Tag Archives: BATE Borisov

BATE victory, Olivier Giroud and Jack Wilshere

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BATE Borisov result

Like the wins against Cologne and Doncaster, not much can be read into them.

Another run out for Jack Wilshere (more latter) and Reiss Nelson looked good (let’s not overhype – Jermaine Jenas compared him to Neymar).

The important things is we win. And our Europa League journey is set to continue.

Olivier Giroud

He has never been everyone’s cup of tea, but this weekend Olivier Giroud scored his 100th Arsenal goal.

He joined the club in 2012, having been Ligue 1 top scorer as Montpellier lifted the French title.

A big, tall strong man, he certainly was not the nippy Thierry Henry, skilful Emmanuel Adebayor, or deadly Robin van Persie that fans had been used to.

But what  Giroud did have are a very particular set of skills. Skills he had acquired over a very long career. Skills that make him a nightmare for defences. 

It was a set of skills that many fans did not appreciate. And still do not appreciate. But his stats speak for themselves. In his 6th year at the club, he has hit 100 goals. Not bad for a player who has never been guaranteed a first team spot. A man who most fans call deadwood. A lamppost, even. A player who fans continually deride.

That 100 goals has come in 237 games. So how does he stack up against other Arsenal greats?

Jack Wilshere

Jack Wilshere had another good game following on from his performance against Doncaster. But fans calling for him to start against Brighton are premature.

Wilshere is a brilliant player. Our best central midfielder when fit. But he has had a horrendous time with injuries, and needs to be protected.

2 games in 4 days will be a recipe for disaster. It makes him an injury waiting to happen.

Let me put it another way, he plays against Brighton, gets injured, what will you all be saying.

“Why has Wenger played him twice in 4 days. He is being over played again.”

With an international break coming up, Wilshere will get some more R&R. After the break we have Watford. Wilshere should be on the bench.

After Watford, we face 3 weeks of midweek and weekend football. It is the midweek games which Wilshere should play.

Belgrade, Norwich, Belgrade. Play him in those games. Let him continue his rehabilitation.

If you are calling for him to play on Sunday, check your tweets from days past. Have you moaned at home being over played? If yes, you are doing exactly the opposite. Demanding he be overplayed.

 

Hope everyone has got back safely

Keenos

 

Arsenal set for weakened XI against BATE Borisov

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Before the lesser games, the Europa League and Copacabana League Cup, I have written short blogs about how I expect to see us line up. For the game against Doncaster, I nailed my prediction. 100% right. Even correctly predicting that Alexis Sanchez would start.

I have no inside knowledge. I do not pretend that I have a source in the club who give’s me the team sheet the day before the game (which when I tweet it out is often wrong). I do exactly what every other fan and media outlet does. I guess. Predict. Make it up as I go along.

Unlike others, however, I take no interest in the actually announced squad, or who is wearing what bib in training. It would probably make it easier if I did.

Now the Europa League and Copacabana League Cup have been competitions that have had 3 purposes this season:

  1. Give youth a chance
  2. Keep senior players who are not playing week in week out a chance
  3. Give 90 minutes to players returning from injury

This round of the Cup, in my opinion, will be different.

With 3 games in a week, and 5 hour flight to some Eastern European town, and Brighton set to turn up to Islington on Sunday, we should not be playing any player expected to be in the first team squad in the Premier League.

All 18 members of the first team expected to make up the squad against Brighton should not travel to Minsk. They should be left at home in their slippers watching on their dodgy Kodi boxes.

They should have spent the time since WBA training on their own, creating two separate training groups, Thursday and Sunday.

Whilst 3 games in a week is not an issue for Arsenal, we should take the opportunity to give the senior players the time off.

So who do I think should play then?

Usually David Ospina will play in cup games, but he should be left at home for this one. Instead Matt Macey should go in goal.

Rob Holding has found himself sitting out the match day squad in recent weeks, with club captain Per Mertesacker making the bench. He will get the chance to play 90 minutes once more. The Europa League is going to be a good competition for him.

With Calum Chambers out for 3 weeks with a hip injury, Krystian Bielik will partner Holding in defence. The Polish centre back is still just 19!

The other centre back position is up for grabs. Will Mattheiu Debuchy be forced out to France, will he go for Mertesacker? Or will Wenger go left field and play a striker at centre back. Personally I would go for Debuchy, but I think Wenger will go against my advice of leaving everyone at home and play Per Mertesacker.

It will be as you were in the wing back positions as Reiss Nelson and Ainsley Maitland-Niles get more game time.

Mohamed Elneny has been an ever present in the Europa League and Copacabana League Cup (I think, I have not actually checked), but with him starting Monday, and in line to play against Bournemouth, I do not expect him to start.

Whilst Jack Wilshere made the bench for the game against WBA, I would be surprised to see him there again for Brighton. With Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez fully fit, the centre of the park will be Aaron Ramsey and either Granit Xhaka or Elneny. This will leave the other of the two on the bench, and Wilshere falls out. He will start against BATE.

Having sat out against WBA, I do expect Alex Iwobi to start against BATE. Whilst he will also be on the bench against Brighton, the fact he was not involved against WBA indicates he will start in the Europa League.

Jeff Reine-Adelaide should start behind the strikers. If the youngster is to show his worth, these are the games he needs to be playing. I would actually like to see him play alongside Chuba Akpom and Eddie Nketiah. The 3 play together in the youth teams so should know each others game.

Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud might feature in Wenger’s mind, and I would not be surprised if both start. Or at least Walcott. But I would leave them at home.

So my team to face BATE Borisov:

Macey

Holding Mertesacker Bielik

Nelson Wilshere Iwobi Niles

Jeff

Akpom Nketiah

Anyone out there today, enjoy yourself, and stay safe.

Keenos