winner says:

I understand the reservations people have about Jenkinson, but he is still the only natural right back in the squad. He is still learning and he will have to learn fast. Sagna is out for three months including the hectic Christmas week. That’s a lot of football to be played, and rotation will be necessary all over the field but more so at right back. I am fully for the idea of playing Jenkinson in a number of these games. Let us remember that the boy has not been all disaster. He did well in both games against Udinese and also against Liverpool and did very poorly against United and against Spurs. He did not have a perfect game against Sunderland but put in a good shift. My assessment of the boy so far is that he struggles against very good, fast and skillful wingers-Young, Nani and Bale being cases in point. I would hesitate fielding him against any such wingers. But who are the options?
Djourou played right back a few seasons ago when Lauren was out. Both he and Kerea Gilbert struggled in that position until Eboue had to be moved to right back. Djorou also struggled against Blackburn after replacing Sagna and that contributed to our loss.
Koscielny looks to me like the type that could do a decent job across the whole defense and even defensive midfield. I will be tempted to play him there especially in the big games when Vermalean is back.
Song was tried at right back against Everton in the 2008-2009 season and had very dismal first half and had to be switched back to central defence. Coquelin played at right back against Sunderland in the FA cup in the 2009-2010 season. He did an amazing job that afternoon but I understand he does not like playing in that position. I will never the less play him there in just a few matches especially when the midfield slots have too many competitors as will be the case soon when Diaby is back. Then there is Yennaris from the reserves. He has never been tested at this level. I would not play him in the premeir league nor Champions League but may be Carling cup depending on the opponents once we beat Bolton. Have I forgotten anyone? Yes, and for a big reason. That is the surprise. SQUILLACI. I do not count SQUILLACI to be in my top four CBs when all the cbs are fit, but he, at least in my book, had a season almost similar to Chamak. He had a very descent run before December last year, and was a disaster thereafter. I believe he would hold down a regular place at CB in most mid table premiership sides and he has the experience at the highest level. If I were Wenger I would say to him, “Son, the RB position is up for grabs. Roll up your sleeves and fight for it because the CB is too congested.” I have a feeling, and this is just not based on any science at all, that although much slower than Jenkinson, SQUILLACI’S experience at center back and at a higher level than league one where Jenkinson has come makes him a better replacement than Jenkinson in the short term. My conclusion is while Sagna is out three players will be rotated at right back…Jenkinson and Squillaci until Vermalean comes back and then Jenkinson and Koscielny when Vermalean is back barring any injuries to defensive players.
To the game at hand.

I believe it is time to put Theo on the bench once again. And also time to go slow on Ramsey. But I seem to sense that Wenger does not see things the way I see them. For that reason I have a favourite line up and a most likely line up.
Favourite for this game….Szczensy, Jenkinson,Mertersacker,Koscielny, Santos,Song, Arteta,Rosicky, Benayoun, Van Persie and Gervino.
I know that Jenkinson will be up against the skillful Ayew. It will be a very good contest between the youngsters and I prefer Benayoun on that wing because he is much better defensively than Theo. In my view Benayoun is ahead of Theo overall anyway and will be very useful for us this season if we use him well. Gervino is much more used to the French league than Arshavin, and also better defensively so I will put him on that wing. Rosicky needs to be given more games and I will start him. He has been playing 2 games in fur days for the national team for two years now and should do it for us this once.
The most likely line up is:
Szczensy, Jenkinson, Mertersacker, Santos,Song, Arteta, Ramsey, Walcot, Van Persie and Gervino. Wenger rarely surprises.
Theo’s pace by the way may come in very handy in Europe because the opponents are not yet used to him.
A win by more than a goal and a clean sheet will make my night.