Carling Cup Arsenal v Manchester City Tuesday, November 29, 2011 Emirates Stadium 20:00 UK, 3:00 EST TV: SS2, FS+ Sorry for the slight delay getting the match thread up as I've been traveling for the holiday. I honestly have no idea what to expect in this one -- I actually think we could be more competitive in this game by playing a lesser team. Anyway, hope for heavy rotation. This game really isn't that important, though I'd like to keep starting match threads beyond Tuesday.
-------Fabianski Coq? - DJ - Miquel - ??? ----Diaby---Frimpong AOC----Rosicky---Yossi -----Park/Chamakh
Day off.....Arsenal.....Cup Match......Live at Coolers .....Flag....Carsenal.....Sausage & Egg Sandwich .....Beer....Cocktails.....Sorted.
i wonder if letting koscielny rest on saturday means he will start tomorrow? there are plenty of combinations available, but i'd guess we could see something like: [LINEUP-4-3-3]arshavin,chamakh,benayoun,rosicky,frimpong,diaby,miguel,koscielny,squillaci,djourou,fabianski[/LINEUP-4-3-3] subs: szczesny, santos, vermaelen, song, chamberlain, miyiachi, park
they lined up like this last CC game -------------Pantilimon, Zabaleta, Kolo Toure, Savic, Kolarov ----------De Jong, Razak, ------Scapuzzi, Nasri, Johnson, --------------Dzeko
De Jong, Dzeko and Nasri are their spares. Talk about embarrassment of the riches. Fabianski Djorou, Miquel, Sqillaci, Santos Rosicky, Deench, Coq AA, Chamakh, Benayoun Diaby is hurt again.
Quick glance at the sched. this might be the biggest game in the next week or two. after this Wigan (realistically 3 'easy' pts), and then Olympiakos (non-issue). I think we'll see a stronger squad than predicted. I get worried about Fabianski playing, it's been too long since he played in such an important match. I think at least we'll have a strong bench. A win here gives us a decent shot at silverware this season. [LINEUP-4-3-3]Gervinho, Park, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Benayoun, Frimpong, Rosicky, Miquel, Koscielny, Squillaci, Djourou, Fabianski[/LINEUP-4-3-3]
^ I think you're probably close, and that it will be more of a mixed-bag kind of team: not all starters, but not all reserves. I wouldn't be surprised to see Song get a start, but I expect (and hope) for van Persie, Vermaelen, Ramsey and Walcott to all be rested.
Pictures from the training ground (on Arsenal.com) should give a good indication of the team tomorrow. None of the starters from saturday were present today. (I guess they got a couple of days off). Kos, Gervinho, Chamack, Benayoum were present and will likely start tomorrow with Frimpy, Squid, Ox, Coq or Rosicky, Fab, Yennaris, Miquel and Rosicky. Me may see Park to start instead of Chamack.... That should be a strong enough team to face and beat City. I highly doubt that any of the Sunday starters for city will be in the line up tomorrow.
Me likey. Good mix of vets/kids. Lets get this win boys. Need to keep the momentum/hunger going! COYG!
I think hughmanatee has the starting eleven spot on. Gervinho and Kos will likely start because they were rested against Fulham. I am worried about the four CBs at the back though. Djourou was solid on Saturday but Miquel may not be able to handle Adam Johnson or whoever starts on that wing for City. Hopefully, the Ox can shine and Park plays like he did against Bolton. Wenger has (predictably) told fans to "respect" Na$ri. If he doesn't respect us (by making the comments about the fans), why should we respect him? I, for one, am glad he is off the team, as he is bad influence and Gervinho is a more natural winger anyway.
I fully expect a thrashing by city. Anything short of that, and I'm happy. We got bigger fish to fry than the smallest cup game against a bunch of mercenaries being paid 150k per week to sit on the bench 80% of the time.
Yeah, I don't think we can expect much from this. We need to put the league first, and CL second. We just can't compete with the depth of City's squad in a game like this. All you can do is rotate, and hope the guys can step up.
Provisional squad: Fabianski, Yennaris, Miquel, Squillaci, Djourou, Arshavin, Benayoun, Frimpong, Coquelin, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Park, Mannone, Rosicky, Chamakh, Diaby, Boateng, Ozyakup, Miyaichi, Aneke. Take your pick from that list. Not sure about the outside backs and who plays on the left. I would say: [LINEUP-4-3-3] Rosicky, Park, Chamberlain, Coquelin, Frimpong, Benayoun, Djourou, Squillaci, Miguel, Yennaris, Fabianski [/LINEUP-4-3-3]
So, we're really going with all backups. Not even Koscielny or Gervinho. Good. I'm happy with our priorities. EDIT: I thought Miyaichi was out with an ankle sprain.
Please win. I want a Liverpool/Arsenal final if possible. Two teams that desperately need a trophy...would be the best possible matchup from the passionate fans' point of view (and exciting for everyone else).
Coquelin deserves a start in this one. He has outperformed frimpong this year. I woulld like to see: ------------park Arshavin--------the ox --------- rosicky ----diaby -----------coquelin Miguel-Djourou-squil- yennaris ------------fabianski
[LINEUP-4-3-3]benayoun, park, ox, diaby, rosicky, frimpong, miquel, djourou, squill, yennaris, fabianski[/LINEUP-4-3-3] this team is good enough to win against the line-up man city put out last round. wouldnt be surprised to see mancini put out a stronger line-up tho.