Burnley is there for the taking and Vincent Kompany is struggling. We can use today game to improve to win big and up our confidence, improve goal difference and go closer to Man City. I don’t understand how they always end up at top, they have lost 2 games in 11 and still. Catching Pep is one of the toughest thing on this planet and you can’t afford to drop points against the likes of Burnley if you want to do that.
Team News
Martin Odegaard still remains a doubt for the game after missing our last few ones. It’s such a shame that Emile Smith Rowe picked up an injury right when he was needed. He is not made for LCM, but fits the Odegaard role more. It also comes with the benefit that Saka plays on the same side and we have seen glimpse of their chemistry in Arteta’s early career at Arsenal. Such a shame for such a talent.
Saka limped off in our Champions League game against Sevilla where he communicated to physio that he don’t want to continue. Hopefully he is fine and fit for today because we need him. Dependency on Bukayo for the right wing has started becoming a concern because though he is made like brick, I’m not sure how much he can sustain the kicking and fouling happening against him.
Gabriel Jesus, Thomas Partey and ESR are yet not available for selection.
I was reminded about my change of heart towards Havertz in the comment section earlier but trust me, it’s more the acceptance that Mikel is going to play him no matter what and if he is going to start 100%, there is no point in speculating. It’s quite similar to the 37 game run of Willian. I have accepted it to keep myself sane.
If you ask me, I would prefer the same back 4 of White, Saliba, Gabriel and Tomiyasu with Declan Rice in the DM role. Front three picks itself and midfield remains a conundrum. Seeing a midfield of Havertz, Rice and Jorginho baffles me, because Havertz hasn’t been doing a great job, Jorginho should be a crisis option and not when we have other options available. What happened to Vieira and his brilliant minutes initially in the season. We should have given him more minutes to grow in that performance but he is side lined; hopefully he starts today.
Positives
There were few positives against Sevilla. We have been too predictable recently. Wenger ruined us by showing how you can control a midfield, and rely on individual brilliance for moments to remember. Under Mikel, we have a rigid system and that system runs on wings and keeping the possession. How many times have we seen runs like Wilshere, Sanchez, Ramsey, Walcott or Cazorla? I don’t remember bar few of those Thomas Partey rocket launchers that landed in East Ham. Our wingers hug the sidelines and teams that sit low doubles up on them to nullify our threat. Odegaard used to get the benefit sometime and we have seen Xhaka and even Tomiyasu these days shifting in the middle to try and exploit this doubling down but it hasn’t helped at all.
In my opinion, we need to be more direct. Calling out that we don’t have a player to do that means you have forgotten that we didn’t have a right winger as Saka played at LB and unless we try out things, we will never know. This is primarily why I love Klopp’s version of football more than Pep’s because it’s a not rigid, keep passing till eternity and wait for a mistake football.
Against Sevilla, our wingers were more central and I loved it. Martinelli had a game of his career, his first touch is better than the coffee I have in morning with some whipped cream on it. Saka, too.
Right, there’s one more thing to talk about. I thought of writing a different post altogether but it’s frustrating me so I am gonna add it here.
Take the short corners for fuck sake
Against Sevilla, we had our first corner in the 1st minute. Martinelli took it and Havertz missed it, no idea how you can miss that one though. Another corner in 28th minute, nothing happens. 49th minute – two corners, 55th, 58th and we didn’t score from any of them. Do you even remember when we scored a header from a corner? I don’t. So what’s the point if no one can head into the goal, just take a short one and do what you can. Fans gets excited when a corner is awarded because it ‘can’ lead to a goal, but not if you are playing against Arsenal. We need someone in the mould of Giroud because of Strikers are not good enough.
Negatives
Bukayo Saka has to buy Martinelli a dinner for his assist.
Right, I know I am always complaining. I won’t if Mikel delivers a Premier League title and I will accept his way of football if he does that. Till then, LiR remains critical of him and his football.
See you during the game.
so much talk about Havertz today, which is somewhat confounding considering his dire form…now thankfully they acknowledged that he hasn’t lived up to his considerable price tag, but for them to pay homage to his header abilities is a bridge too far in light of his absolutely amateur hour header play in recent times, including a couple more butcher jobs thus far today
imagine what might have been if we had a much tougher schedule this past fortnight and had to rely on this starting 11…we managed a couple fairly decisive results against two lightweight, like Sheffield and Sevilla, who were both listless and tragically inept, then lost to the only sides who actually put in a shift…today we’re playing a squad that has amassed a whole 4 points thus far, yet we haven’t found a way to produce a first half tally, even though we’ve spent the vast majority of the time in their final third
thankfully, I spoke a little too soon, as it appears as if Tross has scored, but might have injured himself in the process…hopefully it’s little more than a stinger
it’s time to show that we can put this toothless opposition to bed early in the second half…the question is who’s going to supply the individual brilliance required to put this one out of reach
We have run out of great goals, Trossard one was another scrapped one.
this team is so lacking in threats that Gabs is being sent into the box in open play…of course, good squads do that sort of thing on occasion, but that hasn’t been our MO under this particular manager…maybe it speaks to the lack of players we presently have who can provide the required service to get things down on the ground
now we’ve actually allowed this pathetic squad to equalize…how terribly sad
Poor from Tomiyasu and that unfortunate deflection.
holy fuck, now we’re going to have to listen to a whole mess of VAR nonsense for another week
good to see Saliba get on the scoresheet…he deserves to be rewarded for all the good work he does on our backline…one does have to wonder where the opposing Keeper was on a cross that should have been quite easily punched out
you know you’re playing like shit when fucking Vieira takes you off before the 60th…the last straw was likely when he failed to provide Marts with a proper outlet option when he was screaming down the left but didn’t have a great shooting angle
not surprised by what’s happened to the Spurs recently, as it was only a matter of time before their luck ran out…early days they were winning matches in the dying minutes that they shouldn’t have won, based on the run of play, so it’s certainly not unexpected that they might find themselves on the opposite side of that equation at some point…let’s face it, until this past week, they’ve overachieved, from a results standpoint, and although I like the levelheadedness and determined nature of their manager, I would suspect that they’re more of a Europa-level squad than a CL one, at least until Ange gets a full summer window to put his stamp on things
interesting ping-pong effect goal…good for Zinchenko to display a little flair, as that’s been lacking for the vast majority of the season
I would suspect that if Burnley’s future opponents were to watch this film, which I wouldn’t wish upon anyone, they’re going to be looking to get a boatload of corners, as Burnley are atrocious in that regards
I will be disappointed if we don’t score at least one more before this one’s over
far too often Vieira looks like a bantamweight fighting a heavyweight…so much for all that early season chatter about how he looked bigger and stronger…just another club-cojured narrative meant to deceive
speak of the devil…what a twat manuever by another useless MA recruit…between the monies wasted on Vieira and Havertz we could have actually pursued Bellingham or Osimhen LOL
club-conjured
maybe Zinchenko should invite his family to the game more often…he actually looks fully engaged on the defensive end of the pitch…of course his Billy Jack-like goal has lifted his and their spirits
I worry a bit about Kompany’s managerial future unless he cuts ties with Burnley sooner than later…of course, no one expected much from this outfit, so I’m sure ample leeway will be extended, but the putrid style of play and their pathetic set piece defending seems so unusual considering what was on offer during his playing days…it’s reminding me a bit too much of Vieira’s managerial struggles
if these injuries keep stacking up the “real” story regarding some of our present injuries, like Partey’s mysterious absence and the fact that Ode played at the end of the Hammer Cup gig but not since, will hopefully surface
this break comes at a very opportune time for us…here’s hoping that no further injuries arise during the international window