Friday
Sep262008
Play Fantasy Wenger: Pick your starting 11 for the Hull game
The performance of the young Guns against Sheffield United the other night gives Arsene Wenger options for this week’s Premier League clash against Hull, as by his own admission, if a player is good enough then he’ll be considered for the first team.
So step forward messrs Carlos Vela, Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey and Johan Djourou. Actually, it feels mean missing out any of the players from the other night, as I can’t think of anyone I can fault, but those four, for me, were outstanding.
Quite frankly, they – and most of their teenage team mates on Tuesday – would walk into the starting 11 of the majority of Premier League teams and it wouldn’t surprise me if Le Gaffer is having to install a special answering service to deal with all the queries that are coming in from clubs who want to take our young Guns on loan.
Back to the business of Hull tomorrow and I have to say that the game is a potential banana skin for the Gunners. The Tigers have already claimed the scalps of Fulham and Newcastle and last week earned a creditable draw with Everton, having held a 2-0 lead. But they’ve also been spanked 5-0 at home by Wigan and I think most Gooners will be expecting a similar scoreline on Saturday.
Experience tells me that Hull will come to the Emirates, play 10 men behind the ball and hope to sneak something at the other end. But the Arsenal seem more equipped than ever to deal with such tactics this season, so it’ll be interesting to see how Wenger sets up his team for tomorrow’s game.
On the injury front, Gael Clichy should be fit for the game, despite limping off against Bolton last weekend. Also available for selection to Le Boss is Mikael Silvestre for the first time, while Samir Nasri should be fit again, but there was no news out of the Arsenal camp regarding our French midfielder yesterday.
The only fresh doubt was Alex Song, who sustained a hip injury in the Sheffield United game, but with Silvestre in the mix, that shouldn’t worry Wenger too much.
Vela, Djourou and Ramsey were all included in last week’s party that travelled to Bolton and if Wenger wishes to give Wilshere more playing time, it could be that Kieran Gibbs drops out of the reckoning.
Last week’s 18-strong squad was Manuel Almunia, Bacary Sagna, William Gallas, Kolo Toure, Gael Clichy, Emmanuel Eboue, Cesc Fabregas, Denilson, Nicklas Bendtner, Emmanuel Adebayor, Carlos Vela, Theo Walcott, Johan Djourou, Kieran Gibbs, Aaron Ramsey and Lukasz Fabianski.
My head is now enlarged thanks to correctly naming the starting 11 for the Carling Cup game, so now I’ll no doubt get things hopelessly wrong for the Arsenal team that starts tomorrow.
As usual, use our comments section to select your starting 11. For the record, here is my effort:
Almunia
Sagna Toure Gallas Clichy
Walcott Fabregas Denilson Eboue
Adebayor van Persie
So step forward messrs Carlos Vela, Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey and Johan Djourou. Actually, it feels mean missing out any of the players from the other night, as I can’t think of anyone I can fault, but those four, for me, were outstanding.
Quite frankly, they – and most of their teenage team mates on Tuesday – would walk into the starting 11 of the majority of Premier League teams and it wouldn’t surprise me if Le Gaffer is having to install a special answering service to deal with all the queries that are coming in from clubs who want to take our young Guns on loan.
Back to the business of Hull tomorrow and I have to say that the game is a potential banana skin for the Gunners. The Tigers have already claimed the scalps of Fulham and Newcastle and last week earned a creditable draw with Everton, having held a 2-0 lead. But they’ve also been spanked 5-0 at home by Wigan and I think most Gooners will be expecting a similar scoreline on Saturday.
Experience tells me that Hull will come to the Emirates, play 10 men behind the ball and hope to sneak something at the other end. But the Arsenal seem more equipped than ever to deal with such tactics this season, so it’ll be interesting to see how Wenger sets up his team for tomorrow’s game.
On the injury front, Gael Clichy should be fit for the game, despite limping off against Bolton last weekend. Also available for selection to Le Boss is Mikael Silvestre for the first time, while Samir Nasri should be fit again, but there was no news out of the Arsenal camp regarding our French midfielder yesterday.
The only fresh doubt was Alex Song, who sustained a hip injury in the Sheffield United game, but with Silvestre in the mix, that shouldn’t worry Wenger too much.
Vela, Djourou and Ramsey were all included in last week’s party that travelled to Bolton and if Wenger wishes to give Wilshere more playing time, it could be that Kieran Gibbs drops out of the reckoning.
Last week’s 18-strong squad was Manuel Almunia, Bacary Sagna, William Gallas, Kolo Toure, Gael Clichy, Emmanuel Eboue, Cesc Fabregas, Denilson, Nicklas Bendtner, Emmanuel Adebayor, Carlos Vela, Theo Walcott, Johan Djourou, Kieran Gibbs, Aaron Ramsey and Lukasz Fabianski.
My head is now enlarged thanks to correctly naming the starting 11 for the Carling Cup game, so now I’ll no doubt get things hopelessly wrong for the Arsenal team that starts tomorrow.
As usual, use our comments section to select your starting 11. For the record, here is my effort:
Almunia
Sagna Toure Gallas Clichy
Walcott Fabregas Denilson Eboue
Adebayor van Persie
GM
Reader Comments (18)
Almunia
Sagna Silvestre Gallas Clichy
Vela Fab Denilson Theo
Ade RVP
Almunia
Sagna Toure Gallas Silvestre
Eboue Fabregas Denilson Walcott
Adebayor Van Persie
I think your team will be correct.
however I would pick Djourou and Vela to play instead of RVP and Toure.
Lets hope Nasri is fit as well to replace Eboue.
Almunia
Sagna Toure Gallas Silvestre
Theo Fab Denilson Nasri
Ade RVP
Almunia
Sagna kolo Willy Gael
Theo Cesc Ramsey Sammy
Ade RvP
Almunia
Sags Toure Gallas Clichy
Walcott Fabs Song Ramsey
Bendtner Vela
nasri is not back yet, and silvestre wont start the match, wenger will bring him on at some stage if we are winning
almunia
sagna toure gallas clichy
walcott denilson cesc eboue
rvp adebayor
Almunia
Sagna-Toure-Gallas-Gibbs
Eboue-Fabregas-Denilson-Walcott
Adebayor-Van Persie
subs used: Vela/Bentner/Silvestre
Almunia
Sagna Toure Gallas Clichy
Theo Fab Denilson Nasri
Ade RVP
Almunia
Sagna Djourou Gallas Clichy
(prefer JD but Wenger wud go 4 kolo)
Theo Fab Denilson Nasri
Ade RVP
Alumnia
Sagna Toure Djourou Clichy
Walcott Fabregas Ramsey Wiltshire
Van Persie Vala
thinks your spot on.. i would like to have the game killed off by half time or 60mins to give silvestre a run out and jack the lad vela and ramsey ago..
No news about nasri so one can only assume that hes not fit!
ALMUNIA
SAG TOURE SYLVEST CLICHY
THEO FAB4 RAMSEY NASRI
ADE PERSIE
THEY WILL HAVE TO ALTHER THE CAPTAIN ONCE AND SEE THE RESPONSE
Alumnia
Gallas-Clinchy-Sagna-Kolo
Ebou-Denilson-Walcott-Fabregas-
Ade-Van Persie
Almunia
Sagna Gallas Toure Gibbs/Silvestre
Walcott Cesc Denilson Nasri
Vela
Adebayor
Wouldn't risk Clichy at the back and given the way Gibbs played, i would be inclined to give him a go. Vela got a hat-trick and you can't ignore that. Start him, if it ent working put RVP on at half time or do it the other way round but Vela has to play at some point in my opinion.
If Nasri isn't fit i would start Wilshere. He will be up for it!!!!!
almunia
Sagna toure Gallas Gibbs
Walcott/wilshere cesc Denilson Nasri/eboue
Betner Vela
Should not risk either RVP or Clichy with champions league coming up next and betner and Vela form a formidable partnership(look at pre-season), giving adebayor and RVP a rest and only bringing them at half time if needed