With the available players we have I can't see anything but a weak central midfield. It will be great going forward, but poor defensively. The best I can come up with at the moment is: Lehmann Hoyte-Toure-Campbell-Cole Ljungberg-Bergkamp-Edu-Pires Kanu-Henry I had thought of sticking Dennis at right midfield, but a young right-back will need the greater energy of Fred to get back and help him out. Edu will have a deeper role as the shield in front of the back four. This could actually be a good position for him allowing him to use his range of passing from a deeper position to pick out Henry's runs over the top. I reckon we could get an hour out of Bergkamp in cemtre-mid, but we'll be looking for a youngster to play there for the last half-hour. A chance for someone to make a name for himself. I've been looking at the squad list and I can't see anyone else to cover in central midfield. Hindsight is 20/20, but how much would we give to have Gio van Bronckhorst available right now?
Gio was so bad in Holland's loss to Scotland that he was dropped for the return leg. He's no better than what we have available to us. People are talking like Birmingham City are some fearsome team instead of a decent bunch of pluggers who play fairly well as a team. I know we're all bored by the international break, but some of the hand-wringing surrounding this game is hilarious. I look forward to a 3-0 thrashing, as well as exposing Upson as the overrated mediocrity that he is. For all the whining about his departure, has anyone noticed that he *still* wouldn't make our starting XI? He was beaten out by a younger, less expensive player with a much higher upside who didn't whine about the lack of first-team opportunities - he just went out and played his way onto the team. I'm guessing Upson and Richard Wright share a similar makeup - they're OK when playing in relative anonymity, but wilt when the spotlight's on.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/preview?id=108289&cc=5901 "Hoyte does deserve to play, though, and I'm of a mind to play him." Is it just me or did this kid just drop out of the sky? I know I don't pay as much attention to the reserves and youth as I should but I've been very surprised by the ammount of support that this (relatively) unknown kid has received both here and now from AW himself. Anyway, I must admit that I've been guilty of some hand-wringing regarding this match, but now that I see Duggary is out and Dunn and Cisse had a small dust-up in training I'm a bit more comfortable. I won't be so bold as to predict 3-0, but I think a patchwork Arsenal side should be able to handle an overachieving Birmingham. I don't know who I'd put on the pitch, but I do know that Henry is lethal and that fact should give us an edge against anyone.
B'Ham Besides the international break, suspensions, and injuries, I think it's worth mentioning how Arsenal didn't look too convincing at home against the Scum last match -- and they had their (arguably) best player sitting! Or maybe I'm just a pessimist. . . I say 1-0 to the Arsenal, regardless of who starts. It won't be a slaughter, that's for sure.
He was playing left-back which we know from when he played there for Arsenal is not his position by a long way. He would be infinitely better than any of the options we have avilable alongside Edu in the midfield at the moment. It seems to be a toss-up between two strikers, Kanu and Bergkamp.
26-32-38-16-9 Just kidding... The score line was a wish list as I have TH in a fantasy league and need to make up a bit of ground this week.
I think we might have gotten our first look at Senderos had he not been injured for so long. Wiltord is out, and I think I'll get "ONE OTHER" as the player name on my next Arsenal jersey. Perhaps then I will get the respect I deserve for being "ONE OTHER" in so many different situations...*L* The funny thing is, whoever is the 4th midfielder tomorrow should be hung with the nickname "One Other" until the day he leaves the pitch permanently...(PLEASE let it be somebody who annoys me! But my hopes are dashed as Gilberto has already been ruled out as "One Other")
Looks like Gael Glichy got the start in the back and Hote's on the bench again. Cygan is also out there and Toure's in the midfield.
"AUS GUNNER". Just changing the sport for a minute. What about England? World Cup Winners in the rugby! New it all along! Hope Arsenal can be as successful!!!!