Arsenal v Hull Preview

Nice preview but I doubt we'll see so many changes Sam. AW would well repeat the same XI with one or two changes here and there. I wouldn't be surprised by the same back 6, while Alexis, Ox and Cazorla might start (again). Campbell would continue waiting for at least being substituted in the 95'.

Debuchy needs to be "rested" as he's been pretty crap for some time now, put Chambers in his place. Welbeck doesn't seem to be fit to play, was overplayed all season so far and here are the consequences. Ospina naturally to start in a Cup game. Depending on fitness maybe Monreal over Koscielny.


Bench: Martinez; Debuchy; Monreal, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Özil; Podolski () Crowley/Gnabry, Campbell;

We need to rotate, but rotate enough to win. Not extreme measures.

Joel and Theo are very likely to start. Sanchez needs a rest. Use him as an emergency.

Wish Hayden was fit.

Screw the league. It's over.

Prioritize the cup and try to win it back to back. Two FA cups in two years will overshadow our shite league form, at least I hope.

Mind you, third place and the cup would be a good job salvaging this season. More so if, with a bit of luck, we can get to the QFs or beyond in the UCL.

That said, I doubt we will retain it. Or get past Monaco, for that matter. We might not even make it to the top 4 if we don't sort shit out.

@RG: I thought Hayden was fit now. At least, that's what I read in the Jeorge Bird column over at arseblog.

Nice work Sam.

Its going to be a tough one, I cant see Wenger rotating much, maybe 2 max. He is does not trust the players and cant motivate them. I wouldn't be surprised if we lose tbh, Wenger will find a way.

'I cannot fault the attitude of the team, but we were again haunted by the ghost of what we have seen since the start of the season,' Wenger said Arsenal.com

He cant not fault the attitude of the team but every game we see the same thing.

He can't fault the attitude of the team, because many of the problems are because of his excellent squad/man management in the first place.

Have we scored from a corner kick yet? I think we have the worst corner kickers.  Our corners don’t even make it to the center of the box, and wingers can't cross to save their life's.

I really dont know what Wenger trains in practice, worst in free kicks, worst in corner kicks, worst in set pieces.

yeah very frustrated with set piece delivery by Alexis
Santi is so-so
Theo was quite good at that before injuries last year

last thing we need is a replay
hope we get the job done get favorable draw

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20150102/-i-want-coquelin-to-have-a-future-here-

hopefully nothing in it
he should be released and we get better player(s) In

Arsene pls

Let's see.

Might get 5m or something from him if he puts in a decent shift.

charlton fans loved him. Might have improved as he showed signs in the last 2 games.

No mater how well coquelin plays, he is not one of Wengers favorites, he has no future at Arsenal. Wenger is just saying this and When Flamini and Arteta back Coquelin will be gone.

Let's start a successful defense of our title today.


Eyyy, sounds good, uh? Our title
We sometimes forget that we are the defending, reigning FA Cup champions.

Come on Arsenal!

Stay safe, El

Raptorgunner wrote:No mater how well coquelin plays, he is not one of Wengers favorites, he has no future at Arsenal. Wenger is just saying this and When Flamini and Arteta back Coquelin will be gone.

hmm im not so sure, have a feeling if he continues to perform well, he'll be ahead of flamini atleast.

I can see Coquelin having a future at Arsenal as a depth/rotation player if he continues to put in decent shifts. Personally I think that he hasn't done badly when he's come in this season. He'll never develop into quite the player a lot of us hoped he'd become, a few seasons ago. But he might still be a reliable option in the squad.

(I mean, imagine if we get a quality, genuine holding midfielder who starts most games--Coq could be his back-up.)

As far as today's match, I'm not too worried, but then again, absolutely nothing would surprise me. Hull could win 8-0 and I'd probably just facepalm and then shrug.

At Emirates. Walcott and Campbell start

Hull City Official ‏@HullCity 2m2 minutes ago
@HullCity Starting XI: Harper, Figueroa, Maguire, Davies, McShane, Ince, Huddlestone, Quinn, Brady, Aluko, Sagbo #UTT


Hull City Official ‏@HullCity
TEAM NEWS: Ten changes for @HullCity - Curtis Davies is the only player who remains in the side after New Year’s Day’s win #UTT

Arsenal FC ‏@Arsenal 46s47 seconds ago
#Arsenal team to play Hull City: Ospina, Bellerin, Chambers, Mertesacker, Monreal, Coquelin, Rosicky, Cazorla, Walcott, Campbell, Alexis

Subs: Martinez, Debuchy, Koscielny, Zelalem, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Maitland-Niles, Akpom

Should have rested Sanchez tbh

He has a 'naturally quick recovery'.

RG please. We know Alexis has to get injured now, given that Theo and Özil are back. Wenger has to maintain the 'ships passing at night' routine.

LOL Wenger is resting players in the only competition we have a chance to win.

Wenger Out!