Good Morning Ladies and Gentlemen. We are going to play our first home game today against a broken Leicester City and I’m not expecting anything less than a 4-0 win with a hattrick from Jesus. Okay, I am being too optimistic here, but hear me out – we have lost only once in our last 25 games at home against Leicester (W20, D4).
We are going to make it 26 today, at Emirates with a buzzing crowd and an in form team.
Team News
Reiss Nelson has picked up a muscle injury in training and will be out for some time.
Tomi, ESR and Vieira have all trained this week and could be part of the squad today. It would be exciting to see how Vieira is used, we have paid good money for him and he looks to be an Odegaard competition. We already had ESR competing in that area and if we have got another attacking midfielder, there must be something exciting about him.
Coming back to the team, I do not expect any changes to the playing XI we had against Crystal Palace. Back 4 of White, Saliba, Gabriel and Zinchenko looked solid, with Partey and Xhaka playing ahead of them. Saka on LW, Martinelli on RW and Odegaard playing centrally behind Jesus.
One thing Mikel needs to improve is his in-game management. Against Palace, everyone could see Jesus was exhausted after an hour and we had an in-form Eddie on the bench. It was a similar case with Zinchenko who was subsequently replaced by Tierney but that could have been earlier. We were 2-0 up and Lokonga was brought in, in 93rd minute which makes no sense unless you are holding on a 1-0 lead against a better team and want to waste time; could have been sooner again.
Premier League allows 5 subs, and there is no rule when you should do it – someone needs to update this to Mikel. Plus from what I hear, it’s a hot day today in London and Mikel has to be careful not to burn out one of the players so early in the season. If we are 2-0 up, have that confidence in your team and give it a break to the players who look exhausted. It’s as simple as that.
There are no set backs for us today. We are in form and it shouldn’t be a tough game against Leicester today. What are your expected team line up and score? Let us know in the comments.
Unfortunately, it’s busy days at home and work for another month but I will keep LiR running with your support. I am fcuking committed and passionate and have that energy level which Mikel talked about in All or Nothing, don’t worry 😉
I am also trying to change look and feel for LiR. I have been reached out by a reader mentioning it’s a bit off to read LiR on desktop, and yes, that needs improvement. You might find some part of the website behaving odd in next week, but it shouldn’t last longer. Suggestions are always welcome!
That was definitely not a foul. Vardy runs into Ramsdale who holds back. There is no contact, but Vardy goes a long with rest of playacting and throws himself into the ground
Good first half, 2-0 is decent enough. Lets make it count and score some more. Hattrick from Jesus and I will bet my house in next game lol
Both Jesus and Zinchenko have moved the needle for Arsenal. Like new signing Saliba, of course has been the cherry on top. allowing the bombing forward of the wingbacks, because Saliba is so dependable
Self goal by Saliba, but because Ramsdale could not take his headed pass. Now, that might give Arteta the edge to stick his foot into with non negotiables.
3-1 Xhaka at 55 minutes
3_2 is desperate times. Loving Benny Blanco sacrificed for Tomiyasu.
Martinelli with a ticket and 4_2
Martinelli is our CR7 of the future, what a work rate he has got. It takes a gut to say he is better than Saka today.
Saka will dramatically improve if ESR is brought in as 10. Odegard is only in the imaginary scenario of Arteta. Made him a captain so the shitshow after his heart stays through the match
Emirates is turning into a fortress, loving it. We remain unbeaten in the season till now.
Sorry I couldn’t patch in during the game lads. I was busy being a father, long distance taxi driver and ambulance driver for someone who wasn’t even ill. And it wasn’t on live TV in the UK. Looking forward to seeing sone highlights (was it a classic GX thunderbolt I wonder?). League position pleasing. Just seen the Bees go 1 up against North West England’s answer to spurs.
Don’t know what’s worse, United’s performance or their away kit
Just a few random thoughts on the match yesterday. Jesus looks like he loves the idea of being the “main man” and my guess is he’s also chasing the CF position for Brazil at the World Cup – which is a good thing for us. Saliba even with the mistake looks completely at home in the PL and if not a better CB than White already will be in weeks not years.
The most notable things about yesterday were the same old complaints – our central midfield is not good enough we just can’t control games with Xhaka in there. It was brutally hot yesterday and once again Arteta took far too long to make changes – this wasn’t about tactics it’s about a long season with a world cup bang in the middle of it we need to keep players fit and fresh.
Marc
Cheers mate. I couldn’t watch it live for once and this really fills the gaps. That phobia about using substitutes has plagued Arteta since he took over. It points to his conservative nature, his caution (which is a slightly different weakness) and, as everyone has noticed his evident lack of trust in others. He is also a ‘stobborn leetle focker’. Add in the hostile temperatures and he’s clearly building up trouble for him and the squad. You spend huge sums of money to acquire strength in depth. You train and drill players to know what’s required in each position and at various stages of the game. What we could see by the Jan TW is a worn out first XI with a group of underused, rusty and disaffected second XI. People around him need to stop being scared of him (although the eyebrows and beady eyes scare the crap out of me too! ) and speak truth to power before it’s too late. Some chance I know! There needs to be much more upwards and downwards mobility.
Oh, Marc before I forget. Did Tielemans impress you?
Kroenke
To be honest they all looked pretty ordinary.
They’ll be a lot of points that are decided this season by the managers who manage the World Cup players the best. When we had ESR, Nketiah, Tierney, Elneny, Tomi and Lokonga on the bench it’s not as if we were short of option.
They’ll be a lot of points that are decided this season by the managers who manage the World Cup players the best
Good point. And there’ll also be an advantage for teams with no/few players and those players from teams eliminated at the earlier stages.
Koulibaly just scored. Nicely taken goal. I think a Chelsea win slightly suits Arsenal. We’re more like to take points from them ourselves than we are against the other lot. Plus I dislike them less.
Chelsea Spud’s was just beginning to get tasty and the Spud’s have equalized and it’s kicking off!
Throw machetes on pitch – the viewing figures would go mental!
The World Cup is truly fucked with Taylor refereeing. WTF no foul on Havertz and Cucurella’s hair pulling. Anyhow excellent game and next to best result for us.
Definitely got the better deal in Jesus and Zinchenko is better then Cucurella and cheaper. Excellent season to come and 6 points ahead of last year’s season. This time we can start with the 1st game instead of the 4th.
Hi Killroy
This time we can start with the 1st game instead of the 4th.
Unless we have a really ordinary next few months in which it’ll start on boxing day. That’ll make us nailed on favourites for a top finish in the calendar year trophy.
Did you watch SA v ABs by any chance? Too early to say they’re turning a corner?
Just wondering if Manure were to have a fire sale, are there any players in that squad that would hypothetically improve Arsenal? I’m happily struggling to think of a single player.