
Originally Posted by
Master Splinter
The results are sadly predictable based on team selection most of the time now. It's just madness to play a team and players who have been off-form for a while now. The injured players would give us options, but this time we had enough players to compete if the right selections had been made from kick-off. The fact that we played quite well in the second half and could somehow have drawn 2-2 at the end is all the more frustrating.
Sagna, Mertesacker, Arteta were the only players who were switched on. These players rarely let the team down. Giroud caused them some problems and could have had a hat-trick, crazily enough. Imagine what he could do with movement, urgency and a functioning team around him.
Vermaelen has been poor too many times recently. Santos on the same side as him makes him worse, but Koscielny with a run of games showed he was the better defender last season. Vermaelen should be third choice. But he's the captain. If Gibbs isn't available, then Sagna or Jenkinson have to play there. Or even Meade.