I have a feeling it’s going to be the Gyokeres day. Leeds are in town for today’s game and we must have practiced some more fluidity among the new signings after a disjointed Man Utd game. We won’t see Eze in the line up today unfortunately but it’s a done deal and he will soon join the pack.
Havertz picked up an injury. He was a direct competition to Gyokeres considering Mikel’s system and his preference to play a #9 who excels in dirty work rather than scoring. The primary reason he didn’t sign a striker so far and have tried to push Havertz, Merino, Trossard in that role. Not that any of them were total failure but we lacked a 20 goal a season player and someone who could make a difference on his own in games where the opposition just likes to sit back and defend. With Gyokeres, we are trying to fix that problem. Havertz’s injury is sad news, at worst – he was a back up to Gyokeres if the Swedish fails to deliver or picks up an injury. But the silver lining out of this I feel, is that, he now knows it’s all him we got and he doesn’t have that additional pressure to score in order to keep his place for the next game(s).
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Leeds were the Championship leaders, finished with 100 points and are always a threat. We can’t take them lightly. Chelsea thrashed West Ham last night, announcing themselves in the Title run, and with Liverpool eyeing an Isak move, Pep throwing money anywhere and everywhere, it would be a very tough season. We won the Man Utd game in a very dirty display and we just need to build on it. Lets go out there and win, keep ourselves 6/6 points and there are some massive games coming up from next week – Liverpool, Man City and Newcastle in next 4 games.
In the team news, we won’t have Kai available due to his knee injury. Norgaard also has some discomfort and will not be available. The RB situation is a bit messy, both White and Timber are a doubt for the game and it would be interesting to see who Mikel prefers if they don’t make it. I am guessing one of MLS and Kiwior would have to do it in the worst scenario. Jesus will be out for some more months, while everyone else is fit for the game.
I am expecting a back 4 of MLS, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori unless one of the White or Timber are available. It would be the usual midfield of Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice with a front 3 of Saka, Gyokeres and Madueke. Martinelli might not make it, because Mikel loves his new suits and Martinelli had a stinker last weekend. I am a Team Gabi but unless he gets back his old self, I won’t complain if Madueke starts ahead of him. After all, we need to know if the 52m GBP we spent was worth it.
Farke, Leed’s manager, was very clear about his approach in his pre-match conference. He promised an attacking game and that he won’t sell out their DNA by going defensive and parking the bus. Well, we love these kinds of oppositions. I am pretty sure they won’t change, Bielsa’s shadow stays with you till eternity. It would be an exciting game and one of those where Odegaard might gets his praise.
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What’s your prediction? I am hoping we get to see the mask celebration today at Home for our new no 14. Saka doesn’t like 2 bad games in a row so he will score one too.
2-0 to the boys, with a much better performance compared to last game; also preparing for the next week’s 6 pointer against Liverpool at their home.
Right, that’s all for today. Man City playing Spurs in about a minute, it’s a bit of a pickle because both of them can’t lose the game so i would take it if both of them drop points. Let the Spuds cherish 1 point after losing on Eze. It happened again.. It happened again..
Cheers
TRVL
What about Eze?
Obviously my bench options are based on what I’m guessing the first 11 would be but all your doing is swapping one expensive purchase for another.
Marc—a lot of the players you mentioned know they’re position in the pecking order…MA doesn’t have to appease the young Valencia defender, Kepa, Kiwior or Norgaard, as they know they’re depth pieces, and both Skelly and White realize that they’re playing behind both Timber and Cala, at least for now…keeping in mind that both of the presumptive starters will have their minutes managed (due to their respective injury histories), so I expect a 60/40ish mix…the only real rotational questions will involve the likes of Havertz, Merino, Tross, Marts, Noni and Eze, as they’re 6 players fighting for 3 positions, when everyone is healthy…in a way, having a deep bench is a fucking headache unless injuries occur or you continue to win, as that will keep the complaints to a minimum
in regards to any potential outgoings, (1) I think Kiwior will go once Hincapie signs on, (2) they will try desperately to sell Zinchenko, who’s becoming a messy bitch, and (3) Vieira will be either sold or loaned out…certainly not optimum, especially with a manager who’s only leaned on his bench options when forced, but I think this is all part of the new Berta initiative, where Arteta is going to be intentionally placed into some uncomfortable situations…sort of a sink or swim tough-love gig…MA hung his hat squarely on the whole injury/lack of depth narrative last year, so they went out and recitified that situation to the nth degree, which means no more baked-in excuses for our high floor, low ceiling MIT…I’m starting to actually think that this might be Arteta’s swam song if no major silverware is forthcoming…as such, if we experience a rough patch, I would expect to hear a few rumours about how MA’s not on the same page as Berta, who’s stock is on the rise, especially after the Eze signing…Cheers
Matchday post is live.