Nathaniel Chalobah has been at the heart of everything good for us since joining from Chelsea on loan. He'll be the heartbeat, looking to break up play and pick a pass when necessary. Jamie Mackie is our in form striker, although I think we'll see him out on the wing in favour of the five in midfield. Mackie will run all day, and should hopefully cause problems for your full backs. As for defensively, Adam Federici has been our player of the season thus far, and if we're to get anything from the game, Federici has to be at the top of his game.
Burnley (a) “He had an utterly mind-boggling 11 interceptions” – Q&A
It shouldn't come as a surprise. Burnley's entire existence in the Premier League right now depends on them grinding out as many points as possible and to do that they need to be solid defensively. This was one of the first matches in a good while where we have had to contend with a side throwing 10 men in the box and preventing us from playing the fancy passing and hard hitting counterattacking that we've started to grow accustomed to. Add in their Stoke-Lite fouling tendency which prevented many of our possessions from gaining steam and it's really not much of a shock
Burnley (a) Thoughts & Line Up: Midfield could give Arsene a happy headache
I haven't been watching their games this season but it's reasonable to assume that we will not be given the red carpet treatment when it comes to creating chances around their penalty box, we are going to have to play some of the quick combination football that we were served up last weekend. Even if you attempt to park the bus it is very difficult to stop passing and movement so sharp and crisp and that is very much linked with confidence. Eight wins on the spin has given this squad a lot of confidence and
Liverpool (h) Thoughts & Line Up: Form suggests Arsenal win but Pool will have other ideas
We failed to deal with both Liverpool's intensity and also how they outnumbered us in the middle of the pitch with their 3-5-2 system. I wonder how Arsene will look to counteract that this lunch time. Perhaps Danny Welbeck will start on the bench so we can fit Ramsey, Cazorla, Coquelin and Özil into the same team. Or maybe we will just concede possession
Theo or Jack – Something’s Gotta Give
Mourinho is the master of ruthless efficiency, Alex Ferguson often cut marquee players loose long before seemingly merited. Both managers bonded by the grandest of successes on a consistent level. If there was ever a recipe for achievement in a sport notoriously fickle, the age old tagline of ‘what’s best of business’ should be the modus operandi. Jose famously disposed of two time player of the year, awards established amidst multi European trophy winning campaigns, Juan Mata and the greatest heist that Paris has laid witness to - £50 million in exchange for David Luiz, although in fairness the sideshow (bob) that follows him is surely tantamount to PR platinum. Alex Ferguson famously ejected star after star just when each approached, (note: approached) their waning. Jaap Stam, Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Paul Ince, Mark Hughes and, of course, David Beckham
The Wonderful Limitations Of Francis Coquelin
It’s hard not to like someone who knows their limits, or put another way, it’s difficult to like someone who is unaware of their limitations. That mate who has one too many and offends every person in the bar or that guy who tries to talk to every 8/10 that he sees. Alex Song springs to mind, a player who was tasked with patrolling the Arsenal midfield, protecting our often maligned back four and acting as our safety net when our attacks broke down. He did none of these things. In fact looking at his statistics this season, he wins a measly 0.8 aerial duels a game compared to Coquelin’s 3.1. In fact, despite his affection for joining in on the attack, his pass completion rate stands at a shocking 76% behind Coquelin’s 83%; whilst a fair amount of that is down to long ball tactics, it is also Song attempting through passes that not even Ozil would dare try. No, it is Coquelin’s limitations that make him so valuable to this Arsenal squad. He rarely joins the attacks, preferring to either sit back between
Monaco (a) Thoughts & Line Up: The bench needed for improbable mission
Even though Gabriel has only just returned to training, I do wonder if Arsène will take a gamble on him. Mertesacker has done excellently in recent matches, especially at Old Trafford but this is a very different game, a game that does not particularly suit him. As I mentioned above, we need to take the game to Monaco from the off, we need to compress them in their own half. Having Mertesacker half way in our own half does not help him or the team. For this same reason I wouldn't be surprised to see Gibbs come in for Monreal, although I think that is less likely as the form of the Spaniard has been top class for a number of months now
AV Post Match Podcast – EP22: Manchester United 1 Arsenal 2 – Victory at last
Crystal Palace (a) Thoughts & Line Up: Attacking team set for another outting? + Welbeck vs Waclott
So I expect Cazorla and Özil to remain as number 8 and 10 respectively. So I suspect that the only decision will be who plays on the opposite flank to Alexis Sanchez. Danny Welbeck was the preferred option last weekend and if Arsène wants a player who will work harder to put pressure on the ball when we haven't got it then he'll get the nod. But I'm going with the runs and finishing of Walcott today. Welbeck may be saved for Monaco at the Emirates.
Norwich (h) – Controversy as Arsenal awarded correct decision
Mikel Arteta, you can lose any guilt you may feel over the Fulham penalty miss because this was a major pressure situation and you buried it. That said, I still think Lukas Podolski should be first choice if on the pitch. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain deserves a lot of credit for his taking the situation by the scruff of the neck and assisting the winner. We were passing it outside of the area and Norwich had the whole team behind the ball, without dribblers, it is so hard to pass through a team with that mindset. Without Gervinho on the pitch we lost the ability to pull people out of position. Chamberlain was positive, direct and this victory could well be down to that one moment when he took the pass from Cazorla and then drove straight at the heart of the Norwich defence. I still cannot