Good evening everyone.
It's been a long and not very pleasant week, with all sorts of things happening. From Cazorla's controversial interview to some wild theories regarding Arsene's possible successor, we've had it all, but little of it has been positive. I sincerely hope we can come out of it on top and Wigan present us with a chance of doing just that.
Many portray this game as a make-or-break for Arsene, but to me Wenger looks like the only man, who decides when to move on (or retire). I've seen suggestions that the contract for our manager has been done and dusted and only awaits Arsene's signature. As I gather, the contract will be offered even if we fail to win the cup and end up outside the CL zone and if that's the case, well, then Arsene is the only man who can prevent this plan from coming to fruition. He looks like the man of honour to me, and I hope he retires if things go terribly wrong this season. He's done a lot for the Club, thus he shouldn't remain at the helm long enough to become a villain.
However, this game is of paramount importance not only to Arsene, but to the players as well. Win, and we'll have the confidence to climb the table and win the Cup. Lose, and our downward spiral continues and there's no telling how it will affect our chances for the top four spot.
What makes this game harder still is our almost depleted squad. Gibbs, the Ox and Rosicky are all 50/50s, while some of the others need to be dropped in order to keep things fresh and change the mindset of the team as a whole. (UPDATE: all three took part in the training session this afternoon, so should, at the very least, make the bench).
The manager has confirmed Fabianski and Ramsey will start, but Arsene shouldn't restrict himself to these two. In fact, I'd play a squad that is as far away from the one which took on Everton as possible.
Starting with dropping Arteta and Monreal entirely. These two were the weakest links against the Toffees and we do not want to become exposed because of them in a match where the stakes are so high.
Arteta, for one, was slow. Slow on the ball, slow to track runners, slow to get stuck in in tackles. Did I mention he was slow?
I don't know, whether it's down to fatigue (our vice captain made 36 appearances in all competitions) or just because his age is starting to tell, but letting the Spaniard sit this game out will most likely benefit both parties.
Monreal, meanwhile, was way below par against Everton. Lukaku mocked our left-back again and again and I'm sure Rosler will try to exploit this weakness, if given the chance. We should not present him with one.
Coupled with Flamini's suspension and with injures to Ozil, Wilshere, Walcott and Koscielny, we're pretty stretched both defensively and offensively. If we add Giroud as another possible bench sub, things get really hot. Good news is, Ramsey will definitely start (as I've already mentioned), so we should even scrape a decent (though, exhausted) bench.
If we are to drop Arteta and Monreal, I suggest pushing Vermaelen out wide (if Gibbs cannot start, that is) and pairing Mertesacker with Sagna. Vermaelen was found wanting alongside the German, playing him as a full-back can benefit us and him. The Belgian will be able to make his forays forward and helping out offensively, while we'll get a defender who won't stand being bullied by anyone.
Should Arsene do this, Jenkinson will have to be introduced on the right. Personally, I have nothing against it. I've expressed my reservations about Vermaelen playing as a centre-back and I don't want to see us crack right down the middle again. Unlikely that Arsene will look at it the way I do (and that's alright, he has more input on players' form and abilities), but from what I see Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Sagna and Gibbs/Vermaelen is the best defense under current circumstances.
In midfield I'd like to see Kallstrom, Ramsey and either Rosicky or Cazorla. It'll be an energetic trio, capable of shielding the back four better, than Arteta and Flamini + Rosicky/Cazorla. At least Kallstrom and Ramsey will be full of energy and that can benefit all aspects of our play. It was blindingly obvious how much our game improved when Ramsey was thrown on late on Sunday, bringing Kallstrom into the mix will make it even better.
Up front, I'd play anyone (Podolski, Oxlade, Gnabry, Cazorla/Rosicky) on the flanks, but I'd drop Giroud. The Frenchman is knackered, all the games he's played are catching up on him and a little rest can't hurt. Sanogo wants blood, he'll be hell-bent on scoring after his goal on Goodison was disallowed, so he can, at this point in time, be of more use than Giroud. The manager may want to plough on with the experienced guy here, though, so it's a close call.
All in all, it's a game we have to win for numerous reasons and, as much pessimistic as things are going right now, I just can't see us losing. We are Arsenal, we just cannot lose the game of this stature to such an opponent. If we do, it will be a shock like I've never experienced.
And I don't want a shock. I've had enough of them this season. So let's go get the goddamn win
It's been a long and not very pleasant week, with all sorts of things happening. From Cazorla's controversial interview to some wild theories regarding Arsene's possible successor, we've had it all, but little of it has been positive. I sincerely hope we can come out of it on top and Wigan present us with a chance of doing just that.
Many portray this game as a make-or-break for Arsene, but to me Wenger looks like the only man, who decides when to move on (or retire). I've seen suggestions that the contract for our manager has been done and dusted and only awaits Arsene's signature. As I gather, the contract will be offered even if we fail to win the cup and end up outside the CL zone and if that's the case, well, then Arsene is the only man who can prevent this plan from coming to fruition. He looks like the man of honour to me, and I hope he retires if things go terribly wrong this season. He's done a lot for the Club, thus he shouldn't remain at the helm long enough to become a villain.
However, this game is of paramount importance not only to Arsene, but to the players as well. Win, and we'll have the confidence to climb the table and win the Cup. Lose, and our downward spiral continues and there's no telling how it will affect our chances for the top four spot.
What makes this game harder still is our almost depleted squad. Gibbs, the Ox and Rosicky are all 50/50s, while some of the others need to be dropped in order to keep things fresh and change the mindset of the team as a whole. (UPDATE: all three took part in the training session this afternoon, so should, at the very least, make the bench).
The manager has confirmed Fabianski and Ramsey will start, but Arsene shouldn't restrict himself to these two. In fact, I'd play a squad that is as far away from the one which took on Everton as possible.
Starting with dropping Arteta and Monreal entirely. These two were the weakest links against the Toffees and we do not want to become exposed because of them in a match where the stakes are so high.
Arteta, for one, was slow. Slow on the ball, slow to track runners, slow to get stuck in in tackles. Did I mention he was slow?
I don't know, whether it's down to fatigue (our vice captain made 36 appearances in all competitions) or just because his age is starting to tell, but letting the Spaniard sit this game out will most likely benefit both parties.
Monreal, meanwhile, was way below par against Everton. Lukaku mocked our left-back again and again and I'm sure Rosler will try to exploit this weakness, if given the chance. We should not present him with one.
Coupled with Flamini's suspension and with injures to Ozil, Wilshere, Walcott and Koscielny, we're pretty stretched both defensively and offensively. If we add Giroud as another possible bench sub, things get really hot. Good news is, Ramsey will definitely start (as I've already mentioned), so we should even scrape a decent (though, exhausted) bench.
If we are to drop Arteta and Monreal, I suggest pushing Vermaelen out wide (if Gibbs cannot start, that is) and pairing Mertesacker with Sagna. Vermaelen was found wanting alongside the German, playing him as a full-back can benefit us and him. The Belgian will be able to make his forays forward and helping out offensively, while we'll get a defender who won't stand being bullied by anyone.
Should Arsene do this, Jenkinson will have to be introduced on the right. Personally, I have nothing against it. I've expressed my reservations about Vermaelen playing as a centre-back and I don't want to see us crack right down the middle again. Unlikely that Arsene will look at it the way I do (and that's alright, he has more input on players' form and abilities), but from what I see Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Sagna and Gibbs/Vermaelen is the best defense under current circumstances.
In midfield I'd like to see Kallstrom, Ramsey and either Rosicky or Cazorla. It'll be an energetic trio, capable of shielding the back four better, than Arteta and Flamini + Rosicky/Cazorla. At least Kallstrom and Ramsey will be full of energy and that can benefit all aspects of our play. It was blindingly obvious how much our game improved when Ramsey was thrown on late on Sunday, bringing Kallstrom into the mix will make it even better.
Up front, I'd play anyone (Podolski, Oxlade, Gnabry, Cazorla/Rosicky) on the flanks, but I'd drop Giroud. The Frenchman is knackered, all the games he's played are catching up on him and a little rest can't hurt. Sanogo wants blood, he'll be hell-bent on scoring after his goal on Goodison was disallowed, so he can, at this point in time, be of more use than Giroud. The manager may want to plough on with the experienced guy here, though, so it's a close call.
All in all, it's a game we have to win for numerous reasons and, as much pessimistic as things are going right now, I just can't see us losing. We are Arsenal, we just cannot lose the game of this stature to such an opponent. If we do, it will be a shock like I've never experienced.
And I don't want a shock. I've had enough of them this season. So let's go get the goddamn win