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Arsenal should play Park against Sunderland and save Van Persie for Milan!

Posted on February 08, 2012 by admin

After that emphatic drubbing of Blackburn Rovers, Arsenal face a tricky trip to the Stadium of Light to face a rejuvenated Sunderland side who are currently eighth in the table, just seven points behind Arsenal.

Sunderland have been in great form since the arrival of new boss Martin O’Neil and one could assume that the Black Cats will give the visiting Arsenal side a real run for their money come Saturday.

The Gunners will surely be in high spirits after that 7-1 demolition of second-from-bottom Blackburn, a game in which Robin van Persie picked up his second hat-trick of the season. But I just wonder whether Arsene Wenger will decide to rest his star-striker and hand Ju Young Park his first league start.

Arsenal travel to Italy just three days after the game to face AC Milan in the Champions League and will come back to face either Middlesbrough or Sunderland in a crucial FA Cup fixture.

The FA Cup is realistically the only trophy we have a shot at winning this season so Wenger just cannot afford to field a second-string side and risk being knocked out of the competition. The Champions League, on the other hand, is Europe’s biggest club competition and it is important for the club to get as far as possible.
So would it be a good idea to rest van Persie this Saturday? I think YES!

The importance of the Dutch striker to this Arsenal side cannot be more stressed upon and an injury to him will effectively end our season. The 28-year-old does not have the most trustworthy injury record and playing him thrice in a week is just asking for trouble.

So in my opinion, he should be rested this Saturday and Park should be chosen ahead of Thierry Henry as his replacement. The South Korean skipper is yet to make a Premier League start and it is high time that he should be given one.

One would argue that it should be club legend Thierry Henry who should take our captain’s place but the Frenchman has looked a bit rusty in recent weeks and will not cause the Sunderland defence too many problems early on. He is more likely to fit the bill as an impact sub and come on late in the game, if required!

So I certainly hope that Le Boss will do the right thing and rest RvP and give Ju Young Park his first league start. The guy deserves it.

by Anurag

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47 to “Arsenal should play Park against Sunderland and save Van Persie for Milan!”

  1. yaw junior says:

    cant agree more..we could play a 442 formation chamberlain as a back up striker..

    Top Gooner!. Agree or not?: Thumb up 30 Thumb down 13

  2. Uche Best@ says:

    Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.

    Out of tune?. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 14 Thumb down 28

  3. pun says:

    he deserves his chance and van persie could come on later if needed. Park needs to play and soon then later. Heard ryos had a motm performance after scoring for bolton against preston. Hope coyle can help him as much as jack.

    Top Gooner!. Agree or not?: Thumb up 55 Thumb down 5

  4. budgie says:

    sunderland bang in form. would like to think we could beat them without rvp,but not confident about that, maybe start with him, should have rested him last half hour against blackburn.

    Top Gooner!. Agree or not?: Thumb up 34 Thumb down 2

  5. GUNNERS 14 says:

    that would be a brilliant idea… but how often wenger does the right thing ? not very often…..if he want to win and finish in the top 4, he needs to start park with the same team that beat black burn, & rest RVP…….please wenger, stop disappointing arsenal fans…..

    Opinions divided. What do you think? Thumb up 15 Thumb down 22

  6. ForwardAFC says:

    persie on bench, the ox n walcott share half game each with arshavin playing full match, n of course we should win it, fa cup is a cup to win this year, so, bring on van persie if ever needed at 70 min, in 20 min he should be able to finish the game ..

    Opinions divided. What do you think? Thumb up 12 Thumb down 4

  7. jp says:

    If he does play I hope he shows the hunger and desire to win.

    He seems like he really wants to prove himself so why not?

    If he plays good luck to him….. but really he cannot be worse than Chamakh.

    Top Gooner!. Agree or not?: Thumb up 20 Thumb down 6

  8. Gunnersince15 says:

    This is an observation only….Footballers play two halves of football, total time on the field 90 minutes. During the game there are many times when each player can take a rest. Tennis players can play 5 hour games, with just short breaks in between and then go and do the same just 24 hours later. During a tournament a top player can do this four or five times, in succession. Why is it that footballers are “worn out” if they play twice a week. Do Tennis players know something about fitness that our football coaches, do not. It’s just a thought.

    Opinions divided. What do you think? Thumb up 18 Thumb down 20

  9. Dan T says:

    This is possible. I think the Ox would be more dangerous upfront though with Arshavin/Park on the wing.

    Opinions divided. What do you think? Thumb up 2 Thumb down 10

  10. boom says:

    I would love park to play as he hasn’t been getting the time and who know’s he may rise to the occasion. If he does do well then at least we know that we have someone to help Robin Van Persie out.

    Top Gooner!. Agree or not?: Thumb up 14 Thumb down 2

  11. horlyday gunners says:

    I also agree VP should be rested,but sunderland Ȋ̝̊̅§ also a must win game 4 us to keep the pressure on 4 the top spot. I think VP should be on bench 4 a rescue mission. Park needs playing time at Arsenal cos we didn’t buy him just to warm bench

    Opinions divided. What do you think? Thumb up 11 Thumb down 3

  12. Hass says:

    I bet Wenger gives Henry the nod ahead of Park.

    Opinions divided. What do you think? Thumb up 11 Thumb down 5

  13. NigerianGun says:

    Give the youg korean a chance to start an EPL match, it will gud for his confidence and the club in general.

    Top Gooner!. Agree or not?: Thumb up 22 Thumb down 2

  14. Alex J says:

    Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.

    Out of tune?. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 20

  15. Nick says:

    Tricky question. I undoubtedly think we should save RVP for Milan and then FA Cup. But we truly need to win against Sunderland who are always tricky. I’d start Park/AA23 & Henry up front in a 4-4-2, place Rosicky, Song, Arteta, Ox at midfield and Sagna, TV5, Kos, Gibbs in defense. Bring on RVP and AA23/Park as subs if the scoreline is 0-0 after the first 55+ minutes. Don’t wait till 80+ minutes to bring on RVP and expect a goal. Have Ramsey & Theo on the bench in case.

    While it’s not the time to “experiment” with the formation, it’s also not the time to lost points. We need to have our players playing to their strengths.

    Top Gooner!. Agree or not?: Thumb up 14 Thumb down 2

  16. ojoku boy says:

    even the most ignorant person,who knows noting about football management or coaching will criticise wenger.i strongly belive park is not good enough thats why he is not starting..wenger should pls start van persie if he feels dat is the best for the team..i think some of us needs to attend a coaching school.

    Opinions divided. What do you think? Thumb up 9 Thumb down 14

  17. Yash says:

    Wenger will pick up Chamakh.

    Opinions divided. What do you think? Thumb up 9 Thumb down 5

  18. kevin cook says:

    sunderland are not going to be a pushover. they are firing under o, neill. rest rvp . at ur peril. start with our strongest 11, then maybe if we are 2 goals up with 20-30 minutes to go then make changes, if we want cl football next season, every game should start with the strongest available 11, dont take advantages, with any team. we have already seen what happens when u do, like blackburn and swansea away, games.

    Opinions divided. What do you think? Thumb up 8 Thumb down 4

  19. John 3:16 says:

    Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.

    Out of tune?. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 19

  20. anxious gooner says:

    NO way , play him in both games ,

    Opinions divided. What do you think? Thumb up 5 Thumb down 7

  21. safcforever says:

    Play whoever itl be best in form team in the league against boy’s

    Rate this comment: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 2

  22. RasD Gunner #4 says:

    This should be our first eleven for the Sunderland game…

    Szczesny
    Sagna Mertesacker Vermaelen Coquelin
    Song Arteta
    Walcott Rosicky Oxlade Chamberlain
    Park

    Subs:Fabianski,Djourou,Gibbs,AA23,Benayoun,Ramsey,Henry,RVP

    This season’s on form best CB Koscielny should also be rested for Milan and he should start alongside Vermaelen at CB for the Milan game. Sagna should be given more game time ahead of the Milan game and so should Gibbs.

    Rate this comment: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 2

  23. william says:

    TAL CUAL ESA PLANTILLA ME GUSTA

    Rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 5

  24. Travis Bickle says:

    JOHAN DJOUROU HAS SIGNED A NEW CONTRACT AT ARSENAL, REPORTED FOR 5 YEARS.

    KISS GOODBYE TO THE HOPES OF VERTONGHEN….MOST LIKELY WILL END UP AT

    BAYERN MUNCHEN

    Opinions divided. What do you think? Thumb up 10 Thumb down 2

  25. Imi Gooner says:

    I say yes, give Park a start, and to be honest i would also give sagna a break too, Coquelin should play at right back, My starting 11 are:
    Szczesny
    Coquelin, Koscielny, Mertersacker, TV5

    Song
    Arteta, Rocisky

    Walcot, Park, Chamberlain

    Swap Park for Henry later in the game, Swap arshavin for Chamberlain later in the game too for rest … i think this would be a strong winning side and is safe too

    Rate this comment: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 5

  26. goonerbri says:

    doubt park will get his chance, although it totally deserved that he gets the nod ahead of henry. i just think wenger has decided hes not for arsenal.why else does he not get a run out. lets face it, it was great to see henry come on and score the 7th, but surely that was a prime time to give park 15 mins on the pitch. no i think there more chance of arsene calling for me from the top tier than park getting the nod.

    Rate this comment: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 2

  27. Boris says:

    TV5 and Kos will not play at Sunderland. 5 yellow cards both.

    Rate this comment: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1

  28. ArsenaLova says:

    again like i say. find the balance of the squad.lineup;

    fabianski
    coquelin-mert-tv5-sagna
    arteta-ramsey
    benayoun-arshavin-walcrap
    park

    szczesny,koscielny,gibbs,chambo,rosicky,henry,rvp on the bench.

    arshavin cn help park upfront.he cn support park. song dserve a rest ahead of the milan game. we need one holding midfield. n arteta cn do that for us. ramsey is fresh.hope so. gve him the central role. benayoun cn help cover for coquelin.for the left wing. wudnt mind walcrap or chambo start there. sagna in the left back.coquelin dserve to hold on hes place. gve gibbs 20-10 minutes in the scond half. if nothing happen bring on attacking impact. rvp n walcrap/chambo for benayoun. against milan mylineup wud be;

    szczesny
    sagna-kos-tv5-gibbs
    song-arteta
    walcrap-rosicky/arshavin-chambo
    rvp

    against spudsy;
    szczesny
    sagna-mert-kos-tv5
    song-arteta
    gervinho-arshavin/rosicky-chambo
    rvp

    Rate this comment: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 3

  29. ArsenaLova says:

    i think park is like our new vela. good player n wenger gt this player for?? owh yeah. this summer they are on a trip around asia. in around korean too right??good promotion mr.wenger. we cud add more profit. hv fun with all the money. why nt gt player around far east n so on? we need more profit. n spend 1m. we need a billion of profit n we must spend below 20m. it is pathetic majority of the fans cnt realise this. yeah future is bright. so now?? disgraceful.if this cn turn to be worst. i cnt wait to see what happen in the summer. if we gt past thru milan hope that cud mke our season brightn if we lose that i cn see evrythng wil turn wrong aftr that.

    Rate this comment: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 2

  30. chris2m says:

    Park , marone 2-4-4 with your players in there real spots
    Ox or Artetta,arshavin,tommas or ox
    song
    gibbs,vermal,kos,sanga
    fabi
    how about we act like suporters not babys. And arshavin has put the most beautiful goals in for arsenal and if you want him he plays a killer at cam or a cf behind a st.
    You should no that by now watch his tapes

    Rate this comment: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 2

  31. dhp says:

    Park has now lost his South Korean spot because of Wenger. Our freaking captain. Park has lost his spot because of lack of playing time before a really important World Cup qualifier. The South Korean manager was at the Blackburn match and said if Park cannot get in a match where Arsenal are leading 5-1 then he’s not sure Park is even in the mind of Wenger. Sounds about right to me. Thanks a lot Wenger. Oh and I hear that Arsenal want to do a Far East tour in Seoul. If Arsenal continue to ignore Park and relegate him to the bench for the rest of the season, I would suggest saving Arsenal’s money to buy a fullback or striker. Don’t waste their precious profit and time to come to Korea. They would NOT be very welcome. There is already talk of boycotting the match among fans. If Park really was brought to Arsenal for shirt sales, I think that idea backfired spectacularly as it’s probably not a good idea to treat the captain like a glorified benchwarmer.

    Top Gooner!. Agree or not?: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 2

  32. Machine-Gunner says:

    @Gunnersince15

    The difference is that footballers average about 10kms a match, where as tennis players average about 6km in a 4.5hr match (if its the best players playing).
    The other thing is that footballers hav to physically challenge each other trying to win the ball back against sumtimes faster opponents or against stronger and taller opponents.

    The game is a lot quicker than it luks on tv and those breaks u say footballers take is just a few seconds really. Where as a tennis player rests for about a full 2min sitting down, eating energy bars and drinking water.

    Different sports require different levels of fitness.

    -Machine Gunner

    Rate this comment: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 4

  33. Emery says:

    this is all wrong, how can you justify saying the FA Cup is the only winable competition and then say lets rest players for the CL?! Whats the point in that, I understand your point of getting as far as possible but thats only going to wear the squad out even more, look at United and City, both didnt get through the groups yet their top of the PL.

    Judging by this artcile you rate the FA Cup as the most important, then the CL, then the PL. I dont get that, the PL should be most important and top 4 is vital if we are to still attract the likes of top players, I agree the FA Cup is winnable so take it seriously but the PL is vital as well

    Rate this comment: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 2

  34. bob says:

    Yes…. with RVP on the bench…but AW will never go for that. He will most likely play is lover boy with Chamakh (if he is back)

    Opinions divided. What do you think? Thumb up 9 Thumb down 3

  35. Nick says:

    Breaking News: Fabio Capello has resigned immediately as England manager.

    Good job FA! You postpone John Terry’s trial till after Euro (I wonder why) and then strip him of the captaincy taking away the authority of the manager. Now England have to have a new manager in place for a few months before Euro. Way to shoot yourselves in the foot you bunch of hypocrites!

    End rant

    Rate this comment: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 2

  36. ZAK says:

    noneses it is important to finish top 4 theirry henry should start and be replace for van persise around 60-75 to wiin and park is not at the level of aresnals play in the premeier league is good for someone like wigan but as gervinho is gone to africa and usally misses all the chNCES HE RECIVE EVN IF OPEN GOAL SO ARESENE SHOULD SIGN EDEN HAZARD

    Rate this comment: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 6

  37. Jason says:

    I cannot believe that some people are saying Park isn’t good enough…absolutely pathetic

    Opinions divided. What do you think? Thumb up 8 Thumb down 4

  38. Von Sprinks says:

    Top 4 is the priority, RVP will probably start and take a rest in FA cup saturday week imo.

    Good to see Sunderland going to extra time tonight! Hope the gunners are enjoying watching with their feet up..

    Rate this comment: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 4

  39. we should give him a full game chance

    Rate this comment: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1

  40. D.Bergkamp says:

    park is very good player, but i don’t like managers telling players who are good that they are not good enough by not playing them.

    It lets their belief in themselves down.

    Rate this comment: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 1

  41. French says:

    VP is needed against sunderland! We cant drop anymore points, or we risk not playing CL at all next year! Also, he does more than just score goals, he knows his way around, plays magic though balls, started his career as a winger, after all.

    Whatever you wanna say about Henry, hes still a star, played probably only 45 min for arsenal over 3 games (after not playing there for 5 years!) – and scored 2 goals – one kept us in the FA cup!

    Rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 4

  42. Teck says:

    All these calling for Park to start will be asking for AW’s head if we drop points. I still think we don’t have the luxury to rest our most in form player.

    Rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 5

  43. dhp says:

    I don’t think anyone is saying that we should be playing Park in lieu of dropping points. All I’m saying is that in a game like the Blackburn one when we were up 5-1, you can’t give a striker some minutes? Instead you put in Henry, who leaves in a couple of weeks? I think everyone would agree that Park would have benefited from playing in a game where he could get some time with the first team players. If anything, Wenger should have used the last 20 minutes or so to do something other than a 4-4-2 and change things up a little, no?

    Rate this comment: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1

  44. jumper says:

    gervinho in semifinal in african cup of nations scored the winner all the best ivory coast and gervinho win that and come back to arsenal with loads of confidence we ll need that

    Rate this comment: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1

  45. Abu says:

    Provided we get three goals to move to top four this Saturday. A bird in a hand is not like two in a bush, we have to win 3.0 in all cases. Park to prove

    Mombasa, Kenya

    Rate this comment: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1

  46. cam2 says:

    Arshavin is the best.

    Rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

  47. StoogeFinder says:

    Are people in here stupid or just stupid? How can we rest RVP against Sunderland when we need to secure as many wins as possible in the EPL for 4th place? Really kids, think about that one! RVP ain’t getting rest for many weeks to come. Simple fact: he is the most reliable to score. End of story!

    Rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0



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