We are back home and we are back to business after a very controversial week where we have seen it all – bad refereeing, managers throwing words at each others in press conference, almost all City players giving interviews against Arsenal and Gabriel XL challenging them to come to Emirates. We have been told that we are practicing Dark Arts these days and Mikel confirming he learnt it at City during his 4 year spell.
The rivalry is ON, ladies and gentlemen.
But, we only get to play City twice out of 38 games and one is already done. Titles are won by consistent performance and wins every week. We will find out if the team and the manager has moved past these incident and is back to business.
We are playing a promoted Leicester City today. They haven’t won a game yet in their first 5, and we haven’t lost to them in our last 5 encounters. We have won 21 of our games against them and have drawn 4, lost 1 in our last 26 encounters at home. The gist is that, we have always managed to win against them at home and we should do that today. Jamie Vardy is too old and toothless to create any sort of problem for us.
In team news, David Raya remains a doubt after a thigh injury against City and will be decided before the game. Neto is back with the team, and will most likely feature if Raya gets the day off. When asked, Arteta told that their is a chance both Jurrien Timber and Ben White will be available for the game. The usuals + Odegaard remains out of the squad.
After the Carabao Cup win, I am guessing both Gabriel and Saliba will make into the team with 2 of Ben White, Timber, and Calafiori filling the LB, RB positions. Thomas Partey + Declan Rice in the midfield with Saka, Martinelli and Havertz up top.
There is one missing player in that midfield. I am hoping Mikel trust the kid who scored 2 goals the other day and was much better than we expected. Leicester are poor this season so far, and these game times going to Jorginho who is probably in his last season at Arsenal, can be used to blood a youngster. Odegaard has still some time to go before being available and we need a specialist. By the way, even if Ode is available, there has to have a rotation and competition to him. If we fill that position from academy, there’s nothing better than that.
Right, a short one today. City has a big match against Newcastle and both De Bruyne and Rodri are not available. We can certainly hope for Newcastle to grab a win and makes it easier for us later in the day.
See you during the match. #COYG!
Oh, and I missed to appreciate it earlier. Thanks again for the donations guys. Your contributions keep the website running and pays a part of the bill. Really appreciate it.
Good news – White and Timber are available today after training yesterday.
City doesn’t look good without their midfield.
Raya is back in the line up.. back 4 of Timber, Gabriel, Saliba and Calafiori.
Partey, Rice and Trossard in midfield.
Usual front 3 of Saka, Havertz and Martinelli.
I would love to see Marti grab a hat-trick today 😛
Would have liked Nwaneri starting but probably best we’ve got otherwise
I was wishing Nwaneri too.. Trossard in midfield doesn’t make sense to me
I’ve seen more runs up the left by our LB today than in all matches combined since the whole inverted experiment began…just think what might have been if we had a proper 8 & 9, with Cala and Timber out wide
thank fucking God that Marts finally got off the schneid
I’m not sure I’m a fan of being able to use a lowly Cup match for suspension purposes…if it weren’t for that bogus rule Ethan would have definitely started today
Calafiori should be on the pitch at all times if MA cares whatsoever about a balanced attack
I’m starting to think that Cala’s has a little Pires in him, just in a super-sized form
That’s just the first one from Martinelli.. 2 more bud.
We are pointlessly footing about. A functional midfielder is needed. Pity Nwari is suspended , although cannot be sure he would be used if available – before 87 minutes
personally I would either make a simple Tross for Ethan switch or move Tross up top, take Havertz off and bring on Ethan
it would have been a tough pill to swallow if we went into half only a goal up
Can understand why Saliba is not a starter for France. He is an impregnable wall ,but does not have the confidence to make a through pass. So restricts to passing to Partey or Calafiori only.
Needs to play elsewhere to get that nous
Oh, I didn’t know Nwaneri was suspended. Then I guess, Trossard was the second best option we had.
And it’s paying for now.
Hoopah,
I think Mikel recognise that, that’s why Gabriel XL drifts up more in the midfield but Saliba doesn’t. Saliba being a no-nonsense traditional defender..
I think because of his passing, Mikel was initially hesitant and preferring David Luiz ahead of him.
TRVL,
Happy with Partey? He is getting games these days and is a starter now.
Rated Saka who been playing earlier higher than Palmer among the elite kids . His second set piece goal was a bent beauty like of Beckham.
He is on his 3 rd hat-trick.
So guess Palmer has moved ahead.
As for Foden ,guy seems a bit confused now , moving the ball forward less unlike last year when his speed and close ball control could thread an atrocious pass. Now he is passing back in those circumstances.
10 hours driving in 2 days has left me jaded and sleepy. TRVL it’s what we’ve always wanted Timber and Cala in the right natural positions.
Shit they got one back we were sleeping
We’ll get another couple this half