Untold Preview – Arsenal travel to Germany « Untold Arsenal: Arsenal News, supporting the club, the players and the manager
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After a close fought encounter against Swansea was decided by the most bizarre of goals, we’re off to the home of the current German Champions. With the team still adapting to the departures of Fabregas and Nasri and our new signings still integrating into the side, it is a tough tie to have at this stage. However the relatively short flight and the game being played on the Tuesday is beneficial with an away tie versus Blackburn Rovers coming up on Saturday lunchtime.
The team should be fairly easy to pick for this game, with Arsenal having announced the eighteen man squad that is travelling over. Ramsey is the only change since the weekend, out with an injury and Rosicky remains out. Longer term injury victims Diaby and Wilshere are both still absent. As for returnees, banned duo Song and Gervinho are available for selection both in Europe and domestically now, whilst Jenkinson is fit but did not travel.
Szcznesy
Sagna Mertesacker Koscielny Gibbs
Song Frimpong
Arteta
Walcott Van Persie Gervinho
This line-up is roughly what I’d expect. The defence and goalkeeper should remain the same for some weeks to come – injuries permitting – until the return of Vermaelen offers Wenger a selection headache. Alex Song is likely to come into the side in place of the injured Aaron Ramsey, and pair Emmanuel Frimpong to form a defensive duo deep in midfield. Song’s game going forward is actually fairly tidy so I’d expect him to make some runs from the deep midfield area to support the attack, with Frimpong holding back. Emmanuel will need to tone down his natural aggression. I thought he very easily could’ve had two straight reds versus Liverpool, instead of a pair of yellows and with European referees he will not get the leniency we see in the Premier League.
Arteta will provide the creativity ahead of the midfield anchors and perhaps unfairly after his winning goal, I expect Arshavin to make way for Gervinho. With this tie being away, I expect Wenger would rather pair Gervinho and Walcott on the flanks with both defending off the ball and counter attacking in mind. The pace of the duo would be a great asset on the break, and Arshavin is a man prone to tiring later on. Van Persie continues through the middle, and will be key to breaking down a solid Dortmund defence.
The bench will have plenty of options too. Should we go behind and need something from the game, we have diverse offensive alternatives in Benayoun, Chamakh and Park, whilst Santos may get a cameo late on in the “Eboue role” coming on in a wide attacking position to shore up the flank.
Dortmund are quite clearly a good side, with a few names that will stand out to football fans. Much of the talk this summer has been around a giant bid from Arsenal for Gotze, so it will be interesting to see how he plays. If such rumours were true, he must be some player to tempt Arsène to part with that sort of money. With Arsenal still finding their way this season, I’d be delighted with a 1-1 draw from what is likely to be our toughest group game.
Tonight’s team, cocaine, the most unpopular man in Borussia, and a priest down the pub