Arsenal (a) Cup 5th round build up

[john316]

Agger for Kolo and possibly Allen for Hendo just to give him a breather.

[RedReet]

Oh joy...

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/andy-gray-disgraced-pundits-comeback-to-british-television-continues-with-him-confirmed-to-commentate-on-arsenal-v-liverpool-9126447.html

[RedRum]

Ohhhhh ya beauuuutaaay

[chadrtc]

Oh joy...

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/f...l-9126447.html

Russian stream it is!

[G]

I use Bein sports so have to put up with him and Keys for all our games!

[Liverpool]

anyone know the replay week?

[Liverpool]

also if us or Sunderland qualify, our game against them is postponed. So our fixtures could start to stack. Although Sunderland will be 2 down with games against City and us in hand

[Cormack74]

Tough call for Arsene with Bayern round the corner. FWIW I think he'll field a weakened team versus us - but only slightly.

[Mostar]

Tex isn't ready to start IMO. Another cameo off the bench is what it should be IMO.

He is not ready yet.

This is the game we should play Aspas, Alberto and Allen.

Rest Sturridge completely as he is somewhat prone to injuries and play Suarez only if the result is not in our favour.

[Montana]

I don't understand why we shouldn't go full strength? Last night was our last midweek game of the season so we'll have a full week's rest for every game after Sunday.

Bring Agger in for Toure and possibly Johnson for Cissokho. Play all the big guns and lets smash them.

[RichC]

Aye, full strength side for me. Another decent win for us can only give us more confidence and another knock to Arsenals

[SB]

He is not ready yet.

This is the game we should play Aspas, Alberto and Allen.

Rest Sturridge completely as he is somewhat prone to injuries and play Suarez only if the result is not in our favour.

and Agger for kolo hopefully.

[dww]

I think I'd risk Agger for Skrtel. Think Toure has suffered from playing on the left and as our only consistently fit and decent defender Skrtel is pretty key for us. I wouldn't bring Johnson back from the start even if fit, we should make any defensive changes slowly as we were worse at the back when chopping and changing all the time.

The bench will be an interesting one - would be good to see Teixeira get some minutes and Alberto too.

[Leyton388]

I think Arsenal may rest a few players for this with their game against Bayern next week. I'd go for the same team we had last week but put Agger in for Kolo.

[baitman]

from mark 'murment' lawro's predictions on the beeb;

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26145600

he says;
I will be very interested to see Arsene Wenger's starting XI for this tie because the Gunners play Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday and that game will be on his mind.
It has been a difficult week for Arsenal, starting with their heavy defeat at Anfield last Saturday. Gunners striker Olivier Giroud, for one, looked to me like he was running on empty in their 0-0 draw against Manchester United on Wednesday and I will be very surprised if he plays.

Liverpool, meanwhile, have got a clear week ahead and I think they will arrive at Emirates Stadium at full strength thinking 'let's go for this'. They have to be. Even if they get a replay, then so what?
They do not have the fixture congestion of the teams who are in Europe and, far more than say Arsenal, Chelsea or Manchester City, they should be saying now 'we want to win the FA Cup' because doing that does not actually translate into that many extra games.

As far as this game goes, Arsenal's biggest problem is there is little pace in their team. Giroud is not quick and there is nobody running beyond him and behind the opposition defence.
Wenger will probably make wholesale changes and Liverpool are in the sort of mood to make the most of it.
Lawro's prediction: 1-2