A Completely New Blend For Cologne?
Sep 13th, 2017 by 'holic
Hello all. After a long few days it is time to put something together about the impending Europa League bow against Cologne on Thursday evening. I’ve been out of the loop since the weekend so it will be based on what I can speed read tonight and downright invention!
Of most interest I would imagine will be who will start the match. The manager has already revealed that Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey will be rested after their recent international exertions. Everyone is aware we are at the bus stop in Fulham less than sixty-four hours after this match ends.
It’s reasonable to assume that David Ospina will get the nod to keep goal, but the back three? Per Mertesacker, Calum Chambers, and Rob Holding are decidedly short on match fitness, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see at least two of them starting. Chambers might also be considered for right wing-back, although could Theo Walcott be preferred? Reiss Nelson on the left side, anyone?
With Francis Coquelin ruled out by injury this will surely present an opportunity for Mohamed Elneny, and possibly Jack Wilshere, to form the base of the midfield. Alex Iwobi was frequently elevated when Ozil was rested last season and could be given the chance again. Olivier Giroud and Alexis Sanchez are widely tipped to start up front.
It’s a heck of a gamble to go with so many changes against any European opponents, particularly a battle-hardened Bundesliga outfit, but the manager thinks he has strength in depth, and here is an opportunity to find out. A mixture of youth and out-of-favour experience might just be motivated enough to get an impressive result.
The visitors are likely to set up in a 4-4-2 formation and although few of them will be familiar to the majority of Gooners we will have to respect experienced goalkeeper Timo Horn and the likely strike partnership of Yuya Osako, who has six goals in nineteen senior appearances for Japan, and Columbian Jhon Cordoba, an imposing figure up front.
The ‘holic pound
I haven’t a scooby. The only other time we met Cologne at home in European competition we won 2-1 in what would ultimately be a defeat on away goals over two legs of the UEFA Cup quarter-final in 1971. Maybe lightning does strike twice in the same place so I have taken the 15/2 available against that.
I’ll be following the match online as the holidays for this year have run out. I hope those who have taken advantage of the reduced ticket prices are rewarded with a match to savour.
Have a good one, ‘holics.
82 Responses to “A Completely New Blend For Cologne?”
1st?
My 1st 1st in a long while, now to read the post.
Don’t want to jinx us but I can’t take seriously anybody who spells their name Jhon. There, I said it so now he will probably score.
Welcome back, Holic!
I don’t think anyone who started the game on Saturday will start this one, maybe only Kolasinac at a stretch. I expect to see Ospina in goal behind Holding, Per, and Chambers (depending on his fitness) for the wing backs, I expect young Master Nelson will get a start on the right, or the left if a door back in is opened to Debuchy. Jack Wilshere, another long term absentee I hope to see back on the pitch, will surely get a start alongside Elnenny in midfield while Alexis, Walcott and Giroud are all certainties to start up front.
All things being equal I think we will see
Ospina
Chambers, Per, Holding.
Nelson, Jack, Elnenny, Iwobi.
Walcott, Alexis.
Giroud.
Whoever starts for us, COYG.
Nice preview and good research Holic.
Knowing that CBA is taking over and is going to rescue the club with the help of Trev and Countryman has got me all excited again especially as I’m anticipating a seat on the board after setting all this up. It’s the least I could do !
Tomorrow the old regime will still be in charge. I think we might manage a 2-0 win although the team will be much changed. I think Chambers is still injured and we might see a couple of young tyros trusted with roles.
Even if we don’t do well we can see light at the tunnel with CBA pumping in his massive fortune so patience is the order of the day.
COYG
Nice stuff H. Like you, no idea who will play, how they will play or how it will end up.
Just sat here waiting for the CBA take over.
Fine preview Guvna. It seems likely that the first choice team from last Saturday will be resting up for next Sunday and rightly so. We have enough under-utilised experienced players of quality and useful tyros to field an interesting team that should be capable of winning the game against the bottom team of the Bundesliga.
As a result of a long-ago booking, I shall be at a Derren Brown evening of psychodigitation rather than cheering our inaugural match in this Europey Cup with an eye on the SkySports App. Here’s hoping there’s a bit of real magic at both venues.
cba, I hope you’ll have extracted that shillelagh before you chip your first board meeting, pal.
Cheers Holic !
Too much inexperience could make for a close shave with Cologne. The players will need to be bristling with confidence to stop the Germans upsetting the European foam book – especially that big Brut they have up front.
Arsenal to win by a whisker ??
From previous bar – “Maybe Trev will work pro bono?” (Countryman)
I don’t work for dog biscuits, old chap, although I do think the first team squad should start to include them in the pre-match meal – it might help them Winalot ?
anyone hear the hilarity cogs grinding ?
they were crunching last round
.
.
i despair
.
.
.
clowns
it might help them Winalot ?
A boom tish!
I’m here all week, do tell your friends, ‘cos quite frankly I need the money!
*looks square in the lens*
Welcome to your new club, cba. I trust an executive Superbox will be made available to all Goonerholic cba arse-lickers?
Not so sure about your new first team kit though … https://sep.yimg.com/ay/villagestreetwear/tuxedo-tshirts-irish-shamrock-tie-tuxedo-long-sleeve-t-shirt-19.jpg … or your intention to rename Arsenal as ‘London Irish’.
But your new Women’s First XI kit does have a certain je ne sais quoi… http://www.simplymyworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/20-embarrassing-and-hilarious-sport-wardrobe-malfunctions-19.jpg
Thanks for the preview GH.
Apart from Ramsey and Ozil. It
seems Cech, Kos, Danny, Laca
and Xhaka didn’t train too.
The nucleus for Sunday I assume.
The Magnificent 7 perhaps 🙂
Hector, Kola, Mustafi and Nacho
for the bench or start then.
If Mustafi plays then we don’t risk
a Mert, Calum, Rob back 3.
Jack/ Elneny midfield and starts
for Alexis, OG and Theo.
The scent of victory I wean.
3-0
Cheers H!
Nice preview, ‘Holic. Gold thread spun from not very much 🙂
How times change. Nine Englishmen and two Scots, with a third on the bench, were in our line-up for that 2-1 win against FC Koln in 1971.
Koln’s German international left back, Jonas Hector, will be one to watch, as is young German/Brazilian left-winger Leonardo Bittencourt, though he has an injury history that wouldn’t be out of place at the Ems. They also have a couple of youngish centre backs, Heinz and the Danish international Sorenson, who are well regarded.
Winalot???? Not with their pedigree old chum.
Winalot? Leave it out PAL
Well I can’t sit here all day, I have to go to the Butchers and the Bakers.
I AM Sure trev’s sorry he started all this
And if either of them give me any trouble, they’ll get a Schmacko
I know a handful of you share my musical obsessions, and doubt this will get much mainstream press coverage ; so hope it is ok to post.
Grant Hart ; singer / songwriter / drummer from Husker Du has sadly passed away today.
http://www.clashmusic.com/news/h%C3%BCsker-d%C3%BC-drummer-grant-hart-has-died
One third of the greatest power trio of all time gone. Just like that.
Absolutely Gutted. RIP.
I feel your pain NDR.Husker Du,along with Midway Still (top top gooners) & Dinosaur Jr were the greatest bands of my long haired youth.Sad times.
24
dreadful news
#25
You have tip top taste.
Used to see Midway Still on bills with the likes of Leatherface and Snuff way back when – good band ; didn’t know they were Arsenal !
Hearing Husker Du for the first time in the mid 80’s didn’t changed my life, but did irrevocably changed the way I listened to music.
A Sad day indeed.
Thank you for the compliment!! Midway Stills first album was called Dial Square which was the first name of the club before Woolwich Arsenal.
Leatherface…now there’s a band I’d forgotten about.Remember Jacobs Mouse,Eugenius,MC4,The Family Cat???
I could go on for hours reminiscing but will spare the rest of you!!
I hear Sauerkrauts are good for the gut….
😀
Eau Sauvage punning Trev.it should be a throwback to the days of Old Spice and Hai Karate our first Japanese superstar. Or was that Zarate? Tonight’s squad has 19 players and is the mixture that we expected. Chambers IS out though. If we can combine Nelson, Sanchez and Wilshere it should be an interesting evening.
My water tells me 3-0.
“My water tells me 3-0.”
That’ll be toilet water I assume, TTG ….?
Your Nelson, Sanchez, Wilshere trio could propel Arsenal into the blue stratosphere ??
We shouldn’t be complacent about winning the Europa League. There are some decent sides in it: AC Milan, Villarreal, Athletic Bilbao, Lyon, Zenit St Petersburg, Lazio, Hoffenheim, Marseille and Everton.
everton?
you mean atalanta
Had a great time in Cologne during the World Cup a few years back – found the locals great fun and very knowledgable, All had a mad passion for Koln. Goes some way to explaining why Poldoski was bonkers, Quite looking forward to tonight’s game !
CONFIRMED – The Arsenal kick-off has been delayed by an hour in the interests of crowd safety.
There are reports that up to 20,000 ticketless Cologne fans are trying to gain access to the stadium
Cologne 8
Spurs 0
1995.
Anyone know what’s going on? Still in the Greek waiting to walk the 10 minutes to the ground
what’s going on???
football on thursday
what’s next?
This really does not sound too clever from what people are posting on Arseblog and Twitter.
Stay safe if you are up there !
Brut,Eau Sauvage,Old Spice.
You know it makes scents.
Arsenal: Ospina, Bellerin, Holding, Mertesacker, Monreal, Maitland-Niles, Elneny, Iwobi, Alexis, Walcott, Giroud
According to Arseblog
Surprised to see Bellerin in the starting 11,otherwise much as expected.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8hDw6mS2pI
Just got into the ground. Very quiet outside. No problems at all. No idea where the other 17,000 Germans went.
I Blame Brexit 🙂 Them Germans coming over on mass to take in the delights of Holloway Road one last time before the shutters go up ??
They’ve let loads of them in. The whole Clock End lower tier is Koln supporters
Probably a wise move as you can control groups in confined areas not so easy if they are walking the streets !
Stay safe Gooners if any of y’all are out there. Drunken fools aside, usually the word is we get along infamously with the Dortmund crew. Hope it’s the same with the Koln fans.
But 20K fans?!?! Podolski must be behind this!
no… it’s Littbarski
@44,
Coming over here, taking our (empty) seats and enliven our stadia.
The nerve.
Cancel the match!
Imagine if the Arsenal turned up in Cologne with 20,000 ticket-less fans ? English football would be out of Europe quicker than Nigel Farage’s dirtiest fantasy….
Pierre Litti, Second Yella!?! With Tommy Hassler on the other wing! Must not be the only ’80s Bundesliga watcher here!
Order regained the ems! Come on Arsenal!
https://twitter.com/richard_conway
@49
They them Koln fans are taking English football back to the dark ages ! I’m going to petition parliament that The Arsenal from this day forth are allowed a referendum on membership of the Champions league or Europa league ? At every seasons end !
UEFA must be all smiles; maybe the Europa League needed Arsenal to be relevant. This is epic!
Lordy
Jesus Christ that is awful! Great goal but what is Arsenal doing?
Ooosssspinaaaaaaaaaa.
World class keeping.
What are they doing???
Even Flappy would better than that!
I’m sorry Elneny and Iwobi in the middle doesnt work!
come on theo, wake up
come on
Got away with that one it was close!
Ospipa world class again!
how come all you can hear is Cologne supporters?
shameful…wake up sissies
Booooooooo
Time for LJW. That midfield has zero cohesion and zero creativity. I have no idea how fit or sharp he is but it’s got to be a better option than that garbage.
With the exception of Ollie G, the rest just looks so disjointed.
First half to forget let’s not kid ourselves here this was a shocking display!
We have no options going forward Iwobi had one run at their defenders towards the end of the half too!
Bad tactics are too obvious too see and dont get me started on Ospipa!
Get in!! Kolasinac!
bomber
We look so much better as a four. Not that we’re exactly setting the world alight this half but at least certain players (hi Hector) know where they are supposed to be playing.
Here’s how empty the grounds are — you can easily make out the white gun in the seats in the lower bowl.
Wenger with a fashion statement — his coat.has an outrageously wide hot pink piping.
Subs please
supporters please
I think we should be making a statement at home but hey this must be a fashion show instead! 😀
What a beauty from Alexis!
GET IN!
yeeeeaaahhhhh
come on jack ya dodgy bastard
Belllllllleeeeerrriiiinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
So much better, second half.
Back four from now on please.
hec – fucking – tor
Arrived at Ems at 19.15 utter chaos. Announcement that game delayed until 21.05. Decided that situation could deteriorate so left and caught 20.14 train home. Am now watching the last 35mins on the box.
Had I stayed would needed to leave at half time. Shame but feel I made the correct decision. Lovely goals from Alexis and Hector.
There is always Sunday.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Delia
Don’t blame you one bit I would do exactly the same!
Good win utter shambles in the first half it has to be said! A much improved performance in the second! We still need to improve in all areas the keeper situation is also alarming! Ospipa for me is no better keeper than Wojtek! The better one was allowed to leave for silly money too!