The Arsenal Society VIII

Well, all things considered -- that second string line-up ain't winning **** no matter what the formation. Having to play a replay against Orient isn't a problem because the second string will play again and they'll win but after that, because we're away at Old Trafford, we'll have to put a strong team out. At Wembley, I think we'll see a mixture of first-team and squaddies -- players like Arshavin, Gibbs, Rosicky, Eboue might get a start. Obviously every league game and every CL game (if we go further) will need our best available line-up. Wenger might be concerned with the team having to play every 3/4 days but I think if any squad can cope with it, we can. If you want to compete in all competitions, you're obviously going to face that problem. The players just have to man-up and deal with it.

I think the fact that we are playing every 4 days has been a bit over exagerated. Firstly, they're being paid good money to do it, yes, that doesn't mean a lot, but still!

Secondly, its football for christs sake! i'd play it everyday if I could. The fact that they are playing for glory just makes it all the more appetizing for me

I agree with you, they should all man up and be thankful for the position that they are in

Seemed quite good. Showed some good strength on a few occasions and looked reasonably comfortable. He's only 18 and another one that could probably use a loan spell. We're not the best club for a central defender to learn his trade -- if any Championship level teams are willing to take him for next season, that would be great.

With Vermaelen coming back in a couple of weeks, I don't think we'll see any more of Miquel this season.

Shouldn't the concern be that now your second string players will be tired for the Sunderland game? The game which happens to come three days before the Nou Camp decider......

I'm sure we won't see a totally second-string side for Sunderland. It's a league game and so it's massively important. Ramsey will be back, and Vermaelen should be too so they are a couple of decent players that will be able to get games. Maybe 4/5 players rested depending on who really can't cope with the games.

I'm sure we won't see a totally second-string side for Sunderland. It's a league game and so it's massively important. Ramsey will be back, and Vermaelen should be too so they are a couple of decent players that will be able to get games. Maybe 4/5 players rested depending on who really can't cope with the games.

If we do rest 4- players, i think it will send out the wrong message. Sunderland have improved greatly, one of the most improved teams in the Prem. I reckon we need to ensure that our spine plays in the game, i.e Cesc, Nasri, the 2CB's and maybe Van p. The rest can be fairly chopped and changed. But its the spine of this team that gives us that winning mentality and desire to win.

I reckon the 2nd string are probably a demotivated, especially after the Barca game. Dont get a game against Barca, but theyre picked against Leyton Orient with other players who are clearly not in the first team. Obviously theyre going to be lacking in motivation and passion.

I reckon that those 2nd string players see it differently to us. They dont see it as a chance to stake their claim, but I reckon they see not being selected for barca as a mild insult. But its up to Wenger to flush out that mentality and show them that they are all equally important to Arsenal.

I agree -- in an ideal world we'd play the full strength team but I don't think Wenger will given that there's a trip to Barcelona 3 days away.

I'm going on what I think will happen rather than what I want to happen -- I'd tell them to get the **** on with it and earn their money. I hate that they're wrapped them in cotton-wool. But realistically, Wenger isn't going to play a full team for 3 games in a week (remember we'll have Man Utd in the FA Cup too if we get past the replay).

Not a totally second-string one, but the likes of Fatshavin and Rosicky would most likely have started, but now you have a cup game against fired up opposition looking to make history, it will be tiring......


I'm just thinking aloud, feel free to dismiss my thoughts.

Just looked at Barca's fixtures, and currently they have a game on the Sunday before the 2nd leg.

I think Wenger is trying, again, to take pressure off his players with his talk about congestion. My concern would be players playing in 2/3 games in quick succession and picking up niggles, as some of your lot like to do.

I think that's every Arsenal fan's concern. If Van Persie gets injured, we are ****ed. Arsenal have had it relatively good w.r.t injuries this season, but it's still early days. This is generally the stage where it all falls apart and players start dying left, right and centre.

I would rather Fabregas got injured than RVP right now he's that important. The amount of strapping on his ankles doesn't help calm the nerves either =/
Well they usually start dying around late Nov/ mid Dec don't they?

I would rather Fabregas got injured than RVP right now he's that important. The amount of strapping on his ankles doesn't help calm the nerves either =/
Well they usually start dying around late Nov/ mid Dec don't they?