Wenger versus Mourinho Revisited?

No, no no.  It's about the football, right?  It's true that the grandstanding Mourinho of old didn't show up at first upon his return to the Premier League.  But as of last Saturday, he is officially back to his scene stealing ways.  Arsene, however, claims to be above that.  I may be more biased, but Arsene wins in the class department, hands down.

But, for every other non-egocentric football loving lifeform, it's about advancing to the quarter finals in the Capital One Cup.  Mourinho in his game playing ways first announced that he would play a youth-type team, Jose retracted that statement, instead whining about how Chelsea's schedule is harder than Arsenal's.  Waaaaa.

So, really, who knows what Chelsea is going to offer on the pitch come tomorrow?  Instead, let's look at what we may have to offer.  We know who is not going to play.  Arteta is out with a red card, and Flamini has some sort of groin pull.  So I doubt he will be risked which leaves the DM position open.  Frimpong is still short of coming back from his 3rd, 4th, 2nd knee injury.  Wenger states that Isaac Hayes will be considered.  He's used as a defender or midfielder, so we could see him start.  We know Vermie will get a start, and I would not be surprised to see Sagna start alongside him in the center with Jenks on the right, Monreal on the left, and Fabianski in goal.  I see the middle and wings getting filled with Jack, Santi Ryo /Gnabry (if fit), and Bendy starting up front.

We are playing at home (on our short grass), and with the way the Emirates has been sounding, the boys should feel lifted and revved up to bring home a win.  No matter what team the Special Happy One puts on the pitch, our guys have to be solid defensively.  Mourinho has the defense of his first team solidified, and his midfield maestros firing, but there is no saying what his second or third tier group will look like.  It kind of makes it exciting, not knowing what version of the Blues we are going to face.

In other news, this link to Lewandowski  is not going away.  It is still too hard for me to imagine he would not go with Bayern, but stranger things (with umlauts) have happened, and sometimes umlauts and strange happenings attract more of the same.  If you were Lew, wouldn't you want Ozil lofting a beautiful pass up to you?  Nod your head.  Of course you would.

That's it for now.  I'll be back later in the week to dissect Jose the Cup match and talk about one of our biggest games yet against Liverpool on Saturday.

Until then, have a good one Gooners.

Edit:  How did I forget about TR7?  Of course, I would expect him to start.  He gievs great pace, movement, and defensive cover.  Sorry about the exclusion.