2 weeks and 2 days to go until we restart our league campaign.
Our last game was a 1-0 home win over West Ham United on March 7th. It was a 3rd straight win, our best run of the season.
The XI that started that day had a few surprise calls:
...................Leno....................
Sokratis...Luiz....Mari...Saka
........Ceballos...Xhaka...........
Pepe..........Ozil........Aubameyang
.................Nketiah......................
Subs: Martinez, Bellerin, Guendouzi, Willock, Martinelli, Lacazette, Nelson.
The first stand-out from that XI was Eddie Nketiah. The youngster, recalled from Leeds in Janaury, was starting his 3rd game in a row. Alexandre Lacazette had been dumped to the bench. So it will be interesting to see if the Frenchman will be recalled, or Mr Arteta will continue with Eddie.
Sokratis at right back was seemingly to rest Hector Bellerin. Surely the Spanish star will return if fit, although Cedric Soares has been brought in as well.
However, the bigger question looks like to be around the CBs. Pablo Mari made his PL debut in that win over WHU, and did enough to suggest he deserves his place. With David Luiz there are questions over his future at Arsenal, so could that influence the starting XI? Shkodran Mustafi has been praised for his performances under Arteta, and Sokratis is the other option.
Kieran Tierney is back, so another interesting call is to be made at left back with Bukayo Saka and Sead Kolasinac alternatives.
Granit Xhaka and Dani Ceballos had started to form a successful midfield partnership, starting together in all 3 of the last 3 PL games. Lucas Torreira is doubtful for at least the start of the resumption.
The 3 behind the striker look to be Mr Arteta's prefered 3, although Saka, Reiss Nelson and Gabriel Martinelli would hope to be involved.
Fitness willing, I feel we may see this when we return:
---------------Leno------------------
Bellerin--Mustafi--Luiz---Tierney
---------Ceballos---Xhaka----------
Pepe---------Ozil------------Saka
------------Aubameyang-------------
Hopefully whoever Mr Arteta picks will be good enough to get an unexpected win over Manchester City on June 17th.
Starting XI?
posted on 1/6/20
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 1/6/20
comment by GTWI4T- some people deserve to get trolled (U6008)
posted 47 minutes ago
Tierney will be an interesting one. Seemed like the player Arsenal needed for ages and everyone expected him to be an instant hit. Obviously injuries have impacted him massively, but Saka looks everything you want in a modern full back and I actually think he would have more of an impact at LB than LW.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Agree, Tierney did look suspect defending for Arsenal but back from such injuries and that back line next to Luiz?... Also Saka has looked quality tbf, very impressed with him. Arsenal need tie him down before hes the next Gnabry.
posted on 1/6/20
Expecting something close to:
---------------Leno------------------
Bellerin-----Mari--Luiz------Saka
---------Ceballos---Xhaka----------
Nelson------Ozil------Aubameyang
-------------Lacazette--------------
posted on 1/6/20
Ozil has fitness problem after fasting for 30-days..he probably won't play for this season
posted on 1/6/20
Is fasting a new thing specific to Ozil then? Because I am pretty sure he and many others fasted and played before.
posted on 1/6/20
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 1/6/20
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 1 hour, 12 minutes ago
Is fasting a new thing specific to Ozil then? Because I am pretty sure he and many others fasted and played before.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Nope... fasting under lockdown is.
posted on 1/6/20
So no Muslim player will be fit despite lots of Muslim players appearing in the leagues already back?
posted on 1/6/20
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 7 minutes ago
So no Muslim player will be fit despite lots of Muslim players appearing in the leagues already back?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ozil is precious..he is more more brittle than wilshire
posted on 6/6/20
If it's true that Ozil won't be playing then I might actually watch or at least try to anyway. No fans + Ozil handicapping the team as usual, is just too much to take. Dude has seriously ruined my enjoyment of watching our team play. No idea why tbh, never despised a player this much before and doubt I ever will again.
He's the only Arsenal player (or footballer for that matter) that if I saw in the street, I'd tell abuse at. Don't agree with that behaviour but seeing HIM, I know I wouldn't/couldn't hold it in. And I will maintain forever the no AFC starting lineup should ever have him in it. Not if we ever wish to win anything again anyway.