Well, football gods aren’t treating us well so far this year. We started well against Brentford with a 3-1 away win but then gave away the advantage by drawing to Brighton at home. Newcastle beat us 2-0 at Emirates in the first leg of Carabao Cup semi final, we then lost to Man Utd at home in a penalty shootout which ended our FA Cup run. We did beat Spurs in the North London Derby but Emery made sure we grieve again against Villa. We are plagued with injuries with Bukayo Saka side-lined for a very long time, Jesus as well.
On one side, we have been out of FA cup and Carabao cup looks almost impossible since we have to visit Newcastle in the second leg and they have a 2 goal advantage. In the Premier League, we have been giving away points and chances to catch up to Liverpool who are sitting on a 6 point lead to us and got a game in hand.
On the other side, we are sitting 5th in the Champions League table with 13 points in 6 games and we have next two games against Dinamo Zagreb and Monaco. These are relatively easier games, though European nights are very unpredictable. A win against Dinamo today will make it easy for us to qualify for knockout stage.
William Saliba will miss the game due to the hamstring injury he picked up last week and it would take couple more weeks for him to recover. Calafiori and Nwaneri were back in training but they will need another evaluation before the game. The usuals – Saka, White, Tomiyasu, Jesus remains unavailable.
Arteta in his press conference gave the reason for playing Partey at RB – unavailability of players. Now I can understand that, when Timber was injured and we didn’t have anyone to play on the left. Recently, MLS has been sensational in the LB position and Timber is back at RB, but he has got another problem with Saliba’s injury. Take it with a pinch of salt but some of the publications were reporting that he might try Declan Rice at CB. Rice was playing in that position at West Ham academy. I would take that over playing Thomas Partey at RB.
Here’s what Mikel had to say about playing Thomas at RB.
I had no choice, I didn’t have another right full-back, just Jurrien, nobody else. Who plays when Jurrien isn’t available for his load is too high? The other day was the first time [he moved Jurrien to centre-back] but in relation to the way we have to play, we cannot have a right-footed player defending a right winger. I didn’t have another right-sided centre-back.
source : Arsenal.com
RW is another problem. Martinelli is not cutting it and I have no idea why we got Sterling in first place. A sane manager would send him back to Chelsea and recall Nelson.
Right, I am looking forward to the game. Mathematically there are 16 other clubs competing for top 8 with us, and a win today will make it smaller.
Lets do it. #COYG
told you another red was in the offing…wonder if MA will grow a pair now? he should have never taken Ethan off
OK so why wasn’t that a straight red?
If we can pick up our energy, we can win this now.
Marc—that second yellow will likely help Skelly’s cause when we appeal the 3 match ban…silver lining?
TRVL
I don’t have a problem with the rules being applied – I have a problem with the lack of consistency and not from ref to ref but from the same ref minute to minute.
And Cauliflower scores!!!
Cala saves the day?
That will do maybe play Cala up top for City?
Havertz almost screwed that up by trying to touch a ball that was already heading in…what a desperate twat
Marc—they addressed that by talking about the height of the foul and the context of the circumstances, as per the letter of the law…it’s not like I don’t get the tenor of your points
My mum who’s in her 70’s would hold the ball up better than Havertz.
Tony—if we’re just bombing crosses into the box, that might not be the worst idea, unless Havertz grows a second, much more effective, head before next weekend
Marc—is she available to play tucked in behind Cala next weekend?
TRVL
A bad tackle on the ankle is more likely to cause a bad injury than on the shin. We see very few broken legs fortunately but players rolling their ankles?
Raya was lucky and good there, as even he felt that he was caught in no man’s land
TRVL
She’d fucking better be!
Marc—I’ve experienced both and I would much rather have the Gomes one than the one by Skelly
Nice cross by Tierney – such a shame about the injury problems.
Raya looks a little be skittish today.
Well he may not get many goals but when Cauliflower gets one they seem to be important.
we should be thankful that we were playing this Wolves side today…boy do we need some new blood and not Cuhna’s, as he’s just more of the same