Hello everyone, The Champions League is back. Playing in the group stages has been Arsenal's raison d'être for the last six years. As such, we should all be excited. For Olivier Giroud, this is a homecoming - hopefully he raises his game and breaks his duck. As I'm starting this thread while in class, that's all I'm going to say. To the stuff you guys care about: Time: 1945 GMT, 1445 EDT (2:45 PM for the math impaired). TV: Sadly, we're relegated to Fox Soccer Plus for this one. KILL!
Someone else may have already mentioned this, but I'm pretty sure there's a free trial of Fox Soccer Plus this week, at least for DirecTV users. I'll be curious to see how Wenger players with the line up for this fixture. I'm thinking Giroud starts. If Diaby is fit, he'll be in as well. Do you guys think he'll give Mert a break and start Koscielny? Let's start this CL campaign off right boys!!!
Good game to let Kos start. He needs time and one or 2 of the defenders should get some rest. Another question.... When do we rest Cazorla?
Saw that Szczesny is not making the trip due to an ankle injury. Could explain kicking in second half. On the goal I remember him going down and kind of grabbing his ankle.
Should probably rest Cazorla tomorrow so he is fresh for City and Chelsea. He could be a great sub after 65 minutes or so if needed.
Gervinho - Giroud- Walcott Arteta - Ox - Diaby Gibbs - Koscielny - Mertesacker - Jenkinson Mannone How's that look? I really don't like the fact that we have to play Arteta in virtually every game.
Here is the squad that can be picked from. One keeper seriously? Arsenal squad to face Montpellier: James Shea Carl Jenkinson Kieran Gibbs Thomas Vermaelen Per Mertesacker Laurent Koscielny Abou Diaby Mikel Arteta Santi Cazorla Francis Coquelin Aaron Ramsey Theo Walcott Andre Santos Olivier Giroud Gervinho Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain Lukas Podolski
Good call on Arteta and Cazorla needing rest. Our midfield might collapse without at least one of them in there though...
Some of these guys need a rest. Mannone Jenk - Kos - Verm - Santos Diaby - Arteta - Ramsey Theo - Giroud - Gerv
Ox is second from the bottom. Sczen is out due to an ankle knock. Looks like they forgot Don Vito when they originally posted it on the site as he is on the list now. http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/arsenal-name-18-man-squad-for-monpellier-game
Wow, that is really the "B" team, at best. I realize Montpellier ain't Barcelona, but you need the easy wins in group play, as well.
What are you talking about? Everyone who started the last two league matches except for Szczesny is in the squad.
------Gervinho-Podolski-Walcott ---------Diaby-Cazorla-Arteta Gibbs-Vermaelen-Koscielny-Coquelin ----------Don Vito------------------
It seems that depth is going to once again rear its ugly head. Santi, Arteta and Podolski will need days off, and it seems that those days are going to be very rough on the Arsenal. Also, Diaby is probably going to play less than 50% of the games this season. When actual fixture congestion starts, this team will lose a lot of points.