By Fab4.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been forced to travel to Spain to play Barcelona, arguably the best side on the planet, without a host of star names. To go to the Nou Camp is hard enough, but to do it without 5 of your best players is almost impossible. Just to clarify, Arsenal will play tonight without the services of Robin Van Persie, Cesc Fabregas, William Gallas, Alex Song and Andrey Arshavin. Those 5 would start in our strongest eleven. Add to that Aaron Ramsey, Keiron Gibbs, and Johan Djourou with Sol Campbell and Thomas Rosicky doubtful, we could be talking about 9 first team squad players being unavailable.
You could maybe get away with it against teams like Hull or Portsmouth, but this is Barcelona we’re talking about. With the options available to Wenger, and taking into account the players we will be playing against, i think the only option left is to play Sagna at centre back and Eboue at right back.
With Ibrahmovic out, it looks like Bojan will start up top. He is a short, quick footed and deadly forward. Not the kind of player we want Silvestre playing against, even a fit Sol Campbell would struggle against this kid so regardless of his fitness i would go with Sagna in the middle next to Vermaelen. He has played there for France and will not let Arsenal down. We know Eboue is a good right back and Sagna has the pace needed to deal with Barca’s strike force.
My team would be:
Almunia
Eboue Sagna Vermaelen Clichy
Denilson
Diaby Nasri
Walcott Rosicky
Bendtner
If Rosicky doesn’t make it, i really don’t know who’s left to fill in! Eduardo could play on the left but that would be a big risk. This is really more like a Caring Cup team from a couple of years ago than a side capable of beating Barcelona.
It’s a real shame that injuries have bitten at such a vital stage of the season. I’d have loved to go their with a strong team and give it a real go but i fear for this side tonight. I hope I’m wrong and if this team can beat the world’s best in their own back yard it will be a truly historic achievement.
Perhaps Wenger will spring a surprise on us and select a player nobody has considered, like Merida or Eastmond, but if he was to take any gamble tonight i think it should be to start Sagna at centre half. Walcott and Bendtner will be important if Arsenal are to get the goals they will need and I’d like to see Nasri get hold of the game from the middle of the park. If we can hold out until half time without conceding we could have a chance.
What team would you like to see? Please leave them in the comments section below…..
