Arsene Wenger has provided the latest team news update ahead of Saturday evening’s Premier League encounter with Stoke.
The Gunners kicked off their campaign with a 4-3 win over Leicester last Friday night, and now face an away trip to what has been a tricky destination for us.
There’s some good news in terms of our defensive set-up, with both of our German centre-halves back in the squad and ready for selection after missing the opening day.
“From last week I think Mertesacker will be available again,” he said. “For Sanchez it’s a bit early but he works hard in training,” he said.
“The medical people think Saturday is too soon but he should be available for the game against Liverpool.
“He is working hard, his recovery is going well, but we have to be cautious as it was a muscle strain.”
Wenger also confirmed that Shkodran Mustafi and Francis Coquelin would be back in the squad for trip to the Ray Winstone Arena, while Laurent Koscielny completes his suspension after being sent off against Everton on the final day of last season.
Good team i must say, i expect a better defensive performance from our boys come saturday…..coyg
Not difficult really
Depends how Stokey it gets
Stoke haven’t been Pubic for quite a while now.
Going to be interesting to see what permutation of defenders is the most effective and how long it takes before we find out. Definitely need to improve on last week’s performance, we won’t get away with outscoring the other team every week.
I agree with blogs that it could be damaging for Holding to be dropped after his shaky display on Friday … For me it’s got to be BFG, Holding and Monreal.
We haven’t seen Mustafi play for so long – he’s a bit of an unknown quantity…
Well that’s kinda the whole point of football isn’t it 😉
I want to see Kos, Mert and Mustafi together. Nacho has been very decent too. All of them have really to be fair, last week aside.
Just the points will do
For me its:
Cech
Mustafi, BFG, Monreal,
Bellerin, Ramsey, Xhaka, Kolašinac
Ozil, Oli, Laca
There’s no way we can drop the Ox, he was our best player on the opening day despite being shuffled around and starting at LWB.
I think we’re going to have a huge season from the Ox and it’s imperative we tie him down.
Not sure I’d go so far as to say ox was best player, but I would take him over Bellerin against (touch wood) a poorer attacking side. Close call but ox offers a little more threat for me.
By “a little” you mean 8 more successful take-ons, 5 more shots and 7 more crosses than Bellerin (Leicester game)?
Don’t disagree that Bellerin has had some shaky performances but I think Leicester deliberately attacked our right flank last Friday – the lumped balls into the air to test Hector and keep him off the ball, then they closed Holding down to limit any interplay between them and attempts to play out from that side. Holding was found wanting, which I don’t think can be laid at Bellerins door. What I did notice that he lost a little bit of confidence in the attacking third – often cutting in on his weaker side which made no sense either from a… Read more »
Vardy is a constant threat down his left and because Holding could not handle him alone (in fairness, many centre-halfs would have the same problem), it cut down tremendously on Hector’s ability to go forward. (All this, before the switch to a back four.)
I think the Ox is the better wingback compared to Bellerin
Certainly at the moment. Hector has been a bit off it recently to be fair.
Rightly observed. He need to raise his crossed.
Nice set up but The Ox in place of Hector, please.
Hopefully we’ll start seeing the same type of rapid improvement in Mustafi as we’ve seen recently in Xhaka and the Ox?
There’s a real lack of quality centre backs around
We need Mustafi to have a big second season
I’m comfortable with Arsene’s defensive options ATM, we should be solid at the back. Our attacking options look great too….. The key should be getting the permutation and combinations right and timely!
Both Coq and Mustafi was on the bench against Leicester.
we need to start with three real centreback not make shift centrebacks
We need to adjust our style of play so that the center backs have cover from wing backs and midfield.
Control de game! Boom Xhaka Laca.
Very fairly solid team let’s how it pounds out
anyone else feel like having a wank?
Ryan Shawcross, I know what you are.
Always.
Against Leicester we were good at attack but poor at defence.Comparing with Liverpool and Chelsea we didnt have 4 senior Center back fit,we were playing against Leicester team who are better than Watford and Burnley. Specially in attack Leicester have champions quality.But in next game against Stoke we will have mustafi and metasacker available So we must defend well.there is no excuses. In next game Our lineup should be like this GK:petr cech CB:Holding,Mustafi,Monreal RWB:Ox CM:Elneny,xhaka LWB:Koslasinic FW:Ozil,Lacazette,Welbeck The Reason why I omitted bellerin from starting 11 is because he is not fully fit He is not at his best.And… Read more »
Mustafi will be a HUGE plus.
Have him in back 3 with Monreal left side and Holding right.
Kolasinac left, Ox right (or Bellerin)
Coquelin is a big plus too. I think he’s improved quietly in new formation.
Its either him or Ramsey to partner Granit IMO.
His relationship with Granit hasn’t been stellar but may kick on with new system.
Then its Ozil and IMO Giroud and Lacazette.
I’d drop Ozil and play Iwobi on that position. I think Ozil doesn’t ever feel that his place is at risk and therefore doesn’t often give his all. He needs a wake up call. If he’s on the bench we can always bring him on and get some magic late on. Iwobi on the other hand is always raring to go, offers more tracking back and holds the ball to keep a little more possession for us. Give him a chance.
I hope Ramsey comes in, eludes Shawcross (shouldn’t be too tough) and scores a cracker of a (game-winning) goal past the keeper.
Could he pull a wonderful move on Shawcross while scoring that goal so that Shawcross ends up on his arse and damages knee ligaments in the process.
what ever team we put out we should beat them after all its only the mug mashers nothing gives us more pleasure than fucking over mark hughes and the scummy leg breaker