Arsenal v/s Southampton, EFL Cup Quarter-Final, Wednesday, 30th November, 19:45

Rohit

Another quarter-final in the only competition to have evaded Wenger thus far. Given our injury situation and imminent fixture congestion, I am not sure if I want to see too many first team players start. Giroud would be a risk given he was feeling his hamstring the entire time he was on the pitch on the weekend. Hopefully Perez is fit, else with even Akpom out, don't know who we will start, Mavididi may be? This competition can be a real distraction in January with a two-legged semi-final, possibly against Klopp or Mourinho and if we do get through after some drama and fatigue induced injuries, a final in February. These matches do take a toll later on in the season. We have far greater depth than we ever had but I am not confident about our conditioning. I don't want us to lose obviously, it's always nice to keep a winning momentum and feel good factor through the club but risking the important players should be avoided at all costs. Southampton are a good team and they will take this game very seriously. I can see us losing if we put a weak team out, but will not mind it at all.

-----------------------------------------Martinez--------------------------------------

Maitland Niles-----------Gabriel------------------Holding-------------------Gibbs

-------------------------Zelalem--------------------Coquelin-------------------------

------------------------------------------Iwobi-----------------------------------------

Chamberlain--------------------------Perez---------------------------------Jeff

Bold Tone

Don't want Coquelin in this game.
Use players we can afford to lose and rest Iwobi some more!

HomeSteak

I want Perez to get some game time and some goals in the next few games, needs to start with this one.
We never have a easy game against them ...

Rex

---------------------Ospina
Niles-----Gabby---------Holding-----Gibbs
------------Coquelin------Elneny
The Jeff---------Iwobi---------------Chambo
--------------------Lucas

goon

There's no way Zelalem is playing, was involved with the U23's last night. We've got enough centre mids to play one of Elneny, Ramsey or Xhaka anyway, each one of those guys could do with the game time. If not, then play Maitland Niles in the middle and Jenko at right back.

Rex

With Debuchy fucked, we can't really risk Jenko, can we? How far we have fallen.

goon

I'd pick Gabriel over Jenko anyway for the first team. Plus Hector is back next week apparently.

Segway

I just hope Lucas is fit for this. He desperately needs minutes and we need him fit and firing.

Bold Tone

It would be utterly irresponsible for Perez to start this game.
Without match fitness, we would be asking for another injury which would be disastrous for his career here.
Xhaka, Elneny, Ramsey and Giroud need more game-time after their recent injuries/suspensions so play them all.
As long as they all don't get injured at the same time, we have cover for them in the first team.
I would go

-----------------------------------------Martinez--------------------------------------

Maitland Niles-----------Gabriel------------------Holding-------------------Gibbs

-------------------------Xhaka--------------------Elneny-------------------------

------------------------------------------Ramsey-----------------------------------------

Chamberlain--------------------------Giroud---------------------------------Jeff

goon

I'd have thought it's the perfect game for Lucas to make his comeback. You can't get match fit without matches.

Tactics

Fully expecting us to throwaway this game by resting our best players, only for Wenger to play them in that pointless game against Basel(yes pointless because I believe PSG will easily turn over the Bulgarians). End result : Out of the cup and 2nd in our CL group.

It's very important we continue winning trophies and this cup is a perfect opportunity to do so: 2 more wins after this match and the cup is ours. Not taking games like these seriously is the major reason why we went so long without winning anything.

I'd play the kids against Basel and go with the following team tomorrow :

-----------Giroud/Theo
Iwobi------Ramsey-------Ox
------Neny------Xhaka
Gibbs---Kos---Mus-----Jenks
------------Ospina

Bench: Ozil, Coq, Monreal,Perez, Gabriel...

Ramsey to operate more as a part of a midfield 3. Alexis gets the week off, I'd also give him the week off next week, along with our other 1st teamers.

HomeSteak

Wenger: “Lucas is in the squad and we will have a mixture of youth and experience, but still 90 per cent of the first-team squad.”

So not a lot of kids from the academy in the first 11, like we used to see in games like this.

Wenger also said Giroud will miss this one with a slight groin problem. And that we are still waiting on the scan results on Debuchy.

FEBravo

From that I'd guess

-------------Martinez
Jenko----Holding---Gabriel----Gibbs
-------Xhaka-------Elneny
--Ox------Ramsey-----Iwobi----
-----------Lucas-------------

goon

I think Jeff and Niles will continue to play a part.

flobaba

Can easily see us picking up the Big L in this one.

USArsenal

Maybe im not up on current events, but where the fuck is Yaya No-Goals?

Clrnc

Think he has disappeared to France for some secret training again.

I'd like to see this team. I think it is more than good enough at home to give Southampton a match.

Martinez
Jenkinson Gabriel Holding Gibbs
Ramsey Coquelin
Ox Jeff Iwobi
Perez

Qwiss

Surely Giroud has to start this?

Rohit

He isn't fit, has a 'slight' groin problem.

QuincyAbeyie

@[deleted] I should hope so.

Edit: Or not.