By Bulldog Drummond
I imagine that Petr Cech will play in goal, as that seems to be the arrangement and the player has to stay match fit as he is the backup for the rest of the season.
In defence we could use the back four approach although obviously we don’t have Hector Bellerin for the rest of the season.
Stephan Lichtsteiner has been looking less and less secure in my mind, so it would be obvious to play Ainsley Maitland-Niles in that position, and not push up from that side of the pitch.
We could have Monreal back, but much depends on whether the manager wants a solid and secure back four or whether he wants more rampaging up the left side of the Manchester United defence. If the latter then Sead Kolasinac is the obvious man, but in a game against a team doing as well as this at present the solidity of Monreal, with the instruction to stay exactly where he is, at full back, could be a good idea.
Laurent Koscielny and Sokratis both did well against Chelsea so I am not sure there is much reason to change them.
As for the men in the middle, if we look back to the Chelsea match, this also seemed to work well. I am not saying that the current Manchester United team is the same as Chelsea last weekend, but when it works, it is worth staying with it, to my mind.
So that would mean a triangle of Granit Xhaka, Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi.
But now is this a match for Ozil? Since I have no idea what is really going on with Mesut I can’t say, but I imagine that for the manager to play Ozil now he will have to have something in mind that is perfect for this game in terms of Ozil’s ability. And he will be saying, “Ok if you are ready, go out and do it and prove it to me. This is your chance.
The alternative of course is Ramsey who played excellently against Chelsea, and the question would then be why to move him. I can’t really see why one would so I would have Ramsey with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette starting together to keep the Manchester United team pushed back. They are hardly going to risk everything rushing forward with those two ready to make a break for it.
So Alex Iwobi, and Mesut Ozil will be on the beach. Who is there with them… well, a goalkeeper obvioiusly, but for the rest, I’ve got it wrong so often I’ve given up trying.
Cech
Maitland-Niles, Sokratis, Koscielny, Monreal
Xhaka, Torreira, Guendouzi
Ramsey
Aubameyang Lacazette
Trivia:
Nacho Monreal scored our first goal in our last FA Cup encounter against Manchester United in 2015 and he is the only goal-scorer from that match that has a chance to play tonight. Rooney equalized for Man United, Welbeck scored the winner for us.
Laurent Koscielny also started on that night while Aaron Ramsey replaced Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who got injured while creating Monreal’s goal. Mesut Özil gave a solid performance with a pre-assist for our first goal but could be left out again tonight. Alexis Sanchez started for us but now might start for Man United.
Our line-up for the day was:
Szczesny (sold to Juventus)-Bellerin (injured), Koscielny, Mertesacker (retired), Monreal-Coquelin (sold to Valencia), Cazorla (left the club for Villarreal on a free transfer)-Oxlade-Chamberlain (sold to Liverpool), Özil, Alexis (left the club for Manchester United in a swap deal for Mkhitaryan)-Welbeck (injured). Chambers (on loan at Fulham), Ramsey and Giroud (sold to Chelsea) were introduced as substitutes.
I wouldn’t see it as a wise tactical decision making made, should Emery decided to make the decision to drop Leno for Cech to start this high profile FA Cup big game between Arsenal and Man Utd at the Ems tonight.
Why did I think it won’t be a wise tactical decision making made if Emery drops Leno for Cech to start the match, despite that it has been Cech that has been starting in nearly all the Cup games for Arsenal since he returned to action from the hamstring injury that sidelined him on the sidelines for a spell of weeks which consequently saw him got demoted from being the number one goalkeeper to number two for Arsenal?
Well, taking to cognizance that this is a high profile big Cup game that Arsenal will be playing at home to win against a rejuvenated Man Utd team who has of recent been playing big and winning. Arsenal MUST therefore start their first choise goalkeeper Leno in this match. And not even only him but start all the Arsenal big guns who are in top form in the match as well. By starting all their inform big guns in this match, Arsenal should be at advantage position to beat Man Utd in the match. The Man Utd who are expected to start all their arch Red Devils in the match.
Additionally, the Gunners playing at home in this big Cup game encounter should have the benefit of the fanatical mass home fans support to their side rousing ceaseless for them to win the match. And I strongly think Arsenal will prevail on Man Utd in the match by beating them by whatever goals margin. But let me warn the Gunners to be careful of Man Utd likely to play violently in the match more especially Paul Pogba who is known to have played violently against Arsenal at the Ems in the past bullying the Gunners to submitting to defeat in the game. The Gunners MUST therefore put a anti-Brutality game playing in the match by Man Utd in place to nullify their violent play. The Gunners should also be aware that Juan Mata is a free kick specialist and take the necessary steps to nullify the effectiveness of his free kicks taking in the match. Arsenal should bind all the arch Red Devils including Sanchez and cast them all out from this match immediately the game commences.
I think Emery should start a back three for this match.
My Arsenal 3-5-2 formation starting XI and the 7 Gunners I have on the bench who I want Emery to use for this match are as below.
Starts:
Leno;
Mustafi Koscielny Sokratis;
AMN Torreira Ozil Xhaka Kolasinac;
Lacazette Aubameyang.
Bench:
Cech Lichtsteiner Jenkinson Monreal Guendouzi Ramsey Iwobi.
The Express has this:
Arsenal: Cech, Maitland-Niles, Sokratis, Koscielny, Kolasinac, Torreira, Xhaka, Iwobi, Ramsey, Aubameyang, Lacazette.
Subs: Leno, Mustafi, Monreal, Lichtsteiner, Elneny, Guendouzi, Ozil.
COYG!
I seen some of the replays on TV, I don’t understand how Sokratis got hurt. Achilles?
COYG!
A commentary says ankle.
Drat, we didn’t need to give up a goal.
COYG!