Nasri's injury offers chance for Arsenal's young Guns
Samir Nasri hobbled back to North London earlier this week after limping out of training while on duty with France.
Apparently last weekend’s goalscorer sustained the injury when he was simply jogging which has me wondering if we’ve signed someone else with glass legs, given that he’s already been on the sidelines. Or maybe it has something to do with the way that Arsenal train that we sustain so many injuries.
Anyway, as usual, I digress.
The point is, Nasri will probably miss this weekend’s trip to Fulham as Arsene Wenger and his backroom staff rarely risk playing anyone with a niggle in case it turns into a torn muscle and several weeks on the treatment table.
So with Nasri probably out and the likes of Abou Diaby, Cesc Fabregas and Tomas Rosicky out of contention, I’m just wondering if the game at Craven Cottage will allow one of the young Guns a chance to impress.
We’ve already seen quite a bit of Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere in pre-season games, so I wouldn’t be too surprised to see them in action, but the return of Alexandre Song from the Olympics could see him figure and Fran Merida’s prolonged holiday means he might be fresh enough to merit a call-up as well. And then of course there’s Carlos Vela, who we’re all hoping to see more of now that he’s returned from exile in Spain.
Without the influence of Cesc Fabregas in midfield, Arsenal have struggled a bit creatively and although Nasri showed in his Premier League debut last Saturday that he too can spark some excitement, I’m hoping Le Gaffer might use this opportunity to challenge one of his fringe players to show his worth.
Personally, I’d like to see either Jack Wilshere or Fran Merida given a start. We’ve all seen what Wilshere is capable of in friendly games, so it would be a good test to see if he can perform as well in competitive action.
As for Merida, I’ve said before that I can’t see him playing alongside Cesc Fabregas, so if he is match fit – and that’s a pretty big if – perhaps this would be the time to unleash him on Premier League opposition.
I’m guessing that Denilson and Emmanuel Eboue will make up half of the midfield quartet at kick-off on Saturday evening, probably alongside Theo Walcott, but let’s hear who you lot would like to fill the remaining role – for me it’s Wilshere, but who would you pick?
GM
Reader Comments (52)
Surely it's got to be Vela, he filled that position for most of last season in Spain and did brilliantly.
Ramsay, Dennilson in teh middle with him, Theo on the left, Eboue/Randall on the right. Prob be Eboue as Arsene has stuck by him and hes ok, just not great thats all.
Nasri is a f*cking ''YOUNG GUN''
so whoever you think is a youg gun must mean they are about 15!
i'm 20 and i feel like a 40 year old compared to our squad at the moment.
huhu..whose do u think will replace him..
is tt armand troure
With Song back from the Olympics, I think the team would pick itself
Eboue Denilson Song Walcott
Song may well play alongside Denilson. I thought merida was going out on loan to be honest.
A midfield of Walcott-Denilson-Song-Nasri sounds about right to me.
I reckon the 'injury' he picked up was one of those miraculously quick recovery jobs that happen to certain players during friendly international weeks!
Got to be Vela. He played there all season for Osasuna. Saying that Wenger will probably move eboue back out to the right, put Walcott left & partner Denislon with either Song or Toure.
I think you'll see Toure in DM position with Silvestre at CB alongside Gallas. Then the rest of midfield could be Walcott, Denilson and Eboue. Vela and Wilshire on bench!
vela missed his midweek friendly as well i believe. merida has no chance of playing.
Im afraid Vela probably wont play on the weekend. He is probably only getting back from Mexico today or tommorow leaving him short for Sat, on top of that he also had a niggle but still played 60 minutes against Honduras.
Not sure if toure is fit enough yet, he was in the Ivory coast squad but doesnt to appear to have played. I hope song comes straight in to the team, he will still be buzzing from a promising olympic outing. One this is for certain though we do need to get a settled DM and midfield pairing during these early season games before the bigger games get close!!!!
Give a chance to Vela!
not really very good at this are you? most of the interesting, sensible stuff comes from the reader comments.
why bother doing a blog if you are clearly not up to speed with what's happening at the club & what we are all about?
just give up mate you are shit
Eboue Denilson Song Walcott is not the stronget midfield we have ever had
i agree with ah, and we must sell eboue he's just not good enough simple as that!!!!!!!!
Ade - Van P
Walcott - Denilson - Eboue - Vela
Clichy - Silvestre - Gallas - Sagna
Almunia
Good comment AH. Have you got a blog where we can read your insightful comments?
What a twat. If you don't like this blog, don't read it. I'm guessing there are plenty of us who do, otherwise you wouldn't get so many people commenting.
I think whoever is behind this is doing a pretty good job. Some of the other blogs don't allow comments, so maybe you should go there AH.
Didn't Vela get injured training for Mexico?
I certainly hope none of the so called young guns play at fullam. I havnt heard that nasri is not playing from anywhere, could you tell how you know please or is it speculation ? We need to play our best players, the names mentioned are carling cup at best . you wont see jack playing in the prem. But if it makes you happy.
Almunia
Sagna Gallas Djourou Clichy
Theo Deinlson Song Vela
RvP Ade
Cant really see it going any other way unless Eboue takes someone's place.
Id give gallas the sack before i removed toure thats for sure
It was a thigh injury, not a hasmtring injury.
I can tell you it definitely won't be Vela! He picked up a little niggle training with Mexico and he played last night against Honduras. He's probably flying right now so there won't be a chance he will play. Hope Song gets a chance. I doubt Merida will start this season. Maybe only in CC. But I believe it might be....
Walcott Denilson Song Eboue
ouch, i'm really hurt by that, so called 'true gooner', i do comment on other blogs but to be honest they don't annoy me like this one. who in their right mind would honestly suggest starting with wilshire ? wenger has never, & i repeat never, made a decision like that, the lads 16....wenger would never risk him in a situation like that & anyone who has supported afc since wenger arrived will tell you that.
if you are going to get all sensitive & emotional then maybe you should fuck off.......me i'm just hanging around waiting for twat's like you to follow the author in making even bigger idiots of themselves.
you seem to like hanging around here a lot AH. I've supported AFC for a long time before Wenger arrived, but I seem to recall him playing Cesc when he was 16, albeit in a Carling Cup game. I remember that because I was there. You were no doubt on a website giving us the benefit of your wisdom.
V Fulham
Almunia
Sagna Gallas Silvestre Clichy
Eboue Denilson Toure Vela
RVP Adebayor
Fabianski
Djourou
Song
Ramsey
Wilshere
Walcott
Bendtner
Have you guys thought about the prospect of Toure playing in the middle with Denilson......?
Now that Arsenal have Silvestre they might opt to try Toure as a defensive midfielder!!!!
I'm guessing the team will look somethign like this:
Almunia
Sagna, Gallas, Silvestre, Clichy
Eboue, Denilson, Toure, Walcott
van Persie, Adebayor
SUBS: Fabianski, Djourou, Song, Randall, Ramsey, Wilshere, Bendtner
I think Song will be a bit too tired to start, but we need names on the bench so we'l stick him there. I can imagine Wenger pushing Kolo into midfield now, with the arrival of Silvestre, and he could be just the player we need there. If Denilson can keep up his recent form, we should walk this game. I mean, besides, they did lose to Hull!
no mate season ticket holder since 83!!! got the scar's to prove it....as you say cesc was in the carling cup, but not the league....wilshire will do the same
why don't you do the blog you clearly know more than the muppet doing this article?
least you've calmed down a bit
see you at the cottage sunday...i'll be there
Almunia
Sagna Gallas Silvestre Clichy
Eboue Toure Denilson Walcott
RVP Ade
A certain Fab made his bow at a similar age in a much more tough position then the wing so wouldn't be totally out of the question, considering he is part of the first team squad. Wont happen tho..Hearing a lot about Toure playing in the holding role.
Lets Face it its gona be eboue and walcott on the wings, denilson will get the nod with Toure or song covering.
Prefer to see eboue continue to be honest, or play 5 in midfield with RVP doin the left side role.
alumunia
sagna gallas silvestre clichy
eboue denilson ramsey walcott
ade rvp
fabianski
vela
bendtner
djorou/sendeous
song
toure/senderous
wilshire
Cesc was given chance when he was 16...so wif wilshire can impress,why not/?
I'll be at the Cottage as well mate. But if you have the scars to prove you're a season ticket holder, maybe you've been pissing off your fellow Gooners for too long!!
We're all Gooners together and even if you have an issue with this blog, everyone is entitled to their opinion. If we were not, we'd all be like sheep following the mob up at Shite Hart Lane
I vote Vela.
Nasri hasnt pulled his hamstring, and he certainly didnt do in training with france, as he didnt even travel.
He withdrew as a precautionary measure due to a slight thigh strain, the same one that kept him out of out Twente game.
And Vela injured himself in training with Mexico, so he wont play at the weekend.
Dont be suprised to see Nasri play on Sat.
I agree with bc's prediction, infact ive always longed for toure to play the CDM position quick powerful and packs a mighty shot, jus hope he dosnt decide to play toure on the right, possible givin Eboue looked pretty good in the middle (SHOCK). What really sucks is there is absolutly no regular midfield its always changing (injury induced) so no time for a team to gel, I certaintly hope our luck changes soon.
Gunners-4-Life
lol, 'ah' mate its you who is making the idiot of themselves, how old are you what 15-16? Act your age in Mcdonalds car park sat in your mates saxo!
I dont necessarily agree with the comments made either but its only an opinion and one of an arsenal fan, if you wanna spout off go to a man u site and cause havoc, why turn on you fellow gooner? At the end of the day we all want the same outcome come the season finish, how we get there is up to AW and his team. We just speculate which is fun but ultiumatly pointless. You ranting over an obscure website just shows you need to start supporting orient or smoking copius amouonts of green, either way chill baby¬!!
Samir did join the French squad at Clairefontaine on Monday but was sent home when they realised he had a problem.
almunia
sagna toure silvestre clichy
walcott denilson merida vela
adebayor van persie
give the young guns a chance its only fulham
Almunia
Sagna Gallas Toure Clichy
Walcott Denilson Song Vela
Adebayor R.V.Persie
I know we've just signed him, but oh my god, we've got an ex manker in our squad. He'll do a lot better than Senderos. I reckon Denilson will get the nod ahead of young Wilshire.
I still dont think we're strong enough yet though. I'm still reeling from the 4-0 FA Cup defeat to the mankers, the 5-1 Carling Cup drubbing to the club which finished 37 points behind Arsenal last season and 2-1 defeat to Chelski in the Premiership which helped cost us the title. I'm wondering, what do we need to do to avoid repeats.
I dont care if we dont win anything again this season, cos we'll never match the Mankers, Chelskis, Scousers and dare I say, the yids spending power, as long as we do ourselves proud and push them to their limits by playing the best football in the Premiership. I'd rather pay to watch us loose than to watch them win the Premiership and Champions League.
But I dont want a repeat of where they write us off with 5 or 6 games to go. That scenario would be a dream come true for a club like Liverpool.
please god no eboue on the wing.
surrendering our right wing slot is like some sick joke for wenger.
he was ok at dm the other day so if he MUST play PLS play him there. save the wing slots for players who aren't entirely incompetant. walcott will play, it's possible rvp could go left wing with bendtner up front. doesn't ,look like anyone else considered that :p
TH is right about Vela having a slight niggle and not much recovery time.
The midfield will probably be:
Almunia
Sagna-Gallas-Djourou-Clichy
Eboue-Denilson-Song-Walcott
Van Persie-Adebaor
I'd like to see Djourou continue alongside Gallas 'cos he's done well recently, despite everyone here picking Silvestre. This is a good chance for Djourou, Song, Denilson and Walcott to stake a claim for a first team spot. I wanna see Walcott be much more aggressive than he has recently.
Personally I would like to see Wilshere come off the bench in this game because I would suspect we should be 2-0 up with about 20 minutes to go so he can get some time in the PL.
Song's very good at DM so he should start alongside Denilson. I think it's a bit hard for Denilson because he's having to be the creative force in the team with everyone injured but when Cesc comes back he's gonna have to adapt to DM if he wants a chance of a first team spot.
SHITTEST MIDFIELDERS WE HAVE EVER BLOODY HAD.
GET ROSICKY , CESC AND DIABY BACK!
Eboue,Denilson,song,walcott.i see Silverstre starting from the bench
Diaby is out for the next few months (whats new)
Ebuoe,Denilson,Song,Walcott.Silverstre and Vela will definately start from the bench.
Wilshere, Merida and Vela. by the way, i don't think Ramsey is any better than Wilshere.
Nasri will play.
Not injured, was just a precaution.
He's in the squad and I'd be surprised if he didn't start.
Silvestre on the bench me thinks.