[PL] Arsenal (H): Build Up

[RichC]

Play Benteke and lose 4-1 or not play him and draw 0-0.

[baitman]

Smith, tex, on the bench but must get some game time. Ilori starting.

[BigChief]

Where'd you hear that?

[Exiled_red]

Currently the experienced players we have available are

Mignolet, Clyne, Moreno, Toure, Lucas, Can, Allen, Lallana, Firmino and Benteke

Milner may be fit and we hope that a CB could make a recovery, if not seemingly our only options are either Ilori starting or Lucas/Can at CB. Best case scenario at present seems to be all of those being fit, meaning one senior player plus Bogdan and a bunch of kids on the bench (Ilori, Smith and Tex presumably the front runners for those positions and a couple of attacking players maybe Sinclair and Ojo)

[RichC]

Saw this floating about for our game against Arsenal. Not sure if there is much more we could do with the side at the moment

[G]

Nothing wrong with that team bar the statue up front.

[RichC]

He does offer the potential of goals from very little but he doesn't suit our style of play at all, not enough movement or willingness to get into the box.

I can't believe how few options we have up top at the moment

[Scratch]

After Allen's last match, I'd drop Benteke, shift Firmino up top and slot Allen in somewhere.

[Slinky Skills]

I'd ping Ojo up front, looks like he could be a menace and he played well the other night when he came on.

Can't believe how much he's bulked up.

[Buzzo]

Even though he's been awful Benteke has to play.

[Bender]

Even though he's been awful Benteke has to play.

Steady on mate ...wouldn't go as far as saying He has to play.

[danperkins]

Yeah Benteke has to start IMO. Do you Arsenal still have likes of Sanchez, Carzola, Coquelin out injured? Going to have to be full tilt vs Arsenal.

[baitman]

Where'd you hear that?

just based on who might be available to plug the gaps. if no sakho then maybe ilori.
to stick can or lucas in there just leaves us a bit hollow in the middle.

[Exiled_red]

just based on who might be available to plug the gaps. if no sakho then maybe ilori.
to stick can or lucas in there just leaves us a bit hollow in the middle.

We will have to play one of the kids somewhere if one of the CBs isn't fit. It's just whether we play Ilori at the back or we stick Can or Lucas into the back 4 and play one of the kids in midfield. If Milner is fit and we go for the second option we can have a midfield of Milner, Allen and the other of Lucas/Can, which isn't too bad and we have the with the kid playing in the attacking 3 alongside Lallana and Firmino.

For me it all depends on how much confidence we have in Ilori which way we go.

[baitman]

i think teixeira showed his ability in the exeter match, even if stuff wasnt coming off for him.
on a decent pitch with other decent players [lol] around him i think he can fit in and add a bit of flair to our midfield.
the kid can tackle, dribble, pass, etc. maybe even score a few.