We are playing against Everton tomorrow, Sep 17th and PSV on Sep 20th in Champions League group stage. We then have a North London Derby on Sep 24th and a game against Brentford in Carabao Cup (EFL Cup) third round on Sep 27th. we finish the month with an away game against Bournemouth on Sep 30th. That’s 5 games in 2 weeks, games with only 2 days gap and every game is important. Premier League games are always tough, we are back in Champions League after ages and can’t afford to take PSV lightly and Brentford in Carabao is a very tough opponent who won’t let you breathe for 90min.
Will we handle it comfortably? Time will tell but I seriously hope we do. The most important aspect to deal with these many games would be a concise and thought out rotation. A combination of changes that do not disrupt the team play while making sure no one is overplayed and picks up an injury. You can’t play Saka in all these 5 games and expect him to be on top of his form. Similarly, the load on Ben White at RB needs to be shared by someone else, while making sure it doesn’t cost us a game. Win these 5 and it will help in building confidence. Mess up couple of games or pick up any injury would not only cost us now but in the next games.
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Here’s the case – Arteta has shown very poor rotational skill in his Arsenal Managerial Career. Was it because he learnt it from Wenger to play the same playing XI till someone breaks, or was it that he didn’t have trust in the players on bench? It could very well be his demanding nature because he has told earlier that a player shouldn’t have any problem playing 70 games a year. Whatever it was, I don’t care now because it don’t apply anymore.
Playing the same playing XI every game results in drop in performance when the games come thick and fast. We have seen it with Ben White and Bukayo Saka last season. Mikel has a bench full of players he wanted, and we have spent some very serious money on them, so this is ruled out too. For the third expectation, I am sure he would have understood after seeing Partey break, Saliba / Zinchenko’s injuries and fatigue on the face of Odegaard, Saka, and Martinelli.
On top of that, we were literally playing one game a week last season. We will play a minimum of two per week this season.
I will take the liberty to answer my own question – rotation is a must now. This, not only shares the load between players, but also keeps them happy and in form and in case of injuries, there are back ups with enough game time and match fitness to continue where the injured player has left. Not every player is built like Saka or Xhaka, and can sustain being kicked and players falling on them.
Simples.
Now, lets look at the rotational options.
In the GK department, we have Raya and Ramsdale. Either can get the job done, doesn’t matter who the opponent is. It’s a fight between them to be better than the other, to feature in important games. Let them fight, it’s a good problem to have and we don’t need to worry here.
In defence, we have Ben White at RB. Tomiyasu can play and have played earlier. Cedric is back and most likely will feature in not-so-important games. Ben White has a superb fitness record, so I think RB shouldn’t be a problem. If needed, Kiwior can cover too. At CB, we have Saliba and Gabriel who would pick up most of the games, supported by Kiwior and Tomiyasu. At LB, Zinchenko is the automatic started while Kiwior has played there, Tomiyasu can play too if needed. The problem here is that, ny injury to any of the automatic started in White, Saliba, Gabriel and Zinchenko would mean either of the Tomi or Kiwior picks up the things. This, and along with the need to rotate because we are playing 5 games in 2 weeks would mean a lot of changes in back line. Loaning Tierney wasn’t a wise decision because he provided a sure shot cover at LB, and we needed to worry for only 3 places among White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomi and Kiwior.
Midfield should be fine. Partey / Rice for DM with Elneny in the worst case scenario, Havertz / Vieira / ESR for the attacking mid, Odegaard / ESR / Vieira on the right side; Jorginho can play in any of these positions and has an experienced head.
Front 3 looks fine too with the only problem at RB. At LB, we have Martinelli / Trossard and Nelson while Trossard / Eddie / Jesus can play up top. Saka is only experienced right winger and hasn’t any back up. Luckily, he hasn’t let that matter till now but again in worst case scenario, Jesus can play there, and Martinelli too while Trossard covers the LW. It isn’t a burning problem as such, and we will manage.
I’m nervous a bit with these run of games. Having not seen Arteta’s rotational skill yet adds to the worry. But, in a way it’s a good that this situation comes for him so early in the season and with somewhat less threating opponents. He will either do the right thing, or he will have to learn from it.
Right, short one today but I will be back again tomorrow with match day blog. Hope your weekend started on a happy side and hope it will end even better.
Cheers.
Why we make such heavy weather of playing that lot amazes me. Substitutions led to that win.
Fiji leading Australia in the rugby with 4 minutes left
Like we have all said since Trossard’s arrival 8 and false 9 are his best positions. Trossard plays 8 and ESR plays LW and Marts gets a well earned rest and no hammy issue.
We’re winning matches which is fine but its all huff and puff. Being able to get results when you’re not playing well is important but it should be the odd match not every fucking game.
pleased with the 3 points gained, but if we can’t crack that weak-ass defensive nut we’re going to struggle against better sides both home and abroad…Eddie is like a neutered Auba out there with our pedestrian tactics, at least Jesus does some of the necessary dirty work elsewhere on the pitch
That’s a great win for Fiji and first big upset, KP. The Whinging Aussie press will be going nuts.
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Over the moon for the Fijians. 🙂
TRVL
To think we sold Bolagun to keep Eddie. Then who would want Eddie on his new deal?
Arteta should have seen enough from Kai and Vieira by now and tonight that the 8 position should be shared by Trossard and ESR.
Arteta lullaby
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https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WEhS9Y9HYjU
Marc-spot on…there’s nothing wrong with winning ugly on occasion, but no team of consequence does that seemingly each and every fucking week…one has to wonder, with the easy to defend tactics being deployed, where the goals are going to come from when it matters most
just imagine for a second if we had used the 100M funds we spent on Havertz and Vieira to help secure the likes of Osimhen…now that would have been a “big” club maneuver
This cunt still could not help himself but sneak Havertz on.
Smith Rowe who saved the cunts bacon neglected for this Chelsea slag.
So wrong on so many levels.
3 points but its fucking turgid every week now.
No fluency , no real star quality, just pedestrian football and nicking a result.
Is that all this cunt has in his locker?
Turgidball?
I just can’t see how the tactics we currently deploy will enable us to achieve anything approaching greatness…too many players are being deployed in a manner that doesn’t maximize their respective skillsets, especially in the opponent’s half…as such our best assets, Saka, Marts and Ode, aren’t being allowed to properly flourish
now that there’s a tactical blueprint out there, which is clearly evident considering that a sorry ass side like Everton can basically neutralize our offensive output, we can’t continue to pursue this nonsensical course…unless we flip our tactical script, the only way we’re going to win anything of consequence is if other sides of import shit the proverbial bed or if good fortune continues to shine upon us at an unprecendented level…neither of which represents a viable plan
Well it is now ON. Midweek CL against PSV which is no easy task plus the NLD with the Spuds having no European football and being rested.
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So we will see how our MIT will be handling the games that he is being paid big money for. The display at Everton was not overwhelming but we scraped by.
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The order of the top 6 has changed for this season. As everyone has predicted Pool will be strong and they just has an off season. City being City with Pep in charge are still the trend setters and the team to beat. With us that makes 3 teams and add to that BHA, Villa and it looks like that the Spuds have been rejuvenated under the new manager and they will be in the mix for a top 4 challenge.
Killroy
I think it’s a top 5 this season for CL, but that doesn’t detract from the dire and dreary style of our play. It was boring to watch other than the moment of magic by Trossard.
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As you rightly say, it starts to get real now and we are already nursing Martinelli who didn’t need to play yesterday. Arteta has learnt nothing about rotation or player’s daily and weekly levels for output.
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Problem is we are too light at the back and up top and an injury to both will undo our challenge that is more like a damp squib and a bit of sublime skill from Trossard who should be playing 8 or false 9.
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What’s the bets ESR gets a start for PSV and breaks down because he hasn’t had any PL game minutes for 18 months. Yet Arteta will expect more than he expects from Havertz and Vieira both of which look very ordinary on the pitch with the odd Hollywood pass or 2 in 97 minutes.
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Watched the England v Japan game this morning and I love the Japan indomitable spirit and England were ok for the win, but not progressing far this WC I fear.