Quantcast

My Preferred Arsenal Starting XI To Face Liverpool

By on February 14, 2014

Our hectic week continues as we take on Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

Arsenal will be out for revenge following last weeks 5-1 thrashing at Anfield and the boss says the Merseysiders are the perfect opponents this weekend as it gives us a chance to put last week right.

He’s hinted he’ll make some changes for the game, which I fear could be a mistake. Yes we have Bayern Munich on Wednesday but I feel the FA Cup is our best chance of a trophy this season so should be treated as such.

While Szczesny is obviously the better goalkeeper, I think it’s safe to say Arsene is going to pick Fabianski in goal for the game. The Pole has done well in previous rounds so hopefully this won’t cost us.

I really hope the boss resists the temptation to bring in Carl Jenkinson. Liverpool aren’t in Europe so will field their best team and Sagna’s presence will be important in trying to keep the likes of Suarez, Sturridge and Sterling quiet.  So let’s play our best back four.

Mathieu Flamini is almost certain to start after serving his three-match ban, but it will be interesting to see what happens with Arteta. He looked knackered against United in midweek so could certainly do with a rest but he’s going to be suspended against Bayern so it would make sense to play him on Sunday. Personally, I think he’ll struggle to cope with the pace of the Liverpool attack, just as he did last week at Anfield, so I’d leave him out.

Santi Cazorla is set to miss the game through ‘illness’, but many feel he’s simply being rested. We have lacked pace in recent games so I’d like to see The Ox start on the right and I think we’ll see Podolski make a rare appearance. He’s being treated very poorly by Wenger recently. I just hope the boss has worries over the Germans fitness and isn’t freezing him out because Lukas doesn’t deserve that.

Olivier Giroud has been well below par in recent games and tiredness is definitely a factor, so I’d bring Bendtner in. If he’s hungry, the Dane can be as good as Giroud up front.

Here’s my team:

Do you agree with my team? What eleven would you start?

21 Comments

  1. rahaizad

    February 14, 2014 at 12:53 pm

    Its a mistake to put Bendtner in the front three. Arsenal must counter Liverpool’s attacking pace like for like. I would go for The Ox-Podolski-Gnabry combination.

  2. kirt

    February 14, 2014 at 1:00 pm

    I would play theo, wilshere and gnarby
    ozil must go
    giroud must go
    we MUST sign RVP, Cesg and Hleb

    • jordangooner

      February 14, 2014 at 1:19 pm

      This is a wind up! Unless you are an Arsenal supporter fom the Mars planet. Walcott is injured until next season. Ox and Giroud are fantastic players, Giroud looks tired. I like the idea of the Ox -Poldolski- Gnabry combination. They should run themselves into ground. Then bring on Bendtner and even Sonogo near the end. Tell all the team, they are playing for the badge, and the squad players for their future. COYG

      • kamal

        February 14, 2014 at 2:16 pm

        I am not an arsenal fan jordan told i think you are from mars …. You said ozil must go … and hleb must comeback bro you are fake fan

  3. Howard

    February 14, 2014 at 1:03 pm

    I agree Ox-Podolski-Gnabry. Unfortunately this will not happen Wenger only has one plan A i.e one upfront. He does not learn.
    Why does Wenger never play Podolski?

    • Howard

      February 14, 2014 at 1:07 pm

      Do not blame Ozil if he makes a break who is there to give the ball too. To me he looks p….. off.

      • jordangooner

        February 14, 2014 at 1:21 pm

        I Completely agree, he is by far our best player.

    • YNWA

      February 14, 2014 at 1:09 pm

      The reason being is because the Frenchman is one dimentional and has no back up plan, you will see on sunday when the Goons attack us because they want “revenge” and will get hit on the break with our pace. 1-3 to Liverpool…YNWA

      • jordangooner

        February 14, 2014 at 1:24 pm

        You may be correct re tactics, but it is upto the Arsenal players to play for their pride.

  4. Jack

    February 14, 2014 at 1:06 pm

    Good team..with everyone talking about our lack of pace i would actually play Gibbs LM and OX RM with Podi upfront…but Wenger wont do that

    • jordangooner

      February 14, 2014 at 1:30 pm

      Who is LM, thanks

  5. Taban Arikanjelo

    February 14, 2014 at 2:20 pm

    people talk of Ozil but I tell you that Ozil is the best player compared to Messi, Have your blame on Giruid for not scoring.

  6. Kristoff miller

    February 14, 2014 at 2:48 pm

    I would prefer bendtner on top and podolski on the left. He (podolski) scores more goals and creates more chances in the left than up front. When he’s up front he always drops to the midfield and looks like he doesnt know what he’s doing and creates one or two chances. As for Giroud, give him a little rest to find back his good form and let sanago be on the bench to show what he can do. Gnabry and the ox are in a battle on its own, even though i like the ox in the middle.

    • Kristoff miller

      February 14, 2014 at 3:00 pm

      How many goals podolski scored this season in the middle? 0. How many he scored on the left this season? 5. Two at fulham, 1 at west ham and two against coventry city.

  7. LetsGunthemdown

    February 14, 2014 at 2:52 pm

    What happened to Gnabry ? We need pace and agility and he has not been playing for the past few games .
    Why he is not used as a supersub to get the pace we badly need ?

  8. Idagooner

    February 14, 2014 at 3:25 pm

    Agree with quite a few on play gnabry and pods sunday! It probly wont happen but im hoping for it and i guess bendtner up top it sure cant hurt! No jack or arteta we can win! Both crap!

  9. Bedukang

    February 14, 2014 at 3:57 pm

    I want to see verminator as midfield player, why not ?

  10. Innocent

    February 14, 2014 at 4:12 pm

    Wenger, should have known by now that Arsenal’s lack of pace is hurting badly. I also cannot understand why he played Giroud full time last Wednesday. Giroud has no pace; often too lazy to run for balls and too slow to rise when he is down. If he was replaced we should have secured our 3 points. The league is for Arsenal to win and there should be no sentimental attachment to any player. Without an attacking force Arsenal will be in for trouble on Sunday and that will be a shame. We must use our best 11 on Sunday and always. We must win 1 or 2 titles this year. That should be our ambition and I hope Wenger reads the reactions of fans.

  11. john bith

    February 14, 2014 at 4:23 pm

    wenger cost it all by refusing to buy a striker because sunday will be the end of the road for arsenal when they lose to liverpool in FA cup and after which they will again lose to Bayern on wednesday and they will call the end of the season tropyless .in next season wenger will again fool fans that he is going to buy quality striker then brings in unknow player weak and can not manage the playing system of English football just like chamarkh and Giroud,Eduardo Park sung yang.i just wonder why wenger never went for DEFOE and let him leave for small club likr toronto

  12. Ibrason

    February 15, 2014 at 5:11 am

    We need combination of gnabry ox- and poldosk

  13. Diehardgunner

    February 15, 2014 at 11:40 am

    wenger must improve on tactix or else he will end wit nuthin again dis season.players must b given a chance nt 2 rely on da same players.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *