Before I begin, I want to thank you all for sticking to the blog. This is the 300th article on LONDON IS RED. I started this in March 2021 out of frustration; fans saw Arteta as the next Arsenal God without anything to back up those claims and I wanted a place where people can be critical of the team they support without being told off. We have celebrated the wins, we have criticized the losses and we will keep doing it. There’s no agenda here and we don’t worship any manager or player but the club.
The beauty of Champions League is that there’s a better wanker out there than you. Arteta loves to control the game and sometimes, it comes at the cost of boring, uninspiring football where you see your striker defending in your own box. Well, he gets to play someone who does it better and been doing it for much longer. If the rules permit, Simeone will jump on the pitch himself to add an extra defender. We are going to see two of the most defensively drilled teams play together in the Champions League today and you shouldn’t expect an exciting, goal laden match.
However, it’s a home game and with 2 wins in first 2 games, you have the advantage of going for a win. Atletico are one of the worst teams to play against. They crushed Frankfurt earlier with 5 different goal scorers and almost made a comeback against Liverpool at Anfield after going down 2-0 in first 10 minutes which they lost ultimately, thanks to an extra time goal from Van Dijk.
Team News
Both our midfielders in Zubimendi and Rice has earned 2 yellow cards in first two matches, and if they happen to receive another one, they will get a one match suspension. Playing them together will have the risk of missing out on both in the next game, and hopefully Mikel is not that foolish.
Without Odegaard, we would have to rely on a midfield of Eze, Rice/Zubimendi and Merino. Yes, Nwaneri is not going to get his starts anytime sooner and both Rice and Zubimendi shouldn’t be on the pitch, which leaves us with Merino. Against Atletico, I would be tempted to start Martinelli, he is in goal scoring form and can run through their defence.
Saka-Gyokeres-Martinelli up top does the job for me. Defence will pick itself, with Timber and Calafiori on either side and the best CB partnership will start.
Wrapping Up
You can’t relax against them. You can’t think 2-0 is enough. You can’t try to dictate the game because they will be tough to break and you simply can’t park the bus hoping for a set piece goal because that’s what they have been doing since 2011. What’s the way then? Attack.
We should go into the game with a positive, fearless mindset. We have a solid defence and with an attacking midfield, we could create them some problems. The game will not be played in the middle, so the onus lies on Saka, Gyokeres and Martinelli/Trossard to convert whatever they get in the opposition penalty box.
Also, we will get to know who the master of dark arts is. See you during the game.
Arsenal Goal scorers list is out for this season and I am updating it regularly. We don’t have the desired results from the front 3 so far, with Timber an Zubimendi in top 3 in Premier League; Champions League stats looks okay though. Take a look –
Marc—even the most ardent of Arteta supporters couldn’t, at least not with a straight face, say that they thought we would invest heavily in the top scoring Striker in Europe, a forward with a penchant for playing a more direct brand of football and Eze, so we could simply revert back to the same sideways set piece-dependent tactical approach as last season…now some might say it’s still early and there’s a more offensively-minded plan on the horizon, but what are the chances that this will materialize once Havertz is back and Noni is being shoehorned out wide on the left…I just can’t envision a world where our truly best 11 are being deployed on the regular with their respective handbrakes off…it seems much more likely that none of the new recruits(except Zubi) will be catered to from a tactical standpoint, certainly not like many of his previous shoehorned hires, so the “real” plan involves us hoping and praying that they find a way to affect scorelines when it matters with little to no help from their manager…it still may work but it’s not the kind of plan you invest 100s of millions on…it’s straight out of the Football for Dummies managerial handbook
now if the plan all along was to run things back, why not target players who best fit that script…VG’s skillset makes no sense in our present system, as we don’t play direct enough and he’s about as pathetic as Havertz when it comes to scoring from headers…Noni, who I like, is half the player on the left as on the right, so why not go after someone with a similar profile but who’s proven himself on the left side of the pitch(unlesss you were willing to experiment with Saka back on the left)…Eze, who has the ability to change the complexion of a match 10 to 12 times a season, if he’s deployed properly, isn’t even being considered when it comes to our tactics…think about it, that’s why he was deployed on the right last weekend…by doing so Rice could have his preferred position, even though he played on the right on multiple occasions last year…let’s face it if someone brokedown our roster construction since his arrrival, especially considering who he inherited, without those in the room having any knowledge of the results, two conclusions would be drawn, (1) the club is being run by a chequebook manager and (2) the only way we could succeed is if the vast majority of the top clubs in Europe were in experiencing a transition of sorts…both are true, but we still haven’t won anything
were experiencing (no “in”)
Another lecture with the same points. Vera and his obsession with players being subject to imaginary ‘shoehorning’. Always without any evidence. Much like the imaginary ‘assurances’. So stale.
You can’t assess squad construction without consideration of results. That’s the ultimate kpi. And our squad is better now than it was. Even Zubimendi came despite your imagined snub. You should be happier that we’re better but oh no. If the facts change always be prepared to review your position..
So dull
the fact that you outright deny that there’s been a shitload of shoehorning and assurances given on MA’s watch makes you sound like such a delusional fuck…if the shoe fits…LOL
Hugely entertaining that it is (from each side I hasten to add), and wearing my old diplomatic uniform with the feathers and three cornered hat, can I suggest the briefest cessation of hostilities in the run up to Brighton? It need not be a long ceasefire. You know, something like the one those endearing peacemaking motherfuckers Trump and his circumscribed bitch Netanyahu decided upon while more destructive weaponry is procured and targeted towards starving and defenceless women and children in Palestine. Yours is a properly stimulating debate… their’s, on the other hand, is a cowardly genocide.
Should see some interesting selections on both sides tonight as there are injuries piling up. I think our side could feature Nwan, Dowman and Skelly. A trifecta of youth.
I watched the Cardiff (Caerdydd) v Wrexham (Wrecsam) game last night. The Bluebirds were terrific and gave me a sense that they’re turning a corner after years of waste. The manager, a relatively young Irishman called Brian Barry-Murphy, is a rising star and one for the future.
Just an idea lads. Put the bayonets and tear gas down for 24 hours, get out into no-man’s land with an old skool leather football with a lace, and have a kick about. Backing track by Jonah Lewie. Tunics for goal posts…I’ll even go in goal. Hostilities can resume straight afterwards until kick off v Burnley.
KP
Hardly similar to trench warfare but more like a girls playground.
Actually a simple FO to whomsoever has been drizzling excoriating diarrhoea over this pristine site would better serve the purpose.
At least untill Brighton hold up yer annus horriblis .
Go on then Vera, have the last word.
Tell us who’s been shoehorned and who’s been given assurances. With evidence outside your delulu mindset.
Let’s enjoy Brighton this eve. Expecting a fun night with lots of ‘irregulars’ there to enjoy the vibe. And slow down entrance. By the looks of TX, when I was trying to snag a few extras, it should be packed. 5 years ago I’d have been pushed to give my ticket away. Progress
Line up is fully handbrake off.
To misquote whichever Italian manager it was, we’ll either stroke his lego hair or throw tomatoes at it.
Arteta firmly putting to bed those accusations of control freakery.
With Merino up front, the attacking intent is there for all to see.
Isn’t Harriman-Annous starting up front?
Matchday post is live. And hopefully yes, it’s Harriman-Annous who starts up front and not Merino.
Guys, if it’s the banter among you all I am totally fine with it but lets just keep it civil. I don’t wanna shoo away some of my readers – I have got a total of 37.