Well, news has it that Wenger himself is declaring Rosicky highly unlikely to play this Saturday. Not an exciting proposition given that it has been my position to slowly work Jack/Theo back into the lineup once we had hung 3 on the little birdies… Really not happy about this news but I do have an idea and it is a bit risky which means it will in all likelihood never happen. Here goes…

Gervinho…..Giroud….AOC/Podolski

Ramsey….Cazorla….Arteta

Sagna….Kols….TV….Monreal

Fabianski

And here is my thinking: Arsenal don’t have a possession problem, generally speaking. They have a kick the fuckin’ ball in the net instead of slowly carrying the damn thing all the way there problem. This lineup, albeit a bit risky on a number of fronts, would really push us forward a bit and rely on the speed of our front guys to get back and help on D. That is what I would emphasize in the locker room too: push forward, possess and attack from the wings (sounds pretty much the same as usual) and IF/when we lose possession haul your ass back and help on D.

Here is what I like about that lineup and why I think it will work: Gervinho has been in form (keep his confidence up), Giroud keeps his man-presence in the middle and AOC brings that Walcott-like pace albeit fit and 100% healthy. I would suggest that it be Podolski but there have been rumors flying that he has some sort of injury (?) and is actually unavailable. Personally I would rather it be him because I think he is one of the few not afraid to cannon it from distance but AOC would do just as well for me if the German is truly unavailable. Ramsey (in my opinion) has been playing well as of late, you finally put Santi in his natural position and let him roam as he always does regardless of where you put him and Arteta continues to act as our CDM. The back stays the same (albeit without the BFG pursuant to his argh for fuck sake red card). If we go up quick and keep the pressure on you can always take Ramsey off and go back to your 5 man wide back line with Gibbs taking his place (who always seems to do a great job getting forward anyways) and you can stay sharp on the counter. Late in the game you bring Jack in for Santi and push Theo in for AOC (Theo in for AOC would also work if we find ourselves in a nil nil situation as well, same goes for the Jack/Ramsey swap).

To me, the above suggested lineup keeps the players who are 100% healthy and in form in the damn game. If you want to run Jack in once we are hopefully up big you could also sub him for Santi to give him a breather as well.

Right, more on this to come once we get a bit closer to the game and I should have some pre-match thoughts up here sometime Friday.