Just a quick post to float a controversial idea that’s been running around my head.
Much as I love the FA Cup, our priorities this season are, in order: 1) win the Europa League, thereby getting ourselves into the Champions League next season; 2) finish in the top four thereby etc etc.
The FA Cup is very much in third place so I would like us to use it as an opportunity to play an almost entirely youth based team when we visit Bournemouth tomorrow night.
Here’s my proposed line up:
Martinez
Maitland-Niles – Mustafi – Holding – Saka
Willock – Guendouzi
Nelson
Pepe – Nketieh – Martinelli
It would make for a really fascinating experiment, would give a massive morale boost to what is emerging as one of the most exciting groups of young players since the Beckham-Scholes-Giggs-Neville generation at Manchester United and will give our more experienced players a proper rest.
I don’t expect Mikel Arteta to put out a team anything like this (check back in tomorrow for someone else on AA to propose a more sensible starting eleven in the pre-match Post) but I would love it.
Despite our billionaire owner we are clearly never going to be a club that spends our way to success like Chelsea and Manchester City, so nurturing our own young talent is the next best way forward.
Our young players seem to have a great bond with each other. Let’s reinforce that bond and watch this group grow together.
RockyLives
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
Mavropanos and Smith Rowe are out on loan. What are you lining up?
would be a good team if half of them were not out on loan
Mavraponas is out on loan
People just write for writing sake, mav is on loan to Germany
Whoops.
Apologies for including loanees (shouldn’t write a Post in a hurry on a train).
Thanks for the updates: Mustafi and Pepe now included in place of Mavro and ESR.
Pepe needs game time and goals and Mustafi needs… well, something.
Nice one, Rocky….Mavropanos has gone on loan to Nurnberg…. Nelson is injured. ESR has gone to Huddersfield (loan) .
Sokratis is back, so I’m sure we’ll see.him. Will Laca play, as Auba’s next week?
Thanks Sue – bit of rush job and it shows 😳
But I stand by my theory we should put out the youthiest team possible.
I’m still trying to work out what Mustafi needs, Rocky 😂😂
Mustafi’s weird.
He can play really well for long periods but always seems to have a calamitous moment just waiting to happen.
Saliba doesn’t even make st Etienne team, wondering if he another dud
Assuming Nelson is still out I would put Bellerin at RB, switch AMN to LB and push Saka forward instead.
Hector might well benefit from another game to improve his match fitness on the road back from injury.
Fred
Have you seen him play?
(I haven’t – but the hype was that he was supposed to be really good)
Thanks Rocky,
There is also Zech Medley – cue someone to tell me he’s out on loan 🙂
I think Mikel wants to build a winning mentality and momentum running throughout the squad so I expect him to play quite a strong team and go for a win … we don’t want a spursy replay.
Mustafi is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma … (thanks Winnie) … but on top of that he is capable of periodic shitness at critical times 🙂
Fred.. I thought he was injured… hadn’t he broken his foot?
Well he doesn’t even start for st Etienne, I trying to watch him play but he is either out injured or on the bench
Charlie George told me he really good so he probably is but from as of right now am concern since that out Achilles heel
If he can stay fit, Fred, from what I’ve read about him, he’ll be really good for us.
Only made 5 appearances in the league this season
mustafi not the type of player we should be talking about because he is just a ordinary man not a player
Not sure of his injury sue but he has recovered some months now
He made the bench, Fred…. ease him in, hey?!
Arsenal women are 2-0 up 👊
Who they playing
West Ham, Fred.
Bloody hell, something has happened at Prenton Park, that will never be seen again 🤣
Phil Jones, Jesse Lingard and Slab head Maguire have all scored 😱🤪
Fred – A simple google search would see that Saliba only returned to full training this week not ”some months” as you just made up. The kid is quality
Hi Rocky
Thanks for the post. Always appreciated, by some!
Heres another comment for comment’s sake…..and reading, but only if you want to!
We could have a “On loan, injured, or not arrived yet :-
Martinez
Matviyenko Mavrapanos Up… Mari
Saliba
Nelson Smith-Rowe Lemar
John-Jules Mbappe
Could be difficult as rarely played together.
But seriously, having lost one talented left back in Dominic Thompson recently, I’d like to add Bola to your team and get Saka further forward.
Mbappe?
Good observation skills, Fred.
Sue lacazette deserve a rest front 3 should be Martinelli PEA Pepe
Mustafi needs to retire,
Auba is still suspended, Fred. A rest??! They’ll all have 2 weeks off after the Burnley game – he can rest then 😉
Doesn’t look like the BBC are going to get the famous “cup upset” today…
Come on Shrewsbury 😁👍
Shrewsbury 😝😝😝😝😝😝
ha!
Hahaha Klopp having to bring on Salah and Firmino against the mighty Shrewsbury of.. er.. league one 😂😂😂😂 Jason Cummings, you are an absolute legend!!
That was absolutely brilliant 👏👏👏👏👏👏
No teeth on show today (except mine 😝)
Aww poor old Klopp, he was without his mate today – good old VAR….
Very sad news about Kobe.
Saw him play in Toronto several times when the Lakers were playing at the Raptors.
For those who don’t follow NBA, he’s one of the biggest all time names in basketball, on a par with the likes of Pele, Maradona, Messi and Cruyff in football.
Also – very rare in the NBA – he was a “one club man,” playing for the Los Angeles Lakers for his whole career.
Terrible … and worse still … his daughter was on board too
The BBC just reported it… and used a photo of Le Bron James.
Morning all
We have a New Post …………….