QUOTE(sigheart @ Jan 30 2014, 12:23 AM)
The thing is if podolski had played and we were shit people will be slating Arsene instead for not giving Gnabry a chance. Criticizing on hindsight is always easier.
We have won games with a lineup like last night and you cannot argue that gnabry, cazorla and Giroud were off form coming into this game. Giroud and Cazorla are in good goal scoring form and Gnabry has been solid each time he played. It's not that the players fielded ahead of podolski has been shit for an extended amount of time.
The lineup fielded from the start was tried and tested with every player in their best position if not secondary position. Putting in Podolski for Gnabry would mean santi on the right and Poldi on the left. Seriously have you ever seen Santi put on the right in the team sheet before? Next thing we know if we didn't win you will be complaining about Arsene experimenting putting players in unfamiliar positions in BPL matches.
Either way the team which was fielded was still more than capable of winning and it was the individuals on the pitch which were below par and disappointed.
Or, it could be Podolski in the left, Santi in the middle and Özil on the right. Previously, Poldi himself said that he is better/suited/comfortable cutting inside from the left wing. And we have seen Santi best form from the middle from last season. Özil, he can play all front left, middle and right.
As I remember, our mobility gave our players more roaming options. But in the end. Its AW who gotta make decisions and he did. Last season we might lost this kind of games so going home with a point in hand isnt so bad either.
Was a bit dissapointed with the officials this season. That 1st goal shouldnt stand. Monreal clearly fouled. But, decisions were made, nothing would change now. Keep foreard and focus on the next game at home.
COYG