Paul are you dropping Wally for the Ox due to family guff or form? Because I'd say it's a harsh miss in a much win to top the group if he's available :)
You're probably right. In fact I probably would start Walcott, as he seems to play best when he's on a run of games, without breaks.
I guess I was just thinking Ox probably deserves some reward with his form of late. He's done some important things for us this season.
Anyone else reading the Messi to City rumours? Would love to see the man in the EPL. Could you imagine the uproar if Arsenal funded a move like that!
Yep agreed fully.
Without Cazorla the other combos aren't quite clicking.
Great point about Arteta. Ramsey was unstoppable with Arteta playing the distributor role next to him and Xhaka seems very well suited to it. He's younger and faster than Arteta was then, better defensively, and has got all sorts of distribution in his locker - short passes, cross-field switches, balls over the top, he has everything when it comes to his range of passing.
I don't think I've actually seen Xhaka run? He just kinda seems to job around.
a.haak
Anyone else reading the Messi to City rumours? Would love to see the man in the EPL. Could you imagine the uproar if Arsenal funded a move like that!
Open ya wallets lads
E's Flat Ah's Flat Too
Anyone else reading the Messi to City rumours? Would love to see the man in the EPL. Could you imagine the uproar if Arsenal funded a move like that!
Open ya wallets lads
Chip ins?
Three for me, and two for them.
Anyone else reading the Messi to City rumours? Would love to see the man in the EPL. Could you imagine the uproar if Arsenal funded a move like that!
Open ya wallets lads
Chip ins?
Shall we start a give a little?
Did you see Aurier isn't travelling due to visa issues? Home office pulled the visa based on recent police charges. Good news for us but does seem like PSG/UEFA had been working with home office on it in good faith only to be screwed over at the 11th hour.
It's difficult to see how its a shock- there is a really clear policy on non-eu nationals gaining entry to the UK who have served a less than 12 month sentence in the last 5 years - that's why PSG were working on the problem.
Did you see Aurier isn't travelling due to visa issues? Home office pulled the visa based on recent police charges. Good news for us but does seem like PSG/UEFA had been working with home office on it in good faith only to be screwed over at the 11th hour.
He moved to France as a kid, surprised he doesn't have dual citizenship.
It's difficult to see how its a shock- there is a really clear policy on non-eu nationals gaining entry to the UK who have served a less than 12 month sentence in the last 5 years - that's why PSG were working on the problem.
I think the fact that the shock comes from the fact that in September he was OK to travel, and in October the verdict was delivered, and then just a couple of days from the game in November they pull the pin on it all :)
Regardless; stoked for us :D
If we win tomorrow we'd be guaranteed top with a game to spare, so we could take the kids to Basel in 2 weeks and completely rest a whole bunch of players.
With the league cup game next week where players would also surely be rested, that could be huge - it would allow the likes of Ozil, Sanchez, Mustafi, Koscielny etc to have a full week's rest, 2 weeks in a row.
That sort of revitalisation could be exactly the boost we need right now, with our fading performance levels of late, and the Dec/Jan schedule madness approaching.
COYG
Yeah, go full tit tomorrow.
Need the right balance for the Southampton game as I think we should certainly give the League Cup a nudge.
E's Flat Ah's Flat Too
Really poor performance.
Means even if we beat Basel we'll probably still finish 2nd.
Oh well.
This month has been interesting. We've had our usual poor November, but somehow haven't lost. If we can recover our form this will be looked upon as a successful month. If we can't, then this will be seen as the month our season turned to crap.
1 shot on target and 2 goals scored - very efficient.
So assuming PSG beat Ludogorets, thus confirming us 2nd in the group, these are the possible options for us in the round of 16;
Napoli (or possibly Benfica or Besiktas)
Barcelona
Atletico Madrid
Monaco
Borussia Dortmund (or Real Madrid)
Juventus (or Sevilla)
So assuming PSG beat Ludogorets, thus confirming us 2nd in the group, these are the possible options for us in the round of 16;
Napoli (or possibly Benfica or Besiktas)
Barcelona
Atletico Madrid
Monaco
Borussia Dortmund (or Real Madrid)
Juventus (or Sevilla)
So assuming PSG beat Ludogorets, thus confirming us 2nd in the group, these are the possible options for us in the round of 16;
Napoli (or possibly Benfica or Besiktas)
Barcelona
Atletico Madrid
Monaco
Borussia Dortmund (or Real Madrid)
Juventus (or Sevilla)
Head to head record - you guys drew both games? Will probably go to away goals on the head to head record
We can't play Bayern if we finish 2nd - they are already confirmed 2nd in their group. See my earlier post about possible options if we finish 2nd.
However if PSG cock up against Ludogorets and we win at Basel, then yes we'll probably get Bayern knowing our luck!
With the latest injuries, difficult Nov schedule, and the quality of our performances, if we could beat Bournemouth at home this weekend I would be satisfied with the month overall. That would make it 2 wins and 3 draws, with the draws coming against Spurs, ManU and PSG.
A draw or loss at home to Bournemouth would tip it back the other way though, so it really is an important game to round off the month and get back on track for Dec.
Bournemouth will come to play, so I'd definitely resist playing more than one out of Xhaka, Coquelin and Elneny. We are struggling to create chances at the moment, we need more guile in there. I would go with Xhaka/Ramsey in the middle this weekend if I were Wenger, although I suspect he'll probably stick with Coquelin/Ramsey, as he likes continuity in the centre.
I'd have Walcott back out in the starting lineup for sure, and probably Sanchez back up top, with Giroud to come off the bench. Really not sure about the left side. Iwobi has really faded after a strong start, which does happen with young players. Not sure if Wenger should persist and show faith in him, or give him a spell on the bench. If he does get benched, then not sure what we do either - Ox on the left is an option, we could start Giroud and put Sanchez out there, or perhaps even put Ramsey at no.10 and shift Ozil to the left. I know others hate it, but personally I am a fan of Ozil on the left. I feel like his game doesn't actually change much, he moves sideways across the pitch laterally and always finds space, no matter where you have him.
Interesting selections to be had.
On a good note, Wilshere can't play against us, and the stuff I've read suggests he has been a key player for them, although I haven't actually watched him at all myself.
I was hoping Jack could play.
Yes we need a win. And it doesn't matter who we draw in the Champions League if we don't seriously improve on field. Bring back Santi!
E's Flat Ah's Flat Too
Yes, it goes to away goals between the two teams as per UEFA tiebreaking regulations. Unlucky for Arsenal. Arsenal might be facing Bayern Munich. Arsenal's best hope is Napoli or Monaco.
That is bloody rough stuff!
I'd be starting Giroud and given Alexis the freedom of the left sided non-tradditional winger. Will give the midfielders a target to play off, Walcott can keep playing off the shoulder, and Alexis can drift in & link up with everyone else. Of all the players on the bench deserving a start Giroud is the first cab off the rank.
QUOTE: Carl Jenkinson: "Reaching the last 16 of the Champions League isn't easy...just ask Spurs."
hahaha cheeky buggar
What do others think?
I think he is. If he can stay injury free for this entire season with Bournemouth - I think he deserves that chance.
I'm actually horribly disappointed he's not in the squad right now. He would be right in there.
a.haak
good 3 points. unlucky for debuechy. 14mins and injured again. How arsenal is that!
any one got any stats on how many assists Ozil has made this season? i feel like it might be quite low. It seems he is in Lia mode at the mo where he is assisting the assist, not making the assist.
Good win against a good team.
Ozil's form has dipped since the Ludogorets match, needs to get his mojo going again.
Thought we looked quite good offensively with the Ox in there. He can beat men at will, just needs to improve his close control for me at some crucial moments.
Sanchez was sublime, involved in everything.
Gabriel made a good fist of right back I thought too.
yeah bad news for Debuechu. Is CJ injured or was he rested?
Needed that 3 points, top 4 gap now, lol at cocks and chumps. Would like a strong XI v Southampton but sure Wenger will run the youth or 'young adults'.
E's Flat Ah's Flat Too
Rough for Debuchy, but guy has been a bit of a knob. From reviewing the highlights ref looked to have had a bag game with penalties etc. Glad we got the win regardless, double for Sanchez and another for Walcott. Good to hear Ox has kept stepping it up, nice to have competition up front too.
Good win and Sanchez was awesome. Got through November unbeaten which is good too. Have to feel for Debuchy.
Also noticed some quality touches from Walcott lately. His first touch, and flick passes etc have really come on this season. Several times this morning he created half-opportunities just from clever first touches.
Not something I've noticed from him much before - although I do remember that lovely back-heel in the build-up to the second goal against ManU in that 3-0 win last season.
Our scorers in all comps so far
Alexis 10
Walcott 9
Ozil 7
Giroud 5
Oxlade-Chamberlain 5
Xhaka 3
Lucas 2
Cazorla 2
Koscielny 2
OG's 2
Chambers 1
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