What is really going on at Arsenal?

It's two weeks to the start of the new season and Arsenal are yet to address the many issues that plagued the team last season. We are currently low-balling Celtic and Crystal Palace into selling their best players to us. The club captain Laurent Koscielny is on strike and wants out. He is apparently tired of playing with Mustafi every week.

We brought in Edu as our first technical director and the expectation from fans is huge. All those years of keeping the powder dry ( Gazidis liked that phrase) and waiting for financial fair play to kick in so that Arsenal will thrive seems like wasted years now. Financial Fair Play failed and Arsenal have had to change strategy. Gazidis jumped ship to Milan. Player transfer fees have gone through the roof and we are at a limbo both on and off the pitch.

Whatever strategy they are trying to execute, the hope is that it comes off - or the fan revolt will come early this year.

We are waiting Arsenal...

The Big Match Preview: Arsenal vs Barcelona

 

It doesn't get bigger than Barcelona. This is a game made in football heaven for the neutrals. Pass and move, press high and fast, pass and move and then bam! It goes in. At least that's what you expect from Barcelona. We know they are almost unstoppable; a thunderstorm that sweeps off everything that stands in it's way. How do you stop the trio of Messi, Suarez and Neymar? Can it be done over 90 minutes? How do you survive the incessant pressing of Barcelona?

The enormity of the task before Arsene Wengers men is clearly obvious. As Gary Neville and his Valencia team found out, there's really no stopping the boys from Catalonia when they are on song. However, Wenger has been here before. He's played this tie. I'm sure he's spent the last 48hours analyzing videos and thinking of the best approach to this game. It's easy to analyze. But a different thing to get your team to execute a plan against Barcelona. Confidence will be up. You would expect that of any team about to face the best team in the world.

Team Selection

Defense: Petr Cech starts in goal. No competition here. He is yet to concede a goal to Messi. But I hate stats like this, because they are rubbished in games like this. Can Cech keep Messi out for 90 minutes? Yes, but highly unlikely. He's just too good.

The two fullbacks pick themselves. Bellerin and Monreal, both Spanish, would be specially up for this battle. If they manage to play well, they could be on the radar of the Spanish squad for the Euros in France later in the summer. Both defenders have had a pretty solid season. Bellerin will have to defend well against Neymar with his box of tricks.

Koscielny starts in the centre with Per. Now this could be a minus or a plus for Arsenal. It all depends on how Wenger sets up his team tonight. It would be disastrous to adopt a high pressing game when Mertesacker plays. So one would expect the two CB's to play narrow but not too deep. Per is an asset at corners but sadly, he doesn't score often from them. Can he step up tonight?

In the middle, Coquelin obviously starts. Do you put Ramsey next to him? Seems the logical option. He's experienced at this level and his energy levels will be needed. You just expect him to be more accurate with his shots, time his runs perfectly and eliminate the Hollywood passes. Flamini/Elneny should make the bench.

Ozil obviously comes in for the number 10 role with Giroud up top and Alexis to his left. Who plays wide right? Will Wenger be bold and go with Welbeck  or does he start Oxlade Chamberlain and throw in Theo and Welbz later in the game? This is a huge decision. Luckily, Wenger is paid handsomely to make decisions like this.

It is important that the team maintains discipline and not concede free-kicks close to the box. Equally important not to pick a red. This will potentially make the tie a no contest. Defend together, don't try to out- pass them and work the channels well. Set-pieces will be crucial. That's why I would go with a front three of Alexis-Giroud-Welbeck . Alexis needs to simplify his game and be more direct tonight. Dribbling into players does not win points.

In summary, the team needs to defend together for long periods and make their chances count, when it comes. It doesn't get bigger than this.