Arsenal take on Nottingham Forest tomorrow in the EFL Cup, and Arsene Wenger has provided the latest team update ahead of the game.
Olivier Giroud remains sidelined with a toe complaint, meaning recent signing Lucas Perez could get a chance to start up front.
Gabriel ‘has a chance to play’, according to the Frenchman, as he shuffles his defence around. Mathieu Debuchy is back in training and could come in at right back in place of Hector Bellerin, while Kieran Gibbs and Rob Holding are also in line for a start.
However, there’s no Aaron Ramsey for tomorrow night, and the Welshman is not likely to return for the visit of Chelsea on Saturday either as he looks to recover completely from a hamstring strain picked up on the opening day of the season.
It’s expected that youngsters such as The Jeff, Chuba Akpom, Krystian Bielik, Chris Willock and Gedion Zelalem could be part of the squad as they joined in with first team training today.
Unleash The Jeff!!!
Quite excited to see the youngster in action actually. Especially Akpom, Jeff and Zelalem. Holding should also look to make the most of the opportunity.
Also hopefully Vlad Dragomir will be involved. The guy as one hell of a left foot shot on him. Good prospects.
Really don’t care about Vlad Dragomir’s skills, with that name he should be in the starting line up from until eternity (I’m pretty certain he’s imortal).
Hysterical. My coffee break was thorougly enjoyed.
“Certain…immortal” I’m in tears!!!
Let’s hope he’s not a biter.
Apparently, he’s frightened of crosses.
This.
Tapps! Stop it! I just spat coffee on my keyboard and my boss is giving me a funny look.
Chuckling on public transport after reading, thx
His name should be preceeded by “Count”
will he ever be able to start a game in daylight? or should he only be brought on for the Stoke games?
this wins the internet. you’re right by the way he should be! !
Also a heck of a right canine
I actually really dislike Akpom. He could be decent at some point. He isnt yet though. And his attidude and overly self focused celebrations when he scores a shite tap in are bas signs for me. But he resembles the petulant arrogance i really hate in football.
Don’t you mean implement the Jeff.
Implement Jeff.
mah name ah jeff
Didn’t know we still had Debuchy
Question – how much better is Bellerin than Mathieu Debuchy?
From memory when we bought Debuchy from Newcastle he was considered to be one of the most consistent RBs in the league – a right back version of Monreal. An untimely shoulder injury (fuck you Arnautovic) and the rise of Bellerin has meant his career has suffered as a result.
He didn’t help matters by agitating a move away but hopefully he’s settled now and will provide a decent backup to Bellerin.
MUCH better now.
He was pantz everytime he played since coming back.
Before his injury you could argue that he was undroppable for bellerin because he was sound at the back and very good going forward whereas Bellerin hadn’t done anything yet.
now though Bellerin has shown his pedigree and his performance and promise mean there is no way to be dropped without a massive loss of form or injury.
So if walcott/campbell teaches us anything “form” is not wenger’s currency.. so debuchy’s only way back is a serious injury and you can’t hope for that,
I dont think that Wenger disregards form. He keeps players in the team when they have good form even if they are not considered as good as the player they are keeping out of the team. (Iwobi last year) I do think he is very loyal to the players he has known for a long time.
Good thinking! Despite what has happened I still think Debuchy is one of the best RB’s in PL. We are lucky to have 3 excellent RB’s at the moment. But they all need to play
Fullback positions are the least versatile of all outfield positions a player can commit to. So yeah, we’re lucky, but backup fullbacks are bound to stay disgruntled.
He needs a run of games to get his form back but that won’t happen while HB stays fit.
If HB does get injured and MD plays 3 or 4 games then he may start to challenge HB for the position, but we can’t risk the games when he’s not up to match fitness unless really necessary.
I still can’t believe there was no action taken against Arnautovic for that push. Nearly ended Debuchy’s career.
Why is Debuchy not involved in first team trainings since the season began? Was he by any means injured, or relegated to the reserves?
If jenks is fit I’d start with him over debuchy. The guy has no desire when he featured the last few times, jenks cares and tries his best.
He’s not fit
They call him ‘The Jeff’
Wenger in recent years has tried to play a more experienced lineup in these cup matches (when previously it would be all youth or first teamers that don’t play much). Will be interesting what he goes with tomorrow.
I hope we have our absolute best defence playing. They can call on TGSTEL, so we must be on top form and have the best players available to stand any chance.
Disagree. Better to accept the inevitable and ensure our first choice back 4 are spared the drubbing and avoid any psychological damage. Let our backups suffer the wrath of lord Bendtner (and verily his wrath be mighty) so that the others can focus on more realistic challenges (Zlatan, Suarez, Mecha-Godzilla etc.)
Good point. We don’t want that Sheffield disaster to repeat.
Would love to see Zelalem get some minutes in the #10 or #8 role. I still believe he has great potential.
Hopefully we get to see Lucas Perez make an impact today.
My ideal lineup:
Ospina
Gibbs Holding Kos Bellerin
Xhaka Elneny
Ox Iwobi Theo
Perez
Maybe Zelalem at number ten and iwobi instead of theo
I’d say that line-up is slightly too strong (Kos, Bellerin, Theo and Iwobi will be need for Chelsea). And swap Bellerin and Gibbs lol
Really? Risk Koscielny in our 4th choice competition, against Nottingham Forest when our very next game is against Chelsea?
Seriously, Bellerin, Kos, Iwobi and Walcott…None of them is playing (or starting at least) tomorrow.
This is more realistic
Ospina
Debuchy Gabriel Holding Gibbs
Elneny Xhaka
Jeff Ox Akpom
Perez
think perez will play on the left, jeff on the right and akpom up top.
but if its like the system we play with sanchez atm, they will all be interchangeable.
Annoying that our form players at the Euro’s – Ramsey and Giroud, have both already had their season cut short by injury.
I was excited for good seasons from them both. Hope they can pick up where they left off.
Yes, but I enjoy the fact that we have the squad depth to give them time to recover completely, even with minor injuries like Giroud’s. Hopefully it means that we can count their absence in weeks, rather than months.
I actually look forward to seeing us play some of our fringe players and young players. Some of our fringe players like Debuchy just need game time…and this should be a good test. For me this game should be about that. We played a strong side last season against Sheffield Weds and it was a disaster but there was clearly an injury crisis at that time and some first team regulars just coasted through that match with not much motivation. Better to have a hungry team on the pitch.
My lineup:
Ospina
Debuchy Holding Gabriel Gibbs
Xhaka Elneny
Ox Jeff Willock
Lucas/Akpom
Did anyone see The Jeff on the Arsenal snapchat??
He was quoting the 22 Jump Street Line (which basically copies Borat btw), “my name Jeff”.
Please can we make this into a chant for him.
Unleash the jeff!
It’s bn a while The LORD!
I guess we will be balancing out giving the youngsters a run out with giving the players that need a bit of time on the ball.
So…
…………………………………..Ospina……………………………………..
Debuchy………….Holding……………Gabriel…………………Gibbs
…………………………………..Granit……………………………………
………….Elneny………………………………….Zelalem……………..
Jeff……………………………Perez……………………………..Willock
Something like that.
Jenkinson also avaialable. Would be great to assess him.
Not sure Wenger would play Holding and Gabby together quite yet. You need top, top fitness and leadership/experience between the two; Holding, although impressive, still lacks that bit of leadership while Gabby is lacking match fitness. More likely to be Holding/Gabby and Kos or Holding/Gabby and Mustafi.
my humble 2 cents.
It’s an EFL match against Nottingham Forest. It’s the exact type of match to play them both together.
good point
I’d really like to see Akpom started but also I want to see Lucas started….. Confused…. 😀
We should try 4-4-2 again (at least for this comp, since Ozil won’t be playing), we haven’t used that formation in ages.
Remember they’ve got Bendtner, Lansbury and Traore. 3 Former Gunners that will want to show well.
My starting lineup:
…..The Jeff
Jeff Jeff Jeff Jeff
Jeff Jeff Jeff Jeff
……Jeff Jeff
Great team selection! I’d still like Ospina to keep though, if you don’t mind me changing that one bit.
Hmmmm…the Jeff could kick the ball further that him though….however I would be happy to put him on the subs bench which would look like this:
Jeff Jeff Jeff Ospina Jeff Jeff.
Happy with that?
*than 🙁
A team of Alexis’ would be any opponents worst nightmare. They’d just be getting harried constantly by a pitch full of hyperactive nutters.
If only we could figure out how to clone him.
Not sure about Alexis’ pedigree in goal mind you….
They wouldn’t get near the goal
That’s why you put the Ox/Gibbs in there
Jeeeefffffspinaaaaa!
Great squad depth even with injuries:
Ospina
Debu,gab,holding,gibbs
Elneny, xhaka
Oxe, zelalem, jeff
Lucas
Beach- martinez? Jenkinson, bielik, akpom, sanogoals? Wilock, fittest cm from a team.
Not a bad lineup, but I struggle to understand why you’d want to send some players to the beach…?!
I hope Maitland Niles get a chance. I think he will be the next breakout star from our academy. Similar to iwobi he is under the radar but probably one of our most rounded academy player.
Zalalem and Jeff are talented but they are still raw and have known weakness
I sanogo’s celebration. Just awesome
I worry about Sanogo because i really don’t understand his role at the club. Does he show up for practices etc? Is he vacationing on a private yacht in the North Sea? Is he even in the UK? Like someday ur dining at a fine restaurant in Milan and you see Sanogo at a table across the room reading his daily morning newspaper in his khaki colored shorts ON A GAME NIGHT!
….hmm nvm actually why would I be out dining on a game night?
We’ll find out when he’s not injured….. If that happens whilst he’s still on a contract to us.
Wow, we al sound like happy Gooners. Weird
Considering there are many experienced players not playing regularly not many youngsters will get chance .
My lineup
Ospina
Bellerin holding mustafi Gibbs
Xhaka elneny
Maitland-niles iwobi ox
Perez
Bench Martinez bielk monreal cazorla akpom
Bendtner for a hatrick!! Third goal will be a penalty and I wanna see all those camera phone lights, please. It will be like it was at home to Porto!!
In all serious though amongst the bad the Lord did have some moments and games for me that will long live in my memories. And that night home to Porto will be one of them
A hatrick of own goals would be helpful
That 93rd minute penalty cost me a 600 pound payout. I’d put a fiver on 4-0 for Arsenal with Bendtner scoring first, at 120/1. Then he had to go and make it five. Bastard. Would have paid for my whole trip to London.
Jeff it up arsene!
No one mentioned Yaya Sanogo.. what happen to him?
Injured of course…
The year of the Lord 2016
More than anything, irregardless of the eventual line-up, we have to take this cup seriously if the ‘fringe’ players are to get minutes this season. Everything else, EPL, CL, FA Cup even, are so damn important … and rightfully so. To that nd, I hope AW goes with an effective mix of youth and experience.
You all have the line up wrong. Martinez is EFL goalie this season, Ospina gets CL and FA Cup