Win FA Cup 3rd Round: Oxford 0 - 3 Arsenal | Monday 9th, January | KO: 20:00 | ITV

Just play the second strings. Hopefully the injury returnees can use this to get some minutes in their legs.

Prediction
Oxford 0-3 Arsenal

No repeat of the Nottingham Forest debacle

Arteta speaks

 

[bergholt]

Oh wow Marcus McGuane plays for Oxford. Wasn't he going to be a star a few years ago when he was with us?

 

[REWB]

Probably right. I'd be very disappointed if that defence conceded to Oxford, ridiculously strong against a League One attack.

Holding can concede to any team mate, we will concede at least one with Holding back there guaranteed.

 

[drippin]

Turner
Cedric/Walters-Holding-Gabriel-Tierney
Elneny
Vieira-Xhaka/Sambi
Marquinhos-Nketiah-Martinelli/ESR

I would go with something like this. Gabriel seems pretty durable, played 90% of EPL games last season and has continued that, and CB role isn't that straining. Especially against Oxford.

I might start with Xhaka to get more stability in midfield, and change him out for Sambi at halftime/60 minutes depending on the scoreline.

Then maybe Tomiyasu for Gabriel later in the game. And give some youth attacker chances for Nketiah if there is a 2 goal lead.

ESR can hopefully play 20-45 minutes.

 

[Riou]

Turner
Tomi-Holding-Gabriel-Tierney
Elneny-Lokonga
Marq-Fabio-Martinelli
Eddie
​

... considering this is about week after Newcastle and a week before Sp**s, getting a chance to rest 8 starters for the latter is a nice bonus for us.

Should be more than enough for a win.

Heard rumours about ESR starting, but would prefer him making a sub appearance from the bench.

 

[Rasmi]

I feel for the 5 kids on the bench who will have zero chance of getting a single minute

 

[Tomb Bombadil]

Turner
Tomi-Holding-Gabriel-Tierney
Elneny-Lokonga
Marq-Fabio-Martinelli
Eddie​

Would be my starting 11 as well. I am not so sure Arteta will rotate as much. I can see something like this:

Turner
Tomy - Holding - Gabriel - Tierney
Elneny
Vieira - Xhaka
Saka - Nketiah - Martinelli​

 

[Riou]

Would be my starting 11 as well. I am not so sure Arteta will rotate as much. I can see something like this:

Turner
Tomy - Holding - Gabriel - Tierney
Elneny
Vieira - Xhaka
Saka - Nketiah - Martinelli​

Not sure I want Saka playing this on 4 yellows to be honest, myself and @db10_therza are terrified that he will miss Sp**s through suspension!

 

[db10_therza]

Not sure I want Saka playing this on 4 yellows to be honest, myself and @db10_therza are terrified that he will miss Sp**s through suspension!

Just waiting to see who will bite first. My money is on @El Duderino …

 

[sergio_giorgini]

Turner
Tomi - Holding - Saliba - KT
Elneny - Lokonga
Vieira
Marquinhos - Nketiah - ESR


Xhaka and Gabriel need a rest. Saliba needs the minutes to rebuild form. Don’t mind which way this goes tbh.

 

[UpTheGunnerz]

Turner
Tomi-Holding-Gabriel-Tierney
Elneny-Lokonga
Marq-Fabio-Martinelli
Eddie
​

... considering this is about week after Newcastle and a week before Sp**s, getting a chance to rest 8 starters for the latter is a nice bonus for us.

Should be more than enough for a win.

Heard rumours about ESR starting, but would prefer him making a sub appearance from the bench.

My boy Riou loves him a FA cup run I hear

 

[UpTheGunnerz]

Ospina
Chambers Sokratis Mustafi Gibbs
Coquelin Ox
Walcott Adelaide Arshavin
Akpom

Let’s do this

 

[RacingPhoton]

Ospina
Chambers Sokratis Mustafi Gibbs
Coquelin Ox
Walcott Adelaide Arshavin
Akpom

Let’s do this

Nice team. Would prefer Sanogo for Akpom though

 

[MutableEarth]

Nice team. Would prefer Sanogo for Akpom though

Interestingly, Akpom is the front runner for the Championships Golden Boot at the moment. Carrick has him firing for Boro!

 

[Rex Stone]

Playing on Monday is so unfair. Hurting our title challenge

 

[bergholt]

I might start with Xhaka to get more stability in midfield, and change him out for Sambi at halftime/60 minutes depending on the scoreline.

If Sambi isn’t good enough to start against Oxford then we should release him on a free

 

[Pop Tart]

It didn't work out well for us in the FA cup last time we played in those jerseys.

very spursy performance.

Still remember keane saying we were a poundland madrid

 

[GoonerJeeves]

All white, the surrender kit. We're out.

 

[Tir Na Nog]

Ospina
Chambers Sokratis Mustafi Gibbs
Coquelin Ox
Walcott Adelaide Arshavin
Akpom

Let’s do this

Nah.

Fabianski
Hoyte Djourou Silvestre Traore
Eastmond Denilson
Merida Lansbury Vela
Simpson


Please.

 

[Tir Na Nog]

It's probably important we stay in this competition to get Vieira, Sambi and the likes much needed game-time. People will cry about too many fixtures but the last thing we want is for Ødegaard or Xhaka to go down and then some of these guys coming in lacking match sharpness.

 

[drippin]

I am not so sure Arteta will rotate as much.

This is something to observe, because Newcastle game was on 3.1.2023, Oxford (League One) is on 9.1.2023 and Tottenham is on 15.1.2023. 6 days between matches.

Arteta might give some minutes for starters in the game just to see the AM meltdown..

What's interesting, is that it might be good for players to play some to keep sharpness, rather than play last game on 3rd and next game of 15th, with 12 days in between.

The meltdown will be similar to playing Xhaka & Ødegaard, and others, for 90 minutes against Newcastle, when the next game is 6 days later against Oxford.