By Bulldog Drummond
We’re having real technical problems this weekend chez Untold hence Blacksheep’s message at little earlier, but after helpful hints and whatnot from EE we are back on, although with interruptions to the service. So this is going to be a quick piece on a possible line up.
It seems Mr Wenger is going to hold some players back to keep them from for Thursday, but obviously the number of options is limited.
One possibility is to give a game to Konstantinos Mavropanos who was signed earlier in the season. The thinking being he needs to get used to the big occasion, so he might as well start at Old Trafford.
The local paper in Manchester gives us a squad of
Bellerin, Nelson, Nketiah, Osei-Tutu, Welbeck, Cech, Chambers, Iwobi, Mavropanos, Mkhitaryan, Willock, Xhaka, Kolasinac, Ospina, Aubameyang, Maitland-Niles, Holding.
That is 17 players whereas we normally have 18, but maybe they counted Maitland Niles or Osei Tutu as two players.
Not everyone goes along with the above list however and suggestions elsewhere give a line up along the lines of
Cech,
Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal
Xhaka, Ramsey, Maitland-Niles,
Iwobi, Aubameyang Welbeck
with a bunch of youngsters on the beach. That gives Aub a chance to play which he will undoubtedly want in order to show that he means real business for next season.
It leave Henrikh Mkhitaryan out of the game, and that may be to ensure he is fully recovered by next thursday for the second leg against Atletico Madrid
A variant in the back line could see Chambers come in, instead of Koscielny, in order to protect his body from further injury.
Two other options could be to play Wilshere and Lacazette. Given Jack’s occasional injury problems it might well be wise to leave him out, and given that Laca is our prime centre forward who we will need to get at least one away goal in the Europa second leg, holding him back could be worth while.
Anyway, the intermittent broadband connection that we have at the moment means that it is probably wise for me to stop jabbering at this moment and put up what I have for fear that the broadband might once again vanish for good.
Sorry about this, we hope to be back to normal by tomorrow, if not sooner. Do post comments – we’re really trying to get this issue resolved.
Oh and here’s a quicky from the bloggettas: “Marca are pretty certain, Luis Enrique is going to be Arsenal’s new manager.”
Did I miss the revelation as to our next manager?
No
Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey, Laurent Koscielny, Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey and Alexandre Lacazette not playing
Mavropanos partners Calum Chambers in defence.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Alex Iwobi and Reiss Nelson and Henrikh Mkhitaryan play
The official site seems to be unreachable, asking for authentification. Either with PC or mobile and different browsers.
I can only have news using the Arsenal application.
Same for you guys ?
I think Le Boss has lined up Arsenal in a 4-2-3-1 playing formation style against Man Utd in the PL at Old Trafford this evening as follows:
Starts:
—————————-Ospina————————–
BellerinChambersMavropanosKolasinac
——————–Maitland-Xhaka——————–
Iwobi————–Nelson————-Mkhitaryan
———————-Aubameyang———————-
Bench:
Cech Holding Osei-Tutu Monreal Welbeck Nketiah.
But it looks like only 6 Gunners are on the bench for Arsenal. By the way, where is Oezil? Looked like he’s been given a complete rest from the match alongside the likes of: Mustafi, Koscielny, Ramsey and Lacazette But notwithstanding, Le Boss’ starting XI and 6 Gunners bench are looking strong enough to get a win over Man U in this PL big game encounter at Old Trafford this evening.
Souness being a complete arse the abject Managerial flop. Sky in general being the arses they always are. How many times will they mention fucking 8-2
Sorry for disturbing… now it’s ok.
COYG
Mavrapanos Nelson ….
Welcome to the real thing
Nice touch from Fergie and Jose excellent
Super skills there by Maitland Niles…
No foul on Nelson!!!!
We were looking ok ish up till then but suspect this team will struggle over all today
And once again a goal on a counter attack after a blatant foul is ignored in midfield. Surely a coincidence…
Well Kev did not think so
Maitland Niles… again…
Miki close….
Come on Gunners….
I swear the team hesitate slightly when they see a clear foul, it can’t be easy playing on as though every fould isn’t
Were are on for a draw I can feel it
2 Yellow offense… Pogba and Harera…but game wasn’t stopped as ARSENAL had possession of the ball…
Let’s see if they get it when the game stops..
Good game by the youngsters…..
Mr Wenger has won more PL titles at ManUtd than Jose. ?
What about the clear penalty?
Do refs get regular use tests?
Eye not use
Think Souness has been banging down the piss during the first half
Classy stuff from ManU to AW. Good to see the respect shown to AW by the ManU crowd.
The kids are doing well, hope they can keep the intensity. Come on auba and miki will need that magic.
What us, screwed over at OT, really, I’m in shock
Yes the Man U crowd who have sung the Paeado song at him every other fucking year, all forgiven now then that he has a trinket and a rounf of applause.
On replay, as clear a penalty as you’re ever going to see when Sanchez took down Maitland-Niles. He stepped in front of AMN and swept back with his foot to take him down. Maybe Mr. Friend was mugging for the cameras and didn’t see.
I have no respect for the fans at WHL nor Old Trafford. They have sung that abhorrent ditty for 20 years and NOW we are supposed to applaud them because they give a golf clap for our manager?
Fuck me great goal
Miki Miki mikimikimiki Mikitarian
The french commentators cannot hide them being MU fans or Arsenal bashers.
The MU goal was splendid, a thing of beauty
Miki’s goal is due to errors from the Manure defense from which Arsenal profited
The Manure goal was celebrated with screams….the one from Arsenal with deception…..
Manure are not plaiyng well because they know they face a B or rather a C team from Arsenal, so they are not concentrated and not into the effort….
Say what you want, our youngsters are going a great job. Wonder what the medium age is ? 24 ? Maybe not even that.
And that greek defender…. absolutely excellent. Chambers doing his job as well. Kolasinac coming back to a good level.
Mr Wenger may leave Arsenal but he won’t leave it in shambles as that Ferguson guy left Manure
Come on Gunners fight….
Chris
same shite on russian tv
THis game is being Reffed by PIGMOB a subsidiary of Slurgason Holdings
Good game by Nelson…..
Come on Gunners
Come on ARSENAL
Come on ARSENAL
Gutsy performance deserved a draw
I feel like we have been robbed again.
match report is on line
Well done the youngsters . Was hoping that we could hold on, but then again ….
Ah well , the next game is there for us to win.
Up the Gunners.
Unlucky to lose, draw would have been fair. Kids played well, so I’m not disappointed overall.
2 goals directly coming from referees “mistakes”
What else can you say?
The youngsters showed qualities. The team played well and gave MU some hard time. Not too disapointing and eventually rather hopeful.
But hard to swallow seeing one of the Manure dirtiest player scoring the winner. Just during 30 mn he seriously kicked down three of our players and remained unpunished. A shame from Friend!