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
I’m going to take our 2:1 lead and go to sleep happy. If we lose the 2nd half it’ll be 3am before I find sleep. Enjoy the game I’ll catch the 2nd half around 7am my time.
Really strong half, their corner notwithstanding. Maybe the best half we’ve played this season along with first half versus City.
Nice one Marc,
Spurs have lost four (four!) games already this season.
I think Slot was a little surprised that MA didn’t go full-turtle…I’ll be interested to see what adjustments they make, espeically when it comes to subs in the middle and up top
Kroenke
That’s one of my issues with Arteta – he knows he has to perform and attack against the bigger teams but godown to 10 men against a “small” team and he hides.
Kroenke
Think of the fat Aussie bastard!
he had better not go off…worries me when the players keep looking at the sidelines
that’s worrisome
Get Gabs off – losing him for 45 minutes might not be good fucking up his knee and losing him for months would be a disaster.
We did well keeping play in their half. Without Saliba and injury to Gabriel , it would be a nightmare to defend against Salah and Darwin if he gets on top. Currently he is deputed to marshal the back.
Luis Diaz is showing how it can be
this Gabs injury could be problematic if Calafiori is out for an extended period
If we go full turtle we’ll concede more goals – I’m not suggesting going gung ho but sometimes the best form of defence is attack.
Liverpool is doing substitution. Likely Salah, A.arnold and Mac Allister Will go out
Martinelli has lost some of his pace..
Hoopah
Darwin is Lacazette of Liverpool. Salah, I am worried.
Ambarish
Sterling might be a good option for 20 odd minutes – being against an old club as well.
Ref will start red carding the fans in the stadium pretty soon
That’s the only thing left.
Never been a fan of Sterling..
Ambarish
I’m on my 12th of the season already and we’ve only had a handful of home games.
We have lost control of the game.. I’m not feeling good about this….
Ref becoming very Liverpooly.
Marc
If you are IN there, can you just shout out a c*nt to Salah. Always wanted to, never got a chance while I was in England. That bugger has scored against us in last 7 seasons.
Ask a Liverpool fan who the best player ever, they will say Salah. And he can’t fucking beat Martinelli lol…
That was a very poor first touch from Marti..
Skelly coming on for Timber.. the only thing that can force Arteta to trust a player he hasn’t bought, is injury!
Havertz cost us 3 likely goals in this match.
And Salah scored against.. wanker.
*again
Hoopah,
You didn’t get the memo? He is a versatile player who can play in midfield and as a CF.. he is doing great and is one of the most important player for Arsenal..
He can’t fucking score though…
If we can’t beat the likes of Pool and Citeh at Home, we don’t deserve the title…