What Is Arsenal’s Best Starting XI For The 2010-11 Season?
By Ollie Irish
“Hmm, the chicken or the fish?”
Firstly, a disclaimer: I know modern Premier League teams have big squads which they rotate, and I know there’s quite a difference between the team you pick for a home match and an away match. Just so we’re clear on that.
Okay, with that in mind, and remembering that this is just a harmless bit of fun, I want you to pick Arsenal‘s best starting XI for the coming season.
I’ll go first.
The formation: As I mentioned in my season preview for the Gunners, I’m very tempted by the currently popular 4-2-3-1 formation, and as I’m a sucker for temptation, it’s what I’m going to choose here.
The line-up:
Manuel Almunia (oh dear)
Bacary Sagna – Laurent Koscielny – Thomas Vermaelen – Gael Clichy
Alex Song – Abou Diaby
Samir Nasri – Cesc Fabregas (c) – Andrei Arshavin
Robin van Persie
I like the look of it – having two defensive midfielders would really give Fabregas the freedom to pull as many strings as he wanted.
There, I’ve shown you mine. Now you show me yours…
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i dont have a arsenal team im afraid – but if any 1 of their back 4 get injured they are up shit creek – gibbs is the only decent debutant – also goes applies to their keeper
they will undoubtably score plenty of goals and play pretty football – but if i were an arsenal fan id be asking myself 3 very serious questions
1) how good is Laurent Koscielny ? – they guy was playing in a mid to lower table french team – is he a suitable replacement for the premier league mainstay that was Gallas ( who also scored vital goals)
2) Is cesc really captain material anymore ? – its a mockery and also shows arsene’s ridiculous double standards – that he allows a player who openly flirted with a rival club to retain the captains arm band – cant see any other player in arsenal getting away with that – will this effect the dressing room ?
3) What does the future hold ? this season will surely be the last for cesc and possibly wenger if we are to believe some reports in the papers – with either one of those 2 gone what happens after that ?
maybe im a cynical cock – but i think there are some issues which need to be resolved at the emirates before the big trophies start flooding back
good luck to them tho !
Mannone
Sagna Vermaelen Koscielny Gibbs
Diaby Song Fabregas Nasri
Van Persie/Arshavin
Chamakh
Scnezny
Sagna Koscielny Vermaelen Gibbs
Walcott Song Diaby Arshavin
Fabregas
Van Persie
Wenger will probably stick with the 1 DM formation from last season, counting on the more attck minded players to keep the ball from the opposition.
So the formation will be 4-1-3-2, with RVP and the Barca loanee having a free role
Almunia
Sagna Kos Verm Clichy
Song
Rosicy Fabregas Nasri
RVP
Chamakh
RVP
Mannone
Sagna Koscieny Vermaelen Clichy
Song
Nasri Fabregas
Arshavin
Chamak RVP
—————- Mannone/Szchney ——————
Sagna — Koscielny — Vermaelen — Clichy —
——————— Song ——————————
——————————– Nasri ——————-
———— Fabregas ———————————
V.Persie ———————————– Arshavin
——————— Chamakh ————————
Chesney
sagna kos vermaelen gibbs
song
nasri fabregas arshavin
rvp chamakh
my ideal team is the one ollie put up. people naturally think chamakh will start cos wenger actually bought him and took out some decent dosh out of his wallet. but the best side, on paper, doesn’t, shouldn’t, have the moroccan in it. he’ll see plenty of action though cos, inevitably, one of arsenal’s attackers will get seriously injured.
Given
Sagna, Kos, Verm, Clichy
Song
Fabregas Diaby
Arsh Van Persie
Chamakh
But in all fairness Nasri, Rosicky, Velo, Walcott, Eboue could easily be in that attack – going forward is not a problem for us its Alexander Song (best player in an Arsenal shirt last year) and what happens behind him !!
We need another holding player and at least another C. Back and Goalkeeper as a minimum, put a vidic type player alongside Verma and a Seaman type keeper behind them – then there is no reason Arsenal cannot win the lot – they play the best football they just need the cover because the youth team as good as it is cannot cope with the step up quite yet
I think Chamakh, Walcott and Nasri have earned a first team place, and Arshavin looks like he is happy at Arsenal. I think Van Persie will come back stronger, so he should play. Gibbs and Clichy will battle for LB, both have looked good, and Sagna really has to watch his back, Eboue is looking very good.
I think Given or Hart will come to Arsenal, whoever is the reserve keeper will probably join on loan.
Diaby must be careful, I think Ramsey will become a first team player once he is fit
—————–GIVEN—————
—sagna—CAHILL—vermy—clichy—
————-song–diaby————-
—–nasri—–fabregas—-arshavin–
——————rvp—————-
=====================================
—————–song—————-
—-nasri——fabregas—–arshavin-
————chamakh——————
———————–rvp———–
however, against liverpoo (probably knowing AW):
—————almunia:(————-
—sagna—-kos—-vermy—-clichy—
————-song-diaby————–
—–walcott—-nasri—-arshavin—-
—————chamakh—————
Given loan
Sagna
Koscielny
Verma
Clichy
Song
Nasri
Fabregas
Arshavin
Chamahk
Van Persie
Subs:
Almunia
Eboue
Diaby
Gibbs
Walcott
Ramsey
Bentner
____________________________alumnia___________________________
__sagna________koscienly______________vermaelan______clichy___
____________________________song______________________________
___________nasri_____________________________fabregas_________
____chamakh_____________v persie______________arshavin________
subs
fibianski
nordviet
gibbs
eboue
diaby
walcott
bendtner
I don’t think Shchesny is ready to be in the starting XI
This squad can win Champions League.
_______________Almunia (Shay Given???)______________
___sagna_____koscienly_______vermaelan_____clichy___
_______________________song_______________________
____________nasri________________fabregas__________
_____RVP______________chamakh_____________arshavin_____
Subs
Walcott
Wilshere (Bendtner if healthy)
Diaby
Eboue
Rosicky
Djourou
Mannone
V. Mannone
G. Clichy
T. Vermaelen
L. Koscielny
B. Sagna
S. Nasri
C. Fabregas
A. Diaby
A. Arshavin
R. Van Persie
M. Chamakh
Subs
M. Almunia
K. Gibbs
E. Eboue
T. Walcott
A. Song
J. Emmanuel Thomas
N. Bendtner
I think at home they will play a similar formation to Barca, 4-1-2-3
————Almunia————-
Sagna Koscienly Vermaelan Clichy
————-Song————–
———Nasri Fabregas——–
—V Persie Chamakh Arshavin—
while away it will be 4-2-3-1
————Almunia————-
Sagna Koscienly Vermaelan Clichy
———-Song Diaby————
—–Nasri Fabregas Arshavin—–
———–V Persie————–
Either way, not a bad looking team, although they really do need to get more defenders and maybe a keeper that’s any good.
What an English team LOL
I do not rate Koscienly at all. He was woeful against Barnet and so i’d rather have Djourou or even Nordveit. Ideally i’d like Wenger to sign one more CB (someone like Cahill or Jagielka) but more importantly I think Arsenal need to sign a new defensive coach. Tactically Arsenal always look dodgy defensively and this is a problem that needs to be addressed immediately. Although some point at how flair players like Cesc, Nasri, RVP, etc do not track back enough, I personally believe that if Arsenal sign Alex McCleish from Birmingham we could really tighten up our defense (this is just theoretical as I doubt he would be happy just being a defensive coach).
———————Almunia/(New Signing)————————
—-Sagna—–Kosc/Song—– Verma— Clichy/Gibbs—
———————-Diaby—————————
———Nasri/Walcott——–Fabregas———-Arshavin——
—————Chamakh———-Van Persie————
Almunia (or a blessing from heavens)
Sagna Djourou Vermaelen Clichy
Song
Fabregas Wilshere
Nasri Arshavin
V. Persie
—————Almunia (or a blessing from heavens)—–
—Sagna—-Djourou —-Vermaelen —-Clichy
——————-Song———————
———–Fabregas——Wilshere———-
Nasri———————————Arshavin
—————-V. Persie——————
Given/hart
Sagna djoruo verm clichy
Song rosiscky fabregas
Arshavin rvp nasri
–Jay EmmanuelThomas–. GK ugly and scares the attackers
—–Eboue—–djourou—– vermaelen—- gibbs
—–song—–
——— fabregas ——— diaby——-
van persie–arshavin
—-chamakh—
G.k-Almunia
L.B.-Sagna
C.B.-Gallas and Clichy
R.B.-Gibbs
L.M.-Arshavin
C.M.-Fabregas,Song
R.M.-Nasri
C.F.-Robin Van Persie
This is the best line up
–Almunia (or New signing -Never Fabianski!!!)–
Sanga ——- Kos —— Veramelen —— Clichy
———————Song———————–
Nasri ————– Fabregas ———-Arshavin
———–Van Persie ————————–
————————Chamakh—————–
Subs:
Walcott (Game Changer, his speed vs. tired defense)
Bendtner (Physical,I still think he will get better)
Eboue (Speed, Crossing, Veteran)
Gibbs (Future LB)
Wilshere (Rosicky)
Diaby (Maybe Ramsey When healthy)
Mannone
Subs for Subs???
Frimpong
Vela
Denilson
Djourou (Moves Up when fully fit)
Nordveit (Wenger needs to give him a chance)
Emmanuel-Thomas
Traore
Barazite (if not loaned)
[...] Arsenal’s best XI [...]
Casillas
Sagna-Koscielny-Vermaelen-Clichy
Song
Nasri-Fabregas-Arshavin
Van Persie-Chamakh
Goalkeeping is hopeful, I admit
—–Almunia/new signing—–
-Sagna-Koscielny-Vermaelen-Clichy
———–Song—————
—-Nasri–Fabregas–Arshavin-
———-Van Persie———-
——–Chamakh—————
Bench:
Szczney
Gibbs
Diaby
Rosicky
Bendtner
Djourou/New Signing
Walcott
GIVEN
Sagna-Vermaelen-Koscielny-Clichy
Song
Fabregas
Nasri
Arshavin
Van Persie
Chamackh
————SCHWARZER
Eboue-Koscielny-Vermaelen-Gibbs
————–Song
Nasri——-Fabregas—-Rosicky
————Arshavin
———–Van Persie
Rosicky is our best crosser and eboue and gibbs are better crossers than the french duo.
[...] What is Arsenal’s best XI for 2010-11? [...]
SUBS:almunia,squallici,eboue,diaby,rosisky,chamakh
Fabianski
sagna vermaelen koscielny clichy
fabregas(c) song nasri
walcott van persie arshavin
All you people that have the gay moroccan over Robin van Persie as the striker are ridiculous and idiotic! I mean seriously people, do you not know who Robin van Persie means to Arsenal? He is the blood and the best player on the team by miles. Without van Persie we lack creativity in the final 3rd and a moment of magic! What does Chamackh do? yes he can hold up the ball well but what else? cant finish, no left foot, doesn’t the possess the “final ball” ability and his ball skills are average at best. Robin van Persie is the most complete forward in the world and im sure we Arsenal fans will see that this season!
______________________________L.Fabianski_______________________________
B.Sagna____________Koscielny______________T.Vermaelen___________G.Clichy
_________________________Song_________J.Wilshere________________________
_____________________________C.Fabregas_________________________________
S.Nasri_____________________________________________________A.Arshavin
_____________________________R.van Persie_____________________________
______________________________L.Fabianski_______________________________
B.Sagna____________Koscielny______________T.Vermaelen___________G.Clichy
_________________________Song_________J.Wilshere________________________
_____________________________Cesc.Fabregas_________________________________
S.Nasri_____________________________________________________A.Arshavin
_____________________________R.van Persie_____________________________
Wojciech Szczęsny
Bacary Sagna Chris Samba Laurent Koscielny Thomas Vermaelen
Alex Song Jack Wilshere
Marvin Martin
Theo Walcott Andre Ayew
Robin Van Persie
2011-2012
Squad
Almunia (All GK’s Are Bad But Is The Most Experience, Amazing At Saving Peno’s & Had Match Winning Performances Against Teams Like Man U In Champos League)
Gibbs (Will Get Better, But Perfect Replacement For Clichy)
Vermaelen (Best CB, One Of First Names On Team Sheet)
Koscienly (Not The Best Player, But Had Some Good Performances)
Sagna (On Of The Best Defender’s In The World)
Nasri (Best Player Behind Van Persie)
Song (Rather Play Others But Need His Defensive Play)
Wilshere (One Of The Best Players In The World)
Walcott (Game Changer, Amazing Pace, Incredible)
Arshavin (Play Him Back Upfront So He Needs To Get Back Less & Can Drift & Can Be Compared As One Of The Best In World)
Van Persie (Best Player At Arsenal, Simple)