FA Cup - Arsenal

[DHSC]

Still buzzing from the Fulham game and can hardly do any work in the office.

So how do we shape up against Arsenal, bearing in mind the next game is next Sunday against Swansea?

Would like to see Suarez and Sterling get a break and maybe Henderson as well?

If Agger's fit he should start.

Mignolet
Flanagan
Skrtel
Agger
Cissokho
Gerrard
Allen
Coutinho
Aspas
Sturridge
Moses

 

[Whirly]

Arsenal have Bayern midweek, so I would be surprised if they fielded a first choice side.

We have no good reason not to though.

 

[Mersey86]

No good reason ... other than resting some of our players ahead of a 12-game stretch that could get very interesting. I'd personally like to see Suarez, Sturridge and Coutinho given the day off. But I doubt that's going to happen. Expect Jones to play in goal though.

 

[Whirly]

I don't think any of our players need a 10 day rest particularly though, Coutinho especially. He seems to be finding a bit of form based on the last couple of games, I'd like to see if he can keep it going against Arse.


If we beat Arsenal, the only top side left in the FA cup will be one of City/Chelsea.

 

[DHSC]

I think it would be good to give some of fringe players some playing time in case, touch wood, some of our first teamers get injured. They can make use of this opportunity to blend with our style of play. Would be good to give some of the returning players some game time to get match fit again.

Regardless, I hope we smash the Arse again, although I can see us losing. They will be fired up to avenge the 5-1.

 

[hamstrung_pigeon]

Arsenal have Bayern midweek, so I would be surprised if they fielded a first choice side.

We have no good reason not to though.

This trophy is a lot more realistic for Arsenal than the CL, in view of the tough draw they have. At this point, given how the season has developed and with their title chances getting knocked back in 3 of the last 4 league games, I think they will want to put out a strong side. Their fans will also want them to avenge their humiliation at Anfield - fielding an under-strength side will certainly agitate them and the nervous energy wouldn't help them at all. Then again, Wenger does what Wenger wants, so who knows.

As for us - I hope we put out a strong team - this is certainly a trophy we are capable of winning. Maybe rotate Agger and Allen in for Toure and one of the mids, but otherwise, keep the rest intact if nobody is carrying any knocks or bruises.

 

[DHSC]

If we beat Arsenal we can dream of a League and Cup double.

 

[doctor_mac]

I'm looking forward to this. On paper it is one of the worst fixtures we could have landed, but I think we can go there with no pressure whilst Arsenal's league stumbles have created a bit of a sense of panic at the Emirates. It won't be 5-1 but we've every chance of beating them.

 

[Gerry_A_Trick]

If history tells us anything, it's that Arsenal will win this one.

I'd like to see a strong team out and hopefully sneak a win.

 

[Hyena]

Controversial but I hope we take things easy and change up a few players to give them a rest.

Arsenal will be all up for this and if they win I don't want them to think they are ever better than a full-strength Liverpool. Best is if their 1st 11 plays our reserves to a draw.

Also, we are challenging for the title now.

 

[Fox]

Play same team and let arsenal implode. With bayern coming it could be another shocking February for them.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Based on their response to the 5-1 shellacking, they are struggling for confidence and playing within themselves. This game IS there for the taking.

 

[Mystic]

Bring Johnson, Agger and Allen back into the line up, dropping Flannel Again, Toure and either Coutinho or Sturridge. Play Suarez central, we have a very strong team that should be able to win.

 

[SummerOnions]

Jones
Flanagan Skrtel Agger Johnson
Gerrard Allen
Suarez Coutinho Sterling
Sturridge

Give Ibe and Teixeira minutes

 

[Dreambeliever]

What the fuck is everyone smoking on scm.

Strongest possible side!! We have 7 days to recovery.

arsenal looked totally lacking in confidence against Utd and will have 1 eye on Eyrope.

And I don't care what anyone says about rotation or rest. The winning habit trumps rest every single fucking time.

If we knock arsenal out on their own patch every lower placed team will play us already expecting defeat in way teams did with Utd for 2 decades under Ferguson.

Same team and let Koule atone his error.

Coyrm!!!!

 

[gkmacca]

I'm going to be a second choice goalkeeper when I grow up. You get paid a fortune to sit on a bench once a week, and then, no matter how shit you are, you get to play in the FA cup. It's better than being a judge.

 

[James]

Gotta agree with Dreamy here. We have a whole week to rest players, why would we rest them for this game? If a team is on form and has momentum, why alter that? Suarez, Sturridge, Coutinho and Sterling to all start with Ibe and Tex to come on later in the game.

 

[Jack D Rips]

Rest? With the exception of a couple of mid week games we are playing one game per week for the season.

 

[peterhague]

If you wanted to go all out for the victory why would you also play Toure?

If he's fit, Agger should start. We need to get him back into the team as soon as humanly possible. Same goes for Johnson, really, cos Cissokho's still shit.

I don't really care about the game other than how it affects our league form. If we can put out a strong team without risking injuries etc, then fine, go for it. I do think Suarez could do with a rest, though. Maybe go

Mignolet
Johnson
Agger
Skrtel
Flanagan
Gerrard
Allen
Henderson
Coutinho
Sterling
Sturridge

 

[Dreambeliever]

Because I believe when he's high on confidence Toure is better than Agger so I'd rather take the risk to let him gain it back in the fa cup and have him back to his best for the league.

 

[peterhague]

Each to their own...

 

[Tal]

Playing our strongest team and then having a week to rest is great, but only if we don't lose anyone important to an injury in a game that is insignificant to our immediate future. I'd rather we were already out and the squad could go on holiday.

Of course, I won't feel like that on the day of the match, but I'll be equally worried about losing players as I will be about the result.

 

[Mystic]

What the fuck is everyone smoking on scm.

Strongest possible side!! We have 7 days to recovery.

arsenal looked totally lacking in confidence against Utd and will have 1 eye on Eyrope.

And I don't care what anyone says about rotation or rest. The winning habit trumps rest every single fucking time.

If we knock arsenal out on their own patch every lower placed team will play us already expecting defeat in way teams did with Utd for 2 decades under Ferguson.

Same team and let Koule atone his error.

[hl]Coyrm!!!![/hl]

Leave. Now.

 

[ILD]

Agger gets a chance to come back in at the expense of Toure. Bar that same team as last night. We have time to recover. We aren't playing midweek. They are. Let them rest players if they want.

 

[Fallon]

Mignolet

Flanagan
Skrtel
Agger
Cissokho

Gerrard
Allen

Henderson
Coutinho
Sterling

Sturridge



Introduce Suarez & Johnson at some point, depending how the game goes, but otherwise 5 (2-3) in the midfield and wait to break with pace.

 

[moneymay81]

I know this may sound bad but i am more looking forward to the Swansea game Arsenal will be fired up for revenge i would take a replay right now

 

[HC]

Attack is the best form of defence.

Arsenal have got to play frikking Bayern in the middle of next week, why would we allow them to win this game and go into it feeling pumped.

Fuck that, we play our 11, we go a few up and we take suarez and co off at half time and see the fucker out.

I'd like to think Brendan wouldn't pussy out of this.

 

[Frogfish]

Jones
Flanagan Skrtel Agger Johnson
Gerrard Allen
Suarez Coutinho Sterling
Sturridge

Give Ibe and Teixeira minutes

Yeah. I'll go with the above. I agree with Hyena above but I'm sure Rodgers will play a full strength side. I think we'll win. Arsenal didn't look brilliant against United yesterday (I saw 15 mins of each half) and with us, Bayern and their horrendous mid-March to early-April (A Spurs, A Chelsea, H City, A Everton) to come they could soon feel like they are in free-fall.

 

[Holle]

We'll thrash them.

Again.

 

[Brizzle]

If Johnson couldn't make the bench yesterday, he won't be able to start but I'd want to see:

---------------Mignolet--------------
Flanno--Skrtel--Agger--Cissokho
---------------Stevie
--------Hendo-----Coutinho
Sterling-------------------Suarez
---------------Studge

Playing them at the emirates, they will again be there for the taking on the counter so Sterling is a must. I don't think anyone is playing like they are in need of a rest. I would expect Johnson to come on early, and wouldn't be surprised to see either Allen or Alberto in for Coutinho.