It’s a North London derby and a Carabao Cup quarter-final at the Emirates this evening.
It’s a competition which usually allows Unai Emery to rotate and here’s the team he’s picked to do the job tonight.
Arsenal: Cech, Maitland-Niles, Sokratis, Xhaka, Monreal, Torreira, Guendouzi, Mkhitaryan, Ramsey, Iwobi, Aubameyang
Subs: Martinez, Koscielny, Lichtsteiner, Elneny, Willock, Lacazette, Nketiah
Sp*rs: Gazzaniga, Tripper, Alderweireld, Davies, Rose, Winks, Sissoko, Eriksen, Alli, Lucas, Son
Subs: Vorm, Foyth, Walker-Peters, Skipp, Lamela, Llorente, Kane
What happened to Özil?? Was hoping for him to play tonight
This is starting to get really weird…
Also, Xhaka as CB ?
Mon in the middle and Xhaka on the left or right maybe?
Don’t we have a CB from the academy that could fill in at CB?
who,s ozil
I have no complaints with Guendouzi Torreira Ramsey especially the first two “Tommy deVito”s
This whole Ozil thing is actually ridiculous now.
I think its rather good
he’s been cut loose by Germans and is not trusted by Emery even Guendouzi or Iwobi are ahead of him, football is more than flairs or through balls, team spirit is the key word here, specially in BPL and more so in a derby
just tell me blogs which word triggered the moderation ?
The reality is that it’s very hard to justify his inclusion, he’s been awful since the ink dried on his new deal
Physicality reasons?
Tactical reasons?
Or maybe Ozil just isn’t in the right frame of mind to be playing after the summer he had and Arsenal are protecting him.
Wishful thinking perhaps
Wishful thinking perhaps – no, wishful thinking definitely.
Opinions change from one day to another. Özil definitely knows about his critics…being a magician today and the scapegoat tomorrow. Its tough to withstand such hatred….
The match against the wolves he tried, get the from behind to rule the play. It didnt work out this way. My point is that again he was the famous scapegoat although the rest of the team was completely shit. Ridiculous
Ah man, he needs to start playing Ozil, way better option than Mhiki imo.
the longer ozil is out of the side, the better
Pretty strong side, though not so sure on the defence with Xhaka there. They are pretty strong too, let’s hope we beat them. COYR!
That is a makeshift defence for sure! But the rest of the team can do enough to beat the Spuds I am sure. COYG!
No matter what the result tonight, spurs are still SHIT!!! And that is a fact.
Much stronger than i expected, especially as we’re a little stretched
I wonder what the chances of ozil leaving in January are? Seems like there must be something going on behind the scenes with him and Emery. Either that or his injuries are genuine, and that is certainly possible if his back is crocked. Seems a shame, as I had hoped that Emery’s arrival might have lit a spark under him. I think it might have got to the point to all concerned for him to move on. We could use the wages on a couple of very good players in CD and on the wing.
“. I think it might have got to the point to all concerned for him to move on. We could use the wages on a couple of very good players in CD and on the wing.”
Absurd comment. Utterly absurd. Video games maybe. Real life, no.
Why is it absurd to think that £275,000 p/w can be better spent on the wages of two other decent players that will actually significantly strengthen the team rather than paying it all to just one player?
Just saw blogs retweet an article stating that Ozil’s apparently out for ‘tactical reasons’. I’m sorry, but bollocks to that. Whatever some might say about Ozil in big games, he’s actually had plenty of big match performances at the Emirates (I mean come on, he was the man of the match against Spurs at the Emirates just a year ago for crying out loud). There’s gotta be some proper clarity on this situation soon, because it’s becoming a farce.
Clarity may come in January
He’s busy spending his wages.
He’s a World Cup winner, who’s scored a £350,000 p/w contract and has a beautiful woman on his arm, I’m really not surprised he looks like he lacks motivation.
But more importantly. COYG
Well I thought blogs was being a bit synical regards Ozil but now I am seriously beginning to wonder!!! Perhaps this talk of him going in January is not so far off the truth!!! I read somewhere that we’d take £20m which is half of what we paid for him and we’d reduce the wage bill big time!!! I am not saying it will or will not happen but what would you guys like to happen and why? Ozil to stay or go?
Is Smith-Rowe injured?
Yes
Yes
for a while now
I was actually hoping for one more youngster in the starting 11, I think we could afford it. But okay, I can totally live without it. What bothers me the most is Xhaka playing as CB – he’s bad enough as DM, let alone as CB. Yes he can step in as a last resort LB but he’s not a defender all of a sudden (unless Emery wants him to improve defensively by playing him in defence, which is fair enough but can we really afford that?). Also, Ozil situation is now beyond strange. What’s going on, really? New injury?… Read more »
*Xhaka is bad enough as DM doing defensive duties is what I meant. He’s a great passer and vital in our build-up play of course.
Xhaka should be fine a new position or sth
considered* my autocorrect is not the brightest…
not expecting too much tonight
Stronger line up than I was expecting.
A Little surprised Xhaka is in the back line again, especially with Kos and lichtsteiner on the bench.
Still good enough to put them away COYG
Kos playing three games in a week may be a bit much
It’s been fun saying to my Spud boss “I think Tottenham will put out a strong side tonight as it is a trophy on offer for you chaps, and you could do with one?!” 🙂
Ozil is finished. I can’t believe he is playing Xhaka in there in a 4. Surely even one of the kids instead? We need him in MF apart from anything else. Strange days.
I’m sorry but why are we wasting so much talent on this pointless competition. I couldn’t even tell you who won the Mickey Mouse cup last year. I know I’ll get thumbed down, but this competition is a waste of time and resources.
I think we better start praying to the injury gods now to spare us tonight.
Now, having said all that I hope we smash the Sp*ds, haha!
You couldn’t tell us who won it last year?! Lucky for some, because I sadly remember that final pretty well :/
oh that’s right, haha. Seriously, that’s how little I remember it though. Maybe my mind destroyed those memories on purpose!!!
we won’t be winning a big trophy this season but here we have chance to get taste of success and an appetite for it in this young squad, and why would we not care about this one specifically? I’d sacrifice a couple of injuries to beat this cunts anyday any competition
Socrates and Xhaka at the back – no chance of giving a penalty away against Son and Co then?
Please please bounce back from Sunday COYG.
I hope auba has brought his shooting boots this time
Come on Gooners. Need to finish better. Chances to take this game. Better second half lads!!!! Is it me, or is the co-commentator on Arsenal.com on uppers? He’s kicking every ball from his chair, lol. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him so animated.