Arsenal boss Arsène Wenger will hand professional debuts to 18-year-old defenders Kyle Bartley and Thomas Cruise tomorrow night in the UEFA Champions League Group H clash with Olympiacos in Greece.
Bartley will start at centre half alongside experienced French defender Mikaël Silvestre – a combination already used in the Reserves. Cruise will make only his second appearance of the campaign at left back. Kyle is handed his chance after Phillipe Senderos limped out of training yesterday while Thomas features due to Armand Traoré being rested for the weekend.
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas is also in contention to start in a travelling party which includes 10 teenagers. However, the notable news is that Bartley and Cruise will start. Leave your team predictions below.
Article By – J.Sanderson
fabianski
eastmond–bartley-silvestre-cruise
coquelin–ramsey–merida
wilshere–walcott–vela
any news on Wellington or Zezinho
I heard Tom Cruise and David Beckham are great mates, any chance of seeing Becks join us?
Axel – What news would you like?
Oh you’re a laugh a minute! – Arse&Nose :)
fabianski
gilbert silvestre bartley cruise
ramsey song merida
wilshire vela walcott
Fabianski
gilbert, bartly, silvestre, cruise
wilshire, Eastmond, Ramsey
Wallcot, Vela, Merida
Alex Song is in the squad though so…….unless he’s playing defensive midfield.
4-4-2
Fabianski
Cruise – Silvestre – Bartley – Gilbert
Merida – Song – Ramsey – Wilshere
Vela – Walcott
Uhm, J, what is your source for this? Cause if you are basing it on bibbs at training, you are really reaching. No offense and all…
Fabianski
Gilbert Bartley Silvestre Cruise
Song Eastmond
Wilshere Ramsey Merida/Walcott
Vela/Walcott
I love this website. Keep up the top writing Mr.Sanderson! Look forward to when these youth players are 24/25 and still at Arsenal doing the goods. Cheers!
In all seriousness, I am looking forward to the game. I hope to see Bartley, JET and co play from the start, we have nothing to lose.
I think it would be a shame to put Song in as CB, as it would not show much confidence in Bartley, I’m a firm advocate of playing players in position.
Personally I think it more likely that the CH’s will be Silvestre and Song to provide a strong central base.
Fabrianski
gilbert,bartley,Silvester, Cruise
Wilshire, Song, Ramsey
Wallcot, Vela, Merida
haho – Certainly not. It would be the same to judge squad numbers on the numbers they wear in training, the bibs and such mean nothing in training. We don’t know what they mean, the pictures could be taken during a defensive practice or something. So no not based on that.
Fabianski
Eastmond Bartley Silvestre Cruise
Ramsey Song Merida
Walcott Vela Wilshere
If your right about Bartley and Crusie
Fabianski
Gilbert Song Silvestre Cruise
Ramsey Eastmond Merida
Walcott Vela Wilshere
Thats the team I would pick Think its to big a game for Bartley at cb but than again Having Song in center midfield would help in the phisical battle.
So, J, once again, what is your source? No need to reveal it… but a little nudge in the right direction is good for us as well…
good for the young lads.
Fab
eboue/eastmond/gilbert bartley sylvester cruise
ramsey cog merida
walcott vela sunu
i think there’s a very real possibility of seeing this side tomorrow. with the rb spot wide open i think.
whatever the line up, it’ll be a great experience for these boys.
come on you gunners!!
Why the hell is Song in peoples teams and if he is in squad why the hell is even in the squad?
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Fabianski
Gilbert Bartley Silvestre Cruise
Eastmond
Ramsey Jay Emmanuel
Theo Vela Merida
I would like to see this team
You sure about this J.Sanderson? Or is it the same sources that told you Eastmond would be in the PL squad the next game a few months ago (which he didn’t).
Thought Song would start this game, but okay. Maybe not.. I fear Cruise will be exposed if he’s starting. Hope they don’t have a speedy right wing.
And J, being well-informed, why is Watt not in the team?
hell yeah great news mate….I’m going cross Sarajevo just to watch it on a stream so….I’m pretty excited :D
Sunu is prefered to Watt.
i would play J- Emmanuel up front see if he can hold it, u know surprise us with his versatility!!!!!!!!!
Yeah I figured that one out myself. But why? Last week Watt was preferred to Sunu, what changed?
just read that Adriano could be available!!!! think we got bring the chap over to london asap!!!! he shouldn’t b that expensive!!! u knw that benga can get the best out of himm!!!! has 2’appen
Adriano haha, he will spend more time in the night clubs than on the pitch.
I’d like to see JET but I don’t think Wenger’ll play him.
My prediction:
Fabiański
Gilbert – Silvestre – Bartley – Cruise
Ramsey – Eastmond – Merida
Walcott – Vela – Wilshere
or
Fabiański
Gilbert – Bartley – Song – Silvestre
Ramsey – Eastmond – Merida
Walcott – Vela – Wilshere
Start JET up front please Arsene and tell him to run his ass off!!! Watt is playing for reserves tonight! Really want Sunu to score any chance!
Adriano will be the signing in Jan on loan for 6 months, he fits the bill. Experience, tall, powerful, reasonable quick, good technique, good touch, has played at the top level & wants to go to the world cup.
@ Arse&nose, dont take the piss, Adriano suffered depression bcuz his dad died plus Mourinho never gave him love, Wenger gives his players freedom & always backs them, he will be a good short-term signing.
Good, they have both earned it… Adriano is going to sign for us
fab
gilbert silv song thomas
ramsey eastmond merida
theo vela wilshere
im defiantly right!!!!!
no way is wenger gonna sign adriano. its gona take him a while to settle in cause hes been in italy for the majority of hes career where they play a much more slower game…
Fabiański
Gilbert – Silvestre – Song – Cruise
Ramsey – Coq – JET
Wilshere – vela – Merida
Doubt that both cruise and bartley will start….maybe one of them will.
i think it will be:
fabianski
gilbert, song, silvestre, cruise
wilshere, ramsey, merida
walcott, emmanuel-thomas, vela
bench: mannone,bartley,coquelin,eastmond,ayling,randall,sunu
I agree with the team above, but I feel Vela may not start. As he could start against Liverpool and his replacement Walcott needs game time as I feel he will start on the bench against Liverpool.
Fabianski
Gilbert Bartley Silvestre Cruise
Merida Ramsey JET Wilshere
Vela Walcott
SUBS: Mannone…Evina…Eastmond…Ayling…Coquelin…Randall…Sunu
Difficult to predict a Wenger side lol
I really hope Walcott stays on the bench, this is just the type of meaningless game he’ll pick up another injury and miss out on the scousers at the weekend where we’ll need him most.
Adrianos dad died, so im not allowed to criticise him?
I really hope/wish/pray to see JET start in midfield, with Song just available as sub in case Bartley struggles. Dream team would be –
Fabiański
Gilbert – Silvestre – Bartley – Cruise
Ramsey – Eastmond – JET
Wilshere – Vela – Merida
Adriano is pants, as anyone who’s watched him for a whole game (rather than just highlights) can appreciate.
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@ aaa, beggars cant be choosers, how many quality uncup-tied players for european competition are out there huh? i sruggling to find. The deal makes sense, we will get Charmark on the free in the summer thus meaning any signing in Jan window will be short-term. How many quality players are available on loan? again very few.
People need to start living in the real world, scenario or signings cant be perfect all the time. Adriano’s form has been so good that he has been recalled by Strict Dunga back into the Brazil squad and he has just won the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A with Flamengo so hasnt just back to Brazil to put his feet-up
Vela shouldn’t start. He should be in the first team!!!!!
This is the game to play Theo up front…!
Has cruise made big improvements then as haven’t been impressed when seen him before although he is only very young and has time to improve. I think i’d prefer gilbert bartley song silvestre
fabianski
gilbert,song,silvestre,cruise
ramsey,eastmond,merida
walcott,vela,wilshere
So, we’re gonna see a very English side on Wednesday then….. very interesting!
i thought cruise was gonna get a start we can’t afford to get traore injured aswell. this will be his chance to prove himself. he also went to my primary school year above in my brothers class. my brother tells me he used to be a striker though…
Lukasz Fabianski
Kerrea Gilbert Kyle Bartley Mikael Silvestre Thomas Cruise
Aaron Ramsey Alex Song Fran Merida
Theo Walcott JET Wilshire
henderson defintely has to play he iz amazing
@james hinde – he aint in the squad, I think he may be playing for the reserves tonite
ok ok thx
I don’t get why Song travels, especially if your information are correct. I don’t believe Song and Walcott would travel to sit on the bench though. So if Bartley starts then Song might play in midfield, leaving Eastmond on the bench or at RB. Wilshere, Vela, Walcott, Ramsey and Merida are surely the front 5
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Cruise for me is very underrated by gooners. Hes a terrific player he just needs to build his pace and power. Hes brilliant technically.
Bartley deserves his chance i think hes going to be a real top top player
No disrespect to Gilbert but if Wenger start with him on the right i think we’re in trouble. Jamie what about Gavin? Is he going to make it? As I see it’ll the same story as it was with Justin. Is there in the Academy anyone who can be our right-back in near future. We dont have problems with left back but with right it’s completely differnt.
Cedric Evina could adapt to RB position ,
Ayling, Bartley and Cruise are some of the top English cenetrbacks in the country, I hope they all play
CRUISE IS AN AWFUL PLAYER
we will get raped on that left hand side
U dik cruise is a terrrific player technically hes superb and hes a very good defender he doesnt really get beaten by wingers like he use to plsu hes great in the air and hes got good positional sense
Cruise for me is very underrated by gooners. Hes a terrific player he just needs to build his pace and power. Hes brilliant technically.
Bartley deserves his chance i think hes going to be a real top top player
john said this on December 8, 2009 at 8:34 pm
————————————————–
I completely agree with you for once John.
It’s the RB position that worries me. Gilbert is a liability and doesn’t give us nothing going forward.
I think we’re reading too much into it. Wenger knows what Watt can do, so he’s just giving Sunu a chance. Nothing more than that.
never seen bartley play so i hope he starts. as someone else said i’d rather our players played in their best position.
Kerrea set up the first goal for Fran in the Carling Cup against Liverpool…
I brought the Adriano thing up to articles ago. Wenger said basically he is looking for a world class striker who is free. He also ruled out Dzeko, Balotelli,van Nistelrooy. Adriano suffered from depression because his father died. How can anyone judge how that would affect someone? Plus in Italy the crowd is rarely supportive and more often boos rather than cheers. Which couldnt have helped his cause. In England, the fans are much more motivating. He just led the brazilian league in goals and won the title. He is only there on a short term contract and available on a free. We all know what kind of striker he was and what kind he could be. Under Wenger, I believe he could get back to the top.
Haha, I was just about to e-mail you to tell you I’d heard this from a separate source, but you’re always a step ahead! :)
Would love to see JET playing upfront and certainly Bartley at center half next to…. well anyone TBH, I dont care!! I just wanna see some more of those FA youth cup winners make it in the bigger stage. Cant wait to see the game..
Im sure talent scouts from other clubs cant wait to see them play in the Champions League either….
Song and Walcott wouldn’t be in the squad if they weren’t going to play.
Personally, I see Song at CB today, not Bartley.
Fair play J – you called it right.
http://www.uefa.com/newsfiles/ucl/2010/2000450_lu.pdf
Thank you mate :)