Arsenal v The Greeks. Billy hasn’t a clue « Untold Arsenal: Arsenal News, supporting the club, the players and the manager

————————————————–

By Billy the Dog McGraw

Olympiakos are top of the 16 team Greek Super League.  Played five won five.   Goal difference +10.  Latest result

In Europe however the Oly’s lost at home to Schalke in the Champs League first round of games.

As for us, it is back to the old days.  Everyone is injured.

Abou Diaby got what we feared but hoped he would not get – the sort of injury that bedevils players who come back from long lay offs.  He’s out for 3 weeks.   Mikel Arteta has an ankle problem and may or may not play.

Rosicky and Wilshere are out of course although the Wilshere news from his reserve game was good.  So who is left?

Francis Coquelin is really coming on and could be in midfield, along with  Aaron Ramsey or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain with Santi Cazorla taking on God-like status. Unless the boss has someone else up his sleeve that we haven’t really recognised as being ready for a match like this.  Like Frimpong.

Or maybe we could use one of the members of the yet-again all conquering undefeated league champions women’s team.   Wojciech Sczcesny broke his wrist trying to write his name, so he is out too.

“Olympiakos are already in a position where their backs are to the wall because they have lost at home and in this Champions League when you lose at home it is very difficult,” Mr Wenger said when I bumped into him while tasting some of Dennis Bergkamp’s homemade elderflower wine at the Enfield Allotments where he now spends much of his spare time.

“They are highly motivated to know they have to give everything to make it through. They are experienced and basically it is the same team as at the back of last season.  I think they had a difficult start against Marseille and after became stronger and stronger through the competition last year.

I turned to Dennis for more insight.  “Olympiacos is the most successful club in Greek football history, having won 39 League titles, 25 Greek Cups and 4 Greek Super Cups, 3 flower pots, 27 Greek urns, a plate of sausages and a stray dog.

So we know it is Mannone in goal.  The full backs are Jenkinson and Gibbs.  Vermaelen has to play, so it is Mert or Kos next to him.

Mid-field is a pick and mix affair behind God.

Up front it could be any of

Theo, Oxlade-C if not playing in midfield, Pod, Giroud, Gervinho, Arshavin

In short, I have not got a clue.

So no change there.