By Fab4.
Who would you like to see start at the back for Arsenal against Birmingham? Really think about it…what decision would give Arsenal the best chance of beating not only Birmingham but Barcelona on Wednesday?
I know Arsene has said he is only focused on the next game, but that’s rubbish. Football doesn’t work like that, it’s a squad game and you have to rotate your team to give you the best chance of competing in all competitions. You simply have to plan for the Barcelona game.
With that in mind, i think it’s a sensible option to rest Sol Campbell tomorrow. I think we can all agree with William Gallas out injured, our first choice centre back partnership is Thomas Vermaelen and Sol Campbell. Now with Vermaelen suspended tomorrow, it’s almost certain that Silvestre will play so who should partner him?
To play Campbell would be a huge risk and even more so as Arsene himself has said Sol can’t play 2 games in 4 days, so if Campbell plays that will pretty-much rule him out of the Barcelona game. So that may leave Silvestre having to partner Vermaelen against Barca, but Wenger doesn’t like playing two left-footers together….plus i think its vital we have our best possible centre backs playing to have any chance of stopping their strike force.
Also, if Sol can’t play 2 games in 4 days then surely the same must go for Silvestre? You can’t move Song back for the Barcelona game because that would mean Denilson coming in and i don’t know about you but the thought of Denilson playing against Messi and co scares me to death.
So for the greater good, this is the back 6 i think Arsene Wenger should play for the Birmingham game:
Almunia
Sagna Song Silvestre Clichy
Denilson
This back 6 would be able to do the job against Birmingham. Shifting Song in for Campbell would be enough to deal with Jerome and Bentiez, and we can get away with playing Denilson against the Brummies far more than against Barca. Who would you rather he was tackling and tracking….Barry Ferguson and Lee Bowyer or Iniesta and Xavi?! So it’s possible that Denilson is the key to who starts at the back tomorrow. This team would enable Sol to partner Vermaelen with Song in the holding role for Barca.
There is another option, switching Sagna to centre-half alongside Silvestre with the impressive Eboue at right back, leaving Song free to play at defensive midfield. But even though Sagna has played there before for France and his old clubs, it’s highly unlikely Arsene will do that.
These are the important points to consider:
– Silvestre can deal with Birmingham, perhaps not Barcelona
– Denilson can deal with Birmingham, perhaps not Barcelona
– Campbell will be needed against Barcelona and can’t play in both games
= Rest Campbell, Song plays alongside Silvestre.
What do you think? Who would you play at the back tomorrow? Leave your comments below…….
