Three points and we go top of the table if Liverpool drop points against Spurs. No points, and I'll be tempted to stay away from this thread due to all the ridiculous knee jerking that goes on these days.

 

I wouldn't know what to expect in terms of the team selection, but this is what I'd go for:

 

 

Regardless of who gets selected in other positions, I'd feel very confident going into this one if Hazard, Mata and Schürrle all start in front of the sitting midfielders.

 

 

Thoughts?

 

 

I'd start the team that already beat Arsenal in the league cup. Don't really remember what it was but Mata should be nailed on starter although he was far from convincing against Palace.

Arsenal is totally different than park-the-bus Palace. We'll look so much better against them than passive Palace. Our team is built to play against a side like Arsenal so we'll look like world beaters once again if everyone is on their best game and why wouldn't they be.

The winner comes down to individual talent so in this case it could be down to Ivan or Terry header or a Ramsey strike.

Cech, Apzi, Luiz, JT, Cole, Mikel, Rami, Mata, Haz, Willian and Torres, I especially think this team after watching the City game, just looking at how they stretched Arsenal.

I'm already feeling nervous about this one, this is the big game for me.

Edited December 15, 201312 yr by Bobbywoodhogan

Somehow I feel relaxed about this because Arsenal doesn't feel intimidating as a team right now.

But this is a huge game. HUGE! Both teams have a lot of talent but not a lot winners, especially Arsenal. This is the make or break game of the season well the first half of the season anyway. I think whoever wins it gets the extra motivation and momentum to slowly but surely make some distance to the losing side.

I feel City is the team to beat but this game can show us who will be their biggest competition.

I just worry with the way we're defending lately and the fact we aren't killing teams off. Whereas Arsenal may have shipped in six against City but they still scored 3 (and had two wrongly scratched off as offsides). We're gonna have to be at our best on Monday night in order to win.

I'd go:

 

Cech, Cesar, JT, Luiz, Cole, Mikel, Ramires, Schurrle, Mata, Hazard, Ba

Cech

Ivanovic/Azpi, Terry, Cahill, Cole
Ramires, Mikel
Schurrle, Oscar, Hazard
Ba

 

Reason why I say ba is due to his physical presence, he runs in behind the defenders and sticks in position, a hybrid between a poacher and a target man, his link up play isn't as good as say torres or eto'o. But with Koscielny potentially out, they'll lack as much pace covering, which will mean that we could possibly run at the defenders with pace and Vermaelen hasn't had much playing time so will probably make a defensive error or two. This is why Ba would be a good player for this, If we struggle to keep the ball which will definately happen in the match, we would have a player to hoof up to.

Now you wonder why no Mata, I think that Oscar will press arteta or ramsey, like he did against kroos in the supercup or against pirlo last year. Mata can come in the second half for oscar or schurrle if we're struggling to retain the ball in the final third, like he did against tottenham. Although Mata does have a good record vs Arsenal too...

Arsenal play with a high line as well, I don't think they'll change that just because koscielny is out, since they are at home as well. But the wings will be crucial for this game.

 

I'm sure Wenger knows that he needs a bit of wide play and directness to beat us, Which is why I'd like Cole to start against Walcott, as he'll stretch the play, I wouldn't want an opposite footer to play there and be narrow as walcott will beat him on the outside. Plus Cole invariably steps up against opposition in big games. He does at least one goal line clearance in it.

Edited December 15, 201312 yr by MANoWAR

 

Mata has to start this one. He's quality vs le arse.

Can we sign Drogba quickly?

Cech

Ivanovic/Azpi, Terry, Cahill, Cole

Ramires, Mikel

Schurrle, Oscar, Hazard

Ba

 

Reason why I say ba is due to his physical presence, he runs in behind the defenders and sticks in position, a hybrid between a poacher and a target man, his link up play isn't as good as say torres or eto'o. But with Koscielny potentially out, they'll lack as much pace covering, which will mean that we could possibly run at the defenders with pace and Vermaelen hasn't had much playing time so will probably make a defensive error or two. This is why Ba would be a good player for this, If we struggle to keep the ball which will definately happen in the match, we would have a player to hoof up to.

Now you wonder why no Mata, I think that Oscar will press arteta or ramsey, like he did against kroos in the supercup or against pirlo last year. Mata can come in the second half for oscar or schurrle if we're struggling to retain the ball in the final third, like he did against tottenham. Although Mata does have a good record vs Arsenal too...

Arsenal play with a high line as well, I don't think they'll change that just because koscielny is out, since they are at home as well. But the wings will be crucial for this game.

 

I'm sure Wenger knows that he needs a bit of wide play and directness to beat us, Which is why I'd like Cole to start against Walcott, as he'll stretch the play, I wouldn't want an opposite footer to play there and be narrow as walcott will beat him on the outside. Plus Cole invariably steps up against opposition in big games. He does at least one goal line clearance in it.

I like your reasoning here, but it would have Willian instead of schurrle. I think he offers more and is really starting to live up to his price tag.

I like your reasoning here, but it would have Willian instead of schurrle. I think he offers more and is really starting to live up to his price tag.

Agreed, Willian's playing really well and I think his work rate is phenomenal.

I think despite our in-different season, so far we will win this and go top ... which is quite unbelievable!

I think despite our in-different season, so far we will win this and go top ... which is quite unbelievable!

 

 

We'd need to win 0-8 to do that now...second on goal difference would still be nice though.

Even if we win Pool will be top.

Cannot control what others do, just ourselves. No matter what Liverpool do winning this game could be a turning point for us. 

Scared 

I will be happy w/ a draw, but I think Jose will want all 3 to shut up all of doubters up. When was the last time Jose lost a match vs le voyeur? Isn't it like never?

5 points from this, Swansea and Liverpool is a good return imo. 

Think we should aim for 7. 

Should aim for 9 really however think we will end up grateful for 5, we could end up with far less. 

Even if we win Pool will be top.

only until december 29th.  

Really looking forward to this game.

 

Cech

 

Azpi

Terry

Luiz

Bertrand

 

Oscar

Ramires

 

Willian

Mata

Hazard

 

Schurrle

I expect Jose will go for:

 

Cech

 

Brana

Cahill

JT

Azpi

 

Ramires

Lampard

 

Willian

Oscar

Hazard

 

Torres

Looks like Wilshere will be banned too for the game after his 1-finger salute to Miteh fans...

Edited December 16, 201312 yr by doctorblue