Play Fantasy Wenger: Which Arsenal 11 do you want to start against Sunderland?
At any other time, the injury niggle that will keep Eduardo sidelined for the next couple of weeks may had seen us Gooners being a bit subdued heading into the home tie with Sunderland tomorrow. But the news that new signing Andrey Arshavin will be on view for the first time in Arsenal colours should maintain the level of excitement that we all left the Emirates Stadium with last Monday.
The Russian playmaker has obviously been deemed match fit by Arsene Wenger, so I reckon that given our limited options in midfield that the former Zenit St Petersburg star will be on from the start in tomorrow’s game.
Emmanuel Eboue’s needless sending off against Tottenham hasn’t done much to rebuild relations with us fans, so although he is back from suspension, I’m hoping a place on the bench will be the limit of his participation, with Denilson, Samir Nasri and Carlos Vela making up the midfield quartet alongside Arshavin.
In defence, Gael Clichy is available again, as is Johan Djourou, while Mikael Silvestre misses out again because of his thigh strain. I reckon Le Gaffer will go for his first choice back four of Bacry Sagna, William Gallas, Kolo Toure and Clichy, although I wouldn’t mind at all to see Djourou getting some more pitch time, as I think he has performed will for the Arsenal this season.
Dudu’s setback means that we’ll most likely see Robin van Persie and Nicklas Bendtner leading the assault against the Black Cats and with Vela, Arshavin and Nasri also hopefully featuring, it could be a very attack-minded team we see in Arsenal colours tomorrow.
As usual, feel free to chastise me, or argue your case for a different line up, but here’s who I want to see start the game against Sunderland:
Almunia
Sagna Gallas Toure Clichy
Arshavin Denilson Nasri Vela
Bendtner RvP
GM
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Reader Comments (25)
Exactly like you said it mate, although I wouldn't object to Nasri staying on the right and Arshavin taking on a central role.
Almunia
Sagna Gallas Toure Clichy
Arshavin Denilson Nasri Vela
RvP
Almunia
Sagna Gallas Djorou Clichy
Nasri Denilson Arshavin Vela
Bentdner RvP
This is the starting 11 v Scumberland: Almunia, Clichy, Gallas, Djourou,Sagna, Nasri, Song, Denilson, Arshavin, RVP & Bentner
al
sagna toure gallas clichy
nasri song denilson vela
bendtner rvp
- this is the team i think will play, though knowing wenger, itl be eboue on right and nasri swithing to the left but fingers crossed. lets all start supporting song. his performances are getting better and better. he will make us proud.
Almunia
Sagna Gallas Djorou Clichy
Nasri Denilson Song Vela
Bentdner RvP
He will start with this team hopefully, then arshavin will come on. He will not drop Song. I bloody hope eboue gets no where near the line up. Vela needs to be given another chance with his performance Monday.
Me and Jimmy are the only ones with a clue.
There's no chance he would play a midfield with 3 attacking midfielders.
Dave - you only want us to play 10 men?
Almunia
Sagna Djourou Gallas Clichy
Arshavin Nasri Song Vela
Bentdner RVP
what about the champions league game hell want ot rest some players for that
almunia
sagna, toure, gallas, clichy
nasri, Song, denilson, Vela
RVP, Arshavin
Almunia
----Sagna----Toure----Gallas----Clichy
Song Denilson
Arshavin v Persie Nasri
Bendner
Eh Coxy, were you at the game on Monday? He played three attacking midfielders - Denilson, Nasri and Vela - from the start and it was the best Arsenal performance we've sees in ages.
Why would anyone play Song ahead of Denilson?
I agree with the orogonal poster's team
I agree with Ben except with the defense. I'll bring on Djourou for Toure cos they have a good header of the ball in Kenwyne Jones. Remember he scored the last time he was here. So my team would be:
Almunia
Sagna, Gallas, Djourou, Clichy
Nasri, Song, Denilson, Vela
RVP, Arshavin.
The midfield against Cardiff was fluid and hot! Although, it was helped by Eduardo dropping in and moving out. Song just stayed central (and kept Ledley quiet) while the others just moved about and were unpickable including the defense!
Up front, Bendtner would have stayed but he prefers to play up front with Eduardo or Vela. So RVP returns and Arshavin enjoys the provilege of playing in front of a very quick fluid midfield - his natural habitat.
This team will win any game for me and that is without Fabregas, Theo and Rosicky!
One more thing... I'll put Eboue on the bench and make three substitutions without bringing him on. That'll teach him.
Wenger better not start with him or he risks getting one of our players booed again and killing the momentum this team has just began to build!
Almunia
Sagna Gallas Djourou Clichy
Nasri Song Vela
Arshavin
Bentdner RVP
this wont happen but it might work
almunia
sangna gallas djourou clichy
toure
arshavin nasri vela
rvp bendtner
Almunia
sagna - gallas - djourou - clichy
Denilson - Nasri - Vela
arshavin
RVP - Bendtner
Almunia
Sagna Toure Gallas Clichy
Song
Denilson
Arshavin Nasri
Van Persie
Bendtner
I would like to totally agree with coxy and jimmy. i am 99% sure that arshavin not starting (espesh giving the gravity of the game and that arshavin has only been back to training 3wks)
--------------almunia--------------
sagna---toure---gallas---clichy
eboue--song---denilson--nasri
----van persie----bendtner-----
because this is wenger we talking about this is how things will start just to be safe. but arshavin will come on early in the second half. about 70 mins vela will come on for bendtner/van persie with arshavin playing in the whole, nasri switching to the right and vela out left.
sorry to add i would put djourou on for gallas from start 1. to rest gallas for roma game and 2. to combat jones in the air. but again this is wenger so who knows
Almunia
Sagna Djourou Gallas Clichy
Arshavin Denilson Toure Nasri
Bendtner Van Persie
what do you think about Toure?
Should have our solid back four, play so well recently. However, I would love to see Kolo pushed up into a hold midfield spot. My idea line up would be:
-----------------Almunia-----------------
Sagna----Djourou----Gallas----Clichy
-------------------Toure------------------
Arshavin---------------------------Vela
-------------------Nasri-------------------
------van Persie-------Bendtner-------
no way will arshavin START as he still isnt match fit
it should be:
Almunia
Sagna
Toure
Gallas
Clichyl
Nasri
Denilson
Song
Ebou
Bendtner
RVP
Almunia;
Sagna; TOure;Gallas; CLichy
Nasri; Song; Denilson; Vela;
Arshavin;
V Persie
Wearing my Arshavin shirt tomorrow!!