Arsenal Banter Archive September 09 2015

09 Sep 2015 06:49:57
With Mertesacker fit after a virus, against Stoke, would you disturb the successful Gabriel and Koscileny central defensive partnership that hasn't conceeded a goal in the last two matches? Is it an opportunity to rest Koscileny who has been suffering from a back injury, before the start of midweek Champions League matches begin?

09 Sep 2015 10:06:40
I think i mentioned it before but Kosc missed the France game due to an injury, so in all probablity it could be Merts and Gabriel.

09 Sep 2015 10:47:02
Injury apart, I don't think you should ever change a partnership.

09 Sep 2015 13:24:13
You shouldn't change a working partnership and Koscielny and Gabriel seem to work a lot better than Koscielny and Mertesacker.

10 Sep 2015 07:11:49
They've played one game together this season - not two. A clean sheet against a 10-man Newcastle isn't a mind-blowing stat as far as a defensive partnership is concerned, least of all with Cech in goal to support them.
Mertesacker might be useful against Stoke for his height, although that was presumed last year and didn't stop him ducking...

10 Sep 2015 10:14:10
They played together last season and based on his very few appearances - he can defend a lot better than Mertesacker can nowadays. I do like Mertesacker but he is struggling for form and no defender should be scared of the ball really.