My team selection for this game was:
Henry, van Persie
Walcott, Gilberto, Fabregas, Hleb
Clichy, Gallas, Toure, Eboue
Lehmann
Subs: Almunia, Senderos, Djourou, Flamini, Adebayor
But I've had a re-think and I realised that if I was manager I'd want my best 11 players on the pitch. For this reason I'd field the following team.
My revised team selection for this game is:
Henry, Adebayor
van Persie, Gilberto, Fabregas, Hleb
Clichy, Gallas, Toure, Eboue
Lehmann
Subs: Almunia, Senderos, Djourou, Flamini, Walcott
My thinking for the change of personnel is that I believe Arsenal need Adebayor to play as a proper old fashioned centre forward. If he works as hard as he did at Old Trafford, it will go a long way to securing a victory and equally he actually stays up front, which the other Arsenal strikers don't seem to do.
I feel that van Persie would do a good job as a left winger and Arsenal need his aggression, which is why I'd play him over Walcott. I don't think that Walcott deserves a start in such an important game and its just a case of getting the best available 11 players on the pitch.
I definately wouldn't play Flamini on the wing, I feel he is awkward there, although by all reports he played very well in midfield against Everton in the week.
It will be interesting to see which players Wenger plays today and for the first game in a while, I'll actually be listening with interest when he names the team on the big screen before kick-off.
Actually I've just looked at my team selection again and now I'm second-guessing myself because I'm not sure if Arsenal need Senderos, Djourou and Flaimini on the bench. Perhaps one of the centre backs could be sacrificed to put Aliadiere on the bench to add another attacking option?
I give up.... this armchair management lark is tough stuff.
