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Middlesbrough (h) – Arsene’s attacking gamble pays off
Arsène has regularly been criticized for being too rigid in his approach to games but I'm not sure that is justified criticism, especially this season. We've played a number of systems, playing different styles of football. Yesterday we played a fun attacking 4-2-3-1 with Mesut Özil moving back into the middle but it was not at the expense of Santi Cazorla, the player of the second half of this season played in the number 8 position. It's a central pairing I've wanted to see all season but didn't think I'd see it happen very often. Perhaps that explains the choice of the two hard working wide attackers
Middlesbrough (h) “Giroud has looked a different player this season” – Q&A
Welbeck, and even Ox over Theo at the moment. I like Theo a lot, but his lack of defensive nous is hurting us, especially when he's playing with Hector who is closing the gap to Per and leaving the flank open. The winger must help and Ox was much better at that at the Etihad. Welbeck would be the same. Theo on the other hand makes teams set up differently and not commit as many players forward. Welbeck or Ox do not have Theo's pace but are both pacy enough to punish a team that does commit numbers forward while also being much better at link up play with the midfield to their technical superiority over Theo. Theo is indubitably a better finisher than both but has been very rusty in front of goal since coming back and Welbeck's defensive effort is more
Middlesbrough (h) Confirmed Line Up: Gabriel & Koscielny make interesting partnership + Alexis starts
New boy Gabriel makes his Arsenal debut this afternoon as vice captain Per Mertesacker is rested to the bench. So the Brazilian will be partnered alongside Laurent Koscielny. It is an interesting partnership as both players are supposed to be similar in style. Many have had worries that they might not be able to function alongside each other due to the past relationship between Koscielny and Vermaelen. But I tend to believe the latter just was not as good at defending as we all hoped rather than an issue of chemistry, So today's partnership looks very interesting. They have not played together in a game so we will have to hope the gel and gel fast.
Arsenal Vision Post Match Podcast – EP16: Arsenal 2 Leicester City 1 – Gunners Cling On For 3 Points
Leicester City (h) – ‘It’s all about the three points’ Sort of
Looking at the selected line up and the approach to the game, I can't help but feel that Arsène wanted to scrap the approach that must have frustrated him against Tottenham. Defending deep and counter attacking was replaced by a high line and a team packed with creative goodness. Arsène has always been a front footed manager, a manager who has taken his teams to Milan, Madrid amongst other places where English sides have not won before and then took the game to those teams, outplayed them and won. Rightly or wrongly, that is what Arsène Wenger is about and you get the sense that whenever his team plays conservatively, he is not truly comfortable with it all
Leicester City (h) Confirmed Line Up: Sexy line up on show as Alexis, Rosicky & Walcott come in
Arsène has tinkered with the line up this evening and has put out what looks like a team capable of playing some rather sexy stuff. Tomas Rosicky and Alexis Sanchez have come in for Aaron Ramsey and Oliver Giroud. Theo Walcott has also replaced Danny Welbeck on the right of the Arsenal attack. The back four remain which is a little surprise. Thought it was a good chance to rest Koscielny but I assume he is fit and ready for more action. The midfield set up will be interesting. Arsene does not tend to play Rosicky in the number 8 position so it will be interesting to see if we do go 4-1-4-1 playing both Rosicky and Cazorla in central midfield just ahead of Coquelin.
Tottenham (a) – Solution needed As Arsenal Fail To Escape Spurs Press
Arsenal Vision Post Match Podcast – EP15: Tottenham 2 Arsenal 1 – Bad Day At The Office
Tottenham (a) “Losing is crap but losing to Spurs feels infinitely worse” – Q&A
Primarily, Santi Cazorla. He was sensational against City - scoring, assisting and generally controlling the game, but relatively quiet today. Secondly, willing runners. Against City, when we counter attacked we had Ramsey, Chamberlain, Sanchez, Giroud and Cazorla all willing to get forward and today we only had Welbeck who looked willing to break away in attack.