Arsenal have been in excellent form so far this season, picking up points in all four of their Premier League games and getting a very good result away to a tricky opponent in the Champions League. With players returning to first team from their injuries, the trip to Montpellier in midweek promised a number of changes in the starting XI. And Wenger is not known to rotate his squad without compromising the team’s performance.
Players like Walcott and Koscielny have found it difficult to make it to the first team this season. Though, Koscielny have just come back from his injury, one would have thought that the player deserved a starting berth at Montpellier. And with the return of Wilshere and Frimpong to the first team training adds to the list of already crowded midfield players. In a way Arsenal’s substitutes this year was their starting 11 last year with the exception of one or two players.
The Red team in the above picture has only Sagna and Szczesny, who are not playing due to injuries other than that the team looks balanced even without Song and Van Persie. Replacements Mannone and Jenkinson are doing an excellent job which should come in as a bonus for Wenger.
Selection headaches:
Goal keeper – Szczesny is out for the City game that leaves Mannone to get a nod.
Defenders – Jenkison – Mertesacker – Vermaelen – Gibbs combination have been excellent so far this season. The team that let in 16 goals in all competitions by this time last year have only allowed 2 goals this season. It is some improvement by the Gunners and assistant coach Bould has a major part in it. But the return of Koscielny gives a selection headache for Wenger, as Koscielny was a stand out performer least year he cannot be simply benched in all the games. However, to bring in a player straight into a game of such high intensity would prove dangerous. But considering the attacking line – up of city which boasts Aguero – Tevez – Nasri, Mertesacker would find it difficult to manage their pace and trickery. If observed closely the big German is not comfortable when players run at him with pace and it was also seen at the Montpellier game as he made a sliding tackle inside the penalty box, only to miss the forward who could not use the opportunity. So it would be an interesting to see the manger’s decision in the weekend.
Midfielders – With Song’s departure, Arteta has taken the center stage in the midfield with Diaby and Cazorla moving forward to join the attackers. It leaves players like Ramsey and Coquelin a tough time to find a starting berth. The return of Wilshere and the imminent return of Rosicky will add more competition for the midfield place. Wenger gave Coquelin a start in the midweek but against city, the probable trio of Diaby, Arteta and Cazorla would start. Wenger has to give more opportunities for the rest of his squad and so far he seems reluctant to rotate his winning squad.
Forwards – Gervinho – Giroud – Podolski started in the mid week against Montpellier. And Walcott was once again benched along with Chamberlian. With 5 potential players available for selection, Wenger has to make a gamble in his selection. With Gervinho and Podolski scoring freely, the pair is expected to start, it is with Giroud where the selection headache lies. The French man is yet to open his goals tally and has not even come close so far. But to use Podolski as a center forward and Chamberlian as an additional winger would be a gamble which only Wenger has to decide and also this leaves Walcott on the bench for another game.
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