Arsene Wenger has provided a team news update ahead of Sunday’s trip to Old Trafford, and there’s good news regarding Man United old boy Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
The Armenian international has been sidelined since the 4-1 win over CSKA Moscow earlier this month, having damaged knee ligaments in a challenge.
However, speaking ahead of Sunday’s game, Wenger said, “We have no new problems. Mkhitaryan is available. Elneny is out, Cazorla too of course.
“Everyone else is OK.”
The big question is how much the manager is going to rotate his squad. The last thing we need are more injuries before next week’s game in Madrid, while at the same time putting out a side that is competitive for a game against United.
It’s going to be a difficult balancing act, especially with the second leg of the Atletico tie more challenging that it should have been after last night’s disappointing 1-1 draw.
We’ll find out what he does on Sunday.
Bring Mkhi on as a sub on Sunday to give him some minutes before a start next Thursday. He’s the man we need – he absolutely battered AC Milan away.
I’d go the opposite and start him (I think players benefit from the pregame warmup rituals and getting physically integrated into the game from kickoff) with the intention of subbing him after 45-60 minutes (with Nelson or Nketiah if Iwobi is already on the pitch) depending on how he is feeling. I’d consider doing the same with Ozil and Welbeck (who is on a good run, and the more he plays, the more his confidence grows), but I wouldn’t let Ramsey or Koscielny or Lacazette near Manchester for this one.
We need all the help we can get
My team for Sunday would be:
Cech –
Holding Mertesacker Chambers –
Nelson Maitland-Niles Wilshere Willock Kolasinac –
Iwobi Aubameyang Nketiah
My team for Thursday would be:
Ospina –
Bellerin Mustafi Koscielny Monreal –
Xhaka Ramsey –
Mkhitaryan Özil Welbeck –
Lacazette
I give a shit about the United game. It’s all about Thursday. It will Ben very hard work so if we can give everybody a week off it would be a very healthy thing. Apart from the risk of getting players injured in a game that’s absolutely worthless.
The team for Utd has 12 players, rather have an extra man against Atletico… although that didn’t help the 1st time around
As much as I would like to see us preserved for the Athletico match, I’d 8-2 see another pasting from United. A bit of balance is necessary.
No it has 11 players. Holding should have been written with h instead of H. Cech will be holding Mertesacker so he doesn’t run away.
Realized that too after posting it but the comment has awaited moderation so I couldn’t change it. Would leave Wilshere or Iwobi out, depending on who’s the most likely to come on against Atletico.
Let’s take the Mkhi out of United…again.
Yes. Let him fully recover for the Athletico match. Maybe a run out in the second half may be useful to get him back to speed.
No need risking our top players in this dead rubber. We beat United in similar circumstances last season and that didn’t change anything. Just avoid a hiding!
Hey, off topic;
If Liverpool were to win the CL, wouldn’t that get the premier league an extra CL spot? Since we’re only six points behind chelskii (and they have a couple of tricky fixtures left, liverpool H and Newcastle A), would really be a bummer if we ended just 3 points behind them after easy dropped points recently when we’ve prioritised EL.
Only if Liverpool were out of the top 4, which they aren’t. If Liverpool win the CL and we win the Europa League though, the 4th place team drops into the Europa League next year. That would be a hoot, sending Sp*rs or Chelski (whoever finishes fourth) down
I don’t think that’s true, England would just get 5 teams in the CL, just like this year.
Good news.
This will be a big bonus. Mhkitaryan is a bit more direct and we needed that against Atheltico. We had plenty of joy out wide with Welbeck/Monreal and Bellerin. Our right side could do with a bit more penetration from angles cutting in (as in deed with welbeck). I expect they won’t be as compact in Spain with a full complement so there will be gaps to exploit. What we absolutely must do is not squander chances. hit those shots like we truly mean them. There won’t be as many opportunities as they know they have an away goal advantage… Read more »
For the first time ever, I actually think there is no real need at all for us to put out a competitive side on Sunday. It’s all about next Thursday now.
Definitely start Mkhitaryan, get him match sharp for next Thursday. In reply to an earlier post, I certainly wouldn’t play Mertesacker; he hasn’t played a match in 3 months. He can have his last match against Burnley at the Emirates.
But I would be fine seeing 10, or 11 changes.
*Cech, AMN, Chambers, Holding, Kolasinac, Mkhitaryan, Nelson, Willock, Iwobi, Welbeck, PEA.* Also want to add; Chambers, Holding, Iwobi; those three need to put in a decent shift and show the prospective new manager ( who will be watching) that they have a future at the club.
We should put the kids out and try to lose 8-2 as a final Old Trafford tribute to Wenger
You sir are the proof that Arsenal have some of the vilest, classless fans anywhere in the world.
You are the vile one here.stirring up agenda where there is none.he is talking about a tribute.whats “classless” and “vile” about that??
Haha..i am crossing fingers for another 8-2.what a tribute that would be to wenger! xD
Hate say this, really hate to say it, but this man utd game is not a priority. All in for the atletico game please Arsene. Rest the best.
Welcome back. We missed you!
With the vibes in the team, any lineup will wallop Manchester United. In Arsene we’ve grown.