With the games coming thick and fast Arsene Wenger has spoken about the need to rotate over the next few weeks. The return to health of most of our squad couldn’t have come at a better time. Usually we start the season with a clean bill of health only for half our team to be crocked at this stage. Maybe that is the answer. Give a few a kick in pre season so they return just in time for the hectic period, often a time when we drop points. I mean you can’t get injured when you are already injured can you? Stupidness aside for a moment. Many have bemoaned our lack of strength, often pointing to our bench at the likes of Akpom or Hayden but there is little you can do when the back up players and in some cases the back up to the back up are injured all at the same time.

It’s match day once again and given that we are the only big club to be playing today, it is a great chance to further extend our position at the top of English football. From a personal point of view I am a little gutted that the game is taking place today as I will be on my travels when the game kicks off. I am on my way to a stag-do so I shall be on the search for some radio action.

Cardiff have already put Manchester City to the sword and have put Manchester United to the.. shield? I don’t know but four points from last season’s top two for a newly promoted side is pretty good going but this is another one of those occasions when I can pull out my nonsensical law of averages spiel. The funny thing is that quite often when I’ve mentioned the law of averages it has come off the way I hoped. Not that in reality it means anything at all but hear my thinking.

Cardiff City are not going to beat every top side at Cardiff City Stadium this season so they are due a beating from someone. Granted that it may not be from us and we could be the next victim on the list but let us hope not. We are in good form and playing with confidence so there is no reason why we cannot maintain our excellent away form to date.

With the games coming thick and fast (like the ready money round) Arsene Wenger has spoken about the need to rotate over the next few weeks. The return to health of most of our squad couldn’t have come at a better time. Usually we start the season with a clean bill of health only for half our team to be crocked at this stage. Maybe that is the answer. Give a few a kick in pre season so they return just in time for the hectic period, often a time when we drop points. I mean you can’t get injured when you are already injured can you? Stupidness aside for a moment. Many have bemoaned our lack of strength in depth, often pointing to our bench at the likes of Akpom or Hayden but there is little you can do when the back up players and in some cases the back up to the back up are injured all at the same time.

Whatever team Arsene Wenger selects today, we should have a pretty impressive bench minus centre forward of course, although at a push, Theo can fill into that position if need be.

If team selection was down to me, I would get Theo back into the groove by starting him. Mesut Özil is probably due a breather now especially given Jack Wilshere’s performance in midweek. He will want to build on the high from his two goals and all round display. He and Ramsey were in superb form and I think Arsene has always wanted those two together in the long term. The game might be somewhat of a battle today so maybe a good time for a quick recharge of Özil’s batteries before we face Hull City at home on Wednesday.

Santi Cazorla is almost certain to come in for Tomas Rosicky on the left which isn’t a bad pair of options is it? Speaking of great options, Kieran Gibbs is back in the squad and could come back in for Monreal who was one of our better players against Marseille on Tuesday. I think I prefer Gibbs away from home due to his extra pace and athleticism.

The rest of the team is likely to be as we would expect.

Mean Lean’s Predicted Line Up:

The one big decision that Arsene has to make is who plays at the base of the midfield. Arsene has often played both Arteta and Flamini but if we are to squeeze in Theo then it seems like one of those players will have to step out. Arteta was on the bench against Marseille but he had taken a knock in the previous game against Southampton.

Aaron Ramsey goes back to Cardiff once more, this time as an opposition player rather than a loan signing. I remember the first time we played Cardiff with a young Rambo in the cup. Ramsey had been playing pretty well until that game and his levels dipped massively against his former club. He remember he gave away a lot of possession. He is unlikely to go through that again today, I am hoping to see the same sort of creativity from him as we did in midweek. If so Theo (if he plays) will have a field day.

As I spoke about earlier, whatever team we put out is likely to be a good one with many options on the bench if we need to make a change.

Another three points would be just fine and dandy. Come on you Gunners.