Nine Jimmy Rimmers – Arsenal and Football

We’re going to see changes today I think. Szczesny fit, Diaby a knock and midweek games in the next three weeks. Good to be back to real football again though with visiting Southampton. This should be a win, Southampton are pointless to far, but then again it is the sort of game that we’ve slipped ip in over the last couple of seasons. So I hope that we’re going to approach this one with the same discipline we’ve seen so far.

So what decisions has Arsene Wenger for to make?

Personally I think that a fit Szczesny gets to play, even when Mannone has picked nothing more than a water bottle out of the back of the net. The Italian has done a good job and could get at least one more game this month against Coventry in the FA Cup.

Koscielny, Mertesacker, Vermaelen? I would be happy to see any two out of these three. Could Vermaelen get a rest ahead of our first Champions League game and the trip to Man City? He’s had a heavier league and international load than the other two.

Diaby getting a knock playing for France had an certain inevitability I suppose, but the club says it’s just a mild thing and he could play. I suspect that he will be out today whatever. There are plenty of tougher games ahead. Who will replace him? Coquelin, Oxlade-Chamberlain or Ramsey? AOC played in both internationals, I think he might be in the bench. Coquelin seems a touch defensive against Southampton but we could see with him or Ramsey.

Walcott has been in bed with a virus during the week so I guess that Gervinho will get a start with Podolski and Giroud up front.

My guess:
________ Szczesny ________
Jenk _ Merte __ Kos _ Gibbs
_____ Arteta __ Ramsey ____
________ Cazorla __________
Gervinho _ Giroud _ Podolski

Hopefully it will be the chance for Giroud to get off the mark with his first goal. But let’s not panic either way and just hope for another disciplined win.

Come on you Gunners!