Relive every moment of every first team game since the beginning of the 2005/06 season. Our archive of matchday threads originally posted in the General Discussion Forum.
We no longer have a RB suited for this level, our stellar LB is a shadow of his former self after his injury, our captain's form has been below par for some time, we are without our best player in that line up, and our attacker is better suited to another type of football than Sakho.
I was hoping that we would revert to a classic 4 - 4 - 2 for the previous three games. We didn't.
Now I'm hoping for a 3 - 4 - 2 - 1, with a defensive trio consisting of our three centrehalves (Collins, Kouyate, Fonte), two wingbacks (Cresswell, Masuaku) and two defending midfielders (Noble, Fernandes), two attacking midfielders (Lanzini, Ayew) and one Striker (Carroll).
Keep it tight, keep it simple.
Agree with this ^
I would also consider trying to man mark Sanchez. Get someone like Fernandes to follow him all over the park.
Nervous about Byram up against Arsenal, but no new RB in January is biting us on the arse hard, so he'll have to. Loan him out to a promoted side next season for PL experience.
Masuaku in for Cresswell until the end of the season. I'd take him out the firing line, looks half the player he was. Get a full pre-season behind him and a clean slate for next year, he should win his spot back.
OS seemed to think Antonio could back for this one, and hopefully Sakho from the bench last 20-30 minutes if possible, though may be a bit early for him this game.
This is a must win game for Arsenal, the pressure is on their Manager more than ours I would suggest .
A win for us would mean it would be very difficult for L'Arse to get in to next seasons CL. , and surely the end of Wengers reign there in the summer .
If we can get 3.0 up before half time, I give us half a chance of winning this one.
No point trying to batten down the hatches and sneak a point, because we don't have it in us not to concede in 90 minutes. The key will be how we cope with counter attacks after a failed attack or loose pass. Against the top teams this season it's been a case of lose the ball-pass-pass-pass-net.
The only reason I can see not to include Adrian at this point would be that it's already been decided he's off at the end of the season, and there's no point needlessly upsetting Randolph if he's going to remain.
How much or little Randolph is to blame on an individual level, clearly something is not working at that end of the park, and there's an arguably stronger candidate waiting in the wings.
I really fear for Byram, the poor kid is going to get hung out to dry. Who are we trying to kid, they've got pace coming out of every orifice and we're a confidence shot mess.