Arsene Wenger has provided the latest team news update ahead of Saturday’s Premier League fixture with Stoke City.
The Gunners come into this one on the back of two thumping wins, scoring 9 goals against West Ham and Basel, and those games were a showcase of the squad’s strength in depth as numerous changes were made between the two games.
After the midweek game, there are no new injuries to contend with, and there was perhaps some good news with Hector Bellerin in contention for a return after his ankle injury.
“Coming back into the squad we have Coquelin who was suspended, and maybe Bellerin who has a fitness test today,” said Wenger.
Asked about Danny Welbeck and Per Mertesacker, he continued, “They are recovering well, but they are a few weeks away to join in again.”
Santi Cazorla, meanwhile, underwent surgery on his ankle and the Spanish international described the operation as ‘perfect’.
Questioned on how he described it, the Arsenal manager said, “For me it’s to say any surgery is perfect, but you can say it was needed an it went well.
“After you have to see how he recovers. I’m positive he will recovery very quickly, but once you open your body at top level sport it means that it’s two months before you can play again.”
Gabriel needs to play against Stoke at right back to pocket the Arnoutavic cunt. Bellerin can take this one off.
Agreed. Colossal cunt is Arnoutavic
Ohhhh yes!!! Arnoutavic needs to be taken down a peg or 8.
I would have the injured Debuchy on the bench and sub him on at the 89th minute for some off the ball revenge!
I still can’t believe that push against DeBuchy was never reviewed by the FA. So dirty and dangerous.
Thump Stoke; I hate Hughes!
I hope we beat stoke to they are a dirty team , lets hope we get 3 points in the bag Please keep our big players come on wenger .Whos lcfc
I don’t hate Hughes as much as I hated (and still hate) Tiny Pubis. Hughes has actually tried to blend some skill into Stoke’s thuggery. With any luck, he’ll come to the Emirates thinking he can play against us instead of parking the bus. And if he does, then we will set a new PL record for goals in one game.
A well placed soap bar on the floor outside the shower is not the off the ball revenge Debuchy needs, but the one he deserves.
I agree. plus Gabriel for me dosent look as if he is being played out of position, in fact he is proving to be quite a very decent back up right full back, and getting better each game. He is more than adequate going forward, because he has the natural attacking instincts that most professional Brazilian footballers have, he is no slouch, albeit not a ‘flash’ like Bellerin, he is defensively good too in that position because of his centre back training….plus he can “scrap it out” with anybody if needed, and these are exactly the qualities we will need… Read more »
Im happy Gabriel is playing well again 🙂
yea, gabriel has not looked out of place at right back , but i’m still worried because we havent had a good challenge. but gabriel would be emough to see out stoke. let bellerin rest more and he will be fit for crucial christmas period matches
I wonder if Perez will start against Stoke… hard to drop a bloke who just scored a hattrick.
Can’t wait to have Welbeck back – that’s some serious depth in our forwards!
So true but which one with the hatric do you drop Cause they both got one…? oooh the pains of success!
Start Lucas on the right, let Oli tenderize their CB’s a bit, then if necessary send Alexis out to feast on them.
Lucas center, Alexis left, Ozil false 9, Walcott Right, Giroud to impact sub at 76″.
Oooof.
Amazing if Hector is back so soon, but, please, for the love of all that is holy have him on the bench at most, a good distance from the orcs.
Gabriel is perfect fit for this game. Let Bellerin recover completely. We’ll need him for man city. In the mid I’d have Coq-Xhaka to contain the stoke bullies. Then a Lucas-Alexis-Theo forward line. Come On You Gunners!
Ox has been decent too could do a ox alexis and lucas front three.
That’s the front free I’d choose and have Xhaka and Coq in behind
with Giroud to come on and score a late winner……
… Or a late fifth and sixth?
Why would you drop the Ox? He was immense against West Ham. If I absolutely needed to play Lucas, Theo will have to make way. He looks like he is going through a lull at the moment maybe a new born at home is causing some disruptions.
In any case Wenger has a task to keep balance and continuity.
Oh… And Ozil at CAM obviously… Obviously
Hector deserves a huge ovation at the Emirates if he makes any sort of appearance!
We don’t need The Flash to beat down and maim the ugly Orcs this Saturday. I hope we unleash Bellerin against City or Everton and let Gabriel slay the visiting Orcs.
Gagriel is good to man the position against stoke..we need his physical presence..
Njoku what are you doing here!?
Is it just me or Gabriel coming into the side is making our formation somewhat 3-4-3 ? I’ve seen a lot more of monreal and Gibbs as an attacking force since the Brazilian has come in .long may it continue , atleast until our visit to the etihad . #coyg
Well if you think about it, over the past two seasons we have adapted a little bit to not go full attacking with both Monreal/Gibbs and Bellerin. One of the two usually stay back a little more to offset the other.
Remember how nacho’s time at CB made him a beast fullback? I do hope the same happens to paulista
My predicted line up vs stoke city:
Cech
Bellerin mustafi koscienly Monreal(preferably Gibbs)
Conquelin Xhaka
Walcott ozil chamberlain
Alexis
Subs: ospina, Gabriel, Elneny, Ramsey, iwobi, Perez, Giroud. 3-1 to Arsenal, Alexis to score first.
Out of topic but the day koscielny starts taking he’s coaching badges and preparing for football retirement will make me feel very sad ( and abit old , I’m 30) . I don’t need nostalgia to make me see what an absolute legend this guy is ! Hope after a lot of trophies won , hr joins the club as part of the backroom staff , maybe in the academy . I believe he’s coaching would make any up and coming center back atleast just a little better .
Stoke would present a different kind of test for Lucas and I would welcome seeing how he can do. OTOH, would be great to see Ox making his fullback look foolish and maybe belt in another beauty from the edge of the box!
Its kinda funny, but I could actually get to like this “strength in depth” fad.
We don’t have strength in depth.. remember Southampton?
If we win anything big this season it will be because we have the best bench we’ve had in a long time.
*SQUAD
I’d like to see Bellerin NOT play at Stoke. As good as Theo has been this year, I’d love to see Perez. He works hard, he’s reasonably fast, and he gives us some height. Midfield? Fuck if I know what the right combination is. I do think Ox on the left puts a dribbler out there while Santi is out.
Looking forward to the game, and a result!
I’d save Bellerin, we know what Arnautovic did to Debuchy before, also if we go 2-0 up take Alexis out, we must get in busy Christmas period with full strengh and rested squad.
If Gabriel stays in, so should Gibbs. It helps to have one naturally forward thinking fullback to keep the balance. Hence why Monreal, a more defensive player, gives us balance when Bellerin is back. Monreal did well at West Ham, had a real go at them, but Gibbs was even better in mid week. If Lucas is undroppable, so is Gibbs.
Gabriel should definitely play in place of Bellerin
Little known fact: Bellerin’s tattoo in the picture transates as “right hand”
There you have it Arsene, the people have spoken – Please let Hector rest one more match and give Gabriel another well earned start.
Definitely think Xkaha and Coquelin need to the DM pairing with Ramsey on the bench. As much as I’d like to see Perez get another start I doubt Wenger will start him, my guess is he’ll go back to Walcott and Chamblerin after they started last weekend and rested for the most part midweek.
I’ve always hated Mark Hughes. I remember him playing at highbury for Chelsea, may have been 98 / 99 ish. I cant recall a more dirty, diving, cheating performance. He was well past his best then, and just blundered around the place cheating as much as possible. Cunt. If I recall, Stephen hughes played a blinder that day. ‘One Hughes in London……’. This was back before they found the ‘infinite cash’ cheat code.
I think the general consensus is to play Gabriel and not risk rushing Bellerin which makes plenty of sense. Gabriel looks much more composed on the ball and even offers a threat going forward than Jenkinson who tends to struggle because he is not as technical. BUt I also think there is generally a rush to big a player up just because they performed well in the last game. I think we have to be careful not to put too much undue pressure (and weight of expectation) on Lucas. Hopefully he can come in and carry on where he left… Read more »