A late kick off today against Bournemouth where we try to win and keep our unbeaten run going. I’m optimistic yet again, we have played some good football, Zinchenko and Jesus has upped the morale of the team and Saliba is defending for fun. In fact, Saliba has those attributes which we desired from White – he is calm, is better in a 1-to-1 defending and can move the ball forward. Apart from the own goal against Leicester, I don’t remember him making any mistakes in his first two games.
Bournemouth is a tough team to beat at their home, we must not take them lightly. They have not lost their last 11 home games and haven’t conceded a single goal in last 3 of them. For us, if we managed to win this game, it would be the first time since 2004-05 since we have won first three games of a season.
Team News
We have our whole squad available to play except Reiss Nelson. Cedric, Vieira and ESR played for U23 and trained with the team which guarantees their availability. However, I doubt we are going to change our winning XI. We should, most likely, go with the same team with a back 4 of White, Saliba, Gabriel and Zinchenko. Partey and Xhaka will cover the midfield with Saka on LW, Ode in the middle and Martinelli on the right. Gabriel Jesus will lead the line.
Eddie, ESR and Tomi might get some game time coming from the bench in later stage of the match. We might even see some of Vieira, though a conundrum for Mikel to fit him in this team with a regular starter in each position.
Game Plan
It would be interesting to see if Mikel sticks to his 83rd minute substitutes. Premier League teams are allowed 5 subs this season and could be a good way to give game times to Vieira and ESR. Unlike many of you, I am more inclined to a fixed playing XI, however I don’t mind to see more of Eddie specially when we are winning by half time. ESR is perfectly capable to play Odegaard’s role and this is one place where I wanted to see a change but I don’t think we will drop our captain any time soon. I’m not complaining though, as long as we are making progress and earning those 3 points, I am fine.
Another interesting part of our game is the improvement at left side of the pitch. Zinchenko is total baller, his attacking game is in line with Martinelli and they are creating problems for oppositions. For sure, Zin is making it difficult for Arteta since Tierney is back to full fitness. We all love to see such problems though. Martinelli has scored 2 in 2 and I won’t be surprised if he does his 3rd today. He is our next Alexis Sanchez!
On the right, Saka hasn’t looked to be his best but he is still way better than Sancho (lol). Teams have been doubling down on him, which is why our game at the left side has improved. We have more space there, and teams does less to cover. At some point, things will change and we will see more of the end product from him.
Only complaint I have, is with Odegaard. He needs to be more brave, trust himself and shoooot. He tried passing it to others when he could have taken his shot on the goal and no one has any doubt about his shooting skills. Learn from Partey, bruh!
Wrapping Up
I’m expecting a 2-0 win today, with Jesus scoring one of those. We need to maintain our winning streak, and continue our title challenge. Too optimistic from me, eh?
Right, let me know your predictions and expectations of the game. Hope you have a nice evening and we go on top of the table – a place where we belong!
Saliba gets a goal. Clean strike. Never realised that facet of the boy.
Or
From the greetings to set piece coach, was it all rehearsed?
Damn good, must say
Exceptional from Saliba… Fans can’t stop singing him and he scores. Equally funny him going to the wrong end to celebrate when Arsenal fans are on the other side lol
Great to Saliba get one – Arteta’s going to refuse to drop White so Tomi will find himself side lined.
Cute chicks in Bournemouth
Hopefully that should wake up the alphas
“You’re going down with Utd”
Brilliant!
“Marc August 20, 2022 at 6:52 pm
“You’re going down with Utd”
Brilliant!”
🤣
Come on you gunners. Only one left from Martinelli
Fuck could be offside this one
What is wrong with Martinelli?
Skying all his shots…
Okay, get it
Bonitas chicas de Bournemouth
Does not want to hurt their sentiment
Yeah offside, by a whisker
Never mind on this one. ESR, Tomi, Nketiah coming up.
Xhaka and his proverbial brain farts.
Fortunately shot wide, no harm done
ESR is rusty
Saliba looks happy. Right time to get him the paper and pen.
That boy is a diamond level
Top of the league
Setting the pace early.
Lolerpool and City playing catch up now.
Only quibble is, as usual, the subs. I’d want to have the likes of Partey, Jesus and Zinchenko treated with more caution. The young un’s can run for days and thankfully we’ve got a squad where we could live without one or a couple of them.
Chelsea 2 down before half time with the first being an absolute howler from Mendy.
What odds would you have got on the bottom 6 being Liverpool, Everton, Wolves, Leicester, West Ham and ManU at even this early stage of the season?
Hi Marc
Just got in to see that surprising h-t score. That bottom six makes for pleasing viewing. I think the Toffees are in deep systemic shit (and Leicester aren’t far behind) and may struggle to get much higher. Wolves are a genuine mystery. It’s good to see. I’m hoping for a dour, dirty game between manure and the bin dippers, but I think Liverpool will rip them a new one.
Kroenke – how you doing mate?
Yeah can see Liverpool crushing ManU tomorrow. I think Everton are fucked and it’s a race as to who will sack their manager first Leicester or Everton.
Fuck me 3 nil to Leeds – didn’t see that coming.
What the fuck is going on? After going a goal down within 5 minutes Newcastle have just gone 2-1 up before half time.
This is going to be a crazy season.
Newcastle are 3-1 up over Man City. The third goal was a scintillating free kick.
This although Reuben Dias should have been sent off. Got 1 card only although earlier too was a dangerous tackle.
Newcastle are winning against 12 men team
3-2
Halland showing his worth. For a gargantuan player, man is quite quick on his feet
3-3. Fucking mad game. I was beginning to wonder us City were ruing selling GJ and OZ to us. Still 25 minutes left. The barcodes are unrecognisable.
Sorry
Who been fouling was Stones, not Reuben Dias
Hi Marc
If Liverpool humiliate manure tomorrow, toxic wouldn’t even begin to summarise the mood. Klopps’s comments about claiming the points if a riot stops or prevents play were a masterstroke. There’ll be mancs (and maybe bindips) going out to achieve just that. Should be worth tuning in. A draw or a victory for either side will heap misery on one or both of them meaning gooners and others will also be the winners. A schadenfreude special. They font cone around that often.
Trippier by name…. Fucking brilliant. I think it was a red BTW.
Kroenke
God knows what’ll happen tomorrow but it could get tasty.
The problem with that being a red is I’ve seen far worse not even booked and I’m not including the period where ref’s thought it was funny to see out players carried off on stretchers. On balance I think a yellow was enough.
Marc
Yeah, it certainly didn’t injure the city player (was it deBruyne?). But, it did stop the attack, it was nowhere near the ball and it could have been worse and he simply failed to connect. I guess its a question of intent versus actual outcome.
Would be interesting to ve a fly in the wall at OT tomorrow night. Someone – or a group of people – will surely lose their head(s). Only three rounds in and there have been some interesting incidents/results. Sky and BT will be hoping its good for business. What’s your thoughts on YT – do you think he’ll join us?
Tielemans – no idea. All the talk is about a winger I can’t believe we’re going to drop £50 – £60 million on a winger and £30 odd million on Tielemans after what we’ve already spent.
It’d also mean Arteta’s got to drop his pet Xhaka because no way the fans put up with Xhaka as first choice and you got £30 million on the bench.
Tonight really is win win.
Liverpool spank ManU – giggles all round.
It’s a bore draw – both have dropped points and the Scouser’s are close to being out of the title race after a couple of matches.
ManU win – the Scouser’s are collapsing giggles all round.
It turns into a mass brawl – more giggles!
50 seconds in and my prediction they’ll be a definite red card in this.
I can’t remember a season where 6 of the expected top 9 have all started so badly.
Crazy.
Hi Marc Low quality but absorbing game. Liverpool look shot. That doctor of theirs must have stopped prescribing those special ‘asthma’ tablets and got them on the mogodon instead. Manure not much better. Klopp will be demanding reinforcements and looking to do an ozilesque supermarket dash. All good from our perspective I reckon.
We have to guard against underestimating Fulham on Saturday. Start like a train (a la Bournemouth) and affect the scoreboard.
Was fun to watch VVD being told off by Milner in what seemed to be a huge argument.
Bruno F. should have seen a 2nd yellow card again the officiating is abysmal a.t.m. in the EPL. Get your shit together.