re: Arsenal 2013/2014 Season Long Thread

I'm not too worried about Coventry but sooner or later we will meet a tough team again. Between the 2 I would rather take the league.

What is everyone thinking Wenger will do with the lineup on Friday? Do any youngsters get a shot? Is Beowulf fit yet to give Giroud a break?

Beowulf and Sanogo! are both very close to being back. I think you might see a youngster or two (maybe zelalem?) but I'd expect a fairly strong lineup with a very strong bench.

someone wrote a blog post on Kris Olsson which said he rejected loan moves because he thinks he's close to the first team. he's been playing the arteta role for the youth team. wonder if that's true about his prospects here. seems solid but never saw anything that made me think he'd ever be a regular here. we do need an arteta replacement fairly soon though considering that Colombian Perez couldn't get a permit.

last word was very soon. maybe available for Coventry.

i'd be surprised if he and Arteta weren't back by Southampton.

More Vucinic talk. Flying to London tomorrow to reopen talks.

LINK

I wouldn't mind Vucinic, as long as it was a loan. I really want to see Sanogo play. He has the size and technique to be incredible.

Also I was was watching some highlight clips, and Giroud's build up play has been nothing short of incredible. Some of his flicks are superb. He doesn't really have the ability to turn, nor does he often get the ball on the half turn, but we've never really been bunkered in this season partly due to Giroud, who can play in tight spaces, and also wants to make runs into space, as well as the aerial threat he poses. I'm hoping we can develop Sanogo into a more athletic Giroud. His build up play for the second Ramsey goal against Fenerbache indicated that he has a natural understanding of spacing, though the question is if he has the technique to play the ball quickly where he anticipates the space to be.

I'm hoping for this next game, we rest Ozil, and play Ox, Podolski, and Rosicky if we can, with Flamini and Wilshere behind. Maybe give Jenikinson a game as well.

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I wouldn't mind Vucinic, as long as it was a loan

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well, the rumors have been that they only want to sell. and that purchase wouldn't make much sense.

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I'm hoping for this next game, we rest Ozil, and play Ox, Podolski, and Rosicky if we can, with Flamini and Wilshere behind. Maybe give Jenikinson a game as well.

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i'm think it will be something like:

fabianski
jenks-per-tv5-gibbo
wilshere-flamini
ox-zelalem-rosicky
poldi

could also be a nice match for beowulf, sanogo, arteta or rambo to ease back into if they are fit. if beowulf is back, i could see poldi at LW, rosicky at RW and ox next to flamini in CM. i think there will be one or two youth players getting a shot. zelalem and maybe hayden. i'd say afobe might get involved, but we seem to be phasing him out. i don't think there will be too many youngsters though. we'll keep a strong bench to finish the job if things get sketchy.

the tackle that injured him

Uhh, he can't be any taller than Santi can he? He's not even 17 yet, so I think he's at least two years away from a first team debut, longer if he has too slight a frame. Both Zelalem and Crowley need to hit the gym hard.