Arsenal face Sp*rs at Wembley this afternoon knowing a win will take us within a point of our neighbours.
Here’s Unai Emery’s team:
Arsenal: Leno, Mustafi, Koscielny, Sokratis, Monreal, Guendouzi, Xhaka, Mkhitaryan, Ramsey, Iwobi, Lacazette
Subs: Cech, Maitland-Niles, Kolasinac, Torreira, Suarez, Ozil, Aubameyang
Sp*rs: Lloris, Trippier, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Rose, Wanyama, Sissoko, Eriksen, Son, Kane
Subs: Gazzaniga, Aurier, Davies, Skipp, Lamela, Lucas, Llorente
29 matches !! not once have i predicted unai’s team with 100% accuracy…with wenger it was 100% accurate for most of the matches.
would have gone with torreira instead of guendouzi..this team is too attack minded .lets see.
“This team is too attack minded”… things I didn’t expect we’d say
I think Guendouzi is in because he turns up in these big away games. City and Chelsea away he was our best player by a country mile.. If anything I would have dropped Xhaka.
Really interesting fact. Ozil only played against Chelsea in big away games. In that game it was two two when he was subbed, we lost 3-2 He wasn’t in squad at Liverpool where we got smashed. He was not in squad against United where we drew and was unused sub against city where we got a lesson in football and didn’t have a shot on target whole of second half. Conceded 11 and scored 4. Sanchez looked better at Arsenal when Ozil was on pitch, giroud looked better at Arsenal when Ozil played. Michytarian looked great the other night when… Read more »
Ozil was a passenger vs Chelsea away. made some 15 touches on the ball give or take. But don’t mind me.
But with this passenger (as you say but it is all but wrong) we were drawing. Facts.
you sure know your football
Another really interesting fact. We haven’t won away to a top 6 club in 4 years. Let’s not make it all about Ozil.
Unsure what to make of this
Looks like a team that can press them up the pitch. COYG
End the game with our best 11 seems to be the tactical decision. Sub on Ozil, Aruba and Torreira rather than sub them off.
Not sure about the Torreira part, but it’s working so far
COYG
I really don’t get it. It seems rotation for rotations sake. Auba and Torreira on the bench? Tottenham and United games will decide the season. This is basically a semi final.
I suppose the fact that Auba has to play both Europa games, due to Laca’s van, is playing a part.
What was the point in keeping Nketiah then? Should’ve let him go out on loan. Although I accept he might not be ready yet for first team football at Arsenal yet
You cannot seriously suggest that we should start Nketiah against Rennes…
Fucking hell.
4-2-3-1 it is. Not sure about leaving LT out though.
Gonna seem like an unpopular opinion here (and not even sure why I’m making it as my ideal choice for every game is always the Xhaka/Torreira partnership!), but is it just me, or has Torreira looked a little sluggish recently? Even in the great team performance the other night he seemed to be noticeably slower than normal at releasing the ball, and was missing quite a few tackles. Just feel that with so many players we have coming into a strong run of form for this game, Torreira’s dip from the very high standards of Autumn has stuck out quite… Read more »
I hear you. LT maybe not yet back to his best, but he’s still our best defensive midfielder. But I suppose he could be under pressure in this match and his lack of form could show. I just hope it works out. Else we’ll have a toxic week.
Plus Guendouzi, apart from his mistake the other day was fantastic. He was everywhere. Full of energy and didn’t let his head drop even after they scored. He has an engine on him and plays so positively. He’s earned his place I think.
Hopefully the defence will be solid with Mustafi and Monreal as fullbacks. Ozil and Aubameyang will probably come in early in the second half.
Not a fan of benching torreira and auba, but let’s hope I’m wrong…
Me neither. I don’t like this team. Auba had to play.
how about u armchair gooners pipe it and let Emery do his magic
I just don’t think UE understands, he’s better than Zidane, we’ve got Mesut Ozil.
Iwobi and Ramsey ahead of Ozil ??. Apparently iwobi offers more defensively. He is as bad as Ozil defending. Cost us two goals st city. Going forward his final ball is often poor. Manager has bottled it against a team (scum) low on confidence. We could win and a load of John Terry’s on here will say that proves dick emery right ??
I could take all but Torreira’s exclusion.
Let’s get behind the boys. I would have played LT but let’s see how they get on. Players to come off the bench and change the game if we need to. COYG
Interesting. 3 players who came on from the bench in that 4-2 game are starting tonight (Laca, Ramsey, Guendouzi).
Understand the thoughts behind it apart from Torreira’s omission. Really hope that one won’t backfire.
COYG!
The pundits in the states are baffled by Unai’s team selection. Have they not watched us this year? The abnormal is the normal. Mustafi at right back? Sure, why not? COYG!
11 comments so far…. and only 1positive. Arsenal fans are only happy when they’re being miserable.
Emery is impossible to second guess, can’t see there being much in this one, but our bench is certainly strong if we need to freshen things up in the second half.
If we are shite, it won’t be because of the opposition or formation. It would be because Emery keeps sabotaging the team with his selections.
Over the season, i have learnt not to criticize the line up of Emery. He is really getting to know his team now. COYG
4-3-3, surprising. I think his idea is too press the hell out of a physically tired Sp*rs team and once they are softened up bring on Auba and Ozil for the kill.
And the tank … Grrr
I do really like guendouzi but I feel we found a really well balanced midfield duo of xhaka and torreira. Also you can debate whose better between xhaka and guendouzi, but there’s no way torreira should be on the bench for this match
Mustafi on rb and monreal on lb might explain Torreiras absence. Although Torreira is brilliant both defensively and offensively.
Anyhow this is probably the best bench we’ve ever had! Özil, Auba, Kola, Torreira and Suarez?
so weak on defence
Let’s crush the Sp*uds while they’ down. COYG!
We really need to beat the Lily Whites. Really
I just don’t get Emery’s player selections sometimes. Starting a 19 year old Guendouzi on the road at Spurs (a team that really presses high so could have a repeat of the goal we allowed last match when he got his pocket picked at the 18) in probably our biggest match of the season and not going with a much more experienced Torreira.
I really worry about our back four as well with the lack of pace all across the back four and how quickly Spurs can counter attack.
FFS no Ozil.. Kolasinac… Torreira….Aubameyang…. Unai what are you thinking????
Big game against Rennes midweek
I like this lineup for a number of reasons that I am too nervous to state! COYG!
I think thar bar injuries Emery has planned all the starting line ups for the month of March. Thats what he means by rotation. Coyg
Don’t expect anything other than Aubameyang in midweeks and Lacazette at the weekends until the international break when Lacas European suspension is up.
As for the three behind its definitely a case of fresh legs for the press, none of them played 90 mins in mkdweek.
Iwobi is grating my tits! Can.t he see Trippier running away from him unmarked every 2 minutes. Get Kola on now
1-0 COYG
Wow earlier I hinted that I hated manure more than spuds, but they are such dirty cheating scum I’d put them on par with one another – the two worst teams the world has ever seen!!!!
Does anyone here know how to eir vsion go to work on a Mac Laptop? I’ve tried to find a way on line but nothing