve got four possibly injured, anyway doubtful, players (midfielders and defenders). Their few goals in group stage came from defenders, so their biggest threat looks to be from set-pieces, though I suppose that’s not brilliant for us.
The ref’s German and not one we’ve had before. Dunno if that’s good or bad.
Hopefully he’s Per’s mate
admiring his dedication and mental strength. He has proved to be a great addition. I think the current squad is capable to go all the way and suprise the big boys in the tournament.
I agree mate. And I’d start him against Monaco. Not just because of match sharpness but he just seems to have more of a presence than Theo. And Theo is an awesome impact sub whether we’re winning or losing. Let’s go red men.
Keep him in there, he set up the two goals at the weekend so can’t take him out after that.
Give Danny a starting place, but bring on Theo at the 70 mark if a goal or two are needed.
Is that you, Arsene?
so something like this?
Ospina
Bellerin/Chambers – Per – Kos – Monreal
Coq
Sanchez – Ozil – Cazorla – Welbeck
Giroud
With Welbeck and Sanchez swapping sides during the game.
Sounds a good team, though not sure Welbeck and Sanchez can switch to Monaco…
I wouldn’t be too keen on playing our new ‘all attack’ midfield in the champions league, but if the only alternative is Wilshere who hasn’t played a minute after a long layoff, I guess it’ll have to do.
Worth remembering that Monaco are a team built on a strong defence, rather than a vicious attack, so maybe sacrificing a little bit of strength in the middle for attacking verve might not be a bad idea.
So long as the Coq stays in the hole, we should be good. From the relatively few performances we’ve seen him in, he’s probably the most disciplined and determined defensive mid we’ve had since Viera and Silva. Everyone else we played there was either converted like Arteta, or wanted to be an attacker ala Song. As a keeper, it’s always nice to see players who actually enjoy defending rather than treating it as a tedious chore *Also, I’m curious as to how much Coquelin bulked up since 2 seasons ago. He’s much broader than he was before, it’s not just… Read more »
I agree, their attack isn’t that dangerous. In the group stage we scored something like four times more than they did. Their defence, however, is another matter so I hope Wenger is working on a strategy and not doing his usual leaving it up to the players – ‘we just play our own game’. Seeing how often we’ve struggled against strong and well-organised defences (including the likes of Leicester), just expecting the players to get on with it without a clear plan most likely won’t be enough. Practically nobody scores against Monaco by just leaving it to luck or counting… Read more »
Agree with the team above but…I might opt for Gibbs over Monreal. Monreal has had a great seson but I think GIbbs looks hungry to prove a point these days…
Agreed with the team but I would start Bellerin over chambers (if fit)
And the formation could be 4-2-3-1 with santi and le coq the two in the center. like they played against middlesbro
Move welbeck to the left . And as you said welbz and Alexis interchange through the game.
But great to have some good options on the bench.
On European nights I miss Chambo’s and Ramsey’s running and effort.
COYG.
I agree with this as well…. But as per Wenger’s formations, even if it’s 4-1-4-1 which I really like… it’s also a more defensive 4-2-3-1 without the ball… more like 4-5-1 actually. We all getting back. Love it.
we too danny boy we too
You guys should really pray Wenger plays me instead of that English guy just back from injury who isn’t really as good as me.
lame.
I reckon Theo will start on Wednesday. Not fussed either way tbh. Although I do rate Welbeck more than Theo at the moment. If Theo can get back to the form he was in pre-injury then there is a serious debate to be had.
Are you saying he needs to stop being consistent in patches?!
What do you mean by pre injury. He’s always in after injury state
Welbz has been really good. Credits when it’s due.
Welbeck needs to work on his finishing…that’s the only thing he lacks at the moment.
I don’t think it’ll be a good idea to start both santi and ozil in the middle; they might get overpowered by Monaco’s cm(kondogbia and bagayako). But we also need width so we can’t play ozil on the left.
decisions, decisions.
Walcott off the bench for me. He could be deadly in the final twenty minutes against a tiring team.
I would start the same as we did against Palace, with Welbeck ahead of Theo, mainly for the reason that Welbeck tracks back better defensively than Theo does.
The only other bit of concern i have is with our keeper. Ospina did not look very assuring at times on Saturday, I just wonder if it wouldn’t be better to go back to Szcz ? Either way, I look for our boys to go all out and take a nice 2 – 0 advantage back to Monaco.
I think wenger is making exactly the same tactic with the Goalkeepers like ancheloti did with madrid last year, cassilas played domestic cup and CL cup games and diego lopez played the league matches, same with opsina and Szcz, so i think Szcz will play on Wednesday and i think he has advantage and experience because he played so many CL matches and Ospina doesn’t. But it’s good thing to rotate the keepers because both of them will know that there is no space for error and they will give everything both of them to become no.1 keeper.
Dangerous to assume that we are going to push Monaco over.
Wenger has sound the warning bell.
They are deprived of some key players due o injury but you never know.
Complacency will be our worse enemy.
I see us going all the way! We’ve got complete aquad now, so why not!
It honestly feels like Xmas waiting till Wednesday….love champions league nights!
We have been freakishly inconsistent performance wise this season, so I hope the poor performances vs Spurs and Palace means we are due a good one. Dont know why, but we just dont seem capable of stringing together a few good games in a row this season.
Not that it’s in the bag by any means but if we get past Monaco and progress and also end the season 3rd (if the season ended tomorrow…) then, considering we signed one of the best attacking players in Europe, would you all consider that progression?
I don’t mean to sound thick saying that as on paper it obviously is but just keen to hear your views on where we’re actually at as a club.
If he cared so much shame he bottled the challenge that led to their first goal. Out of the CL now. Useless.