(The not-so-temporary quite-official) Gooner Thread

Two big things needed for me this weekend to get the result;

1) put Sanchez back at striker

2) start Bellerin

That will make a huge difference to how we play I think. As well as Giroud has performed this season, we just look better with pace across the entire front 3.

The big decision for me is Walcott or Lucas... I'd probably go Walcott but tough on Lucas, I really like him, he's not put a foot wrong since he came in. 

                      Cech

Bellerin-Mustafi-Koscielny-Monreal

                Coquelin-Ox

           Walcott-Ozil-Iwobi

                    Sanchez

Seems to have been an extremely quiet transfer window even by our standards. Usually there's all sorts of links, even though we know we won't be spending money, but this time aside from the non-league guy we signed we haven't even really been linked to anyone. Been a very quiet transfer window all around actually.

There was a bit of chatter (as per usual) about joining the Griezeman hunt again, and that we saw Reus as the replacement for Sanchez!

re: sanchez - agree. and I think giroud is in doubt with an ankle knock. 

i think the plan with Bellerin was to ease him back after his injury for this match so i would imagine him to start. 

Perez has done much for me yet. He was good in the FA cup. but I havent seen much from him to think he should be in our starting 11. Good squad player. Hope he proves me wrong. 

1:30 Sky 266

Must win

COYG

it's now or never

Failure to win means new Manager appointed May 2016

As before get Jorge Samp in don't care what we pay Sevilla

you reckon? i get the feeling he will stay with us until he retires

Surely their first goal is dangerous play

Dangerously shark defending is what it was.

100x times better performance than mid-week

Right in this

fudge shark football was played last night...

Right, let's get this new manager in then. Enough of this bollocks.

Sadly Wenger just won't win the title again, he doesn't have the spark that gets a team either:

A. Starting a season strongly and holding the lead in the latter half of the season, OR

B. Staying close enough throughout eg within 1-3 points at Xmas/New Year and finishing the second half of the season as the strongest team in the  league.

Season over.....

http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/38848571

"Chris Sutton analysis" was as far as I got. Yet another schooling by them and yet another scrap for 4th. Feel like we've seen this before.

Well I tell you what, that was deeply disappointing. But unsurprising. At least we're seeing Chelsea try something different, playing a 3-4-3 and scoring at will is very different from their historical defend deep/counter attack to eek out results.

And yet the board will pass it as a success, Wenger will probably get a contract extension, and some of our moronic fans will lap it up.

Yeah but they're mixing it up with 3 at the back rather than their usual 4-5-1. From a neutral viewpoint they're trying something different and it's working well for them. When was the last time the EPL was one with a 3 at the back format?

Have been a big supporter of Wenger and am one of those that really wanted to see him win another title; but it's just not going to happen. This is the best squad we've had in a decade and he still can't do it.

Lets just give up on the Prem and win the Champions League. Easy.

Not really 3 at the back is it... it's a back four with Luiz going wherever the fudge he wants. Which is the best way to play Luiz.

Two defensive midfielders as well, so 8 out of their 11 players on the pitch are predominantly defensive. 

It was startling to me just how much it reminded me of Leicester - as soon as the ball was turned over they were electric. But until then they just soak it up and defend the whole time (very well of course).  

It looks good to the eye when you turn it over so often, and Hazard and Costa are playing this well, otherwise it's just really defensive football. 

It is the trend these days to be fair. Looks like Leicester and now Chelsea will win the league with it. 

And no Champions League, don't forget! I don't think you can underestimate the impact those extra 6 games are having on the rest of the field, it totally fatigues the squad. Throw in ACN and we've been hurt big time. I know Elneny isn't our starting 11 midfielder but having him available to play would have meant better rotation for Ramsey/Coquelin & could have made a big difference in the Watford/Chelsea games. 

I honestly think that it should be Elneny starting with Xhaka, not Coquelin. I like Coquelin, but he's a player with quite obvious limits.

I'd like to see Elneny/Ox

Great piece on the big clubs in "crisis";

http://www.football365.com/news/201617-the-season-...

Normally don't like Storey but he's on the money there

gee we made hard work of that... but 3 points nonetheless. 

Quite disapointed with Walcott at the moment. He seems well off the pace at the moment, I think we are better with Giroud starting and Sanchez outside him. Giroud is a more consistent performer than theo and we dont lose much by not having him starting.  

still not playing that well

Ox was very good

his range of passing has increased dramatically as he has moved into the centre. I think he is much more effect in the middle than outwide. He still needs to track his man a bit better. But, for what I thought it was a daft idea initially, I think hes making a good fist of it

When he dropped a ball over hulls backline yesterday from distance, I thought I've seen this play before, but it was Song deliverying that pass.

So with Xhaka not suspended surely he's gotta be back into the side to rotate/solidify that midfield!

We've got Xhaka and Elneny back now, so a few options there. I would probably start both of them over Coquelin/Ox at the moment to be honest. Coquelin seems to have dropped in form slightly. 

Perhaps the Ox could hold his spot over Elneny, but Xhaka has gotta go straight back in. He really cost us with that suspension. 

Ox Starts, no question about that

Coq to bench

Take ya pick with Granit or Elneny. 

Is Ox ready for Bayern away in CM? I think you take your most experienced/strongest midfield. That for me is a Xhaka + Coq/Elneny.

Arseblog made a great analysis of Coq's game against Hull, he statistically played well. 

http://news.arseblog.com/2017/02/arsenal-2-0-hull-...

Is ESPN still covering Champions League or has Cluster F*ck picked up the rights to it too?

Coverage is a mixture be in sky

Bein have got Bayern v Arsenal advertised for Thursday morning.    ESPN  are advertising Big 12 Conference - Texas v Oklahoma

Well that's a win! Especially since my diary is free all morning too =D

Wilshere subbed off at HT this morn with an ankle injury......

PSG making us look good...

As soon as it's confirmed he's coming back, he gets injured. Typical.

Think it should be Elneny / Xhaka against Bayern, though both might be rusty...

Either way we'll likely get done so eh.

Confirmed he's coming back? Source?