Champions League night against Shakhtar Donetsk

Champions League night against Shakhtar Donetsk

It’s Champions League night. A loss against Bournemouth was devastating and a win today will wash out a bit of that. We are playing Shakhtar Donetsk at home, and a win today will also bring us back in the top 8.

Playing XI is out. Mikel has fixed 2 of my complaints with whatever was available. Trossard makes into the midfield in place of Merino, so we are not going with three DMs today. Martinelli is back into the team with Havertz up top and Jesus in place of Saka. Sterling should be a ‘give him 15 min in a 2-0 game’ option, not a starter.

Line up looks okay to me.

European nights are always nervy. There are upsets but we should be winning against Shakhtar comfortably and I am hoping to see all 3 of our forwards scoring today. I hate to say it but a 1-0 win is not going to fix our confidence. We need the attacking football back today, we need to be in control for the whole 90 min, we need to show that we can win without making any errors.

And the seniors needs to take that responsibility. Trossard has played enough game, Jesus was brought for his huge experience and was believed to mentor the likes of Martinelli and Saka And Thomas Partey needs to keep control of that midfield. It’s Champions League night, couple years back – these same set of players were dreaming of these nights and when you got one, you need to show that with your actions.

Right, there is one more very important thing I have been talking about. We need to finish in top 8 of the group stage at any cost. I don’t want us to see playing 2 qualification games later in the stage.

It’s too early to say anything but there is some serious competition. And the fact that Bayern, Barcelona and Real Madrid are on the same points with us and are going to compete for the top is going to make our life difficult. What can we do? Win the easy ones and put fights against the best teams in Europe.

We have an easy one today. Lets go out in red and white and WIN this. Lets beat them 4-0 and get back our confidence.

See you during the match. #COYG

188 Comments

  1. Shakhtar are not all behind the ball, front 3 stays in their position, which is kind of good for us… We overload the opposition box and it’s going to give us a lot of chances. As I type this, Calafiori misses one too.

  2. White made a poor pass, gave the ball away in the process and we were lucky SD didn’t make anything of it.

  3. Kroenkephobe

    Goalie’s Arsenal 1 Shitktar Doner 0

  4. Ambarish K

    Martinelli is like that fix that was meant to hunt but is being fed grass.. he should be let free..

    Gabriel Jesus is having a good game so far on the wings.. almost an assist, almost a goal.. Pep wasn’t wrong.

  5. Ambarish K

    Another good chance for Jesus, which he created for himself. He can’t finish as usual but if you play on wings and create chances, that’s counted enough.

  6. Ambarish K

    PSG losing to PSV at home, Madrid losing 2-0 to Dortmund at theirs.. this new format is exciting and there will be many upsetting game.

  7. The Real Vieira Lynn

    sorry Ambarish, Jesus spent most of the half doing jackshit, except returning every pass from which it came, then when he finally got a chance or two to prove his worth he cocked it up, as per usual…he’s so dire it makes me miss Eddie(not really)…we’re a blunt instrument who can’t seem to get a handle on a glorified father/son affair…MA’s trying to show some tactical flexibility by allowing players to switch sides, which on certain occasions might make a little sense, but tonight it’s all about Marts and the left side of their defence, so why would you have him anywhere but wide left…pathetic, uninspiring half

  8. The Real Vieira Lynn

    MA’s got his clamps on so tight that no one even looks for players making direct runs and anyone who shoots from distance seemingly is required to apologize to everyone on the pitch

  9. Ambarish K

    TRVL

    He is playing well imo, except for his finishing which has always been a problem.

  10. Ambarish K

    And agree to the MA’s tactics of freedom. Martinelli for once tried that run and it looked lethal. We can only guess what he can do if would be making 5/6/7 runs of such kind.

  11. Ambarish K

    Ben White is being replaced by Mikel Merino.. he is on a yellow, Mikel read our last article guys.. 😅

  12. The Real Vieira Lynn

    it’s like we’re playing for a 1-0 own goal victory…Partey should never be deployed at RB

  13. The Real Vieira Lynn

    if Shahktar had even one player of quality up top we would be tied or a goal down

  14. The Real Vieira Lynn

    Ambarish—anyone could have provided what Jesus has brought to the equation…we should have Ethan on the pitch instead of him, as JG brings no width to the right side anyways…as for the 5, 6 or 7 runs theory, it’s a moot point because we’re trained not to look for them

  15. The Real Vieira Lynn

    we’ve given them confidence by our lack of attacking threat and our willingness to put 10 men behind the ball

  16. The Real Vieira Lynn

    with our bully-ball lineup on the pitch why aren’t we taking it to the wings then wiring in some crosses

  17. The Real Vieira Lynn

    now Calafiori’s hurt…we’re like paper mache this season

  18. The Real Vieira Lynn

    I meant GJ not JG, although Jesus de Gabriel would be a cool handle

  19. The Real Vieira Lynn

    embarassing call…this goes directly back to my last post, earlier today, on the last thread

  20. The Real Vieira Lynn

    even more embarassing penalty try

  21. The Real Vieira Lynn

    holy shit, a stretch pass…it’s like a UFO sighting

  22. The Real Vieira Lynn

    it’s 23 and sunny outside and I’m in here watching this paint dry…I feel like a twat for doing so

  23. The Real Vieira Lynn

    Raya might have saved our blushes there

  24. The Real Vieira Lynn

    thank God that guy takes headers like Havertz, shoulder first

  25. The Real Vieira Lynn

    reckless, but he never even touched Havertz…we’re an embarassing unit for a whole host of reasons tonight!!!!

  26. The Real Vieira Lynn

    WTF was that, especially after what transpired on the weekend

  27. Kroenkephobe

    A Limerick is needed after that…

    If not for a Ukrainian bum
    Our CL campaign would be done
    A cunt of a game
    The manager’s insane
    His tactics are dumber than dumb

  28. Kroenkephobe

    it’s 23 and sunny outside and I’m in here watching this paint dry…

    Hi Vieira
    Sounds like you’re getting emulsional…I’ll get my (under) coat.

    Fucking dismal wasn’t it.

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