Well, I don’t know why only Arsenal games are on weird timings. I prefer weekend because you don’t have to think of tomorrow. It’s a midnight one here in India, finishes by 3am and on a Monday.
But, it’s not going to stop us from watching and supporting the team. City has made our lives difficult, from now on till the end of this season, every game is going to be a must-win because Pep is brutal.
Palace won their first game against Sheffield and shouldn’t be taken lightly. The one good thing is their is no Zaha, he loved to make our life difficult and usually ended up on scoresheet. Under Roy Hodgson Crystal Palace has a brilliant track record. They warded off the relegation towards the end of last season, and during his tenure, they have managed to keep an average of 15 shots per game. They surely are going to test of defence and I hope Arteta don’t do a Arteta again by playing Thomas at RB.
Team News
Timber is out for long. Jesus is still unavailable. Zinchenko might make it today and I would personally like to see a back line of White, Gabriel, Saliba and Zinchenko / Tomiyasu depending on Zinny’s availability. Rice + Partey in the midfield with Odegaard in advance role. Saka and Martinelli on either wings with Nketiah up top. There is no need to be fancy, I understand the need to be un-guessable (if that’s a word) but putting Partey at RB hurts more than it benefits. Taking out Gabriel from starting XI means Saliba is playing on his non-favorite CB side, Partey is unsettled at RB, Midfield is devoid of Partey’s brilliance and it’s all a mess. Movement of Partey to the midfield when we have the possession is the only thing you can take it up as a positive in this case, but it makes us week in defence.
Stick to basics.
We have enough bench support, Kai, ESR, Trossard can play in any advance position, Kiwior can have some game time, Raya will most likely make the bench today. Tomiyasu and Tierney are back to fitness.
Talking of our RW, Saka scored one in the first game against Forest and it was a marvellous goal. He is best in his position in the world at the moment and has started or played as a sub in our last 81 PL games! Now that’s an unbelievable thing, maintaining that fitness and form for more than 2 seasons in a row. He plays PL, cup games, closed door friendlies and if I organize a 5-a-side in my neighbourhood, I’m sure he won’t deny playing in that too. Brilliant kid, best in the world currently, I wish him well and hope we provide a platform where he can win big things.
Mikel was particularly happy with Saka and has things to say about him.
on Bukayo Saka’s development:
source : Arsenal.com
I think it keeps growing year by year, and you set him new targets and he sets himself new targets and new demands and he seems to complete those. He’s extremely hungry and willing to learn and improve and become the player that decides the game every three days, and that’s what he has between his two eyes. He’s a very focused boy and he does everything to do that – the way he trains, the way he prepares himself, the way he lives his life. I’m very happy so he needs to keep doing what he’s doing.
Wrapping Up
Mondays are hell, but hopefully it will end well for us Gooners. Don’t forget to share your thoughts about potential starting XI and predict the score against Palace. I would love some clean sheet and 3-0 for Arsenal would make me happy.
Hola muchachos
I’m behind (English) enemy lines in Bristol seeing my mates off back to Catalunya so I’ll be brief (for a change!).
Western themed films? The Outlaw Josey Wales is terrific. The best and funniest spitting I’ve seen in any film bar none. Eastwood’s best in my view. And you can’t beat Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid for the sheer 3-way chemistry between Newman, Redford and Katherine Ross.
Hoping to be back in time for Woy and the Lego Toy Boy ce soir. Palace, Palace Who the fuck are Palace – as the old song goes!
Tony – I’m feeling knackered mate. After today I’m going to limit my time spent on motorways in little cars! I’ll catch up later. Went to a brilliant Northern Soul event yesterday. But no talcum powder and gyrating – just cider. Ouch!
Ambarish
Good piece. I think we’ll have enough for Palace. I don’t share your optimism about Tets putting Partey where he belongs. That stupid fake right back thing is here to stay. He’s too stubborn/cowardly to turn back again even though it clearly doesn’t work. I also think Zinch won’t start. If we mb arch Palace’s energy, we win 2-0. I’m also certain Havertz will start.
Nice words too about Saka. The kid is a prince and a maharaja! 🇮🇳
Match….
I’d keep it to square pegs in square holes personally – if Tierney’s fit and Zinchenko isn’t then Tierney should start at LB. White or Tomi at RB and the CB pairing should pick itself as should a midfield of Partey, Rice and Ode. Usual suspects playing wide only question is who starts upfront – Havertz will be Arteta’s pick maybe we’ll actually see something from him.
Ambarish-there’s no way your predictions will ring true as you didn’t even have Arteta’s new bestie, Havertz, on the pitch…I would suspect that he might be deployed up top today to provide some height against Palace’s taller CB’s…the fact that we only have one game per week right now, MA will want to stay the course, so the only real questions in my mind are who will replace Timber and will Gabs be benched again due to all the speculation surrounding his potential exodus…maybe it will be more of a back 3 with White, Saliba and Gabs, Partey tucked inside on the right and Rice playing the old Xhaka DM/LB role on the left…I hope not, but it certainly wouldn’t surprise me…that said, unlike last year, we can’t let the Andersen long ball hurt us, as he really exposed our high-line on several occasions
Haha, deep down I know Havertz will be in playing XI.. and deep down I know Arteta can’t sacrifice from the top, so it’s gonna be the one from the defense.
It’s what I will prefer line up from me.
KP
Indeed, the best thing about our young guns be it Saka, Martinelli, ESR, is that they are very grounded. And world class.
Marc
I understand your logic, but I would love to see some Tomi+Martinelli link up at left side. I think they were doing brilliant earlier at the right side before Tomi got injured and sidelined.
Both are fast and good on 1v1.
Fell asleep last night before I got around to my favourite westerns.
1. The good,the bad and the ugly
2. The outlaw Josey Wales
3. Django unchained
4. Butch Cassidy and the sundance kid
5.The unforgiven.
Some great picks by you lads,a few on those lists Tony that I haven’t seen, especially 100 ways to die in the west. Seems to be quite popular. Will have a look.
On the footballing front I’m actually nervous about tonight. I wouldn’t like to have big money on it even though on paper it should be an easier game than last year. I’ve always felt we do poorly in live night games away from home. Surely somewhere there’s a stat on that? Atmospheric stadiums have intimidated us,perhaps we can move past that now. Early goal to silence the crowd would be lovely. 2 nil to the Arsenal.
Ambarish-I know your lineup was just wishful thinking, but who knows with our MIT, as anything can happen when you’re learning on the job…my lineup would have allowed for Tross to start in the 8-hole, which might provide him with the minutes he so desperately desires
Wasn’t Havertz brought in to replace Xhaka? So how about starting him in place of … Xhaka? I’d much prefer having Havertz/Rice combo in midfield than Partey/Rice. That’s two DM’s which has its time and place perhaps against a team like City but not against Palace who is a defensive oriented team, and will let you have the ball for the most part. Would like to see a regular/normal back 4 as well without Partey at right back.
Almunia
Saw your westerns movie list… I’m not big on westerns myself but there’s one that I can definitely recommend. In fact, I liked it so much that I even bought a DVD a while back. It’s an oldie but goodie, as they say. Mackenna’s Gold, with Gregory Peck and Omar Sharif (if those names tell you anything). Check it out, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
Upstate Gooner
Ideally yes, Havertz in place of Xhaka.. but Rice is as dear to Mikel as Kai.. You know what I mean.. Willian played a full season with no output.
I would prefer Partey + Havertz too, but Rice is good going forward from whatever little we have seen him.
Team is out, Partey at RB, Tomi at LB, Rice + Havertz in midfield, Nketiah lead the line.
Not happy with that but let us earn those 3 points. And I would love a clean sheet.
Too many round pegs in Lego shaped holes.
Arteta’s going to flog this formation until it bites him in the arse. What’s worrying is Gabriel missing out again with the rumours going round about interest in him.
Ambarish
Our back 5 has 3 players playing out of position and one of the guy’s playing in his position (White) is inferior to Saliba who’s been shunted to accommodate God knows what.
A clean sheet will be more down to Palace being shit than our defence being good.
I sort of get the Tierney omission, as even though MA said otherwise, it’s clear that he’s on his way out so why risk injury, especially considering his history in that regards, but the Gabs gig has me thinking that there’s something more to the rumours than just the normal speculative nonsense…why not Gabs out wide, as he tends to shift out into wider positions when Zinchenko is tucked inside anyways, plus he’s a left foot dominant player…Tomi certainly can’t perform the Zinchenko/Timber role, unless he’s got something in his toolbox we haven’t seen as of yet…I guess Partey’s going to tuck inside on the right and White’s going to be doing a lot more bombing up the flanks…it’s a bit of a built-in excuse shit show as per usual
Upstate,
Just checked there and it’s on the stick,thanks,I’ll give it a go. Can’t go wrong with Peck and Sharif!
In fairness to Arteta he’s nothing if not stubborn. Partey at right back is certainly a strange fetish to develop but when he gets an idea in his head…….
Sticking with 2 nil to the gunners.
Marc,
Yes, that puts 3 places out of their positions. And is this because he wants to accommodate both Rice and Havertz – his 2 new buys?
Anyways, 20 more minutes.. #COYG – Lets beat them 3-0.
I’m a big fan of Partey’s, but the whole point of the massive Rice investment, or so I thought, was so that we could commit more offensively-minded individuals in and around the box…instead it appears as we reverted back to a tactical scheme that looks far more like the one that was in play when Xhaka sat deeper with Partey…no matter how good one might think Zinchenko and/or Timber may be, I would much rather have wingbacks helping out both Marts and Saka or even a more traditional backer, so our midfield 3 could attack together on ocassion…just saying
as if we’ve reverted
all I know is that with Eddie leading he line and all the potential shoehorning positional shit, this doesn’t feel like a team ready to compete for things on two fronts…I sure hope that I’m wrong though
leading the line…GD afternoon drinking is really messing with my fucking grammar
so far our tactics rely far too heavily on our back “5” for distribution and not enough on Ode…plus both Marts and Saka have to come too deep for service, likely because we still have no directness in our attack…not to mention, Eddie’s first touch is still shit
20% of the possession yet the better chances…way too much nonsensical movement off the ball
embarassing maneuver in the box by Eddie
Eddie’s one would have been a brilliant goal, if it managed to get in.
if….that’s his GD middle name
like I said, IF only IF
not a shot on target as of yet…of course our resident poacher did hit the woodwork
We have lost control in the midfield. Both side of the defence is poor. I say bring in Gabriel for Odegaard, move White to RB and shift Kai in Ode’s position.
Our finishing has been poor. Eddie, Martinelli, Saka.. all of them.
There’s a plan there but it’s uninspiring at the moment. Speed of padding too slow. Not enough movement off the ball. And I worry that Saka is giving their LB too much respect. I think Alpha-tross will make a difference if he gets on early enough.
I would suggest we take Partey off, bring in Tross and have Havertz combine with Eddie as a front 2, maybe that will force us to be more directness while likewise give Marts and Saka some more space…this is starting to remind me of the Chelsa game against the Hammers yesterday, except that Chelsea looked far more threatening
be more direct
Trossard for Odegaard then. Our captain is missing today.
finally a set piece that made some fucking sense…even still the Keeper must be livid at himself considering Eddie’s first touch
Ambarish-Ode only appears to be missing because with Partey in an inverted role on the right it forces Ode into more advanced positions, which means less time on the ball…certainly not his fault…good penalty by him too
I would target whomever Ayew is man-marking in his own end as he’s one shirt pull away from a red
thank goodness Eze airmailed the shit out of that free kick
if Havertz isn’t the first one subbed we’ve got another Willian on our hands…btw does anyone want to guess what time our first sub(s) will arrive lol