No Hleb At Newcastle?
Dec 4th, 2007 by 'holic
Arsenal.com brings us the not entirely unexpected news that Alexander Hleb is a doubt for the trip to Newcastle United on Wednesday. With Robin van Persie also sitting out the contest that poses an interesting question about the potential formation at St James Park.
The 4-5-1 utilised in a number of fixtures since van Persie was ruled out has relied heavily on the free role assumed by the in-form Hleb. This may well be the time that Arsene Wenger reverts to two up with a new partner for Emmanuel Adebayor.
Most pundits would probably expect to see a promotion for Eduardo da Silva under these circumstances, and I have to confess that is something I would like to see. Le Boss though has many tricks up his sleeve, and for the battle we can expect at Newcastle he may consider the more physical attributes of Nicklas Bendtner.
Even a month or so ago who would have considered the two big men as a potential strike force in a Wenger side? Adebayor showed signs at Villa Park of coming back to his best whilst Bendtner impressed hugely in Seville in the Champions League. The idea is not so outrageous now. You can certainly see these two occupying the central defenders and creating space in which Cesc Fabregas and Tomas Rosicky could make hay.
Sam Allardyce leaves no doubt about his plans for the contest. “You must stop them (Arsenal) producing their strengths, and then try, when you’re in possession, to use the ball in the correct manner and make sure you get at their defence when you can.” We saw at Bolton how he thought he could stop us producing our strengths. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t. This little charmer may feature prominently.
The way we have coped with the physical sides this season fuels my confidence, and the ‘holic pound, which yielded another healthy profit on Saturday is once again to be planted on an away win. After two correct Premiership predictions in a row I am conservatively settling for 1-0. Get up there, keep possession, nick a goal, get out, or something like that.
This is the game in hand that has underpinned our leadership all season. It is the opportunity to double the existing three point lead over second placed Manchester United. Increasing the pressure on Allardyce wouldn’t be a bad by-product either.
A word too today appears in the Telegraph about Arsenal’s charity for this season, Treehouse. If you want to know more about the work they do please click the link in my sidebar. Thanks.
9 Responses to “No Hleb At Newcastle?”
For what I’ve seen, Bendtner is more settled into the team than Eduardo, every game in the Prem is a must win game, I say play Bendtner and carry on giving Eduardo starts in League Cup and as a sub until he’s a bit more settled. You said Bendtner had a good game in Seville, whereas Eduardo was rubbish.
I think he may find space for denilson, ran the attaking midfield against newcastle earlier in the the year (carling cup) and will be confident against them if used…. would slot into inside right mid, again diarra may find himself in ahead of gilberto or flam if not yet fully fit in a high tempo pressing midfield……
im from burnley and i am going on the newcastle game with my dad, i cant w8. I am slightly worried without hleb and maybe fabregas! I also thought RVP would be back now!
Anyway as i said im from burnley, the whole town is going mental at the thought of arsenal coming to town. I really hope that he plays a good side otherwise i fear for us……burnley beat spurs and villa not so long ago and gave man uniteda hell of a fright! Its live on bbc 2pm on sun jan sixth!
I reckon that Hleb is actually fit, I know it was a nasty gash, but they’re easily patched up. The problem is that odious c**t Allardyce would have seen the injury and, had Hleb played, would definitely have told his minions Barton and Butt to give his achilles a good hack.
I would expect Flamini to start this one in central midfield if he’s fit. This is a big game for us – if we can bag the three points then we have a very nice lead for this time of year. The added psychological edge it would give us over the other top sides must be pressed home. With ‘the other sides’ all on good form as well a six point lead gives us scope should we not beat the Chavs.
The question over formation is very interesting – Newcastle are in trouble having lost so many games of late, plus their defence is in tatters and leaking goals so an attacking 4-4-2 would make a lot of sense however AW seems to prefer the 4-5-1 option when we play against what will probably be a very aggressive team. I’d like to see us go there with a 4-4-2:
Almunia
Sagna / Toure / Gallas / Clichy
Eboue / Flamini / Diarra / Rosicky
Eduardo / Adebayor
it’s possible that Walcott or Bendtner could slot in alongside Adebayor – that’s anyone’s guess!
Bendtner and Adebayor would be pretty awesome I think, particularly when Bendtner looks quite comfortable in a slightly withdrawn position. It could work well but i don’t think AW will take a gamble here. I expect him to field a strong side to ensure all three points.
My score prediction is a more optimistic 3-0 … we have nothing to fear from this lot and should overcome them with our superior everything!
Barton will be sent off for being a twat.
ET
Yes, I think so too(Hleb should recover from that nasty tackle). But I felt that he didn’t fully recovered from the previous injury, and it may add up.
I would like to see AW deploying Eduardo on RW (like he did it with RVP)and Eboue on LW(Eboue could start scoring goals cutting inside).
Then, use Flamini and Diarra in MF, and Rosicky playing just behing Ade.
Team to play:
Almunia.
Sagna- Toure- Gallas- Clichy.
Diarra- Flamini.
Eduardo———————Eboue.
—————Rosicky—————.
—————Adebayor————.
4-4-1-1.
Then, Walcott could come in for Eduardo, Bentner for Rosicky and Gilberto coming in (for defensive work if we are a goal up) for Ade.
Newcastle 1; Arsenal 2.
Well, Cesc and Flamini are also out, leaving us with a CM of Gilberto and Denilson (with Diarra on the bench) which is not shabby at all. Rosicky will probably play at LM, with Ade upfront. I am not sure whether Wenger will start with Bendtner also though you put forward a convincing case. I still like to see Dudu or Theo paired with Ade, and we do look quite effective with such a combination.
The physical threat is over estimated. No doubt Sam will instruct his players to go hard at us, but I think the current bunch has learned how to deal with that problem quite well.
Some real quality comments and views there guys, thank you. For me that just goes to show how many options we do have and what a fantastic job Le Boss has done.
Keep them coming.
i thought Diarra had a good game against villa and was under par in the second half like some of the plyers but i was really pleased and i think he is slowly staking his claim ahead of Berto..i think aerial ability will put Berto ahead of him for this game if we play a 4-4-2 because i feel Denii has to be certain of a start.
i think in theory Bendtner and Ade cud never partner each othr but thats the same theory that cud never have rooney and tevez being a partnership…so no game is played in theory infact their height could come in handy in both offensive and defensive set pieces.for a 4-4-2 i would go with
________Almunia
Sagna_Toure_Gallas_Clichy
Eboue_Denii_Berto_Rosicky
___Ade____Eduardo
if Le Boss sticks with his 4-5-1 which in a way would be understandable if he still feels no other striker carries the mettle to partner Ade,then i would like to see
____________Almunia
Sagna__Toure__Gallas__Clichy
______Berto__Diarra
Eboue____Rosicky__Denilson
________Adebayor
with this one maybe Deni and Rosicky could switch depending on how they deal with the both the attacking and defending impetus each position brings.
if we settle into a rhythm early on then i dont see why we cant win,i am actually glad our injuries are in the middle of the park because if it were defensive injuries..how would we cope with so many out