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Stoke City (a) Confirmed Line Up: Bellerin in, Welbeck out as Arsene rotates
Arsene has made a couple of changes for the match away at Stoke. Laurent Koscielny has been rested due to the ongoing achillies problem. Due to Monreal being out, Arsene's only option was to bring in Hector Bellerin and move Calum Chambers alongside big Per Mertesacker. I thought Danny Welbeck would be kept in this one due to his height but he is rested to the bench following a couple games where he hasn't been at his sharpest. So Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain keeps his place and Oliver Giroud starts as centre forward. Alexis Sanchez keeps his place in the team.
Stoke City (a) Thoughts & Line Up: Will Arsene restore Welbeck & Giroud partnership?
But enough of all that, looking at the team news doesn't bring much joy this morning. Injuries are relentlessly attacking us once more. Nacho Monreal has torn ankle ligaments. Yaya Sanogo who had just returned us back on the treatment table once more along side the experienced Tomas Rosicky. Poor old Tomas by the way, it's so very sad to see him cast aside the way he has been. If his injury issues are not too serious then we can expect a return to full team duties soon with the amount of fixtures we have stacked up over Christmas.
Southampton (h) – Giroud brings back invincible memories
We have had to get used to Arsenal football without the former Montpellier striker due to an unfortunate injury that was picked up at Goodison Park early this season. That is as good a place to start as any. I for one, was very excited at the prospect of seeing Alexis Sanchez start at centre forward with the Frenchman relegated to the bench. On paper we had a player who was strong at everything that Giroud was weak at. Fast, mobile, able to create chances out of nothing. Yet our attack simply did not function at all. Until half time when Arsène uncharacteristically made a switch at half time removing star signing Alexis in place of Giroud
Arsenal Vision Post Match Podcast – EP4: Arsenal 1 Southampton 0
Southampton (h) “Keep Martinez in goal. Hasn’t put a foot wrong so far” – Q&A
If Szczesny is fit then he goes straight back in. He's the number one, has a good history in the side and that's just that. However if Ospina gets back to fitness I don't think it's as clear cut, Martinez at this point has more experience of playing behind our defence and I think deserves to stay there ahead of another newbie in the squad.
Southampton (h) Confirmed Line Up: Ox replaces Giroud as Arsene turns to pace
Arsene Wenger has made one big call and that is to rest Giroud in place of Oxlade-Chamberlain. I am a tad surprised that Alexis starts another game but I guess that is what happens when you are a key player. I suppose after a long injury it makes sense not to over run Giroud so soon.
Southampton (h) Thoughts & Line Up: Can we rest Alexis and claim 3 points?
Debuchy, Henry & Kanu the dummy the keeper coach
West Brom (a) – Wenger’s three striker system show promise
Oxlade-Chamberlain who came on in the second half had a great chance to score a late second goal and he was furious that he didn't get the chance. As Ben Foster came up for a late corner the ball broke to Aaron Ramsey deep inside his own half, to his right Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was lurking calling for a side footed pass that would have sent him through on goal against one defender and an empty net. Instead of the pass Ramsey tried a left footed shot from his own half. The ball did not get as far as the goal, in frustration Ox fouled the defender in frustration before giving a mouthful to Ramsey. Clearly the lack of goals is still bothering Aaron but I thought his overall game was much better. His defensive work is better and he is timing his