Team News: Vermaelen & Song Start, Bendtner Out

The big news is that Thomas Vermaelen has recovered enough and will start against Manchester United this afternoon. That is massive news. And after all the press about Sol versus Rooney, the centreback doesn’t even make the bench.

Arsene has decided not to start Bendtner and has opted for Arshavin supported by Rosicky and Nasri.

And our bench is encouraging. We have Theo and Bendtner who can come on and make a different in the last 15 minutes.

But while Arsenal have their first choice defence, United are missing both Vidic and Ferdinand, who have been replaced with Jonny Evans and Wes Brown.

I always thought Arsene would start with Arshavin down the middle, especially if Vidic and Ferdinand were out. With Nasri and Rosicky playing alongside him, we have various options to change positions throughout the game and stretch the United defence. And we saw what he did to Liverpool a couple of months ago.

If we were ever going to beat Manchester United, it’s this afternoon.

The Arsenal team to start against Manchester United is as follows:

Manuel Almunia, Bacary Sagna, Williams Gallas, Thomas Vermaelen, Gael Clichy, Alex Song, Denilson, Cesc Fabregas (Captain), Tomas Rosicky, Samir Nasri and Andrei Arshavin.

Substitutes: Fabianski, Silvestre, Eboue, Traore, Ramsey, Walcott, Bendtner.

And the United line up is:

Van der Sar, Rafael Da Silva, Evans, Brown, Evra, Scholes, Carrick, Fletcher, Nani, Park and Rooney.

Substitutes: Kuszczak, Owen, Berbatov, Giggs, Valencia, Gibson, De Laet.

For our Manchester United match preview, click here.

 

10 thoughts on “Team News: Vermaelen & Song Start, Bendtner Out

  1. I aint surprised the gunners are two goals down.With the gunners holding a high defensive line and when the attack breaks down ,the rd hits along pass (anti soccer to AW )and two more passesthe gunners are 2-0 down.
    I blame the gunners elaborate passing for this and i wont be surprised if they concede further goals.

     
  2. Just as I predicted a stray pass is intercepted and three more passes the defence goes awol and another goal for MU.
    I think AW better rethink his passing theory becauses i can’t see the gunners scoring. I look at the video of the 2003-04 season and the gunners passing was basic and simple. No elabortaion

     
  3. “If we were ever going to beat Manchester United, it’s this afternoon.”

    We can only hope though seriously not here to crow. It was a good game and you made so many chances but couldn’t take them. Hopefully you find the target better next week.

     
  4. James by the way were was the long pass for any of the 3 goals – that is being blind to some excellent running with the ball from Nani and Park. Football isn’t just short passing – dribbling and carrying the ball is hardly anti anything.

     
  5. Hey, what’s the big deal? In four or five years when Bendtner and Vela and Ramsey are fully matured we will dominate world football. Arsene knows!

     
  6. The sad fact is that Manchester United didn’t even have to break a sweat to win this afternoon. They won the game by half time.

    This just confirms that it’s Chelsea or United for the title.

     
  7. Why did MU win . Simple. they don’t have over elaborate passing patterns and when space opens up,which is inevitable when Arsenal play,they shoot with minimum fuss and they don’t waste time waiting to pass.Furthermore the red faced cunt doesnt buy players who will go o the senior team in two years time.He buys some with a view to the next season.
    Perhaps AW could take a leaf from other managers but i know for sure he is too arrogant to do so. It is his way which leads to a cul de sac.
    I’m afraid Arsenal can forget about the title. Some seasons ago they also had a tough run in and were knocked of both the FA and Cl.
    Injuries not withstanding, it is how you cope. Arsenal have failed miserably in this respect with AW’s purchases not performing to the level required. As everybody know they are a talented lot but at the hour of reckoning they have failed to deliver.
    What next?Nani was not shut out before he crossed.He was given too much room/space. Any other team would have two guys to mark him.
    There will be more such days unless there is a radical thinking. ALL I know is with every gunner joining in the attack,gaps are going to be exploited . Everton nearly won .

     

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