Arsenal face Manchester City in the Carling Cup quarter-finals tomorrow and, a day before the game at Eastlands, it is unclear what Arsene Wenger’s starting XI for the fixture will be.
The Frenchman has indicated that he will stick with his policy of fielding young players in the competition and will also give some of the fringe players a run out against Olympiacos in the Champions League Group H dead rubber next week. However, at the moment the attention is very much centred on City and Wenger’s selection for the game.
With Wojciech Szczesny out on loan, it is a two-horse race between Lukasz Fabianski and Vito Mannone to play in goal and, seeing as the Pole was on the bench against Chelsea at the weekend, he is likely to be preferred.
The bulk of the back four should remain the same as in the two previous rounds, with one obvious omission. Kerrea Gilbert, Philippe Senderos and Mikael Silvestre will all play, but Kieran Gibbs is out for three months with a broken metatarsal. Armand Traore would be the most likely replacement, but with Gael Clichy also currently sidelined, the former Portsmouth loanee is Wenger’s first choice left-back. Wenger spoke last week about Emmanuel Eboue being an option in that position and it would not be suprising to see the Ivorian play there tomorrow.
Another difficult area to call is the holding midfield position. Francis Coquelin, Craig Eastmond, Mark Randall and Emmanuel Frimpong are all in with a chance of starting and it will be interesting to see which of them are picked with Denilson and Alex Song likely to be rested.
Jack Wilshere should shrug off an injury to play and is likely to be partnered in midfield by Aaron Ramsey. Up front, Carlos Vela is likely to operate at the apex of the front three, with Fran Merida flanking him on the left and Gilles Sunu or maybe even Theo Walcott on the right.
It promises to be an entertaining game and, although City manager Mark Hughes declared that he will play a full strength side, the much anticipated encounter with Chelsea on Saturday teatime may alter his thinking.
Jeorge Bird's Arsenal Youth 
I think it is more likely that Wilshere will be in an advanced role and Merida in a midfield role, but I could be wrong.
I think Wenger will play bcuz experenced Nasri played alongside Eastmond & Ramsey thus Rosicky will play where Nasri played in the last round. RB is 50-50, it will be Ebo or Gilbert depending on what he wants.
—————-Fabianski—————–
Eboue—-Senderos—-Silvestre—-Traore
———–Eastmond—-Rosicky———–
——Wilshere—-Ramsey—–Merida———
——————vela—————–
i think we’ll see….
Fabianksi, Gilbert, Silvestre, Senderos, Traore, Eastmond, Coquelin, Ramsey, Wilshere, Vela, Merida
I for one think two more defensively minded players in midfield would be a good idea to a team as talented as Man City. Eastmond and Coquelin to play with Ramsey in front of them. Wilshere and Merida to play on the wings and Vela at CF. I would also go with Traore at LB despite the concern of tiredness.
I believe Merida is suspended following his red card in the last reserves match?
No his suspension starts on the 9th December. I think that means he cannot play in Olympiakos on that day.
He can play at Olympiakos, the FA has nothing to do with CL.
I really like that team gazzap makes sense to pack midfield when we have few attacking options. We can always throw theo on if we need to attack more later on. That formation would give me more hope that we could get a result…
Guys,
Fran Merida Perez is banned for three first team mathces after his sending-off against Aston Villa Reserves last Wednesday (see http://www.thefa.com).
I think the line-up will be:
—————-Fabianski—————–
Gilbert—-Senderos—-Silvestre—-Cruise
———–Eastmond—-Coquelin———–
——Wilshere—-Ramsey—–Vela———
——————Walcott—————–
Subs: Mannone, Bartley, Ayling, Randall, Emmanuel-Thomas, Watt, Sunu.
It will be very interesting to see this team against the Man City first-teamers… And we will be not denied the chances…
Vincent
Fran is ok to play against Man City, his ban doesn’t start until 9/12/09, check your own link. Plus, I think you will find that Emmanuel-Thomas is cup-tied having played for Blackpool in the competition.
Jorge,
Sunu ahead of Watt? That is somewhat surprising. I thought Watt was the one most favored by AW these days, no?
I think Vela will play as the main striker and Sunu is more suited on the wing, but we’ll have to wait and see.
—————-Fabianski—————–
Eboue—-Senderos—-Silvestre—-Traore
———–Eastmond—-Coquelin———–
——Wilshere—-Ramsey—–Merida———
——————vela—————–
pretty sure this would be the team, have a feeling maybe rosicky or walcott could start the game.
—————-Fabianski—————–
Eboue—-Senderos—-Silvestre—-Traore
———–Ramsey—-Coquelin———–
——rosicky/walcott—-wilshere—–Merida———
——————vela—————–
I think Wenger will play bcuz experenced Nasri played alongside Eastmond & Ramsey thus Rosicky will play where Nasri played in the last round. RB is 50-50, it will be Ebo or Gilbert depending on what he wants
—————-Fabianski—————–
Eboue—-Senderos—-Silvestre—-Traore
———–Eastmond—-Rosicky———–
——Wilshere—-Ramsey—–Merida———
——————vela—————–
——-—————-Fabianski—————–
Eboue—-Senderos—-bartley–Silvestre
———–Ramsey—-Coquelin———–
——wilshere—-rosicky—–Merida———
——————vela—————–
Fabianski—————–
Eboue—-song—-silvestre–traore
———–Ramsey—-Coquelin/eastmond———–
——wilshere—-rosicky—–Merida———
——————vela—————–