Arsene Wenger has brought a strong squad to Switzerland for tomorrow night’s Champions League clash with FC Basel.
The Gunners can still win their group but need PSG to drop points against Ludogorets in their final game and take all three points against the Swiss side.
It seems the only change from the squad that faced West Ham at the weekend is Olivier Giroud returning, while Francis Coquelin is suspended meaning Aaron Ramsey or Mohamed Elneny will come into midfield alongside Granit Xhaka.
Whether the manager rotates the squad at all remains to be seen but that’s not a decision he appears to have made just yet.
Wenger: "I keep the group together. Do the players start or not? I will make a decision tomorrow."
— James Olley (@JamesOlley) December 5, 2016
Further coverage later.
Hope to see Iwobi, Ramsey and Lucas getting starts.
Rest a few key players would be ideal. We are kind of in a no win situation. Win the group, we may meet Bayern or Real. Second in the group we may meet Barca or Atletico.
I’d prefer Barca or Atletico, based on recent form
Atletico would be our cryptonite in my opinion, Real are better but I would fancy us a lot more in a more open game. Atletico are like Stoke 10.0. Not really obviously but you know what i mean, we’d be like a rock based pokemon up against a grass based pokemon, am i right?
Yeah I get what you mean. Atletico are, probably, the best team in the world when it comes to defence. We generally struggle against teams that deny us that kind of time and space. Add in their attacking threat too and we’re in for a very, very tough tie.
“we’re in for a very, very tough tie”
….and i can’t wait.
We are not United and this is not the UEFA cup, so bring it!!!!
Henry said it himself a few seasons ago I think. “They don’t give you an inch”, he said.
Problem is recent form won’t be so recent come mid-February. Just have to hope for a lucky draw for once. I’d prefer some main guys, like Alexis and Ozil and Koscielny, are rested tomorrow, considering the three PL games between this coming Saturday and the following Sunday. It’s hard to imagine Ludogorets going to PSG and even getting a draw.
A lucky draw for once ? Like Milan or Monaco you mean?
The draw doesn’t concern me. Arsenal not turning up for first leg again does.
Monaco was a massive missed opportunity. There aren’t actually many clearly favorable options if we do finish second–maybe whichever of Napoli/Benfica/Besiktas takes their group? But yes, turning up is the first step, though there are some sides it would be better to wait to meet down the line.
If we’re destined to draw Barca this is the year to do it.
On current form, that is.
I agree. I think for once, winning the group won’t mean an easier draw.
For me, it’s not about who we play, it’s having that home game in the second leg we always miss out on
So win the home leg 4-0?
problem solved
Given our luck, it will be one of those 4 teams we will draw.
Bring them on I say.
Don’t forget Dortmund they are pretty good too. Bit then again to win the CL you have to beat the best.
Yeah but for instance Real Madrid had quite an easy way to the final last year, then they turned up for the final. It helps.
While we fret and worry over the draw, the simple fact is, if you want to win the competition you have to come up against the best teams and beat them. We’ll undoubtedly do the former, not so sure about the latter.
Thanx for the teaser ??
Lucas
Iwobi-The Jeff-Chambo
Ramsey-Elneny
Gibbs-Kos-Mustafi-Gabriel
Ospina
Tough one Greg. It’s hard to decide which eleven to go for bearing in mind the games coming up as much as wanting to keep momentum. I would probably rest only a couple of key players and really have a go to be honest. Something like this, Giroud/Lucas Iwobi-Ox/Ramsey-Walcott/Ox Xhaka-Elneny Monreal-Holding-Mustafi-Gabriel or Mr Niles Ospina As you may have noticed, im having a real tough time deciding with a few positions. But i aint no gaffer 🙂 Im quite sure Ramsey will start this game and he really needs to start taking his chances if he does. I might get… Read more »
Expect to see some rotation.
Probably Iwobi, Gibbs, Ramsey, Ospina at least in the first eleven. Elneny and Lucas a possibly too. Would be nice to see Alexis rested but it will almost certainly not happen.
Aren’t we lucky to have id week footy as well. All those simpletons that use to tediously complain about the fourth spot trophy, imagine if we had to wait till the weekend for the next bout of footy. Who cares if we crash out when, we have been there competing every season and its a treat. Imagine the likes of Liverpool and Spurs who sometimes come up for air and would love to have the consistency of that sort of feature. Instead, most of the time *(if they are lucky)…or they have to pretend they are elated with the lesser… Read more »
Like to see Gabriel at Rback again until Bellerin is fit to return. He is so much more composed and technical than Jenkinson. I think there is room for Iwobi again. Thought he was quite spritely second half against Soton. Also we need to keep playing the Ox. He brings a muscular dynamism to the squad even if his final ball is sometimes lacking. That will only improve with more games under the belt. Ambivalent about Ramsey at the moment. He’s a quality player who we should play centrally in midfield but he seems bereft of confidence or just lackluster.… Read more »
Tell Alexis you’re heading to Switzerland for the lolz, no one tell him there’s a game on.
He’d probably go and find a game to play in anyway just for funz.
Could we not let that man just rest with his dogs!?
I just want to see Perez and Alexis play together.. they’d be a handful for any defence on their day.
Imagine a Welbeck – Alexis – Perez front 3…
Total chaos.
Just pointing out that we don’t have to take all the 3 points as you write here blogs, if PSG actually lose we are trough with a draw.
You’re technically correct, though I’m hoping that won’t be our mentality going into the game…
No, I would agree to that.
But important to know what the scenarioes are. In the match against PSG some commentators around the world fucked up and said we were 1st on goal difference…
Judging by his quotes, I think he will rotate, but leave in some crucial players. We should still have a strong enough team to beat Basel.
The team I’d like to see: Ospina, Gibbs, Holding, Mustafi, Gabriel, Xhaka, Ramsey, Ox, Ozil, Walcott, Giroud
Subs: Cech, Monreal, Koscielny, Elneny, Iwobi, Alexis, Lucas
Reckon Wenger will play Alexis instead of Giroud, Koscielny for Holding and Elneny for Ramsey. Which is not in alignment with my opinion. How dare he, Wenger Out!
id like to see
Ospina
gabriel – Koscielny – Mustafi
Walcott – Ozil – Coquelin – Xhaka – Iwobi
Giroud – Sanchez
See if we can play a 352
Think Wenger has to give Lucas as much game time as possible because he’s the closest swap for Alexis if needed.
I really want Lucas to have a blinder. Clear people doubts. He deserves it. He was quality last year in the LIGA.
The fact that every year whether we always debating which team we don’t want….Are we in the competition to win or just to be in it? No team who harbours any real ambition of winning the competition fear who they may get. We have used all sorts of theories to excuse or justify being knocked out but within all that we have been booted out by PSV, Liverpool and Monaco. Our big game mentality gets exposed in the champions league every year, our biggest game every year should be the first leg at home in the champions league and we… Read more »
Actually, if you are really serious about winning the whole thing, then you want to play the percentages. And the chances of progressing are definitely higher against weaker opposition, and that is true for any team including the Reals, Barcas, Bayerns, etc. Conversely, while you might be able to beat and progress against tough opposition “on your day”, the greater the number of big teams you have to play, the greater your chance of eventually being eliminated, regardless of how the stature of the team. As someone mentioned above, last year Real had an easy road to the final (particularly… Read more »
Hey, thanks for the reply to post and yes I agree with the sentiment that it is easier on paper to suggest an easier road to the final means you win it. However my overall point is we have had the “preferable” ties over the years to build confidence gain momentum and the face a big team, I mainly think of the time we were knocked out by United, twice by Liverpool (I think it was twice at least). As mentioned in my post we have been knocked out by Monaco, Ac Milan and the above so we have faced… Read more »
ha remember how we’re always crap after a CL game, especially when it involves travel?
why would we want to avoid that when said CL game is a dead rubber ha ha play them all anyway!!
Will be a great game for the Ox if he can throw all his confidence at it,