montreal gooner says:

This is our best line up , we , the 99% , will overcome chelsea ,

amused says:

“I must admit that choosing players was a tricky job last night. Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker have done well in central defence lately but would you honestly trust Johan Djourou, on the right, against the pace and technique of Chelsea?”

I would. I find it entertaining that while you noticed the defensive problems, you refuse to put walcott on to deal with Ashley Cole’s danger and pace. And you put kos (who has not played at right back for a couple of YEARS) instead of Johan.

4 centre backs is an interesting selection. I would have swopped Johan and Kos. And i would have left rosicky on the bench (since he might not be fully ready) and started with Arshavin in the middle and Walcott on the right, Gervinho on the left. I think the league cup game signalled Wenger’s relative recent propensity to give Arshavin a go from the middle. I would also drop Arteta and send on Frimpong to shackle the Chelsea midfield.

caligunna16 says:

i am thinking more along the lines of…this will be a huge test for our defense i think what will be very important is that song stays HOME and does not venture too much and if he does go on his mazy run to make sure arteta drops back.

—————-woji————–
djourou–kos–per—santos
———-arteta—-song——
walcott—————-gervinho
———-arshavin—————
———————-RVP———

chu, ramsey, coquelin…..it would be very confidence boosting if chu came off the bench and banged another one in. i really hope chamakh figures it out eventually and comes out with an impressing game to provide some assurance should anything happen to RVP (fingers crossed with each tackle)

JohnDale says:

I don’t think Verm will be starting. As much as he wants to play, putting him on the left is going to stress him out given he’ll have to do a whole lot of running and he’s only just returned from a long spell out. So i’d rather go for Santos.

Also, given Aaron improved his game in the last outing, and given we often cry about players being played out of favour and not b’cos of form, I believe Arteta shouldn’t be given a starting place just because he is Arteta. If Sicky and Aaron are performing better, they should both start ahead of him, just so no one gets complacent.

Charlie says:

Nice post, optimism is good to see and i think you’re right Chris, this is a team that is peaking so we have a chance. One correction to your line-up though. Kos, Djourou and Per have played together already this season but Arsene opted for Djourou on the right, I would expect him to stick with that choice for this game and don’t forget the cross from Djourou to set up the second goal against Stoke last week. I think it comes down to Per and Kos having played together in the centre for a few games now, if it was simply a case of playing players depending on how they suited each position you’d probably be right. It’s a close call between Aaron and Tomas, i’d go for Aaron away from home because i think he has better stamina and is better defensively. Tomas has been excellent but I think he’s better for home games that we’re expected to dominate and he generally doesn’t keep his level up for the whole game tiring towards the end.

sd says:

Why is djourou at CB?

Aussie Jack says:

The left flank could be our weakness with Vermaelen not 100% fit and Djourou at left back, but on paper it looks fair enough.
My problem is van Persie on his own, again, Asharvin must surely play in the hole not on the wing. Park is in form and hungry and against this mob we need to score.

Alex says:

My preferred backline would be Santos, Koscielny, Mertesacker and Djourou. It is a big game, but i wouldnt risk vermaelen because he played in midweek and should be eased back into the side. Also, imo Arshavin aint fit enough to start 2 matches in a row, i would play Walcott (even though his form has dipped) and bring on Arsh as an impact sub.

Charlie says:

Based on the way the season’s going, with freak results, i’ll go put a wager on Arsenal to win by at least 5 goals !

Gus says:

4 Centrebacks!!!!!

john says:

Personally I’d play Walcott, since he always seems to have something up his sleeves for bigger games, and use Andrei as a super sub.

winner says:

A very strong line up indeed. However, Per and Djourou would in my opinion struggle against Torres’s pace. I would not for this game put Djorou on right back either. The defense therefore would be Koscielny, Per, Vermalean and Santos. Santos may prove to be the weakest link. In the middle you rightly point out that the only questions is whether to play Rosicky or Ramsey. My preference is Rosicky, because for me he is far more creative and also Ramsey has been struggling lately, except for the Sroke game. Ramsey also seems to have a better work rate. I think Wenger will field him, and my fear is as in the game against Spurs Ramsey will be the weakest link on the entire field. As for the strike force, on current form Arshavin, Robin and Gervino should start but somehow I feel Theo will start in an effort to keep Ashley Cole from overlapping.
I have a good feel about the outcome. I honestly believe that we now have one of the strongest teams in the league if not in Europe. Just imagine if all the players you selected hit top form, who would stop us. However, I still feel the confidence factor is still the key. We are still a bit short on confidence and sharpness. We have the players to do the job but they still have the scars from the early part of the season. A win in this game, for me at least, will be the best result, after that 1-0 victory in Madrid in 2006. That win was the turning point in the post Viera season as it did a lot of good for the morale and self belief of the team. A win today will be the real turning point in the post Fabregas era.

My prayers are with the team.

dj says:

I think Arshavin played in the middle behind Park (his natural position) when we played Bolton…

Wenger really ought to play more of the players in their natural positions.

Haris says:

My favorite line up:

………………Szczesny……………
Koscielny Per Vermaelen Santos
…………..Song…..Arteta…………
Walcott……..Arshavin….Gervinho
………………van Persie……………

Walcott is awful lately so if Tomas or Aaron start in the middle and Arshavin on the flank I won`t be disappointing.