Lineup vs Arsenal

[N.S.N.O.]

Start with this

Howard
Coleman Stones Distin Baines
McCarthy Barry
Deulofeu Barkley Mirallas
Lukaku
​

Osman, McGeady and Naismith ready for an impact off the bench

I think (particularly in a game like this) with pienaar out, we need to have Osman in there....he'll hold on to possession more & help set the pace of our passing....dont think we can start with the 3 of Barkley, deulofeu & mirallas, as they're all attack minded (and often selfish), & prone to giving the ball away...osman for all his failings, gives us more balance...

 

[Sona]

If you think about it, Chelsea have created the perfect blueprint of how to play Arsenal at home by beating them 6-0 a couple of weeks ago.

If you think of their starting eleven and what we have at our disposal, I'd try to go like-for-like in terms of personnel as much as possible.

Then replicate the tactics; i.e. 4-2-3-1 as we usually play, but with pressing high up the pitch; our number 10 implementing the press, with the two holding mids' starting positions further forward. They also had physicality, harrying and a narrow approach in their wide areas (AMR and AML).

So personnel wise:

GK: Cech : Howard

RB: Ivanovic: Stones
LB: Azpuliecueta : Baines
CB: Cahill : Jagielka
CB: Terry : Distin

MC: Luiz : Barry
MC: Matic : McCarthy
AMC: Oscar : Osman

AML: Hazard : Mirallas
AMR: Schurrle : Coleman

FC: Eto'o : Lukaku

1. It may sound crazy starting Coleman further forward in our biggest game of the season, but his harrying work would be identical to that of Schurrle and it'd be a bit of a tactical curve ball for Wenger to deal with. Don't forget that Coleman has played in that position before. I'm aware that he plays better as a RB, but this game is not about getting Coleman to play at his best; it's about getting the win.

2. Stones being more of a "defender" at RB rather than Coleman bombing on would compensate for the narrow pressing from the wide areas and negate the threat of Gibbs driving on from LB for them. Stones would also be there.

3. Osman is probably our most tactically disciplined number 10 and would implement the press well from there, whilst doing a man-for-man on Arteta in the same way that Oscar did.

4. Everyone else is pretty much like-for-like.

 

[deipnosophist]

This may well be the game when young John Stones plays his way onto a plane bound for Brazil in a couple of months. I have a feeling that he is going to be a star at Goodison on Sunday. Wish I was on Merseyside for this.

 

[king louis IX]

If you think about it, Chelsea have created the perfect blueprint of how to play Arsenal at home by beating them 6-0 a couple of weeks ago.

If you think of their starting eleven and what we have at our disposal, I'd try to go like-for-like in terms of personnel as much as possible.

Then replicate the tactics; i.e. 4-2-3-1 as we usually play, but with pressing high up the pitch; our number 10 implementing the press, with the two holding mids' starting positions further forward. They also had physicality, harrying and a narrow approach in their wide areas (AMR and AML).

So personnel wise:

GK: Cech : Howard

RB: Ivanovic: Stones
LB: Azpuliecueta : Baines
CB: Cahill : Jagielka
CB: Terry : Distin

MC: Luiz : Barry
MC: Matic : McCarthy
AMC: Oscar : Osman

AML: Hazard : Mirallas
AMR: Schurrle : Coleman

FC: Eto'o : Lukaku

1. It may sound crazy starting Coleman further forward in our biggest game of the season, but his harrying work would be identical to that of Schurrle and it'd be a bit of a tactical curve ball for Wenger to deal with. Don't forget that Coleman has played in that position before. I'm aware that he plays better as a RB, but this game is not about getting Coleman to play at his best; it's about getting the win.

2. Stones being more of a "defender" at RB rather than Coleman bombing on would compensate for the narrow pressing from the wide areas and negate the threat of Gibbs driving on from LB for them. Stones would also be there.

3. Osman is probably our most tactically disciplined number 10 and would implement the press well from there, whilst doing a man-for-man on Arteta in the same way that Oscar did.

4. Everyone else is pretty much like-for-like.

Nope.

Arsenal are probably the narrowest team in the prem, with Carzorla and one other generally starting out wide and drifting in, so wouldnt worry about doubling up on effectively nobody.

Our best option to counter this would be to play with genuine wide men and encourage our full backs forward to exploit the positioning of their midfielders (something Moyes did quite effectively against them in the last couple of games).

If we are ahead later in the game, deploy an Osman type out wide to track their wingers coming infield.

 

[RapierWitEFC]

............ Howard
Coleman Stones Distin Baines
McCarthy Barry
McGeady Barkley mirallas
Lukaku

I think tracking their full backs will be vital on Sunday so I have chose McGeady over Geri

 

[Dubai Blue]

Naisy was great last week, but it was a Super Sub appearance. Wouldn't be too confident starting him.

 

[USABlue]

Naisy was great last week, but it was a Super Sub appearance. Wouldn't be too confident starting him.

Agreed. Think that sub role suits him as he comes in full of energy running all over the place against a tired defence

 

[king louis IX]

............ Howard
Coleman Stones Distin Baines
McCarthy Barry
McGeady Barkley mirallas
Lukaku

I think tracking their full backs will be vital on Sunday so I have chose McGeady over Geri

I watch a lot of Arsenal and Gibbs and Sagna can't cross for [Poor language removed] despite the good territory they have. We have other areas of concern imo.

 

[RapierWitEFC]

I am more concerned about Gibbs myself than Sagna like, I do agree that of course we have other areas for concern, I just feel that McGeady will help out Coleman a lot more than Geri would.

 

[Rook]

No on Naismith starting, I just think he's better off the bench. I also wouldn't mind seeing Mirallas on the bench too.

We've been a 2nd half team all year but Arsenal has been 2nd half team against us. Having Mirallas's speed on the counter late could make a difference.

 

[The Hibbert Agenda]

I am more concerned about Gibbs myself than Sagna like, I do agree that of course we have other areas for concern, I just feel that McGeady will help out Coleman a lot more than Geri would.

Gibbs was very dangerous in the cup game. Used to think he was rubbish. He's really not.

 

[Sona]

Nope.

Arsenal are probably the narrowest team in the prem, with Carzorla and one other generally starting out wide and drifting in, so wouldnt worry about doubling up on effectively nobody.

Our best option to counter this would be to play with genuine wide men and encourage our full backs forward to exploit the positioning of their midfielders (something Moyes did quite effectively against them in the last couple of games).

If we are ahead later in the game, deploy an Osman type out wide to track their wingers coming infield.

Wow, what a contradictory post!! Talking about Arsenal being the narrowest team in the prem, then saying that we should play as wide as possible!! We'd be completely overrun through the middle of the pitch!

As I said, Coleman wouldn't be "doubling up", but would rather be pressing high up the pitch. He has more defensive nous and a better work rate than any of our other AMR options.

I would leave Stones at RB v their left sided midfielder, with McCarthy inside.

Coleman and Mirallas starting as our wide attacking mids, with both playing narrow when we're without the ball to prevent Arsenal coming at us through the middle.

 

[bluestevon]

Wow, what a contradictory post!! Talking about Arsenal being the narrowest team in the prem, then saying that we should play as wide as possible!! We'd be completely overrun through the middle of the pitch!

As I said, Coleman wouldn't be "doubling up", but would rather be pressing high up the pitch. He has more defensive nous and a better work rate than any of our other AMR options.

I would leave Stones at RB v their left sided midfielder, with McCarthy inside.

Coleman and Mirallas starting as our wide attacking mids, with both playing narrow when we're without the ball to prevent Arsenal coming at us through the middle.

Play our player of the season out of position as rw, somewhere hes never played above average at - check
Play stones at rb, the position he had his only really bad game for all season - check
Start a cb who hasnt played in a month an whose last game back after a previous knock saw him torn apart in the derby - check

Your mental lad if you think changing the back 4 around like that wouldnt be asking for a hammering

 

[Sona]

Play our player of the season out of position as rw, somewhere hes never played above average at - check
Play stones at rb, the position he had his only really bad game for all season - check
Start a cb who hasnt played in a month an whose last game back after a previous knock saw him torn apart in the derby - check

Your mental lad if you think changing the back 4 around like that wouldnt be asking for a hammering

Mate, as I said in my original post, it's not about getting Seamus Coleman to play his best or getting John Stones to play his best. It's about getting the win.

OK, those two players may not be as effective in those positions, but I suggested these based on using Chelsea's 6-0 win as a blueprint (have a look at my initial post on page 4 of this thread, as this is all being taken out of context!)

Also, I'd only do this if Jags was 100% fit.

As I say, this is being taken out of context, as I posted it initially as a comparative between the attributes of the Chelsea players selected in their 6-0 win over Arsenal and players with similar attributes in our squad.

 

[bluestevon]

Mate, as I said in my original post, it's not about getting Seamus Coleman to play his best or getting John Stones to play his best. It's about getting the win.

OK, those two players may not be as effective in those positions, but I suggested these based on using Chelsea's 6-0 win as a blueprint (have a look at my initial post on page 4 of this thread, as this is all being taken out of context!)

Also, I'd only do this if Jags was 100% fit.

As I say, this is being taken out of context, as I posted it initially as a comparative between the attributes of the Chelsea players selected in their 6-0 win over Arsenal and players with similar attributes in our squad.

Fair enough then mate, but honestly think we cant just ape another team, we are what we are now, and we will play the same way we always try vs them, get the wingers and fullbacks at them, and win the midfield battle and disrupt and press them off the bat