The Starting 11

[marakana10]

Who's the starting 11 for Arsenal right now????

I have it as this...
GK Jens Lehmann
DR Lauren
DL Ashley Cole
DC Kolo Toure
DC Senderos
DMC Gilberto
ML Pires
MR Ljungberg
AMC Hleb
FC Henry
FC Reyes

I WANT to see the Henry/Reyes partnership again because if he goes to the left which I assume he will then where does that leave Pires? I don't want to see him on the bench either. Plus with Fabregas playing very maturely and Flamini being agressive who is the CM? Without injuries ;) we have very solid depth. I look at the squads. Chelsea 23, Arsenal 21.

GK Lehmann, Vieira(hopefully)
DR Lauren, Eboue, Hoyte
DL Cole, Clichy
DC Toure, Campbell, Senderos, Hoyte
DMC Gilberto, Flamini
MC Gilberto, Flamini, Fabregas, Hleb
MR Ljungberg, Flamini, Pires
ML Reyes, Hleb, Pires, Quincy
AMC Hleb, Pires
FC Henry, van Persie, Bergkamp, Reyes, Quincy

Also: PLEASE CHRISTIANVAL........................................................... :D

[jpatel1508]

For the start of the season:

Lehman
Lauren Toure Senderos Cole
Ljungberg Cesc Gilberto Reyes
Hleb
Henry

Subs: GK, Bergkamp, Pires, Van Persie, Eboue/Hoyte

It's unfortunate that Bergkamp and/or Pires maybe taking up the space that could be for Quincy, or someone. Pires is just as effective (if not more) off the bench than starting.

[michaec]

On Sunday, I expect the team to be:

Lehmann
Lauren-Toure-Senderos-Cole
Ljungberg-Gilberto-Fabregas-Pires
Bergkamp-Henry

[dogface]

On Sunday, I expect the team to be:

Lehmann
Lauren-Toure-Senderos-Cole
Ljungberg-Gilberto-Fabregas-Pires
Bergkamp-Henry

This is how Wenger started the Community Shield match. So I agree with you on this line-up. I think we can expect Hleb, Reyes and Van Persie as subs.
Personally, I would like to see Hleb to start in Pires' spot, with Pires coming off the bench.

[michaec]

He actually started with Flamini and Fabregas in midfield, but Flamini didn't have the best game and we looked more solid when Gilberto came on. I didn't see enough from Reyes, Hleb or Van Persie when they came on to suggest any of them will start.

[gunner0007]

Lehman
Lauren Toure Senderos Cole
Lundjberg Gilberto Fabregas Pires
Reyes Henry

Subs being Bergkamp for Reyes and Hleb for possibly Pires.

[zizou_10]

He actually started with Flamini and Fabregas in midfield, but Flamini didn't have the best game and we looked more solid when Gilberto came on. I didn't see enough from Reyes, Hleb or Van Persie when they came on to suggest any of them will start.

spot on...but rather, i say we start zidane instead of bergy.. :D

[Coach_McGuirk]

I think that last year we learned that Reyes & Henry upfront is not the best combination as they both drift left and end up getting in each other's way.

I'd say:

Lehmann
Lauren, Toure, Senderos, Cole
Ljungberg, Gilberto, Cesc, Reyes
Henry, van Persie

[GJ40]

Pires scores too many goals to keep him on the sideline. I too like:

Lehmann
Lauren-Toure-Senderos-Cole
Ljungberg-Gilberto-Fabregas-Pires
Bergkamp-Henry

with Hleb, Reyes and van Persie coming on (although I think all three will play bigger roles by the end of the season).

GJ40

[Cannon]

Pires scores too many goals to keep him on the sideline.
Well he did very well scoring those goals coming on as a sub at the start of last season. A year later and he looks more suited for the sub role to me.

For the starting XI, I'm going with the lineup I expect to be the normal XI over the course of the season and not necessarily the one we'll start with next weekend.
-----------------Jens-----------
Lauren--Toure--Senderos--Cole
Ljungberg-Gilberto-Cesc-Hleb
----------RVP------Henry--------
Bench:Almunia(:(), Sol, Flamini, Pires, JAR (he'll get the most time and basically share the 2nd striker and leftmid spots)
Others getting a fair amount of time:Cygan(:(), Bentley, Bergkamp

[CTGooner]

-----------------Jens-----------
Lauren--Toure--Senderos--Cole
Ljungberg-Gilberto-Cesc-Hleb
----------RVP------Henry--------
Bench:Almunia(:(), Sol, Flamini, Pires, JAR (he'll get the most time and basically share the 2nd striker and leftmid spots)
Others getting a fair amount of time:Cygan(:(), Bentley, Bergkamp

I love how whenever someone mentions Cygan or Almunia, there is either a sadface, or a wise crack about them! :D

[Cannon]

I love how whenever someone mentions Cygan or Almunia, there is either a sadface, or a wise crack about them! :D
Well I had it without the sad smilies and it didn't look right. ;)

[Neo¹]

I want to see something like this: a 4-2-3-1


......................Henry
Pires................Hleb..............Ljungberg
............Gilberto........Fabregas
Cole........Toure.....Cambell.......Lauren

or even a 4-3-3

........................Henry
....Reyes................................Ljungberg

..........................Hleb
..........Gilberto..................Fabregas

Cole........Toure.........Cambell.......Lauren

[Przybylinski]

I want to see something like this: a 4-2-3-1


......................Henry
Pires................Hleb..............Ljungberg
............Gilberto........Fabregas
Cole........Toure.....Cambell.......Lauren



This one looks good. You just forgot to put someone in the net. :)

[antifan]

I want to see something like this: a 4-2-3-1


......................Henry
Pires................Hleb..............Ljungberg
............Gilberto........Fabregas
Cole........Toure.....Cambell.......Lauren

or even a 4-3-3

........................Henry
....Reyes................................Ljungberg

..........................Hleb
..........Gilberto..................Fabregas

Cole........Toure.........Cambell.......Lauren

If we went to a 4-3-3/4-5-1, it would more likely be:

-----------Jens--------------
Lauren-Toure--Campbell-Cole
----------Gilberto----------
---Fabregas-----Hleb-------
Ljungberg-------------Reyes
-----------Henry------------

[CTGooner]

This one looks good. You just forgot to put someone in the net. :)

I think perhaps he was thinking if Lehman is hurt or gets sent off. It might be better and safer to leave the net open than to put Almunia in.

To Quote Hoosiers:
Ref: Wenger, you need a keeper!
Wenger: My team is on the field!

[topcatcole]

I think Flamini will start, so I get (likely subs in parentheses)

------------------------Lehmann-------------------------
Lauren-----------Toure-----------Senderos-----------Cole
--------------------------Silva---------------------------
Freddy (Hleb)---------Flamini (Cesc)----------Reyes (Pires)
------------Bergkamp (VanPersie)-----------Henry--------

I think the Pires and VanPersie subs are almost a lock, around the 60 minute mark. I think Hleb is probable as well, but around the 70 minute mark. IMO Wenger will try to not run up Cesc's meter too much early in the season.

[Coach_McGuirk]

Doesn't Almunia still have busted fingers? I thought that was one of the issues (well, that and the general suckitude of Almunia's overall game. A perfect opportunity to quote Fever Pitch (loosely): "It's not the broken fingers, Manny, it's the crapness", and the best summation I ever heard on the play of one Manuel Almunia, provided by Cannon, IIRC: "He was a circus out there") that was pressing Wenger to bring in another keeper, in addition to the fact that our main man "Mad" Jens has a little 2 game CL suspension to serve.

Busted fingers or not, I fear for our chances in the group stage if we have to trot Manny out there for 10 minutes in the CL, much less 2 full games....




NOTE: Discussing Almunia also gives us the opportunity to bring up the comments of one phishy during the Bolton game last year: "Manuel Almunia: Best keeper in the Prem!". In phishy's defense, he was pretty liquored up by then... :D

If you need verification that it was, in fact, said by phishy, please check in with SurfCam. Cam was there and heard it, weren't you Cam?? ;)

[bergkamp10]

Jens
Lauren, Kolo, Senderos, Ash
Freddie, Gilberto, Fab, Hleb
Henry, Reyes

Subs: Dennis, Robin, Bobby, Almunia, Hoyte

[soccermainiac2003]

leave pires in the starting line up until the transfers close then replace him since he can't leave