If you've been reading my posts more or less consistently then you know I love the Dark Knight series enough to quote it every now and again. This time I feel the situation calls for it: pre-game there's been all the usual talk about bouncing back and putting things right. It's all well, it's part and parcel of the game, it needs to be said and no one should be surprised to see such quotes, but, in the end, the only thing that matters is the next game. If we go out there, play good football and deliver a result, then words will be backed by actions, if we drop points, words will remain just that: words.
Team news update
As always, Arsene gave the usual update:
"Alexis will be back in the group and we don’t have any injuries from Saturday. Everybody else looked fine yesterday."
There was also some good news on Wilshere:
"He’s back in full training this week. I don’t know exactly [how long until he returns], we have to monitor him on a daily basis and see how he develops."
A bit strange to hear a player has returned from injury with no return date pinpointed. Maybe Arsene is just playing his cards close to his chest and we might even see Wilshere today, as a sub of course? Sounds a bit far-fetched, I know, so I'd probably settle for a cameo against Boro and something along the same lines against Crystal Palace.
With that bit out of the way, the usual guessing game is in order.
The back five
I wonder if there's room for rotation in today's squad. Arsene usually prefers to rotate in cup games, but this time cup and league games are swapped and, besides, I'm not sure some players will manage yet another full game, being only three days out of the last one. I've seen suggestions, though, that sticking to our last starting last XI as closely as possible will provide players with a chance to make amends and restore some confidence after a defeat. They sound pretty sensible, but I don't think the manager can ignore the exhaustion issue entirely. And thus I expect a couple of issues.
While Ospina, Bellerin and Monreal haven't played an awful lot and can take another game before being provided with a rest in the cup, the same isn't true for Mertesacker and Koscielny. Especially since Kos still hasn't overcome his Achilles problems. We are going to need the Frenchman in more important games even this month, and so the Leicester game provides us with an opportunity to drop him.
The natural solution if Arsene really decides to rest Koscielny? Our new boy Gabriel of course. The Brazilian has been around for a couple of weeks now and is due a debut, introducing him against the side that currently sits bottom seems a good idea. However, if Gabriel is really set to play, I think we can safely assume Mertesacker will also play. It'll be way too risky to field a central pairing of Chambers and Gabriel.
The midfield
Cazorla looked knackered against the Spuds, that bit I'm sure of. With 28 starts and five appearances from the bench this season, the Spaniard is second only to Alexis in terms of minutes played, so giving him a breather today won't harm Santi. Shifting Ozil inside is the obvious option in this case.
Who do we play at the base? No question about Coquelin, but shall we perhaps drop Ramsey for Rosicky? Yes? No? Thing is, the Welshman also had his fair share of football this season, making 28 appearances in total. And this is considering he's spent minimum six weeks on the sidelines. For me, we can try and have Rosicky do all the stuff Ramsey usually does.
The attack
Oxlade isn't back and he won't be in the next two weeks, but having Giroud, Welbeck, Walcott and Alexis hardly calls for desperate measures, does it? I wonder whether Giroud should be restricted to a bench role, though. Not because of his performances (he's been brilliant upon his return from injury), but because he limped heavily after Rose drove his studs in the Frenchman's ankle. Welbeck up front should be good to go, with Alexis and Walcott flanking him. Sanchez, Welbeck and Rosicky can all compensate nicely for Walcott's and Ozil's defensive shortages (should this be required) and, overall, complement a pretty balanced squad nicely.
The verdict
Anything less than three points simply won't do. If United has beaten Leicester at home, we simply have no excuses. Besides, we really need a win to prove Saturday was a freak accident (which I think it was). A thorough bashing can restore some much-needed confidence and also help us move back into fifth and above Tottenham. For all Liverpool's poor play this season, I simply don't seem them losing to Spuds at Anfield.
So come on you Gunners.
And I'll be back with a review tomorrow or Thursday.
Until then
Follow me on Twitter (@AlexBaguzin)
Team news update
As always, Arsene gave the usual update:
"Alexis will be back in the group and we don’t have any injuries from Saturday. Everybody else looked fine yesterday."
There was also some good news on Wilshere:
"He’s back in full training this week. I don’t know exactly [how long until he returns], we have to monitor him on a daily basis and see how he develops."
A bit strange to hear a player has returned from injury with no return date pinpointed. Maybe Arsene is just playing his cards close to his chest and we might even see Wilshere today, as a sub of course? Sounds a bit far-fetched, I know, so I'd probably settle for a cameo against Boro and something along the same lines against Crystal Palace.
With that bit out of the way, the usual guessing game is in order.
The back five
I wonder if there's room for rotation in today's squad. Arsene usually prefers to rotate in cup games, but this time cup and league games are swapped and, besides, I'm not sure some players will manage yet another full game, being only three days out of the last one. I've seen suggestions, though, that sticking to our last starting last XI as closely as possible will provide players with a chance to make amends and restore some confidence after a defeat. They sound pretty sensible, but I don't think the manager can ignore the exhaustion issue entirely. And thus I expect a couple of issues.
While Ospina, Bellerin and Monreal haven't played an awful lot and can take another game before being provided with a rest in the cup, the same isn't true for Mertesacker and Koscielny. Especially since Kos still hasn't overcome his Achilles problems. We are going to need the Frenchman in more important games even this month, and so the Leicester game provides us with an opportunity to drop him.
The natural solution if Arsene really decides to rest Koscielny? Our new boy Gabriel of course. The Brazilian has been around for a couple of weeks now and is due a debut, introducing him against the side that currently sits bottom seems a good idea. However, if Gabriel is really set to play, I think we can safely assume Mertesacker will also play. It'll be way too risky to field a central pairing of Chambers and Gabriel.
The midfield
Cazorla looked knackered against the Spuds, that bit I'm sure of. With 28 starts and five appearances from the bench this season, the Spaniard is second only to Alexis in terms of minutes played, so giving him a breather today won't harm Santi. Shifting Ozil inside is the obvious option in this case.
Who do we play at the base? No question about Coquelin, but shall we perhaps drop Ramsey for Rosicky? Yes? No? Thing is, the Welshman also had his fair share of football this season, making 28 appearances in total. And this is considering he's spent minimum six weeks on the sidelines. For me, we can try and have Rosicky do all the stuff Ramsey usually does.
The attack
Oxlade isn't back and he won't be in the next two weeks, but having Giroud, Welbeck, Walcott and Alexis hardly calls for desperate measures, does it? I wonder whether Giroud should be restricted to a bench role, though. Not because of his performances (he's been brilliant upon his return from injury), but because he limped heavily after Rose drove his studs in the Frenchman's ankle. Welbeck up front should be good to go, with Alexis and Walcott flanking him. Sanchez, Welbeck and Rosicky can all compensate nicely for Walcott's and Ozil's defensive shortages (should this be required) and, overall, complement a pretty balanced squad nicely.
The verdict
Anything less than three points simply won't do. If United has beaten Leicester at home, we simply have no excuses. Besides, we really need a win to prove Saturday was a freak accident (which I think it was). A thorough bashing can restore some much-needed confidence and also help us move back into fifth and above Tottenham. For all Liverpool's poor play this season, I simply don't seem them losing to Spuds at Anfield.
So come on you Gunners.
And I'll be back with a review tomorrow or Thursday.
Until then
Follow me on Twitter (@AlexBaguzin)