Slavia Prague Preview: Squad Rotation 6 November, 2007
Posted by lasagnechef in Champions League.17 comments
Well don’t expect anything like the last score line. Prague will be just a bit embarrassed about the 7-0 thrashing and will be looking to put things right in front of their own fans. I still think we’ve got too much for them to beat us though. However, we’ve left England with a squad missing 4 of our best players: Fabregas, Hleb, Rosicky and Toure have been rested. Cesc and Alex have been left out purely to give them a break but Kolo and Tomas picked up slight knocks against Manchester United and have been left out as a precaution. Toure will definitely be back for Reading but Arsene cant be 100% on Rosicky’s fitness.
That means there’s the opportunity of a possible start fro Gilberto, Diarra, Diaby, Denilson or Walcott. Theo was a star when he started against them at home and I think he’ll get another chance tomorrow night. At centre back we have the option of Gilberto, Song or Hoyte. There was those rumours that Gilberto Silva has refused to play in defence and if they’re true then I think Wenger will prefer Song to Justin Hoyte who has been linked with a January move to Everton. However I’m expecting to see Gilberto start alongside Gallas at the back.
On the wings I’m guessing it’ll be Eboue and either Walcott or Diaby, depending on whether Theo’s getting another chance as a striker or whether he’ll be out on the wing again. Personally I’d give him another chance up top, possibly with Eduardo by his side. Ade has played a lot this season and he could probably do with a rest too.
So here’s this week’s completely wrong guess at the team…
Sagna – Gilberto – Gallas (c) – Clichy
Eboue – Diarra – Flamini – Diaby
Walcott – Eduardo
That’s what I’d go for anyway with the squad that Arsene’s chosen. That should be enough to cause Slavia problems. Although they will be looking for revenge I really don’t think they’ll cause an upset. A draw is enough to see us through to the knockout stages, and I’d be surprised if we don’t achieve that tomorrow night.
We’re live on…erm…Sky One. Yeah. Presented by Noel Edmunds and Dr Zoidberg from Futurama. No idea what the score will be, but whatever happens I’ll be here with a match report on Thursday. Until then.
