FA Cup Preview: Get on the JET wagon for Stoke
Saturday, January 23rd, 2010
Arsenal take on Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium on Sunday in what should prove to be an interesting 4th round fixture. With Arsenal at the summit of the Premier League table, Arsene looks set to put his best players in bubble wrap and play the youngsters. All eyes will be on Jay Emmanuel-Thomas who is rumoured to start this match; his debut for the club. JET has already been in the headlines this month after scoring a hat-trick against West Ham for the Reserves in the same match Sol Campbell made his return in an Arsenal shirt.
Jay captained last season’s double winning Youth side and spent 3 months on loan at Blackpool this season where he impressed so much that the Lancashire club are trying to resign him on another loan deal. He probably the most versatile player in the Arsenal squad having played in almost every position on the field bar goalkeeping. He’s performances in the Youth Cup last season though showed that he will perhaps make a career for himself in the second striker role. Tonight though, he will probably be deployed in a midfield three with Jack Wilshere and Craig Eastmond. It will be interesting to see who will play the ‘Cesc role’, JET or Wilshere. Wenger could also spring a surprise and play him on the left of our forward trident although Arsenal could use JET’s height in the middle of the park, especially with the absence of Abou Diaby.
According to some sources, apparently Sol Campbell has picked up a neck injury in training and has been ruled out. And with Bacary Sagna given a rest, and his deputy Eboue away on international duty, another of JET’s double winning team mates might get a runout. The starting XI will likely be,
GK. Fabianski
RB. Francis Coquelin
CB. Philippe Senderos
CB. Mikael Silvestre
LB. Armand Traore
LCM. Jay Emmanuel-Thomas
CDM. Craig Eastmond
RCM. Jack Wilshere
LAW: Sanchez Watt
RAW: Eduardo da Silva
CF: Carlos Vela
Theo Walcott will likely start on the bench as Arsene will not want to rush him back too soon. Expect the Gunners bench to contain a few of the first eleven that Wenger will turn to in case things don’t go according to plan.
UPDATE: If the rumours that Senderos has signed for Everton on loan are true, we might see JET at CB.
Please post your thoughts on how the team will line up in the comments section below.
