Sunday, 21st January. Ashburton Grove. Inside the emirates arena, the gladiators will fight. Fight for honour, fight for pride, fight for revenge!! It’s Arsenal vs Manchester United.
With Freddie Ljunberg and Gallas out with injury and Gilberto Silva suspended, it looks like a depleted Arsenal side that would be facing the in-form Red devils. Robin van Persie getting a knock in the training doesn’t help matters either.
Compare that to the re-invented Scholes, on song Ronaldo and ever dangerous Rooney, the situation looks very grim for the Gunners. Or is it?
I say we still have enough resources to win the tie comfortably. With Gilberto out of the equation, Wenger would be tempted to play the 4-5-1 formation. Arsenal would try to keep the possesion as much as possible and pass the opposition out of the game. That is exactly what happened when these two sides met at the Old Trafford last September.
Since then Scholes has found form and so has Ronaldo. Ji Sung Park is back. And this side has once again become capable of hitting on the break.
Under these circumstances, who all would be in Wenger’s 11? I thought i’ll give it a try myself. And I came up with this formation.
Lehmann (GK)
(RB)Eboue (CB)Toure (CB)Djourou (LB)Clichy
(RW)Hleb (CM)Fabregas (DM)Flamini (CM)Baptista (LW) Rosicky
(CF)Adebayor
Subs: Henry, Walcott, Senderos, Almunia, Aliadiere
Now this formation has a distinct advantage. Not only does it pack the midfield and reduce the gaps, it gives a certain protection to the back 4 and gives Fabregas the liberty to move up and spray his passes. With Baptista’s physical presence, he can draw away Carrick and Scholes with him, leaving Rosicky and Fabregas to move into the gap. Hleb being a good tackler can fall back if necessary.
If Arsenal don’t let in any goal for 70 odd minutes, that would be the time to bring on Henry and Walcott. With the master in the middle and the under study on the flank, it would be enough to open up ManU’s defence and score a goal or two.
All depends how Eboue performs that day. He is awesome when going forward but his defending is a little suspect. Whatever the results maybe, this one is going to be one hell of a match for sure.
