EPL: Arsenal v Southampton | 15/9/12, 15:00 | Arsenal Player

VS



English Premier League Matchday #4
Emirates Stadium
Saturday, September 15, 2012, 15:00
Live on Arsenalplayer (audio)
Official arsenal.com Match Menu
Southampton FC Official Website

(I know we have a bit of a break, but might as well get it made now. Bump later if necessary).

Well in, nice and early.

Not going to bother with the lineup at this stage. Hopefully the international break doesn't cause any injuries to Arsenal players.

My Preferred Lineup:

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Szczesny
- Jenkinson - Mertesacker - Vermaelen - Gibbs
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - Diaby - - Arteta
- Chamberlain - - - - - Cazorla - - - -- -Podolski
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Giroud

Bench: - Mannone, Koscielny, Santos, Coquelin, Ramsey, Walcott, Gervinho

If we are winning comfortably at HT bring kos on for one of per or Verms

------------------Szczesny
Jenkinson-Mertesacker-Koscielny-Gibbs
----------------Diaby-Arteta (c)
Chamberlain-------Cazorla----Podolski
-------------------Giroud

Subs: Mannone, Vermaelen, Santos, Coquelin, Ramsey, Gervinho, Walcott

Vermaelen has that minor knock, plus I expect he'll play 90 mins for both Belgium games. Plus Koscielny needs match fitness. Nothing wrong with a bit of rotation.

My biggest concern is, how to bring Kos back into team when our defense looks so solid now? he was our best defender by miles last season, but for the past few games Mert and Verm were really good, it's a question i've been asking myself, let's see how Wenger will solve it

Szczesny
Jenks Mert Kos Gibbs
Arteta Diaby
Ox Cazorla Podolski
Giroud

Walcott on around 60th minute as a striker if we're in front, let's see if he can do the job there

Diaby wont start this, he has two games for France in four days then this a few days after. Wenger sounded pissed about it today.

Coquelin will have to step in, Gervinho back in the team in place of AOC.

Giroud must start scoring.

F**k International breaks

Same team as yesterday. No need to drop anyone unless they need a breather following their international games.

For the people put the pole in their line ups Mannone won't get dropped unless gets he injured. He's been good so far and has 3 consecutive clean sheets so Wenger will keep him on merit. Remember how Szczesney got his chance in the 1st place.

Funny how Diabys in everyone's lineup go back to the start of the pool thread and it was only Woolwichgooner who had diaby in his starting lineup.

Diaby needs a rest, if he really does play 180 minutes, we can't afford to play him. We'd have to hope he doesn't get injured either.

Cazorla another, hope he gets no more than 90 minutes in internationals.

Diaby needs a rest, if he really does play 180 minutes, we can't afford to play him. We'd have to hope he doesn't get injured either.

Cazorla another, hope he gets no more than 90 minutes in internationals.

After 1 game everyone's got this Diaby fever now people want to protect him from injury when some of us so called fans were hoping he gets injured, my point is it's amazing how fast things change on AM.

Funny how Diabys in everyone's lineup go back to the start of the pool thread and it was only Woolwichgooner who had diaby in his starting lineup.

Yeah and now I dont unless he is playing off the bench for France (which I doubt) I cant see Wenger risking him playing that many games.

Diaby needs a rest, if he really does play 180 minutes, we can't afford to play him. We'd have to hope he doesn't get injured either.

Cazorla another, hope he gets no more than 90 minutes in internationals.

After 1 game everyone's got this Diaby fever now people want to protect him from injury when some of us so called fans were hoping he gets injured.

You got the key word right there. They're no fans of Arsenal.

Diaby needs a rest, if he really does play 180 minutes, we can't afford to play him. We'd have to hope he doesn't get injured either.

Cazorla another, hope he gets no more than 90 minutes in internationals.

After 1 game everyone's got this Diaby fever now people want to protect him from injury when some of us so called fans were hoping he gets injured, my point is it's amazing how fast things change on AM.

A bunch of fickle "fans".

E

Funny how Diabys in everyone's lineup go back to the start of the pool thread and it was only Woolwichgooner who had diaby in his starting lineup.

Yeah and now I dont unless he is playing off the bench for France (which I doubt) I cant see Wenger risking him playing that many games.

I never understood the diaby bashing, he might be sloppy but some arsenal fans are impatient, I stayed away from because people on this forum tend to insult people with conflicting views, but I always liked diaby's style, we need such player (before this game) he will have bad games too, its just a thing and the same goes for ramsey aswell, his recent cameos have been decent.

What this nonsense about resting diaby? He need as much minutes under his belt, he still has some ironing out to do. He needs game time. Injuries are unpredictable, most of his are announce not witnessed. Meaning theyre inflicted in training.

Does anyone watch Southampton on a regular basis? I haven't seen too much of them other than they're pretty good passers - rom todays match v. united a bit slow on their left wing but vicous on their right - good at retaining ball and can play long and short passes-
They also seem eager to get in and around the box in numbers

hopefully they'll be nervous and feel like they're up against it from the start after their start to the season.
Hopefully being at home will be a big advantage.

I get the feeling Arteta will be even more essential than usual in this game to sweep up loose balls from knock ons and track the runs... very happy he won't have any internationals- can focus on learning more about his role in the team - he obviously was busy over the summer and is committed to his more defined role as a defensive midfielder.

Hopefully Diaby won't be overexerted during the internationals. I think he'll probably get minutes in the friendly but hopefully not the qualifier... I imagine Wenger will make a phonecall or two to make sure he is looked after- I get the feeling that Arteta and Diaby are building a really strong partnership... something that Song never had any interest in doing.

I think we will win 2-1, they have goals in them and they will want some points as adkins is already under pressure, so they will be going for it. But anyhow i think we will nick it, but they shouldn't be under estimated (i.e hull a few years back). COYG

**** THIS ****.

Honestly I hope they get rid of these blasted international breaks in the near future. Any week were no club football is played should be a rest for the players.

No sense in putting the line up just yet, we'll have to see what happens after the international brake.
But if everyone's fit i would keep the same line up, even if Szcesny, Sagna, Rozza, Koscielny are fit(some of them later) they have to fight for the spot, for now the team do not fck up so let them play. THe only change i consider is giving a Walcott in Giroud place. Other than that keep the team, maybe rest Diaby or someone who's fatigued after the break.

Reckon against Southampton at home, Giroud needs his chance to score finally. Same with the Norwich game. Theo can stay on the bench. Gervinho to start. (we can't start with three strikers, i.e. Theo in place of Ox).

Won't be an easy game, Southampton have a good team and they really need to start getting some points. Still, I expect a win, anything else is a failure.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Szczesny
Jenkinson - Mertesacker - Vermaelen - Gibbs
- - - - - Chamberlain - - - - - - - Arteta
Walcott - - - - - - - - - Cazorla - - - - - - - Podolski
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- Giroud

Diaby will need to be rested for this game. Southampton will probably lineup something like this.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Davis
- - - - - - Clyne - Fonte - Hooiveld - Fox
- - - - - Schneiderlin - - - - - - - Ward-Prowse
Ramirez - - - - - - - - - Lallana - - - - - - - Rodriguez
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- Lambert

I despise the international break to be honest.

No, Puncheon'll start over Rodriguez. Rodgriguez isn't a good winger, he's naturally a ST.

Seriously guys, stop with this Ox playing in deep midfield rubbish .

Same as yesterday with Szczesny in goals. Maybe Koscielny coming in if Verms injury is too serious.

No point in fiddling around too much with a winning formula.

Seriously guys, stop with this Ox playing in deep midfield rubbish .

How is it rubbish, his best position is as a central midfielder.

Looking forward to Ox getting on the ball a bit more, he was tidy and quite defensive against Liverpool which was good, but we should have more possession this time around and hopefully he pushes on pins their defence back.

On another note, just watched the Pool game and damn Sterling is going to be a great player. Love how he shuffles the ball so nimbly, and always does something positive on the ball. Allen looks tidy, but must be a bit more creative with his passing, he spreads it nicely but must drive through the midfield.

All this Sterling hoopla makes me want Wenger to unleash Gnabry to the premiership.

Not sure I'd rush Szczesny back. Vito did well in every game. Put him on the bench for now and let him WIN his place back I.E Vito making a mistake. Yes Szczesny is better all rounder but from what I'v seen Vito deserves his chance. Same as Kos. If anyone was going to show Mert up it was Liverpool. On one occasion he got caught out and nearly concede a for sure penalty but against southampton he shouldn't have the problem of too much pace against him. It's a nice change to have competition

I think the side picks itself. Same lineup as Sunday if everyone is 100% fit.

Gonna be another arm wrestle this game.