With the hectic festive schedule coming up, Arsenal have been boosted by the return to full training of Mesut Ozil, who has been suffering from a back problem, and Aaron Ramsey who picked up an ankle injury in the 2-2 draw with Man Utd last week.
It provides Unai Emery with some real attacking options ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash with Southampton, although first up is tomorrow night’s Europa League group game with Qarabag.
As the Gunners have already topped the group, it’s likely a chance for the boss to give a run out to some fringe players and young talent, but given that the German hasn’t played a minute of competitive football since the 11th of November he might feel inclined to give him a few minutes to help him regain some match sharpness.
Emery’s side have seven games between now and January 1st, including a Carabao Cup quarter-final against Sp*rs, fresh off their glorious DVD worthy 1-1 win over Barcelona in the Champions League, and a trip to face current league leaders Liverpool at Anfield.
The fewer injuries the better, and as Saturday’s hard-fought 1-0 win over Huddersfield showed, the more game changers we have on the bench the better off we’ll be.
Now we just need to teach them how to play centre-back…
I think flood the midfield and play a back 4 against Southampton – less CBs. Maybe a 4-3-3 or back to the ole 4-2-3-1.
*Barcelona B team, with special guest Thomas Vermaelen
They did bring on Busquets and, eventually, Messi, but I have never seen less intensity or focus in a Barca side.
Sp*rs getting through in the CL actually means they are less likely to win a trophy this decade (and it is over 10 years’ now since they did, their longest non-winning streak since the war) as they will struggle to win against the top teams there, especially if they play their best side, unlike Barca yesterday.
Let’s knock them out of the League Cup next Wednesday too.
Which war? The Crimean War?
https://twitter.com/clivebullen/status/1049691822640046081
the aim is to make this graph work, if they win nothing this season then the decline to zero trophies is complete.
first let’s concentrate on winning something ourselves
mostly it was them who considered Arsenal as a rival in befor 2010s we just laughed their smack talks off, hope we could once again be doing that soon, it just felt better to be arguing Ferguson’s team for the title…
I believe its obvious that I’m high right now even through a comment
Millenial here and a foreigner. I consider Man U and Chelsea rivals and dickbag clubs. City slightly less dickbaggy, Liverpool even a bit less so, and also rivals. Tottenham? Irrelevant. Tbh they didn’t register until I started following this blog not long ago. To me they were just one of those mid table brit clubs like Northeasthampton or Castleham or whatever their name. Those clubs you switch the telly off after watching the results of the top clubs you know?
Not even a burn. 100% true.
Welcome back, Ozil!
Glad they are both back, but it’s starting to seem like they just don’t fit into Unai Emery’s tactical setup. Unai has had problems with Pastore and Ozil is no different, he just has no place in his setup for him. We play in the half spaces and not through the middle. Ramsey and Ozil have recorded their lowest touches playing in the 10 position for Unai. I don’t know if he gave the recruitment team his plans for their top earner and most senior player, but I don’t see it as Unai teaching anyone a lesson when he leaves… Read more »
I could relate to Ozil not being the best option (and I believe its got mostly to do with EPL game brand not Emery or Wenger) but Ramsey has been his best in Emery’s team he’s probably our best playmaker in that 8 or 10 position right now
Yeah, add kos and nacho to the return list but please emery. Do not bring oz10 vs sp**rs. It will undo every good we intend to do against them. Play him 93:min in Europa. His body is fit for dead rubbers. Big up all gunners.
Now lets give Özil some time to gain match fitness before we hop on board the f… punditry bollocks about his posture and lack of commitment and other shit.
Ramsey will obviously leave on a free Ozil isn’t Emerys type of player and has a wage of 10 BPL benches, hope we do sell them in January and bring in where we lack, surely a new playmaker or a top winger or centre back would be more ideal than a sad Ozil in the stands or a leaving Ramsey
Game Changers? Mkhitaryan & Iwobi??? I don’t think so. Game Clangers, more like!!!
Much ado about nothing as per usual by press all too ready to sow discontent and negativity on the all too easily manipulated Arsenal fan base. As mentioned likely just as Emery alluded to a back spasm. We could well do with Ozil against Soton. We have missed a bit of creative impetus of late. Several options against Soton we can start a triangle up top with Laca or Auba on apex and then Iwobi and Mhki just behind or we can have an inverted triangle with both Auba and Laca supported by Ozil in the hole. He certainly gives… Read more »
Againt Soton imo:
……………..Auba……….Laca………………..
………………………Ozil……………………….
Kola……………………………………..Bellerin
……………..Granit………Torreira……………
…….Monreal…….Koscielny….Lichsteiner….
……………………..Leno……………………….