Arsene Wenger has revealed the latest team news ahead of this weekend’s trip to Brighton in the FA Cup.
Danny Welbeck remains sidelined with a thigh problem, while both Hector Bellerin and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain face fitness tests, although the manager is confident the Spanish right-back will make it in time.
That aside everyone else who isn’t a long-term casualty should be available and there was even a Serge Gnabry update, with the German back in full training after over 10 months out with a knee injury.
Wenger also ruled out a quick debut for new boy Krystian Bielik who signed for the club this week.
“He has only just come from Poland,” he said, “so he is not fit because they had a winter break. He won’t play.”
Gnabry is alive! Diaby?
Diaby? I’m ok son. just doing rehab as usual
#rehab #alive #backinthreeweeks #nolies
# no lies.
# no lies. Made me lol, that did.
I was desperately hoping that he’d make it through this season so he could have a nice send off. One of my favourite players and so sad that he’ll most likely be released come the summer.
Gnabry is like a new signing.
Gnabry?! HE IS RISEN!
Interesting that even though he won’t play, by commenting on him like that, does it suggest that Bielik is straight into the first team squad? Big shout for a 17 year old.
he was more likely answering a direct question about him. hopefully he’ll slip off the radar till the end of the season and get settled.
No, he’s right. Straight into the squad. Ad he’s only Just 17. In January. This is a kid that played in the Europa league and in the top team in the Polish league at 16. He’s a big talent, no ordinary “youth” signing.
To be fair, how early a youth product gets shoved into the first team has a lot to do with how shit the first team is. I’m gonna be honest, I know shit all about Polish football, so anyone with a clue, can you answer me this: Did Bielik debut because he’s actually that good or because the next best option his club had was a training cone?
While that is true to some extent, Wenger would not have paid 2.5 million if he thought it wasn’t worth it. In Wenger’s eyes, 2.5 million for an unproven 17 year old is like splashing 50 million for Suarez when he could’ve bid for 30 mil + 1 pence.
The option above him was banned for having a fag in the showers, scourge of the Polish game apparently.
all i know is prominent current polish internationals are raging that he went for ‘only’ £2,5m. the gist is they thought it was ridiculous that such a highly regarded player was allowed to leave for so little. for whatever that is worth its encouraging!
Honestly I was kind of hoping Alexis and Cazorla would be granted a two-week holiday in the sun to…
a) RECOVER, from what has been a hectic first-half of the season (plus Alexis has always had a Winter break); and
b) PREPARE, for our march to the Champions League final in Berlin!
I LOVE CAPSLOCK
Definitely funniest comment ever!!! Absolute gold
Genius
You’re talking about a guy who wakes up at 2am for a run because he feels he’s missing out on training. Alexis probably only took winter breaks because they’re mandatory in the countries he worked in.
He’s probably loving the English system
I’m sure Alexis has had this week off. He posted a pic on Instagram of him sexying up a beach somewhere.
Hopefully Akpom gets a run out.
Akpom
Chamberlain ozil walcott
Ramsey Coqulien
Gibbs koscielny mertesacker bellerin
Kos wont play. Chambers instead. Good shout otherwise.
He won’t play both Kos & Meet shirley?
Mert. Decking autocorrect.
Fecking.
Ducking
Geeve oop, pal
Nacho instead of kos, to rest his heels.
akpom
rosicky ozil walcott
coq flamini
gibbs monreal chambers bellerin
the smoking pole
i’d say campbell for rosicky but if he’s headed to ride the yellow submarine we don’t want him getting injured do we?
It will be interesting to see how much rotation Wenger does for this match. If we were playing at home I think he’d do more, but with it being a road match (which is always tricky in the FA Cup) he will surely limit the rotation. My guess is Giroud will lead the line and Walcott, Ramsey and Ozil will come in. He surely will give Koscielny a break, but the big question will be who, if any, will he rest of Sanchez, Carzola, Chamberlin and even Coquelin. Sanchez and Carzola have been playing non-stop for some time and both… Read more »
I´m bored at work, so here we go!
Akpom (why the hell not?)
Chamberlain (more ninja turtles!) Özil (I miss his big eyes) Walcott (This shall be his proper comeback!)
Gibbsy (2nd choice LB for me) Chambers (I miss his sleepy eyes) Nacho (For the love of GOD, rest Per!) Bellie
Ospina (1st choice keeper shall play every game!)
Thoughts, comments, trolls, slaps to my face .. anyone?
Not bad, plenty of rotation. Just an idea, but we’re actually allowed 11 players, so why not play a couple more midfielders behind Ox, Özil and Theo. Just an idea, maybe Ramsey and Coquelin?
Well that is only 9 players…
Nevermind the two sitting midfielders (kinda forgot..)
Sczsczszesny must be worried that the last two times we’ve kept three clean sheets in a row was with Ospina and Martinez.
Serge!
So now we can talk about Gnabry again eh? Fuckin A.
Liked watching his bright green boots tearing up the pitch…
Hope Szczezers knocks all those doubters off their bandwagon. Harsh criticism I have the feeling we will see him become one of the best keepers in the world in the next few years and likely to attract a big club if he leaves.
There’s little doubt he’s top class when he concentrates.
Hopefully the run by Ospina will give him the push he needs.
With the Chavs, $hity, Spuddies and Sotton all losing (and Manure with a difficult replay against Cambridge), this is looking very interesting. Hope the guys have their heads on for a tough game tomorrow!
You know it. The grounds crew will plow the field the day before the game to slow things up. After all the upsets yesterday at the favorites’ homes, Wenger is not going to take this away game lightly. In view of the way Brighton will have to play, maybe it’s not the time for Theo to expect a chance to run onto a 60 yd pass from Ozil. I guess we’ll see. Look for Ramsey to score off an Ozil give and go! Personally, I want Giroud thumping and bumping in their pen area to keep their CBs busy.
Some big shocks in yesterdays f.a cup games chavs, city , spurs out oi oi as f.a cup holders it will be a crucial stage todays game coyg