Oct 19
Team Predictions: AZ Alkmaar v Arsenal
Arsenal will be without Theo Walcott for their Champions League group game with AZ Alkmaar tomorrow evening, after the Englishman was ruled out for 3-4 weeks with a knee injury.
The 21-year-old sustained his injury during the 3-1 triumph over Birmingham City at the weekend, while fellow midfielder Tomas Rosicky is also missing from the squad due to a small knee problem.
“The news is not good,” Wenger told reporters. “We are without Theo Walcott for longer than expected.
“We thought it would be just 48 hours but it is a medial knee ligament, which is what I feared after the game. He will be out for three to four weeks.”
French fullback Gael Clichy returns, although Nicklas Bendtner, Johan Djourou, Denilson and Eduardo remain out.
Samir Nasri and ‘keeper Lukasz Fabianski are expected to make their returns in tomorrow’s reserve game at Wolves.
Gooner Talk’s Predicted XI
Mannone
Sagna – Gallas – Vermaelen – Clichy
Fabregas – Song – Diaby
Eboue – van Persie – Arshavin
All predictions can be left in the comments section below, don’t forget to tell us your thoughts on the game either!
Too many injuries but somehow we are coping!!!
I guessed the same exact line-up after I heard all the injury news. Don’t mind I guess, but would like to see Vela given a chance up front in Eboue’s place.
Why would you ever want Eboue dropped from the team!? He is in amazing form for us at the minute and fully deserves his spot.
agree!! He is so versatile as nobody else!!! Has a lot of pace and intellegence!! Hope we will see Ramsey or Wilshere in this game!!
lot of pace ok.. but intelligence ??? lol..u’ve got to be kddin me
He doesnt look dumb on the ball anymore – not a natural attacker but that side of his game is very decent now, and he offers something different to the other players in our squad. Hes not just got pace, he has amazing skill. He can beat opponents with such ease.
He’s been one of our best players every time hes played in attack this year, particularly against the weaker teams – they just cant handle him.
exactly!! He put in the ball for Rosicky to put it back for Diaby to score!! He has intellegence!!
mannone will get dropped tomorrow,he needs to be there’s a calamity waiting to happen with him,he nearly cost us on saturday it’s time he moved back to the bench..
such a bullsh.. comment!!! Almunia has done far more mistakes then him!! He will get over it!!! Our Buffon!!!
u are a muppet bruv…tell u wat, if u need to win more games, play vito.people come with luck and this guy has come with luck, since he became no1 we have never been beaten…fact
eboue has added an edge to his game and his dribbeling ability is underrated. forget his antics he is a player that can make the difference in tight matches.
the fact he can play as a winger or right back has given the team interesting options to change the fluidity of the team
EBOUE!!! EBOUE!!! EBOUE!!!! EBOUE!!!!
i really hope vela starts tomorrow. If he can’t get a start with, Walcott, Eduardo, Rosicky and Bentdner all I out I’d be worried for his future at Arsenal. Arsene has a some good problems coming up in where to find space to fit 4 potential world class players in the squad, those being:- Wilshere, Ramsey, Vela and Merida. I would be gutted if any of those left but unless we sell a couple of players there playing time is going to be restricted. I hate to say it but Rosicky’s contract is up in the summer and his going to be 30 next season so maybe his times up and I think one of Denilson or Diaby will make way for Ramsey. Wilshere will eventually take Eboue’s place in the attacking positions which means lots of game time for him and as for Vela I can only see him getting more games once Arshavin leaves, which wont happen until at least this season and next or if we get a long term injury to any of our other attacking players. But to lose Vela and keep Bendtner would be criminal because he is going to be one of the best players in the world without any doubt.
You’re talking through your arse!!
at least he has an opinion. Unlike u who takes it in the arse.
Yes, i do agree tat we need to see more of Vela. He was awesome for Mehico. he shldnt get the Merida , Wilshere treatment.
but Rosicky shld stay. he owes us. him playing helps Cesc. Arshavin will leave..tat i agree.
Eboue is in amazing form as a right back. I would put him in there as Right back, but vela is a better attacking threat. I would put on some youngsters in 2nd half, resting RVP and arshavin. ARshavin seems to have a fitness prblem.
Eboue is in amazing form in every position! Nonetheless I have to agree that vela needs to be put in the team. Maybe a “vela – rvp – eboue” forward line would work well
ken are u insane
yes he is!!!! Vela is just 20!!! Come on!! He already plays in the best league and in the best team!!
Thought you were talking about me but fortunately you were not. I think Vela is still a youngster and still need more time to be able to break into the first team, the same for Wilshere, Merida & Ramsey.
Why not walcott then? Vela has shown more than walcott in his opportunities. Ramsey has looked fantastic this season as well. Id say he’s more-or-less ready as well
i’d play merida instead of eboo and wilshire instead of arsahvin and (one more!) Ramsey in for diabz!!!!
Rest gallas and vremallen for silvest and senders!!!!
Got to rest our best!!!!!
it’s a long season!!!!
need to purchase a centre half in january or give Bartly a go!!
I am desperate to see Vela in action again. Although eboue is performing okay at the moment, I think Vela deserves to get a game now. Dont want him to leave because he never gets the chance. Hope he is patient:) Also think gibbs deserves another game, when clichy has struggled to find his form.
Agreed that this prediction is correct. However I am slightly hpeful that Vela will get the start over Eboue. Nothing against Eboue I just think that its about time that Vela gets playing time outside of the Carling Cup. When he is fit he should get a few starts since he is always out of contention when you ideally want to give the established players rest after internationals, because he has to travel so far and returns late and fatigued always.
————-mannone————–
eboue—gallas—vermaelan—clichy
fabregas———song———diaby
arshavin———rvp———–vela
I agree with the team except I’d put Eboue at right back for Sagna and give Vela the start up front. Gunners for the win!!
I dun think that we need to let him go after we wait for 18 months. After come back from injury he still Czech captain and playmaker for his country. He can add and shared more idea to attack with cesc. We need experienced player like him. People try to think that they are too smart to give this kind of suggestion. Vela, Wilshere, Ramsey, Merida have plenty of time to show their best.
Vela is going to be genius, I am sure Wenger knows that but he can not play ahead of most of the older players and he’s been injured. I don’t think its anyone’s fault he hasn’t gotten a lot of time. When he’s fit he travels half way around the world to play for mexico.
The game away against Alkmaar will be tough, but I think that we will win anyway.
I agree with starting XI proposed by Gooner Chris, except Eboue; instead him, I prefer Nasri in the left and Arshavin in the right.
I hope that Vela and Wilshere could come in after half time.
Result: 2-1 Arsenal (van Persie and Fabregas), although I have a feeling about Vermaelen…I had the same feeling before the game against Wigan and he scores 2 times…who knows.
3-1 for arsenal (rvp fabregas vela}
for heaven’s sake wenger,dont play eboue or diaby tonight…put in wilshere cuz diaby can’t head the ball anyway so his height doesnt matter….if at all eboue plays i hope it’s RB n nothing else
use FABREGAS AS SUPPORT STRIKER!!!
Eboue starting is fine,some caution is OK for the first half, with Vela introduced later on to finish them off with a hat trick of chips over the oncoming goally.Ramsey to replace Diaby in 2nd half and a late run around and token goal for Jack the Lad as icing on the cake. Almunia’s re-introduction to football, 5-1 to the Gunners despite him fluffing one!!
So, we dont want to stop thw winning role ….
Mannone – although he has mistaken we cant kill his confedence by dropping him out of XI
Sanga-Gallas-Vermaelen-Gibbs
Song-Ramsey
Fabregas
Arshavin-Van Persie – Vela
I want to see Wilshere Ramsey & Vela play more …
Subs should be Wilshere, Diaby & Eboue
I feel Arsenal will scrap a 2-0 win with Arshavin/Van Persie & Fabregas scoring
i agree with bade the gooner and his line up
Mannone
Sagna-Gallas-Vermaelen-Gibbs
Song-Ramsey
Arshavin-Van persie-Vela
but as for the subs i would rather have merida for Diaby
charles everyone on this planet would agree with that lineup….but wenger won’t so it aint gonna happen!!
we hve 2 play vela hez 2 good a talent to lose!!!
mannone starts in goal. almunia is on the bench
your team is spot on goonerchris
[...] Confirmed Starting XI – as previously predicted: [...]
BRAVO Diaby! awesome mistimed jump. LMAO
y is he still in the 1st team??