Chamberlain doesn't get into our best XI.
The rest is pretty straightforward, although a case for saying Cazorla instead of Giroud and either Sanchez or Walcott furthest forward.
Szsz
Debuchy - Per - Kosc - Gibbs
Ramsey - Cazorla - Arteta
Walcott - Giroud - Sanchez
_______________Ospina_______________
Debuchy Mertesacker Koscielny Gibbs
_________Ramsey__Arteta____________
Walcott_______Cazorla________Sanchez
_______________Giroud________________
Szczesny, Nacho, Chambers, Wilshere, Ox, Ozil, Welbeck
Szczesny
Debuchy Mertesacker Koscielny Gibbs
Ramsey Arteta
Walcott Ozil Sanchez
Welbeck
Its not as easy as when everyone is fit as you need to take form into account as well. All of our players have shown changes in form. Take Ramsey for example, on a good day he could get into just about any team in the world but on a bad day struggles.
And when was the last time we had everyone fit anyway? With Walcott being injured since January you've got to go back before then, I'd say its the summer of 2013 at the latest and probably a long time before that. We haven't even seen Ospina play so I just can't justify him being included.
Other than that I'd say a fit and on form best 11 would be
Szcz
Debauch. Meet. Kos. Gibbs
Arleta. Ramsey
Walcott. Ozil. Anchez
Welbeck
I can't include Giroud as I think a top form Welbeck is probably better than a top form Giroux who I just don't like. His hold up play just allows defenders to get back and makes our attacks that much harder. His recent good form has been better than Welbeck on poor form though.
What has Ozil done while at arsenal to suggest he gets in the team ahead of Cazorla?
He had a couple of games for us where he showed what he can do but not many. I thought that would be a controversial choice.
comment by Castor Troy (U8700)
posted 35 minutes ago
Szsz
Debuchy - Per - Kosc - Gibbs
Ramsey - Cazorla - Arteta
Walcott - Giroud - Sanchez
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This with Wilshere instead of Arteta. I did this a couple of months back and had Chambers and Diaby in there, overrated Chambers a bit And I've accepted Diaby is dead now.
It's tough, because it's likely to vary based on the opposition, but in general, I like the look of:
------------Szczesny
Debuchy-Chambers-Koscielny-Gibbs
-----------Arteta----Ramsey
Sanchez-----Ozil---------Chamberlain
-------------Welbeck
I prefer Chambers to Mertesacker solely because it allows us to press slightly higher up the pitch. I'd prefer a more experienced defender, but Chambers and Koscielny had a pretty good partnership at the start iof the season.
I'm pretty indifferent between Ozil and Cazorla, but whilst I think Cazorla's general defensive contribution and possession retention is better, I think Ozil's eye for a through-pass is unmatched, and I would like to see him get consistent game-time in the central role with runners around him.
I'm pretty indifferent between Chamberlain and Walcott as well, but the reason I've opted for Chamberlain is his ability to play more as a pragmatic wideman and stretch teams. Sanchez has a natural propensity to drift in off the flanks, whilst Walcott likes to make diagonal runs inside from the wide positions. I'm just a little wary that we could become a bit congested with Walcott and Sanchez. In terms of traditional wide-play, I think Chamberlain is the best we have, and he provides an effective counter-balance to Sanchez atm.
Welbeck and Giroud both have their strengths, but again, I'd like to see Ozil with a number of through-ball opportunities available to him, and I think Welbeck's pace makes him slightly more suitable than Giroud. Also, his athleticism makes him a better option for pressing, which is how I would like us to play with Chambers and Koscielny as the defensive pair.
Back 5 picks itself.
Then you have the case of best team on paper vs the most balanced team. To have a balanced team you have to leave out Wilshere as much as it pains me to say this.
Arteta--Ramsey
Özil--Cazorla--Alexis
----Walcott---
Maybe put Alexis and Özil left but can interchange of course. This team would need to play on counter attack for full effects.
comment by 9bit (U19964)
posted 9 minutes ago
comment by Castor Troy (U8700)
posted 35 minutes ago
Szsz
Debuchy - Per - Kosc - Gibbs
Ramsey - Cazorla - Arteta
Walcott - Giroud - Sanchez
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This with Wilshere instead of Arteta. I did this a couple of months back and had Chambers and Diaby in there, overrated Chambers a bitAnd I've accepted Diaby is dead now.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Chambers has done well considering being thrown in the deep end at 19. Diaby is not dead, he's just on a season long loan for longer than a season
I started laughing at "When everyone is fully fit" and I haven't stopped yet
why is everyone dropping santi for Ozil. Who has been our best player in the last few games? Ozil will have to fight for his place. Santi stays in as a number 10 until he loses form/ needs a breather or gets injured.
Cazorla is so underrated it's crazy
I have said it before but if Ozil had been performing like Cazorla, the hysteria in these boards would have been uncontrollable
The problem is with Wenger. Keeps playing No 10s on the wings. It just does not work. It is not good for them as players or for the team.
Szsz
Debuchy - Per - Kosc - Gibbs
Ramsey - Cazorla - Arteta
Walcott - Giroud - Sanchez
Welbeck, Wilshere, Ozil, Chambers, Ox, Rosicky.... that is SUCH a great team if everybody is firing.
comment by sammy nelson sbum (U6244)
posted 15 minutes ago
The problem is with Wenger. Keeps playing No 10s on the wings. It just does not work. It is not good for them as players or for the team.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Some on here seem to like that as well
comment by sammy nelson sbum (U6244)
posted 14 minutes ago
why is everyone dropping santi for Ozil. Who has been our best player in the last few games? Ozil will have to fight for his place. Santi stays in as a number 10 until he loses form/ needs a breather or gets injured.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
As a topic like this is purely hypothetical (after all, it is a scenario we will never see), then as mentioned above, we might as well just ignore form and choose who we think is best on their day. Much as I love Cazorla, Ozil is a better player (although we're looking at his Madrid days admittedly).
________Shezza__________
Debuchy - Per - Kosc - Gibbs
_______Ramsey - Arteta_______
Walcott - Cazorla - Sanchez
________Giroud___________
The midfield might have a desperate lack of serious height, but could keep and run with the ball all day.
Szczesny
Debuchy Kos Mert Gibbs
Arteta Wilshere
Walcott Cazorla Sanchez
Giroud
Quite a few difficult choices in the front 6, and I've gone for what I feel works best as a team rather than having the best individual players. Ozil out for Cazorla was the closest call, but Mesut is yet to properly hit top form for us in over a year, whereas Santi has been back to his brilliant best of late, and also contributes a lot more to defending, even if his creativity isn't quite a match for Ozil's. I don't especially like either of them out on the wing and I don't think either should be played there ahead of Walcott, Sanchez or Chamberlain - but I wouldn't be surprised to see that happen when Ozil is back.
Similar story with Ramsey/Wilshere as well - Wilshere was really starting to look good again before his latest injury, and he gives us a bit more fight in midfield that Ramsey doesn't quite have, as much as the Welshman is stronger going forward. If we had more of an orthodox defensive midfielder for Ramsey to play alongside, I'd probably take him instead.
Its pointless putting Theo upfront because no team is stupid enough to play a high line against us.
It hard to imagine us doing it but were we to play one of the best in Europe i think thered be a case for using Liverpool's formation of last year. Of course wed have to remain disciplined and stay deep. Against barca or bayern we wouldn't have much choice tbh.
Chez
debuchy per kos Gibbs
arteta
cazorla Ramsey
ozil
theo Alexis
Team of midgets of course but the counter would be devastating and Alexis has the beating of a full back in the air, as an outlet. Replace cazorla with pogba and that team could beat anyone.
Szczesny
Debuchy Mertesacker Koscielny Gibbs
Arteta Ramsey
Walcott Ozil Sanchez
Welbeck
Subs: Ospina Chambers Monreal Wilshere Oxlade-Chamberlain Cazorla Giroud
I'd mess up my pants if we ever saw that match day squad
As harsh as that is on Cazorla, Ozil is better end of , especially with the ball retention behind him and that pace and power in front of him. Also it is touch and go with Welbeck and Giroud. Just think Welbeck has more of Girouds attributes than Giroud has of Welbecks.
Cazorla is more dynamic, more skilful, more defensively aware, more likely to score and as good as ozil in creating.
people need to forget the Ozil of Madrid and look at the Ozil of Arsenal.
If he can bring his A game in 2015 then we can maybe compare him to Cazorla but at the moment, there is no contest
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When fully fit....
Page 1 of 2
posted on 30/12/14
Chamberlain doesn't get into our best XI.
The rest is pretty straightforward, although a case for saying Cazorla instead of Giroud and either Sanchez or Walcott furthest forward.
posted on 30/12/14
Szsz
Debuchy - Per - Kosc - Gibbs
Ramsey - Cazorla - Arteta
Walcott - Giroud - Sanchez
posted on 30/12/14
_______________Ospina_______________
Debuchy Mertesacker Koscielny Gibbs
_________Ramsey__Arteta____________
Walcott_______Cazorla________Sanchez
_______________Giroud________________
Szczesny, Nacho, Chambers, Wilshere, Ox, Ozil, Welbeck
posted on 30/12/14
Szczesny
Debuchy Mertesacker Koscielny Gibbs
Ramsey Arteta
Walcott Ozil Sanchez
Welbeck
posted on 30/12/14
What about Diaby lads?
posted on 30/12/14
Its not as easy as when everyone is fit as you need to take form into account as well. All of our players have shown changes in form. Take Ramsey for example, on a good day he could get into just about any team in the world but on a bad day struggles.
And when was the last time we had everyone fit anyway? With Walcott being injured since January you've got to go back before then, I'd say its the summer of 2013 at the latest and probably a long time before that. We haven't even seen Ospina play so I just can't justify him being included.
Other than that I'd say a fit and on form best 11 would be
Szcz
Debauch. Meet. Kos. Gibbs
Arleta. Ramsey
Walcott. Ozil. Anchez
Welbeck
I can't include Giroud as I think a top form Welbeck is probably better than a top form Giroux who I just don't like. His hold up play just allows defenders to get back and makes our attacks that much harder. His recent good form has been better than Welbeck on poor form though.
posted on 30/12/14
What has Ozil done while at arsenal to suggest he gets in the team ahead of Cazorla?
posted on 30/12/14
He had a couple of games for us where he showed what he can do but not many. I thought that would be a controversial choice.
posted on 30/12/14
comment by Castor Troy (U8700)
posted 35 minutes ago
Szsz
Debuchy - Per - Kosc - Gibbs
Ramsey - Cazorla - Arteta
Walcott - Giroud - Sanchez
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This with Wilshere instead of Arteta. I did this a couple of months back and had Chambers and Diaby in there, overrated Chambers a bit And I've accepted Diaby is dead now.
posted on 30/12/14
It's tough, because it's likely to vary based on the opposition, but in general, I like the look of:
------------Szczesny
Debuchy-Chambers-Koscielny-Gibbs
-----------Arteta----Ramsey
Sanchez-----Ozil---------Chamberlain
-------------Welbeck
I prefer Chambers to Mertesacker solely because it allows us to press slightly higher up the pitch. I'd prefer a more experienced defender, but Chambers and Koscielny had a pretty good partnership at the start iof the season.
I'm pretty indifferent between Ozil and Cazorla, but whilst I think Cazorla's general defensive contribution and possession retention is better, I think Ozil's eye for a through-pass is unmatched, and I would like to see him get consistent game-time in the central role with runners around him.
I'm pretty indifferent between Chamberlain and Walcott as well, but the reason I've opted for Chamberlain is his ability to play more as a pragmatic wideman and stretch teams. Sanchez has a natural propensity to drift in off the flanks, whilst Walcott likes to make diagonal runs inside from the wide positions. I'm just a little wary that we could become a bit congested with Walcott and Sanchez. In terms of traditional wide-play, I think Chamberlain is the best we have, and he provides an effective counter-balance to Sanchez atm.
Welbeck and Giroud both have their strengths, but again, I'd like to see Ozil with a number of through-ball opportunities available to him, and I think Welbeck's pace makes him slightly more suitable than Giroud. Also, his athleticism makes him a better option for pressing, which is how I would like us to play with Chambers and Koscielny as the defensive pair.
posted on 30/12/14
Back 5 picks itself.
Then you have the case of best team on paper vs the most balanced team. To have a balanced team you have to leave out Wilshere as much as it pains me to say this.
Arteta--Ramsey
Özil--Cazorla--Alexis
----Walcott---
Maybe put Alexis and Özil left but can interchange of course. This team would need to play on counter attack for full effects.
posted on 30/12/14
comment by 9bit (U19964)
posted 9 minutes ago
comment by Castor Troy (U8700)
posted 35 minutes ago
Szsz
Debuchy - Per - Kosc - Gibbs
Ramsey - Cazorla - Arteta
Walcott - Giroud - Sanchez
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This with Wilshere instead of Arteta. I did this a couple of months back and had Chambers and Diaby in there, overrated Chambers a bitAnd I've accepted Diaby is dead now.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Chambers has done well considering being thrown in the deep end at 19. Diaby is not dead, he's just on a season long loan for longer than a season
posted on 30/12/14
I started laughing at "When everyone is fully fit" and I haven't stopped yet
posted on 30/12/14
why is everyone dropping santi for Ozil. Who has been our best player in the last few games? Ozil will have to fight for his place. Santi stays in as a number 10 until he loses form/ needs a breather or gets injured.
posted on 30/12/14
Cazorla is so underrated it's crazy
I have said it before but if Ozil had been performing like Cazorla, the hysteria in these boards would have been uncontrollable
posted on 30/12/14
The problem is with Wenger. Keeps playing No 10s on the wings. It just does not work. It is not good for them as players or for the team.
posted on 30/12/14
Szsz
Debuchy - Per - Kosc - Gibbs
Ramsey - Cazorla - Arteta
Walcott - Giroud - Sanchez
Welbeck, Wilshere, Ozil, Chambers, Ox, Rosicky.... that is SUCH a great team if everybody is firing.
posted on 30/12/14
comment by sammy nelson sbum (U6244)
posted 15 minutes ago
The problem is with Wenger. Keeps playing No 10s on the wings. It just does not work. It is not good for them as players or for the team.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Some on here seem to like that as well
posted on 30/12/14
comment by sammy nelson sbum (U6244)
posted 14 minutes ago
why is everyone dropping santi for Ozil. Who has been our best player in the last few games? Ozil will have to fight for his place. Santi stays in as a number 10 until he loses form/ needs a breather or gets injured.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
As a topic like this is purely hypothetical (after all, it is a scenario we will never see), then as mentioned above, we might as well just ignore form and choose who we think is best on their day. Much as I love Cazorla, Ozil is a better player (although we're looking at his Madrid days admittedly).
posted on 30/12/14
________Shezza__________
Debuchy - Per - Kosc - Gibbs
_______Ramsey - Arteta_______
Walcott - Cazorla - Sanchez
________Giroud___________
The midfield might have a desperate lack of serious height, but could keep and run with the ball all day.
posted on 30/12/14
Szczesny
Debuchy Kos Mert Gibbs
Arteta Wilshere
Walcott Cazorla Sanchez
Giroud
Quite a few difficult choices in the front 6, and I've gone for what I feel works best as a team rather than having the best individual players. Ozil out for Cazorla was the closest call, but Mesut is yet to properly hit top form for us in over a year, whereas Santi has been back to his brilliant best of late, and also contributes a lot more to defending, even if his creativity isn't quite a match for Ozil's. I don't especially like either of them out on the wing and I don't think either should be played there ahead of Walcott, Sanchez or Chamberlain - but I wouldn't be surprised to see that happen when Ozil is back.
Similar story with Ramsey/Wilshere as well - Wilshere was really starting to look good again before his latest injury, and he gives us a bit more fight in midfield that Ramsey doesn't quite have, as much as the Welshman is stronger going forward. If we had more of an orthodox defensive midfielder for Ramsey to play alongside, I'd probably take him instead.
posted on 30/12/14
Its pointless putting Theo upfront because no team is stupid enough to play a high line against us.
posted on 30/12/14
It hard to imagine us doing it but were we to play one of the best in Europe i think thered be a case for using Liverpool's formation of last year. Of course wed have to remain disciplined and stay deep. Against barca or bayern we wouldn't have much choice tbh.
Chez
debuchy per kos Gibbs
arteta
cazorla Ramsey
ozil
theo Alexis
Team of midgets of course but the counter would be devastating and Alexis has the beating of a full back in the air, as an outlet. Replace cazorla with pogba and that team could beat anyone.
posted on 30/12/14
Szczesny
Debuchy Mertesacker Koscielny Gibbs
Arteta Ramsey
Walcott Ozil Sanchez
Welbeck
Subs: Ospina Chambers Monreal Wilshere Oxlade-Chamberlain Cazorla Giroud
I'd mess up my pants if we ever saw that match day squad
As harsh as that is on Cazorla, Ozil is better end of , especially with the ball retention behind him and that pace and power in front of him. Also it is touch and go with Welbeck and Giroud. Just think Welbeck has more of Girouds attributes than Giroud has of Welbecks.
posted on 30/12/14
Cazorla is more dynamic, more skilful, more defensively aware, more likely to score and as good as ozil in creating.
people need to forget the Ozil of Madrid and look at the Ozil of Arsenal.
If he can bring his A game in 2015 then we can maybe compare him to Cazorla but at the moment, there is no contest
Page 1 of 2