Team Predictions: Legia Warsaw v Arsenal
Arsenal play their final pre-season friendly tomorrow against Legia Warsaw. Less than a week later, the real stuff begins as the Gunners’ travel to Anfield for their Premier League opener at Anfield.
Arsene Wenger’s side have had a good pre-season thus far, winning 4 out of their 5 games, but more importantly the new signings, Chamakh and Koscielny – and younger players – Jack Wilshere and Emmanuel Frimpong, have impressed.
However, the defensive frailties of past seasons were evident once more in the Emirates cup and this is a genuine concern ahead of the new season.
The match is also seen as a sort of testimonial for former Legia ‘keeper Lukasz Fabianski, who has been talking about his return to Poland.
Fabianski said:
“For a very long time, I thought about the possibility of such an encounter, this for me will be an important event. I hope they won’t cry. I am very happy the Legia fans are returning to the stadium, this is an important game for them.
“I can not wait for the hot atmosphere they are about to create at home.”
Gooner Talk’s Predicted Starting XI
Fabianski
Sagna – Djourou – Vermaelen – Clichy
Wilshere – Frimpong – Nasri
Walcott – Chamakh – Arshavin
You’ll find the confirmed starting line-up on Gooner Talk when we get it tomorrow afternoon.
What side do you think will play? Let us know your team predictions in the comments section below!
—————-Fabianski—————–
—Sagna—-Koscielny—Vermealen—-Gibbs
———-Wilshere-Frimpong–Nasri——–
———Walcott-Chamakh—Rosicky——–
Legia:
—————Antolovic——————-
Jędrzejczyk–Knezewic-Wawrzyniak-Komorowski
————Vrdoljak-Borysiuk————–
—————–Iwański——————-
——-Manu—————Cabral———–
—————-Mezenga——————–
I don’t want Fabianski to be our first choice goalkeeper but it’s looking more and more likely to happen.
agree with u but i think koscielny will start tomorrow
@chris wenger just said asharvin is not with the squard, so rosicky on the left more likely, and any news about signings.
————-Fabianski————–
Sagna–Koscielny–Vermaelen–Clichy
————Djourou—————
——Wilshere—-Nasri———–
Walcott——Chamakh———Arshavin
Djourou stated this week a love for playing in midfield, maybe his experience will edge him ahead of Frimpong to start in that holding role at Anfield
arshavin is injured
Lewis. I think Djourou should focus as a CD who could drop into DM if needed. He is big and pacy for his size, aggresive in the tackle and half decent on the ball, all the attributes of a top CD. I think he is ok as a DM in the way that Ledley King has done a job in that position before. At Arsenal we need a bit more than ok for that position and I think if he insisted on that being his regular position he would only be good enough at a level below a top EPL and CL club. If not for injuries, however, I think he would be considered a top CD by now and we as fans wouldn’t be worrying about our defence so much. I think Wenger recognises his potential also which is why he is unsure about bringing in a recognised top CD which would push Djourou down the pecking order and stop him getting the more regular games he needs to develop into a top CD. I may be wrong of course and had he not been injured he may still not have been up to the level required but I still think he ticks most of the boxes to be a great CD.
Our strongest line-up for this season in my opinion is:
————— Almunia —————–
—————————————–
Sagna — Koscielny — Vermaelen — Clichy
—————————————–
————- Song — Diaby ————-
—————————————–
—- Nasri — Fabregas — Arshavin —-
—————————————–
————- van Persie —————-
Yes, until Fabianski puts in some stellar performances I still think Almunia is the better option (not a great one though). I also think this will be our new formation, with two holding midfielders. Diaby will pretty much be box-to-box but I think he’ll be given clear defensive responsibilities this season.
Seriously, if I was a defender on an opposing team I’d be pretty frightened of having to deal with those front four players!
@Bogi: Totally agree with u. 100% GREAT LINE-UP
you’ re right Bogi, omg, with RvP without injuries, new keeper and sb better than Diaby this 1st eleven would be really massive, shame it s not going to happen bur even the keeper would be a huge addition to the team and a few conceded goals less, can’ t get it why is this such a problem, maybe Wenger is waiting to the 1st September but hearing him saying that he s going to choose from what he has makes me angry!
Wojciech Sczesney
Nordtveit Koscielny Vermaelen Gibbs
Song
Nasri Rosicky
Walcott Chamakh Arshavin
**********
Sagna, Diaby, Djorou, Clichy, Almunia, Fabianski sux so bad….
They had like 2 or 3 years to prove tat they r worth champion caliba team..
But they didn’t.
Diaby = Weak,Can’t Defend Not consistent….
Sagna, Clichy = Can’t cross, too weak, And Can’t Mark
Djorou = Weak, Bad Decision maker, Injury prone
Almunia and Fab =bad judgment, bad postioning
SONG, FRIMFONG = Made unnessary tackles and aggressive when it not needed ( can’t risk getting Many yellow cards)
ROSICKY = Will he be injury prone again, come on lad, take some long shots liked u did in 07
Vela = So he can only chip that’s ALL??? Need improvements on Finishing with shots
Who we actually need to destroy worthless Barca –
Akinfeev or Hart
Mertesacker, Santon, Fabio Coneatro
Kroos or Schweinsteiger
and some experience over the age of 25
P>S I am not a spud fan, just a disappointed gunner….
Hes now def gona stick with either almunia or fabianski- EVERY ONE CAN SEE THAT THESE CLOWNS ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH – WHY IS HE BEING SO BLOODY STUBBORN! WE NEED A QUALITY KEEPER!
WE HAVE NOT IMPROVED DEFENSE ACTUALLY SHORTER IN NUMBERS AND QUALITY. THE ANSWER TO THE GOALKEEPING PROBLEM IS TO SHUFFLE THE DECK OF BAD KEEPERS and NOT GET A NEW ONE! F***ING JOKE!
@Zenith…
And you think your proposed new players will come with NO weaknesses?
C’mon guys… we are all frustrated bcos we want our team to win trophies again
but we’ll win sod all if all we do is criticise them! We have many good players and
a few exceptional ones….. IIke most teams. Yes even Barca are sometimes suspect
defensively and what about Manure? They aren’t perfect!
What we need to do is GET BEHIND whatever team the manager picks
Give them confidence and MAKE OUR STADIUM A FORTRESS rather than
whine and groan whenever an error is made! LET’S SHOW SOME PASSION TOO AS FANS!
We have a part to play….C’MON U GOONERS!
Yet we bitch,
I’m more annoyed that walcott will probably start tomorrow and against liverpool. I’m seriously sick of this kid getting so many chances to prove himself after failing every time. Fabianski is known to be a very talented keeper, but hasnt had the same chances as theo. I know its a much more crucial position, but he could still turn it around if he gets off to a good start.
Ultimately I think he will fail at arsenal because his trouble is that he seems to have the same mental weaknesses as senderos and almunia to a lesser degree. If he does make a mistake, everyone gets on his back, but he really lets it get to him, and it really effects his subsequent matches, whereas real winners will shake it off and improve. Gibbs is a player who made a few mistakes when he first started playing in the 1st team, but each time he would pick himself up and from then on just look even more determined to improve – and he did so remarkably quickly.
I really think szczesny should be given a shot now. Hes the only keeper we have who I dont see that weakness in. He looks incredibly focussed and strong-minded. Plus he appears to be *at least* as talented as the other keepers we have.
Fabianski
Sagna – Koscielny – Vermaelen – Clichy
Wilshere – Frimpong – Nasri
Walcott – Chamakh – Vela
Fabianski
Nordtveit Koscielny Djourou Clichy
Lansbury Frimpong Nasri
Walcott Chamakh Vela
I expect a fairly weak line up so close to the start of the season.