Our Squad

[All_Arsenal_1886]

I have been looking at our squad and have chosen my best XI that I think is our best team we can put out, (when everyone is fully fit) , I think playing Hleb in a free roaming position behind RvP is our best option with Sagna and Eboue down the right and Clichy and Rosicky down the left.

I think we have more options up front with Adebayor, Eduardo, Bendtnar and Theo Walcott, but for me Hleb has been more affective in the role behind RvP.

I like Rosicky but if he dosen't improve soon in defensive and attacking duties i would try Walcott or even Eduardo on the left wing, i know Rosicky has scored 3*I think* goals but i still feel could be better at getting back and helping Clichy out a bit, although Pires was never one for getting back but i still loved him

I have chosen Almunia as first choise goalkeeper because he has had a good few games, no keeper in the world could of saved Kanu's goal last week because he didn't know what he was doing.

Sorry guys I know we talked about this a while ago but now we have had a few games and seen most of the players and various formations I was wondering what you like best?

Also squad numbers I decided to put their proper squad numbers for the positions they play
that bit was because I’m bored
and I added some Reserve players that I would like to see in the Carling Cup.

1 Manuel Almunia,
2 Bacary Sagna,
3 Gael Clichy,
4 Cesc Fabregas,
5 William Gallas,
6 Kolo Toure (c),
7 Gilberto,
8 Emmanuel Eboue,
9 Alexander Hleb,
10 Robin Van Persie,
11 Tomas Rosicky,

Subs:
12 Mathieu Flamini,
13 Jens Lehmann,
14 Johan Djourou, (on loan)
15 Denilson,
16 Theo Walcott,
17 Emmanuel Adebayor,
18 Eduardo de Silva,

Squad:
19 Lassana Diarra,
20 Lukasz Fabianski,
21 Justin Hoyte,
22 Phillippe Senderos,
23 Abou Diaby,
24 Armand Traore,
25 Nicklas Bendtnar,
26 Alexandre Song,

Extended Squad:
DEF Matthew Connolly, (on loan)
DEF Kerrea Gilbert, (on loan)
MID Mark Randall,

Reserves: (who we might get to see in the Carling Cup)
GK Vito Mannone,
DEF Gavin Hoyte,
MID Francisco Merida Perez,
MID Kieran Gibbs,
MID Henri Lansbury,
DEF Havard Nordtveit (c),

I know Cesc Fabregas got Arsenal's Player Of The Month and i totally agree with that desision, Alexander Hleb and Gael Clichy for me came a close second and third

[burns718]

how can u have diaby as a squad player, should easily make that subs bench if not pressing for starting place (somewhere)

[All_Arsenal_1886]

how can u have diaby as a squad player, should easily make that subs bench if not pressing for starting place (somewhere)

It was a hard choice between him and Flamini, i went with Flamini because i think he can play in a range of diffrent positions for us. I think Diaby is a better midfield player than Flamini (just) but Flamini can play in other positions, as proved during 2005/06 season.

So whats do you think our best XI is Burns718?
It's harder than it looks when you actully come to decide

[steven tyers]

i have total faith in our squad. my starting 11 most weeks. 1. almunia 2. sagna 3 clichy 4 cesc 5 kolo 6 gallas 7 gilberto 8 rosicky 9 van persie 10 adebayor 11 hleb subs 12 jens 13 senderos 14 diaby 15 theo 16 silva. to add hoyte johraou flamini denilson traore (who would get into half premier teams) bendter. diarra. we have great strength in depth.

[burns718]

i would go with

almunia

sagna toure gallas clichy

gilberto
cesc diaby

RVP rosicky

dudu/nic/ade

[T.S]

You know, this isn't Championship Manager. We can't start dreaming up all kinds of weird and wonderful formations just to fit our best players in. The team isn't used to playing that way, so just because we can possibly fit our best footballers into the side that way, it doesn't necessarily guarantee a decent team. See where I'm going with this? Also, playing people out of position (i.e. RvP in midfield) just won't work. Here's my stab at our most effective XI

(4-4-2)

GK - Lehmann (although I'm open to someone taking his place)

RB - Sagna (normally I'm against whacking new signings into the first team, but I don't like Eboue).
CB - Toure
CB - Gallas (I actually don't think Toure and Gallas play well together, so I'd rather leave Gallas out, but there is no one better to replace him).
LB - Clichy

RM - Hleb
CM - Gilberto
CM - Cecc
LM - Rosicky

FW - RvP
FW - Eduardo (I don't rate Adebayor and Bendtner is unproven).

Subs bench:

Almunia/Lehmann
Senderos
Diaby
Eboue
Adebayor.

Squad:

Flamini
Bendtner
Walcott (wanted to put him on the bench in place of Eboue, but we'd be light at the back then)
And anyone else I've forgotten...

[WinterburnsRightFoot]

Moot point I think here boys. If the formation is 4-4-2 and all are fit then the starting 11 pick themselves:

Lehmann
Sagna
Clichy
Toure
Gallas
Hleb
Rosicky
Fabregas
Gilberto
Van Persie
Adebayor

4-4-1-1 is just a matter of swapping Adebayor for Eboue or Walcott with Hleb playing as the support striker.

You have to put Adebayor in because Eduardo and Bendtner still have to prove they can do it in the Prem.

We all have an view on who is better than who and I don't necessarily agree with these line ups but, with our squad as it is, this is Arsene's strongest.

[gunners-need-steel]

TS/WRF, Aint u guys forgetting our new boy, diarra ... no place for him in midfield ? not even on the bench ?

[burns718]

to be honest i was torn between him n gilbert, but gilberts experiance will be paramount this season

[All_Arsenal_1886]

Does anyone know where Arsene has decided to to play Diarra because i thought he was a midfield player but i noticed he was playing right-back for France the other day.

Hopefully if he's playing in midfield we might see skills like this
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=LNV7cYd8B2g
Also looks like he likes to shoot on sight of goal

I was going to say hopefully see him against Sp*rs but i would rather have Gilberto and Cesc in midfield for this one, so hopefully see him agaist Sevilla

[Magic Hat]

Mine would be 4-4-2

GK: Jens (Almnuia doesn't have the same ability)

RB: Sanga
LB: Clichy (could defend better at the moment but still a great left back)
CB: Toure (what tonysaunders said)
CB: Gallas (c)

RM: Hleb (better as a roving midfielder but going for 4-4-2, he has to go to the wing)
LM: Rosicky
CM: Gilberto (we have looked far better at the back when he has played in this role)
CM: Cesc

FW: RVP
FW: Ade (once Dudu adapts, this could change)

Subs:

Almunia
Hoyte
Flamini
Walcott
Dudu

Squad:
Diarra
Bendtner
Senderos
Djorou
Eboue
Troare
Diaby
Denilson
Fabianski

[T.S]

TS/WRF, Aint u guys forgetting our new boy, diarra ... no place for him in midfield ? not even on the bench ?

Quite frankly, no!

[gunners-need-steel]

I would go with:

GK: Almunia

RB: sagna
CB: toure
CB: gallas
LB: clichy

RM: hleb (walcott, ebou)
CM: gilberto (diarra, diaby)
CM: cesc (denilson)
LM: rosicky (diaby, flamini)

Fwd: Ade (bendtner, walcott, hleb, diaby)
Fwd: RVP (dudu, bendtner)

in brackets are subs or other possible choices .. have deliberately left out subs for defence and GK ..

[All_Arsenal_1886]

Just been reading on Arsenal.com how Justin Hoyte intends to stay at Arsenal and fight for his place, which is good because i was worried during pre-season that we might lose him or he would ask to leave.

Justin said “That’s how football is, It just makes me more determined to work hard and get my place in the side. I am going to fight and work hard. I want to be at Arsenal all my life."

“Yes the competition is tough but it is the same as last year with Emmanuel Eboue playing and Mathieu Flamini in there sometimes too. Competition is good for us and good for the team. Hopefully I can work hard in training and break into the team. I just want to play as much as I can.â€

[All_Arsenal_1886]

Does anyone know who is injured for Arsenal? Arsenal.com have Lehmann, Sagna, Gallas and Eboue but i think this is out of date.

Also noticed that Rosicky and Eduardo (2) both scored for there countries lets hop it continues on Saturday