Afternoon all…
It seems a long time since we played Citeh but at the same time, it’s 2 days in 4 days… the team exerted a lot in that game and it’s very important for us to ensure we’re in the right mental condition to play what is a vitally important game.
It’s a difficult time for Arsenal full backs at the moment, with Sagna, Jenkinson, Santos, Djourou and Gibbs all ruled out through injury and when it rains, it pours. Ahead of tonight’s game, Arsene confirmed that it is likely that we may buy in January for that position. Unless a loan can do..
“It depends now on Gibbs. He sees a specialist again today [Tuesday] and if something happens there that he has had a real setback then possibly, yes. It is not a shop, you just take a good opportunity that is on the market when you can. Overall that’s what we are doing at the moment. We are starting to look at players if Gibbs is not back. On the other hand we have good news on Bacary Sagna because he has started to run again yesterday and today.”
It’s a tricky one – I wouldn’t really look at buying as we do have the numbers and players like Miquel, Vermaelen and Koscielny can fit in around the full back positions, but then again, how thin would that leave our back line? One more injury to a defender and that means we’ll start seeing Squillaci and Song deployed at the back. The question is who to buy, who would be available, who would be good enough but at the ssme time second fiddle to the other four injured full backs? Of course, another question altogether is whether we should look at loaning out Gibbs for a season to gain experience when or if he returns from his injury…
An interesting piece from Arsene more recently, whereby he talks about options:
“I can use Squillaci, I can use Miquel and I can use Coquelin [as full-backs],” he said. “But let’s be frank and honest, no solution will be ideal because whatever we do, two players will have to play out of position. At the moment we are coping well with it and that’s why inside the team we have to work as hard as possible so we do not suffer in this period.
Interesting to see him so honest. I think Villa will be looking at targeting our full backs. Especially without our human shield which is Alex Song, who is suspended for the game. Here is a go at a potential line up:
Szcznesy
Koscielny – Mertersacker – Vermaelen – Miquel
Arteta – Frimpong
Walcott – Ramsey – Gervinho
Van Persie
With a bench of Almunia, Squillaci, Coquelin, Rosicky, Benayoun, Arshavin, Chamakh
Some may put Le Coquelin in the first XI instead of Frimpong, but I’d like to see Frimmers have a go in the middle as his energy could be what the team needs.
More after the game of course, let’s hope the boys bring back the three points!
