[PIC] Had Arsenal won the League in 07/08, is this how we would be lining up?

There’s often a defining moment in a season that makes or breaks an entire campaign or impacts the club for several seasons. We don’t have to look too far back to remember the loss to Spurs in 2013 that forced Arsene Wenger to controversially drop captain Thomas Vermaelen and goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny for the Bayern Munich away win. We very nearly did the improbable and turned over the two goal first leg deficit. That performance provided the catalyst for our 2012/13 season run in but also our charge to the top of the Premier League last season.

We all know how that ended, but again we can look back to the disappointing 07/08 campaign where we dominated the league for 2/3rds on the season. That fateful day against Birmingham was an absolute soul destroyer and had plenty of repercussions.

Eduardo’s horrific leg break could be regarded as one of those defining moments where the title slipped, and Wenger’s international youth project took a turn for the worst. Our trophy drought then continued for far too many years. Most of that highly regarded side have since departed, moving onto greener pastures in every sense of the phrase.

But had we managed to win the title, Eduardo not had his ankle obliterated and consequently many of our nurtured stars not fled – how would we lineup today?

We may be grasping for straws here, but common, it’s the international break.

The Team

We’ve gone with Szczesny between the sticks. A far more accomplished goalkeeper than Almunia and besides, Jens Lehmann would have retired.

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Bacary Sagna easily takes the right back birth with a fit Kieran Gibbs edging out Gael Clichy. In the centre of defence, we’ve gone purely on a partnership basis than on individual abilities – Mertscielny takes the cake on this one. Nobody really likes William Gallas, and we’ve seen first hand what Kolo Toure has become.

In midfield, a fit Abou Diaby is our pick. As this is fantasy we’re allowed to travel to a parallel universe where the Frenchman developed over the years into our all action, combative defensive midfielder. Had he overcame his injury troubles he could be our anchoring midfielder right now. Alex Song’s lack of defensive discipline at times damaged his potential.

Cesc Fabregas walks into the team and is joined by an in-form Mesut Ozil.

Theo Walcott is another easy pick with Samir Na$ri out of the question as he inevitably leaves for more money – Alexis Sanchez makes sure of that. Up front is the Dutch Skunk himself. Sadly we haven’t had a more potent centre forward than RvP and had we won some silverware during his time at the club he may well have stayed.

On the bench is last seasons Aaron Ramsey alongside a developed Jack Wilshere. Lukasz Fabianski is our backup stopper after his heroics during his final 12 months at the club. A un-broken Eduardo is our back up centre forward, ahead of Adebayor..No need to explain that one.

A younger Thomas Vermaelen would’ve walked into any team, with Mathieu Debuchy edging out Manu Eboue (lol) and Gael Clichy also warming the bench.

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Lineup:

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