Well, we lost a game against Bournemouth, we couldn’t win against Liverpool when we should have and have fallen 5 points behind the leader Man City in the league table. Things aren’t going our way, with the injury list as big as it can get and some very unfortunate red cards shown to us. And to top it off, we get to play the third game in a week against a very physical, aggressive Newcastle side away from home.
But, I’m sure Arteta would be showing our last visit to St. James’ Park when we were shoved (Gabriel – Bruno), had verbal altercations (Rice – Bruno) and wrong ref/VAR calls were given (the only goal of that game). There’s only one thing we can’t control, but we are going to counter their physicality with our ‘Dark Arts’ and I’m sure players Kai Havertz would have been giving lectures.
It’s a very important game for us, Newcastle are vulnerable at the moment and if we manage to win, it keeps us in the title challenge.
Team News
In the team news, Big Gabi is doubtful to make it to the playing XI after missing out the game against Preston. William Saliba is the only surety in that backline, after serving the red against Liverpool which he picked up in the Bournemouth game. Ben White has picked up a joint injury and didn’t train this week, so he could also miss out. It will be a conundrum for Mikel to pick the back 4. Kiwior, Zinchenko, Saliba, Timber are available for sure, Thomas Partey could make it at the RB if Mikel tries to be smart and sacrifices one of Kiwior or Zinchenko.
Odegaard, Tomiyasu, Tierney and Calafiori will not be available.
Zinchenko made the Preston game so he is most likely to start at LB position And Timber should start on the right side. It’s going to be a very tough, physical, intense game and I hate to say it but Calafiori was more suited for this than Zinchenko. Newcastle are a tough team and they play a good attacking, pressing game. Kiwior dropped a good performance against Preston and if it’s up to me, I would rather see him play than Zinchenko.
Midfield? It’s going to be usuals – Thomas Partey, Declan Rice and Mikel Merino. Partey still has his footballing vision intact but he has lost some of his athleticism and is pushed off the ball very easily. In a physical game, we need players than can shield the ball from opposition and take those blows without affecting one own’s performance. Declan Rice can do that but Partey can’t. I would rather fix Rice as a DM, Merino by his side in the defensive duty and let Nwaneri play an advance role like Odegaard used to do.
Front 3 should be back to basics, Marts, Havertz and Saka. Lets not try to be smart here.
Wrapping Up
We had beaten Newcastle 4-1 at home the last time we played in Premier League. Havertz, Saka and Kiwior were on the scoresheet with the 4th goal being an own goal from Botman. Willock scored from the Newcastle side. We had lost the first tie when Anthony Gordon’s controversial goal was the highlight of the day. The ball was out of play, ref and VAR decided it wasn’t and it was given a goal against us.
We have a problem physically if Ben White is not available today. Newcastle and Bruno G in particular are going to be physically intimidating. Declan Rice, and Thomas Partey can sustain that a bit but we need someone to be on offensive side. Havertz is the only one left with ‘Dark Arts’ and I would surely miss Ben if he don’t make it today.
I want us to thrash them, humble them a bit at their home and I want us to move closer to the top of the league.
Right, that’s all for today. See you during the match.
69 minutes and still no shots on goal
I might be wrong, but I feel like Tross only scores when he’s a sub
I hear you TRVL. White for Timber makes sense.
Yellows are flowing now.
according to the stats offered up by the commentator this could be our title hopes dashed, should we lose, as no one has found a way to win being so far back at this juncture of the season (minus Blackburn during a 42 match season)
I know I was harsh on Tross, but surely replacing him with Jesus isn’t the answer…so much for the Timber on the right side narrative
Set piece play is really intelligent. The usual battery moved in a group towards the centre of goal. Before that Tossard of quick reflexes was kept back ,to where Rice delivered the ball. Everything was packed so shot could not go in. Without Jover and Raya we would have been mid table by now.
After things move up guess ElB will work to move Jover out in case his impact becomes too noticeable.
Didn’t make sense Jesus on for Tross either. Trossard scores Jesus doesn’t or hasn’t, so a real head scratcher.
We have to win here but lucky to get a draw. Need to get a shot on target first. Got about 20 minutes to do it.
imagine spending a Billion fucking dollars but only managing 1 shot on target for the first 75 minutes against a slightly above average side
Funny live score has nil shots and FotMob says we had one.
Then let’s score with the next one
“Defence wins you titles”
This is so very true but you also need the midfield and someone at the top to score.. we have been very solid defensively when our usual back 4 is available but there is no creativity at all in the midfield. Thomas Partey was spark, which has fused. Declan Rice was having fun at West ham but we have shoehorned him into a robot that has it’s limited task. Martinelli only remember how to hug the line and keep 2/3 players with him and is considered a smart move by Arteta I suppose.
Saka is given some free hand and we see why he scores more than Havertz. We needed a mix of Wenger and Mourinho but we only got the latter.
Tony
Jesus will score a hat-trick in last 10 min. He cries for game time so he is going to prove everyone wrong that he can score.
Mikel believes in him so much I’m sure that’s gonna happen.
maybe if the plan was to go full Stoke we should have at least bought a set piece taking specialist, like a Charlie Adams, just not the chunkier latter days version
Ok Ambarish I wish I was as confident as you🙄
defence doesn’t win you titles, it’s having such a good enough offence that it limits your opponents chances that wins titles…this tends to fluff-up your stats…that’s why Klopp and Pep were dominate for so long
Bet MA wished he’d bought a real striker last summer
Five minutes to get a point
Bruno Guimarães is a bit more advanced in the dirty arts than Grandmaster Jorginho
Surely questions have to be asked why only one shot on target in 90 minutes?
So Arteta’s genius move to change a torid first half performance was to bring on a left back to play at left back, move the right back who was playing at left back to right back and then move the CM who was at right back to centre midfield.
Why do I have an image of a huge Cruise Liner, a fucking great big Iceberg and some cunt rearranging deck chairs?
Only Saka and Nhwari have the skillset to get an impossible goal. Today ,now Saka looks clobbered , not fully fit
blunt instrument anyone?
We could be 7th Monday if we don’t get a point here and others win….
100m dollars and he can’t fucking put that in nets.
Tony
Not me, that’s what Mikel Arteta thought.
Saka’s cross was meant for giraffe who stood crouched. For Rice it was unexpected , but Rice is not much good in headers
how many times can our MIT get so easily outmanaged before someone in America takes notice???
Wasn’t this season the one we win the PL?
Wheels are off the wagon early November and I’m not one bit surprised.
Sorry Ambarish MA needs to join Ten Hag.
Compared to last season like for like results we’re 4 points down, scored 2 less and conceded 4 more.
I feel for the traveling fans gutting more for them.
Inter and Chavs next…..