AZ Alkmaar Thread

By: Martin | October 20th, 2009

Lineups are in, and I was right about everyone except for keeper:

Arsenal: Starters: Mannone, Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Clichy, Eboue, Fabregas, Song, Diaby, Arshavin, van Persie. Subs: Almunia, Silvestre, Gibbs, Ramsey, Wilshere, Vela, Merida.

AZ: Starters: Romero, Moreno, Moisander, Poulsen, Jaliens, Schaars, Mendes da Silva, Martens, Holman, Dembele, El Hamdaoui. Subs: Swerts, Klavan, van der Velden, Pelle, Lens, Wernbloom, Diduluca

I have to admit that I am a bit surprised, given that Almunia has supposedly been “fit” for close to a week now but hasn’t made his way back into the first team. I have to think this is one of three things: (1) Wenger is so pleased with how Mannone is playing he’s willing to let it ride with the young Italian at the moment; (2) Almunia still has some lingering effects from the chest infection; (3) Almunia still hasn’t got enough game simulation action practice in training to convince Wenger he is match-ready yet. Number 1 seems extremely unlikely to me, so I would think it has to be (2) or (3), or some combination thereof. Still–if we don’t see Almunia between the sticks on Saturday against West Ham, I would think that’s a good indication that something is up.

The only other question is how our squad will be configured. That could be either a 4-5-1, which Wenger has used in European road fixtures often in the past, with van Persie the lone striker and Arshavin on the left; a 4-4-2, with van Persie and Arshavin up top and Diaby on the left; or a 4-3-3, with Eboue joining Andrey and RvP up top. It will be worth keeping on eye on how far up Eboue and Arshavin get in attack, and how deep they are tracking back, to see how aggressive Wenger wants the team to be.

As you may have heard, AZ is going through some tumultuous times the past few days. Their ownership, which also sponsors their shirt (and their stadium) is bankrupt, so they were frantically trying to sell the sponsorship rights to the shirt as of this morning. The club will supposedly be formally put up for sale within a couple of days, and, depending on the new ownership’s commitment, the team could be broken up soon. This could affect this game in one of two ways: (1) the distraction of everything going on could make AZ lose focus and play poorly; or (2) the club could realize that this might be their one big opportunity as a group to make a big splash on the European scene; (or, I suppose, (3)–all of this is psychobabble, and they are professionals who will block everything out and go out and play hard like they always do).

At any rate, big match for Arsenal, and one from which we will hopefully take all 3 points, putting one foot firmly into the group stages. Wenger’s 60th birthday is on Thursday, here’s hoping the team goes out and gives him a win as a present.

I’m DVRing the game, so won’t be following it as it happens, but will try to do a recap and ratings either tonight or tomorrow morning. But as always, feel free to leave your thoughts and comments below. Come on Arsenal.