Zero shot on target for Arsenal after the goal, even Alexis on pitch. so it is not just about starting him, there is something going wrong on the whole team..!
@IvanaSarayevo- I don't like Piers Morgan in the slightest, but is he wrong? The players looked shocked that the man who pretty much invented counter-pressing was counter-pressing! Wenger leaves the best player in our team, possibly the league, on the bench but starts Iwobi who has been diabolical all season (I do think he'll be good long-term though). Watching this game it was as though a Tottenham fan picked the team and devised the tactics. Not good enough, Wenger is done.
@SteveHyland Hazard is far and away the best in the league. There's no "possibly" when it comes to comparing Hazard and Alexis. Hazard is the definite winner.
@vieri- Lol, Hazard who has 5 good games then 5 bad and who only scores via penalties and creates less than the best players in the league? No, Alexis is better than him and Hazard isn't even Chelsea's most important player, that is Costa.
@SteveHyland yeeaah like Alexis has never had a bad game? where was he when Arsenal were humiliated by Chelsea and Watford? Hazard has double the amount of dribbles compared to Alexis, it's clear which one is more skillful and do tell me when was the last time Hazard had 5 bad games in a row.
@vieri Yes you tend to be great when your team is built around you and you have no defending duty to do including pressing the ball....some people like Sanchez can do both and still the Manager will bench them...
@abhi8 Arsenal are Alexis and Alexis is Arsenal. Without him you guys won't even be top 6. To say Arsenal aren't built around Alexis is bollocks, if anything Arsenal rely more on Alexis than Chelsea do on Hazard.
Fun fact: Hazard has so far won more possession on the final third than any other player in the EPL, must be because he has no defending duty huh?
@vieri Regarding your fun fact - where did you that from? Whoscored.com lists his defensive contribution as weak and number of tackles per game as 0.5 which is not particularly outstanding.
@MEHJones it's from Opta. There was an article at another website regarding Ozil winning more possession in the final third more than we think. Hazard topped the list, Alexis and Ozil are second. Still, that's enough to debunk the myth that Hazard doesn't defend. He may not tackle much but when he did, they were key tackles.
This team selection from Wenger bewilders me. First of all I will say that Coquelin is woeful, what is he actually good at (good enough at for a side like Arsenal)? I feel like he isn't good enough to get in any side in the top half as a holding midfielder. And I disagree with constantly picking Iwobi too. Sanchez is a nailed on must start in each and every game for Arsenal. Oxlade Chamberlain is way better than Xhaka and Coquelin in my eyes in a central role, thought AOC did well second half. The double change near the end was dumb too. Welbeck was dangerous, yet got taken off. Iwobi should have been removed in the double switch, not Welbeck.
Liverpool are very strong at home, will want to bounce back from loosing to Leicester, and play particularly well against the top sides that attack. However, Arsenal can't really afford to lose this one and will get chances to score. I'll probably be a scoredraw like last season and the season before.... 2-2.
Liverpool 2 - 1 Arsenal Just have a bad feeling about this game - surely LFC can't be as bad as they were vs LCFC. And they tend to be better in big games.
It's pretty good time for 5-2-3 or 3-4-3. As we don't have that much midfield strength due to injuries. Also left backs are struggling. Let's try them as LWB.
I would go for front 3 as Alexis, Welbeck and Lucas.
In the Middle it will be Xhaka, Coquelin/Ox
And the wall as Gibbs, Koscielny, Mustafi, Gabriel and Bellerin if Koscielny recovers in time. I think both Gibbs and Bellerin does have the quality of being good Wing Backs.
But most probably we could see Iwobi in the No. 10 position despite his form as well as Walcott on the right. May be there will be Welbeck but Lucas may need to wait even further or vise versa. Gabriel instead of Koscielny. And may be with some luck they may get a draw or win. Let's hope so.
Probable lineup: 4-2-3-1.
Forward: Alexis, Lucas and Walcott. Midfield: Ozil, Xhaka and Coquelin. Defence: Monreal, Koscielny, Mustafi and Bellerin. GK: Cech.
As they are being cautious with Welbeck. As well as Ramsey and Koscielny back in training. Also if Ozil comes back in time.
Even though there is a high chance that they would go with Welbeck, Iwobi or Giroud in different positions and may be Oxlade playing centrally as he showing glimpses of excellence in there.
I've read a couple of reports online that Massimiliano Allegri has told his nearest and dearest that he will leave Juventus in the summer to join Arsenal. Take it with a pinch of salt because there is no regulation of articles online, but it was more than one site reporting the same thing so makes me wonder whether there is some truth in it. Naturally, I'm ignoring the Sun article. It could also be his agent putting out "fake news" (yes, I said it!) in order to get him a better contract at Juve. Given Wenger said he would decide his future in "March or April", this means either he has made his decision earlier than expected (unusual for him) or the contract is no longer on the table. We shall see. Just thought I'd share.
@SteveHyland , it's laughable to compare Utd of that time with the gunners of this time because Utd were nothing during that time but the gunners simply claim themselves a big club now a days . Your statement that Utd are worse in every level is a wrong one because they have been playing better football than your club and the league position doesn't reflect the truth that they have every reason to take the top 4, even becoming second . The fact that you don't like them doesn't necessarily make them worse
@footballover- Your comment was "He would be insane if he does join a club which haven't won (the) title for ages" so by your reasoning, Ferguson was insane to join Utd. Had he not been "insane" then your club wouldn't have won the tonnes of silverware you have under his leadership. Arsenal are a far bigger club now that Utd were in the mid 80s yet a top manager still joined your club. If you fail to see how my comment relates, that is your problem. The fact is top managers would see the potential in Arsenal much like Pep sees the potential in City, Klopp in Liverpool and so on. Also, Utd have gained at least 4 points via offside goals in the league just this calendar year. I wouldn't start crowing about how amazing you've been playing when you have only beaten poor teams or good teams playing poorly. The last time Utd won against a good team playing well was when Ferguson was the coach.
@WazzaFC- The irony of that comment when Utd are clearly in a worse position on every level. Anyways, like it or not Arsenal is a big job and one that would attract top managers. We already have quality players that Allegri could add to (so he wouldn't be joining a team who need a complete overhaul); are in a financially stable condition (therefore have funds for transfers EVERY SEASON which wouldn't severely impact our debt level); are a London team which makes living for somebody with money extremely attractive (not only because of where to live but the culture, education system, private healthcare etc). If top managers only went to teams where success was guaranteed then there would be a musical chairs effect among a hand-full of clubs. It's much more rewarding for a professional to make a club reach the next step. If he was interested in guaranteed success then he wouldn't even be thinking about leaving Juventus.
@SteveHyland Dude Aresenal is absolutely not big club i tell you for sure, they are just stable team nothing more than that do not speak about recent history ...many many many years Arsenal is just mediocre accept that this team is NOT TOP CLUB!!!
@Marchisio8- There is a distinct difference between a big club and a current good team. Arsenal are a far bigger club than Man City and Chelsea despite not having as good a recent record. Long-term history determines how big a club is, not history of the last 10 years. Allegri would not be considering going to Arsenal (which he is) if we weren't a big club.
@Overmars- For me, the type of game this will be is dependent on the fitness of Koscielny. If Gabriel is in then we'll probably need to score a few to win, or even draw. Klopp teams tend to be very good against attacking teams (he loves his counter attacking football as is evident with his pressing style) so we're the ideal type of opposition. The game at the Emirates saw the Reds score 2 world class goals (Coutinho & Mane) and saw us put out a CB pairing with a combined age in the early 40s. I doubt it will be the same type of game with Kos and Mustafi at the back. The Chelsea game seemed to be an aberration given their prior performances. However, it could also be argued that without Cazorla, we wont create as many chances as we did that day. Henderson probably wont be fit, Welbeck will probably be on the bench and Lucas must've had an argument with Arsene to not start despite playing well pretty much every time he is on the pitch. Alexis in the 9 would be best for this game imo.
@SteveHyland Mustafi has been woefully bad in many games since his comeback from injury - Bournemouth, Bayern, Chelsea. I'd like Welbeck or Lucas to play vs Liverpool as we need to target the left side of their defence. Theo has great pace, movement and finishing but I feel that Lucas and Welbz have more allround contributions. And we need more power in the team which is why I hope Welbeck plays.
@Overmars- Tbf, he looked ok against Bayern until Koscielny went off though I definitely agree he has been diabolical in a couple of games since coming back from injury- probably came back too soon because of our lack of depth at that position. A front line of Lucas, Alexis and Welbeck would be my choice as long as Lucas and Welbeck don't stay on their starting side. I think movement along the front line would cause an already terrible Liverpool defence problems. Iwobi will probably start thought for some unknown reason.
Zero shot on target for Arsenal after the goal, even Alexis on pitch. so it is not just about starting him, there is something going wrong on the whole team..!
Another tactical fail from Wenger. Who is surprised? I would burn that contract if it's still on the table, this is getting depressing.
@SteveHyland Piers Morgan is that you? :D
@IvanaSarayevo- I don't like Piers Morgan in the slightest, but is he wrong? The players looked shocked that the man who pretty much invented counter-pressing was counter-pressing! Wenger leaves the best player in our team, possibly the league, on the bench but starts Iwobi who has been diabolical all season (I do think he'll be good long-term though). Watching this game it was as though a Tottenham fan picked the team and devised the tactics. Not good enough, Wenger is done.
@SteveHyland Hazard is far and away the best in the league. There's no "possibly" when it comes to comparing Hazard and Alexis. Hazard is the definite winner.
@vieri- Lol, Hazard who has 5 good games then 5 bad and who only scores via penalties and creates less than the best players in the league? No, Alexis is better than him and Hazard isn't even Chelsea's most important player, that is Costa.
@SteveHyland yeeaah like Alexis has never had a bad game? where was he when Arsenal were humiliated by Chelsea and Watford? Hazard has double the amount of dribbles compared to Alexis, it's clear which one is more skillful and do tell me when was the last time Hazard had 5 bad games in a row.
@vieri Yes you tend to be great when your team is built around you and you have no defending duty to do including pressing the ball....some people like Sanchez can do both and still the Manager will bench them...
@abhi8 Arsenal are Alexis and Alexis is Arsenal. Without him you guys won't even be top 6. To say Arsenal aren't built around Alexis is bollocks, if anything Arsenal rely more on Alexis than Chelsea do on Hazard. Fun fact: Hazard has so far won more possession on the final third than any other player in the EPL, must be because he has no defending duty huh?
@vieri Regarding your fun fact - where did you that from? Whoscored.com lists his defensive contribution as weak and number of tackles per game as 0.5 which is not particularly outstanding.
@MEHJones it's from Opta. There was an article at another website regarding Ozil winning more possession in the final third more than we think. Hazard topped the list, Alexis and Ozil are second. Still, that's enough to debunk the myth that Hazard doesn't defend. He may not tackle much but when he did, they were key tackles.
At least made some money out of this game because i just knew Arsenal weren't getting anything out of this game
Klopp, Robin hood of the Premier League.
@Yman They have Burnley up next :)
This team selection from Wenger bewilders me. First of all I will say that Coquelin is woeful, what is he actually good at (good enough at for a side like Arsenal)? I feel like he isn't good enough to get in any side in the top half as a holding midfielder. And I disagree with constantly picking Iwobi too. Sanchez is a nailed on must start in each and every game for Arsenal. Oxlade Chamberlain is way better than Xhaka and Coquelin in my eyes in a central role, thought AOC did well second half. The double change near the end was dumb too. Welbeck was dangerous, yet got taken off. Iwobi should have been removed in the double switch, not Welbeck.
@Ideas Probably just protecting Welbeck, he's had two back-to-back serious knee injuries.
Lazy defending for Liverpool's 3rd goal, but Liverpool were obviously the better team. Not unexpected given their home and top-6 record.
I've yet to see any reasonable argument for keeping Wenger around for another season.
@ImADope Ask Ty, he'll find more than enough arguments for you.
@ImADope economics :D
@ImADope - He makes Stan a boatload of money.
Man Liverpool better not mess this up, I'm tryna see what Troopz and DT say.
Arsenal still in it for a draw.
@ZcodeSportSystem.com Theoretical...
It would be wise for wenger to call his time off this season and not be stubborn in progress and risks of his club. He is not gonna live forever.
#WengerOut This has to end.
Liverpool wining 2-1. Goal from Coutinho and Sanchez.
Liverpool are very strong at home, will want to bounce back from loosing to Leicester, and play particularly well against the top sides that attack. However, Arsenal can't really afford to lose this one and will get chances to score. I'll probably be a scoredraw like last season and the season before.... 2-2.
Klopp needs to get this team to Champions League status for next season.
1-2
A.sanchez to score wenger could bring grioud in a 4-3-3
Arsenal win 2-0
Liverpool 2 - 1 Arsenal Just have a bad feeling about this game - surely LFC can't be as bad as they were vs LCFC. And they tend to be better in big games.
It's pretty good time for 5-2-3 or 3-4-3. As we don't have that much midfield strength due to injuries. Also left backs are struggling. Let's try them as LWB. I would go for front 3 as Alexis, Welbeck and Lucas. In the Middle it will be Xhaka, Coquelin/Ox And the wall as Gibbs, Koscielny, Mustafi, Gabriel and Bellerin if Koscielny recovers in time. I think both Gibbs and Bellerin does have the quality of being good Wing Backs. But most probably we could see Iwobi in the No. 10 position despite his form as well as Walcott on the right. May be there will be Welbeck but Lucas may need to wait even further or vise versa. Gabriel instead of Koscielny. And may be with some luck they may get a draw or win. Let's hope so.
Probable lineup: 4-2-3-1. Forward: Alexis, Lucas and Walcott. Midfield: Ozil, Xhaka and Coquelin. Defence: Monreal, Koscielny, Mustafi and Bellerin. GK: Cech. As they are being cautious with Welbeck. As well as Ramsey and Koscielny back in training. Also if Ozil comes back in time. Even though there is a high chance that they would go with Welbeck, Iwobi or Giroud in different positions and may be Oxlade playing centrally as he showing glimpses of excellence in there.
Banter FC derby
I've read a couple of reports online that Massimiliano Allegri has told his nearest and dearest that he will leave Juventus in the summer to join Arsenal. Take it with a pinch of salt because there is no regulation of articles online, but it was more than one site reporting the same thing so makes me wonder whether there is some truth in it. Naturally, I'm ignoring the Sun article. It could also be his agent putting out "fake news" (yes, I said it!) in order to get him a better contract at Juve. Given Wenger said he would decide his future in "March or April", this means either he has made his decision earlier than expected (unusual for him) or the contract is no longer on the table. We shall see. Just thought I'd share.
@SteveHyland , he would be insane if he does join a club which haven't won title for ages
@footballover- Like Alex Ferguson was insane for joining Man Utd from Aberdeen? They hadn't won the league for 20 seasons. How did that turn out?
@SteveHyland , it's laughable to compare Utd of that time with the gunners of this time because Utd were nothing during that time but the gunners simply claim themselves a big club now a days . Your statement that Utd are worse in every level is a wrong one because they have been playing better football than your club and the league position doesn't reflect the truth that they have every reason to take the top 4, even becoming second . The fact that you don't like them doesn't necessarily make them worse
@footballover- Your comment was "He would be insane if he does join a club which haven't won (the) title for ages" so by your reasoning, Ferguson was insane to join Utd. Had he not been "insane" then your club wouldn't have won the tonnes of silverware you have under his leadership. Arsenal are a far bigger club now that Utd were in the mid 80s yet a top manager still joined your club. If you fail to see how my comment relates, that is your problem. The fact is top managers would see the potential in Arsenal much like Pep sees the potential in City, Klopp in Liverpool and so on. Also, Utd have gained at least 4 points via offside goals in the league just this calendar year. I wouldn't start crowing about how amazing you've been playing when you have only beaten poor teams or good teams playing poorly. The last time Utd won against a good team playing well was when Ferguson was the coach.
@SteveHyland Why would allegri join mediocre club like arseanal ?
@WazzaFC Why did Mouth-inho join a club doing much worse than Arsenal in recent history?
@WazzaFC- The irony of that comment when Utd are clearly in a worse position on every level. Anyways, like it or not Arsenal is a big job and one that would attract top managers. We already have quality players that Allegri could add to (so he wouldn't be joining a team who need a complete overhaul); are in a financially stable condition (therefore have funds for transfers EVERY SEASON which wouldn't severely impact our debt level); are a London team which makes living for somebody with money extremely attractive (not only because of where to live but the culture, education system, private healthcare etc). If top managers only went to teams where success was guaranteed then there would be a musical chairs effect among a hand-full of clubs. It's much more rewarding for a professional to make a club reach the next step. If he was interested in guaranteed success then he wouldn't even be thinking about leaving Juventus.
@SteveHyland Dude Aresenal is absolutely not big club i tell you for sure, they are just stable team nothing more than that do not speak about recent history ...many many many years Arsenal is just mediocre accept that this team is NOT TOP CLUB!!!
@Marchisio8- There is a distinct difference between a big club and a current good team. Arsenal are a far bigger club than Man City and Chelsea despite not having as good a recent record. Long-term history determines how big a club is, not history of the last 10 years. Allegri would not be considering going to Arsenal (which he is) if we weren't a big club.
1-2, 2-2. or 2-3?. - Will Henderson play? Will Welbeck start (or Giroud). I would love to see Lucas start but doubt that will happen.
@Overmars- For me, the type of game this will be is dependent on the fitness of Koscielny. If Gabriel is in then we'll probably need to score a few to win, or even draw. Klopp teams tend to be very good against attacking teams (he loves his counter attacking football as is evident with his pressing style) so we're the ideal type of opposition. The game at the Emirates saw the Reds score 2 world class goals (Coutinho & Mane) and saw us put out a CB pairing with a combined age in the early 40s. I doubt it will be the same type of game with Kos and Mustafi at the back. The Chelsea game seemed to be an aberration given their prior performances. However, it could also be argued that without Cazorla, we wont create as many chances as we did that day. Henderson probably wont be fit, Welbeck will probably be on the bench and Lucas must've had an argument with Arsene to not start despite playing well pretty much every time he is on the pitch. Alexis in the 9 would be best for this game imo.
@SteveHyland Mustafi has been woefully bad in many games since his comeback from injury - Bournemouth, Bayern, Chelsea. I'd like Welbeck or Lucas to play vs Liverpool as we need to target the left side of their defence. Theo has great pace, movement and finishing but I feel that Lucas and Welbz have more allround contributions. And we need more power in the team which is why I hope Welbeck plays.
@Overmars- Tbf, he looked ok against Bayern until Koscielny went off though I definitely agree he has been diabolical in a couple of games since coming back from injury- probably came back too soon because of our lack of depth at that position. A front line of Lucas, Alexis and Welbeck would be my choice as long as Lucas and Welbeck don't stay on their starting side. I think movement along the front line would cause an already terrible Liverpool defence problems. Iwobi will probably start thought for some unknown reason.
J.A. Riise will score from free kick (1-0) LFC Win