Arsene Wenger: Miyaichi, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Frimpong and Coquelin will all start tonight

Written by Jeffrey on September 20, 2011 – 4:45

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger confirmed that he will use a combination of youth and experience when the Gunners host Shrewsbury Town tonight at the Emirates Stadium.

Speaking to the Club’s official website on Monday, the Arsenal boss explained that 18-year olds Ryo Miyaichi and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will start with the manager adding that the Englishman is an exciting prospect and a great talent who will this season show that he is quality and deserved to be an Arsenal player.

Asked about how similar to Theo Walcott the player is, Wenger confirmed that the two are “quite similar” but also that the youngster is more suited for a central midfielder position with Walcott set to be soon adopted in a central striker role.

Arsenal desperately need to win tonight’s game after suffering a shock 4-3 defeat away from home on Saturday against Blackburn, a result that saw them fall 14 points from the top of the English Premier League table.

Ahead of today’s game, Wenger said:

[Today?] I will be faithful to our policy but I will try to find a good mixture between youth and experience.

We will have Frimpong, Coquelin, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ryo, and maybe one or two more. You should be excited about Oxlade-Chamberlain because he is a great talent. My target is to develop him so he confirms the expectation I have for him.

[Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott] are quite similar types of players but Walcott is a bit more a striker and Oxlade-Chamberlain is more a midfielder.

[Oxlade-Chamberlain] likes more to be in the build-up of things and Walcott is more a guy who makes intelligent runs.

So they are not that similar as players but they have some similarities physically already. They look the same size, the same type of player.

But I believe that Oxlade-Chamberlain could be a central midfielder one day and Walcott a central striker one day. That shows the difference between the two players. I don’t know [if the comparisons are fair] but you can’t stop that.

Share this Gunning Hawk article:

Reply to this comment »

emeke says:

September 20, 2011 at 5:30

wenger lost the plot 6years ago. yet he has the safest job.

Reply to this comment »

Aussie Jack says:

September 20, 2011 at 5:47

Oh! dear, do I get the feeling Oxlade-Chamberlain is about to become another favourite son like Walcott, part of the Wenger ego? I have a notion Parks will become another Carlos Vela, which is a shame.. As my old Lancashire grandma used to say , ” either your face fits or it doesn`t, there`s nowt you can do about it”.

Reply to this comment »

Leon says:

September 20, 2011 at 6:57

The Premiership challenge is over. The don’t have a prayer to win the Champions League so what does he do to the only cup competition we have a half decent chance to win ? He plays his kids. Please for the love of god sack this man immediately. At this rate our season may well be over by the end of November….

Reply to this comment »

Okachioma says:

September 20, 2011 at 8:11

The so-called experienced ones had done their best.I think it’s high time,the young ones try theirs too.

Fabienski
Jenkinson-Song-Miquel-Gibbs
Frimpong-Coquelin
Chamberlain-Rosicky-Ryo.M
Park.

Am afraid,am begining to lost my confidence for the team.But,these are young and new faces,who wants to prove a point.Lets wait and see,what happen at the end of 90′.

KEEP THE FAITH.

Reply to this comment »

goonerdan says:

September 20, 2011 at 9:02

watch when they beat Shrews 4-0 tonight so it shut you lot up..
And no Alex isn’t another Walcott, he’s a natural right sided player, I’d compare him to Scott Sinclair or Ashley Young the way he plays.

Reply to this comment »

Charlie says:

September 20, 2011 at 14:40

Anybody who thinks a defense that will likely include the likes of Fabianski, Jenkinson, Koscielny, Santos, Djourou etc….will be able to keep a clean sheet are utterly deluded….as deluded as Wenger.

Anybody who thinks a midfield that will contain BOTH frimpong and coquelin will be creative is utterly deluded. as deluded as the man himself. why do we need 2 defensive midfielders v Shrewbury?

Anbody who thinks Miyachi and Ox-ch and Park will make the difference ARE DELUDED. If you believe thay can win us the game when we have the midfield and defense previously mentioned then you are as deluded as the man himself. I will nickname you Pat Rice from now on.

I have just backed Shrewsbury to win tonight to the sum of £100 at 12/1. Why? Because I have seen enough…this team cannot beat Shrewsbury. AT HOME.

Dont ridicule this comment until after the match tonight, OK? Come back and tell me I was wrong then. My name is Charlie, from London. But if I am right, its time some of you start listening to the likes of me….

Reply to this comment »
- alpha t says:
  
  September 20, 2011 at 15:55
  
  I understand your frustration Charlie, but unfortunately you will be proved wront tonite!
  
  we will beat Shrewsbury for the simple fact that its the kids that’ll play, they havent ben scarred by constant failure and self doubt, if it was the senior players i would be worried.
  
  Reply to this comment »

Andy Wales says:

September 20, 2011 at 10:20

WHY??? will they play with 2 DM’s against Shrewsbury it’s ridiculous! we need to use a 4-4-2 system!

Reply to this comment »

Charlie says:

September 20, 2011 at 14:16

I am going to state the obvious here….ARSENAL CANNOT BEAT SHREWSBURY TONIGHT.

We dont have a clue how to defend, we dont have any backbone, we dont have any leaders on the pitch, we dont have any creativity in midfield, we dont have an out-and-out striker, we dont have any confidence or consistency and worst of all…..we dont have a manager.

Will you all believe me when I say we need Wenger out if we lose today? Or will you wait another game? Wenger will not listen, will not change, so we must change things. Believe me, I want him to stay but make the necessary changes but he simply will not. Time has told us this. Sadly.

Reply to this comment »

JohnStilton says:

September 20, 2011 at 15:45

Once more I disagree with u. I think we have great forwards in the like of Gervinho, RVP and Walcott,
I see in Koscielny an oustanding defender, with arteta a creative midfielder, with Per the height and exp we lacked last year and in Wenger the science of the game that will soon show. ( No need to mention Vermaelen and Wilshere)
Believe me in ur disbelief, tonight Arsenal youngsters are going to chew Strawberry…

Reply to this comment »

Gooner4Life says:

September 20, 2011 at 16:01

Charlie why don’t you start supporting Tottenham then.

If you think we’ll lose to Shrewsbury Town at home, your just another one of those pretend fans who knows nothing about football and regurgitates what he reads in the paper.

Have some faith, Arsenal to win 3 – 0!!!!!

Reply to this comment »

Charlie says:

September 20, 2011 at 16:21

LOL. I have supported Arsenal for 30yrs and will support no other team in my life. I am passionate about the club, unlike many in our first team. I put my faith in Wenger too many times….patience has finally run out. Just today he has re-iterated that a defensive coach is not needed and will not be brought in….DESPITE HIS OWN PLAYERS requesting just this (and fans like myself asking for nearly a year now). Pat Rice said he doesnt like taking over as manager…..WHY THE HECK IS HE OUR ASSISTANT MANAGER THEN? For years I have been saying he needs to be retired…no ambition, just some loyal lapdog to Wengers ego. This club is falling apart and you are watching and smiling….and I am the disloyal fan? I AM DEMANDING CHANGE…NOW…TO SAVE THIS CLUB.

Reply to this comment »
- Paddywhack says:
  
  September 20, 2011 at 20:27
  
  I agree with all that you say. Ive supported the Gunners for 45 years and I don’t want Wenger out but I do want him to change. A defensive coach is a must and Pat Rice needs to be retired forthwith. And yes, I do believe that we will lose tonight, however if we do Wenger’s response will be “well it is the second string”. However, I’m praying we win.
  
  Reply to this comment »