Gibbs out of Chelsea game – Should Vermaelen fill in?
Arsène Wenger has conceded that neither Carl Jenkinson nor Kieran Gibbs will have recovered from their stomach and knee strains respectively in time to face Chelsea this weekend.
Whilst the former’s absence is frustrating for Wenger – with Djourou having to replace him – Santos is seen as a ready replacement for Gibbs. However, Vermaelen overcame an injury fright in midweek to declare his availability for the match and with Koscielny and Mertesacker looking like a fearsome duo in the centre, can the Belgian slot in at left-back instead?
Thomas Vermaelen has played as a left-back for former club Ajax and seemed equally up to the task there as in the centre of defence. He may not have the pace of most fullbacks but there is no doubt that he would provide a stern test for wingers.
Andre Santos has shown promising signs with his performances for Arsenal so far, seemingly improving with every game he plays. However, even before his arrival at the club, there was talk of his ability to play in a more attacking role. In the 2008/2009 campaign, he netted 13 goals in just 17 starts, and his strike against Olympiacos was taken with class and composure.
Another positive to playing the Brazilian in a more attacking role down the left would mean that Arshavin would have a greater chance of playing down the middle as he did so brilliantly against Bolton.
When facing arguably amongst our toughest opposition so far this season – away from home – it seems reasonable enough that Wenger would want to play his strongest possible defence and without Vermaelen, it can never be quite that.
Should Arsenal stick to what they know or could Santos provide that extra threat down the left, giving Arshavin the freedom he needs down the middle?
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That could be a very good option!!!Its now upto the manager,how he wants it….
Opinions divided. What do you think?
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TV is first choice defender so the question should be who the other three playing will be.
Whether at left back or in the middle he is the best defender we have along with Sagna so it’s a pitty they can’t both be fit to play.
Top Gooner!. Agree or not?:
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koscielny, metersacker, vermaelen, santos. would it work?
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Play Santos, If Verm is to play then it should be in the middle where he can dominate with his tackling and sheer enthusiasm.
Also, Santos looks special going forward and competent at the back if not excellent. Lets play guys in their respective positions, we need a full team performance in this one and can’t risk players missing a trick by having to adapt to other positions. We’re already without a right sided specialist, we don’t need it on the left too.
But who knows, it’s up to Wenger. I’m actually confident we can get something out of this match. If we stay calm, we can snatch it but hopefully we win 8-2 so everyone can shut the hell up about that result as one more of the big teams will have suffered a beating by a rival if we do.
Kings of London!
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I would stick one on the right With Santos to cover the left we can leave Djourou on the right
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i think wenger should leave per and kos at heart of defence, they’re both becoming solid and look like they understand each other really well.
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Certainly Vamelain shld start…….
Djrou…….Metasaka……Koshn…..Vamelain
……………..Song……………………
…..Ramsey……………….Ashavin……..
……..Park……………….Gevinho………..
……………….RVP…………………..
Substitutes: Walcott, Chamberlain, Santos, Conqulin, Miyachi, Flimpong, Chamark
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Koscielny can start from right full back, A.Santos at left full back while T.Vermaelen and P.Mertesacker can pair in the central defense. But all is left for the Coach. Best of luck
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Breaking the Kos- Mert partnership probably wont be the finest choice. It would probably be better to play Vermaelen at left back to counter Chelsea’s attacking prowess, however a back 4 of Djourou, Koscielny, Mertesacker and Vermaelen could be overly defensive. That being said, it would not be wise to play Santos against Chelsea(despite being great going forward, he isn’t the best defender)considering that he would probably face Mata.
Opinions divided. What do you think?
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I think that koscielny should go to the right, and then vemaelen to partner mertesacker at the centre because i don’t think djourou will be able to cope with Mata or Malouda in pace.Leave santos where he is.Reply if any objections.
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kozz and per have been soild at the back.
i doubt vermilen will be starting on saterday.
he played 90 mins on tuesday
and it might be a risk playing him so much after coming back from a long lay off.
playing per and koss wont be much of a risk.
but i would rather have kozz at right back with vermilen and per at CB.
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Sceszny. TV5, Per, Koscielny along side Djourou as back 4. Song, Arteta, Ramsey,Gervinho, Arsha and The Van P
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ferguson experiments players in different positions(like smalling as leftback).wenger ????? i dont think so….
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I´m so worried about the Right back I seriously don´t trust JD let santos on the left pair TV5 and Mertersacker and take Kosc to RB
Kosc mert TV5 santos
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I like the thought of this option and Arshavin would appreciate the backing.
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Arshavin won’t be starting anyway. I don’t know why you guys are talking about him specifically in consideration of who should play left back. Wenger won’t start anyone Saturday who played agains Bolton except for Verm hopefully.
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Yes try it why not, a good idea compared to some of the shite i read on here
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would have to play 4 4 2 if thats the case
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kosh and mert are just starting to gel, yes tv is our best defender but i really dont feel comfatable changing the cb pairing for such a big game. no matter what he says tv will of lost sharpness so lb seems a much better option for him.
i do like santos but he looks a stone to heavy and has trouble getting back, i no he had no pre season with us and im sure he’ll be great when hes in shape but i dont think he will be upto the pace of saturdays game.
so yes to tv5 but as a lb, and no to santos but still play arsh through the middle behind vp and then swap him with park if hes having a bad game or not tracking back. also a flat 4 across the midfield with arteta and song in the middle and gerv and theo on the flanks, wenger should be thinking of a different and stronger formation for this game if hes really on the ball, we will no soon enough i suppose.
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Vermaleen should fill d space
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KOS/Sack/Verm/Santos
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this is an easy one.
Djorou RB
MERT
VERM
Santos LB
Kos for Sub
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What does a Arsenal fan do when Arsenal win he Champtions League.
Put away their playstations.
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Wow!!! Never thought of it yet, but that is a wonderful point. Imagine TV,Mets,Kolc and Santos as back 4,with the way the last 3 are playing of late!!! Men!! Our defence would be something else.
I’m still sceptic bout tv’s fitness tho,think they should be carefull with him so he dsnt get another long lay off,we need him bck.But if they really think he is ok, then this is our best defence strategy,eitherway I know we will get a point or 3 from Chelsea.Confident on that.
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@santon a arsenal fan (an arsenal fan) , win he (win the),
champtions league (champions league) , nice one
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so is ashley cole suspended on saturday or… ?
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Nothing wrong with options AW get out & get 3 points…..!!
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hope david luiz plays in the defence instead of terry,he could get a red card .it will be easy for us.
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Yes he can very well!1 Get Santos in midfield or upfront.
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BIG NO! LET SANTOS START AND LET VERMAELEN STAY AT THE BENCH FOR NOW.
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@Saton
Learn how to spell before trying to be the smartass…
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admin arshavin would have to compete with Arteta,rosicky and ramsay for am position. Might be a rush for Vermaelen to play this game since he couldn’t last 90min vs Bolton. Santos deserves lb spot or else why buy him. He knows he will always get a game as Gibbs is injury prone
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–Koscielny —–Mertasacker——Vermaelen ——Santos.
END OF STORY. I don’t want see Jenkins or Djouru even if they’re fit. OK…Jenkins needs lots of work, his time will come; but for Djouru…i would sell him in January.
How about narturing Frimpong as a CB? Just a thought!
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Poor saton,
Well that went tits up didn’t it? What a prat you now look.
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team should be:
szecney
djourou mersacker koscienly vermaelen
arteta song
gevinho ramsey walcott/arshavin/park
rvp
3-1 to arsenal!!!!
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We don’t even know how fit v5 is and already he s bein promoted for a start against chelsea. Its chelsea we are playing not bolton or wolves.
I say leave the defence as it was against stoke or if V5 must play then let him play in the centre and kocielny at right back. I prefer kocielny to djorou but I tot I saw sagna warming up against merseile
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What about moving kozzy to RB?
—-kozzy—mertesacker-vermaelen—-santos
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Honestly, I had no idea Andre Santos scored 13/17 starts. Amazing. But this club is absolutely phenomenal now I mean ffs guys.
Goal keeper = CHECK (finally)
Defense = BIG CHECK (only missing Sagna)/ (finally)
Mid = Great but it is now our weakest
Forward = Outstanding
This is the team I’ve been waiting 6 long years for and it came out of left field in the bottom of the ninth. NO FAB, NO NASRI, NO CLICHY, NO NOTHING! We don’t need any transfers and you bet your sorry arse we’ll give Chelsea all we got and even more. For the first time in 3-4 years I’m actually pumped about versing Chelsea. GUNNER DAMN IT!!!
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@ BrownHoleGang
I agree..This team has more balls than any of the fab teams. We simply had to many players checking out when it got tough and now it seems that era is over.
Our current team fight their balls of and they can win close matches, even on a regular basis.
That said I would play Santos at left back and keep the duo of Kos and Mertesacker together. I know tv5 has been out saying that he dont need and dont wanna be pampered back into the team, but he has been out for a long time and no matter what he says its better to be eased into 1st team football again than start with a bang.
Another reason I would like to see Santos against Chelski at left back is that I think he has the mold to become a new really good 2-way player and can he hold of a dude like Mata then we have the answer at left back. We allready know he is really good offensively and maybe its just wishfull thinking, but what if we actually have a Cafu-like player in santos…….I for one would simply love that
Good luck to the lads against Chelski..Give them hell
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I dnt knw whether Arsenal is jinxed or what?! There’s no time our best players will just play together and see how much of a deadly and formidable force we can be- mancity have had a good start because their team was at full strength,,, to me the depth of the scuad is nt the problem,, we should get rid of that injury jinx!! We need a back 4 with
sagna verm mert/kosc gibbs/santos
a ful mid including wilshere- so that when we lose a game we can criticize Wenger 4 selecting a poor starting 11.
Wenger should be having headaches when selecting a team!!
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let TV take the CENTRAL ROLE
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Cetainly Varmealen shld start, I would go for the below
……………………Szceney………………..
Djorou……..Metasaker……..Kosheny……..Varmealen
…………………….Song………………………..
…..Ashavin…………Arteta…………Gervinho……
…………Park……………….RVP………………
Subtitutes: Walcot, Chamberlain, Ramsey, Santos, Conquilin, Flimpong
What do you think….? scoreline Arsenal win 3-1.
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I think TV5 should play LB, Santos is good but not ready to take on Mata or Kalou.
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Play are best defender in this best postion. Koscielny over Djourou at right back as well.
Koscielny RB Mertesacker CB Vermaelen CB Santos LB
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Someone mentioned Santos not being able to hold Mata…well Mata is a great player but speed wise I think Santos can hold him, as Mata is more of a ball player than out an out winger like say Walcott or Bale. Santos has plenty experience in defense, so I don’t think Mata will be too much of a problem.
The key in winning this game is by having a tight defense…none of this zonal marking nonsense. We need to get in first and mark certain players out the game like Torres and Mata. We cannot afford to give them an inch.
I would play Kossie RB, Per and Verminator CB’s, Santos LB.
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The Verminator is hungry. Let him have Chelsea buns for lunch.
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