Nine Jimmy Rimmers – Arsenal and Football

When you’ve had the start that Arsenal have it’s tempting to start calling every match a ‘must win’ game.  The game tonight against Marseille isn’t a must win game, but if we can win it will open up a good route to topping the group.

Haunted by the memory of having to play a group winner in the next round last year and drawing Barcelona, Arsene Wenger will want to field a team that can win.  Marseille are no mugs either.  They top the group right now with two wins.  Loic Remy and Andre Ayew are a serious threat.

So whilst I’m expecting some rotation tonight I don’t think we’ll see wholesale change.

But Wenger will have in mind the need to play Stoke, Bolton and Chelsea in a seven day run next.  So there are bound to be some changes.

With Sagna, Gibbs and Vermaelen out the back five surely picks itself.  Not much scope for rotation here.  Arsene Wenger has hinted at choices other than Jenkinson, but I can’t see him passing on a Mertesacker/Koscielny pairing in the middle for this game unless he has a particular concern about Mertesacker’s stamina.

So that’s: Szczesny, Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Koscielny and Santos at the back.

Is this game an opportunity for Francis Coquelin to give Song a break?  Could be, he’s done well when he has played and this is familiar territory for him after his long loan spell in France.

Oxlade-Chamberlain hasn’t been included but Ramsey has.  So next we’re looking at two out of Arteta, Ramsey & Rosicky.  Tomas Rosicky had impressed so far this season.  He seems determined to step up and prove we can prosper without Cesc and Nasri.  Obviously he’s not in Fabregas’ class but he good, experienced and his rediscovered enthusiasm is very welcome.  But is he going to make two starts in four days?

My hunch is – no he isn’t.  On the other hand, how resilient is Arteta?  He’s had a slightly dodgy fitness record in recent times as well, but he didn’t have to play any internationals so surely Ramsey and Arteta this time.

Up front I think we might see a bit more change.  Van Persie has been terrific this season both in ability and fitness.  But we surely need to avoid over-working a player with his fitness record.  This game, and the Carling Cup match against Bolton are surely two opportunities to start him on the bench.  Park isn’t in the squad, so a rest for Van Persie means a start for Chamakh.

Some pundits are suggesting a complete change for Arsenal up front with Arshavin and Benayoun either side of Chamakh.  Arshavin re-energized the side when he came on against Sunderland and I think he will start.  But Benayoun is more likely to be held back as a sub.

That would give us:
_______ Szczesny ______
Jenk _ Merte _ Kos _ Santos
______ Coquelin _______
__ Arteta ____ Ramsey __
Walcott __ RVP __ Arshavin

What do you think?

Arsene Wenger says that his main focus is on a new defender but it isn’t easy. No kidding. I’m sure he’s right but then again he’s a top manager so that’s what he’s there for!

Defender talk in the Sundays is about renewed bids for Jagielka or Dann.

At his last press conference Arsene Wenger appeared to rile out Mata and Jadson. I think he was quite explicit on Mata, but all he said on Jadson was that no bid had been made. Doesn’t mean no discussion.

Anyway, the papers today are concentrating on midfielder Marvin Martin from Sochaux and winger Andre Ayew from Marseille. Both interesting prospects but I would have thought we had wingers a plenty now.

Interesting to note that the stumbling block to Adebayor’s loan move to Spurs is his £160,000 a week salary. Spurs want City to carry on paying more than half. That’s the trouble with inflating the market as City have been doing for the last three years. It makes it more expensive to move on the out of favour players because, naturally, they don’t want a pay cut.