Arsenal fans know and understand the policy of Arsene Wenger in resting first team players in the Capital One Cup games, and even in the FA cup and Champions League games when we can, to give those key men a rest as well as giving some valuable opportunities to the up and coming Gunners from the academy and the likes of Debuchy and Gibbs who have not seen much action so far this season.
This is normally done with a bit of caution though, and there are usually still a few first team players mixed into the starting line up. They are meant to help the fringe players and keep the Arsenal system intact, but the game against Sheffield Wednesday tomorrow could be different.
Because Wenger has largely stuck with the same team in the Premier League so far and because losing the first two European games forced the boss to field his strongest team against Bayern Munich, I think he will want to rest everyone, except Petr Cech of course, as David Ospina is injured.
The injury situation has not helped, so if Wenger does want to make sure his best XI are fresh for the trip to Swansea this weekend, who can he play tomorrow? One of the centre forwards Olivier Giroud or Theo Walcott perhaps, as they have been rotated already, but after that we are struggling.
Bellerin, Monreal and Koscielny could do with a rest, as could Cazorla, Coquelin, Ozil and Alexis. I know the BFG is fit now, and may play, and The Ox has not been playing much but after the Ramsey injury we cannot really afford to risk him either, although he desperately needs to get a good game under his belt.
Have a look at the pre match training pictures on the Arsenal website and you will see quite a few unfamiliar faces. But will there be any famous Arsenal players, other than Cech, to help them along in Sheffield tomorrow?
as per the title……… Well, How should we know?…….. We are not Wenger!
My suggested team:
Cech
Debuchy – Chambers – Gabriel – Gibbs
Flamini – Bielik
Ox – Adelaide – Campbell
Giroud
Hell we might aswell never play ox cz we dnt wanna ‘risk’ him ?? ? ? ?
we should definitely play ox . will give him a chance to build up his confidence versus a non-premier-league team.
With Ramsey, Rosicky and Wilshere all out injured we don’t really have anyone who can drive from midfield. Ox should play IMO
The team Id like to see…..
………….Cech………..
Debuchy..Mert..Kos..Gibbs
……..Kamara..Arteta…….
Iwobi……Oxlade….Adelaide
…………..Walcott
Id like to see Sheaf Bennacer and even D Malen, although young, come on if we get a comfortable lead.
Malen’s 16. No need to rush the kid. Only just moved to England.
Mavididi on the other hand… B.E.A.S.T!!!!! Freely scoring in the u21’s as well!
Campbell, though hasn’t had much of an attacking impact, has shown a very high work-rate when given his few chances. Which is definitely what you want to see…
The more I think about it, I think we’ll see an experienced back 4 with Flamini and Ox in midfield. Then a few youngsters behind Theo. We need a playmaker who can move the ball through midfield. Ox seems the only one currently fit who doesn’t desperately need a rest.
The player i would love to see start is krystian bielik! Coyg!
Cech
Bellerin…Koscielny…Mertsacker…monreal
Coquelin…Cazorla
Walcott…..Ozil…..Alexis
Giroud
really: u’d play alexis?
No lol
Just felt like getting red arrows
I would rest Bellerin, Koscielny, Coquelin, Cazorla, Alexis
Would play Cech, Debuchy, Gibbs, Mertsacker, Gabs, Chambs, Arteta, Adelaide, Walcott, OX , Giroud. Bench: Macey, Monreal, Bielik, Flamini, Ozil, Iwobi
What!?!? No, just no.
Swansea (a), Bayern (a) Spurs (h)
It’s the Carling Cup. If you expect us to field our top team in the coming 4 fixtures in a week and a half it is absolute delusion at it’s finest if you think we’ll have anything left in the tank at all against Spurs. We were leggy against Everton. Sanchez, Ozil, Cazorla, Cech, Bellerin, Monreal and Coquelin all need a rest before another crucial week for the League and CL. Have to be at the top of their game, not to mention protection from injuries.
I guess he’s trying to get the players injured so he can shout Wengerout once again. Not everyone on here is happy with our current surge in form you know.
It’s the Carling Cup guys… No way Cech is playing. Played three intense games last week, needs a mental rest as he’ll likely have another three tough games next week as well.
And if whoever is in goal concedes a stupid goal who cares? It’s a second or third tier competition! The main goal is to give our youngsters/squad players as much experience as possible.
The team will be anyone’s guess… But we are short on play-makers with Ramsey, Wilsh and Rosicky all injured. So whether Chambers drops in midfield beside Flamini, or maybe Ox? But then who plays CAM? Campbell?
Hmm… Either way, absolutely ecstatic to be hopefully seeing a few of our impressive youngsters given a shot. Iwobi, Jeff.. Maybe even Mavididi or Fortune who are just beastly for their age.
Err Wenger has already said that Cech will be playing…..
definitely rest walcott, sanchez, ozil, cazorla. Campbell, ox, flamini, giroud should all play.
I think we’ll likely see Giroud used at Swansea with Theo getting the nod at Bayern.. With the giants likely to see the lion-share of the ball, we need Theo’s threat in behind to keep them honest… Until the 60-70th minute when we initiate beast mode up top…
KloppChop incoming…
oh I can’t wait for it. ?
it should be one of the best days of this season to see the disrespectful one getting sacked
I don’t mind if we go out of this so long as he rest all first team players. I still think this cup should be for the other devisions not the epl
I dont see us winning this with a second string squad, unless Cech decides otherwise.
Walcott will start. He was spectacularly rested for this big event. Now with Walcott hardly being able to score with a team of class players giving him endless chances … what chance will Walcott have with a team of kids behind him giving him a couple of chances?
Hopefully we can stay in the league cup for a while so Wenger can keep on resting Walcott during league games.
Who thinks Walcott will strat up front against Bayern …. Exactly, and there is a reason he will not be. That “faith” in him and “belief” in him by the manager is ‘lip service’ … telling Walcott what he wants to hear in the hope it galvanises the player into becoming the player Arsenal needs – but it failed. Not because of lack of trying, but because he is not a striker capable of playing at the standard expected by a top club in Europe.
Giroud might not be like Martial or Benteke and Aguerro, but he IS a striker capable of playing at the standard required by a top club and he was the Top Goalscorer in the French League before he was bought. He has experience as a striker at the top level while Walcott is fumbling around trying to gain some experience as a strike in games we van afford to lose.