I think the outcome of City’s game against L’pool is going to galvanize us further: win or lose. Win and we have to win! Lose and we want the points gap to widen (City looks to be winning this one comfortably). Obviously, Xhaka is always a concern particularly against mobile opposition. I’d start Partey on the bench, as without him at Anfield is not worth contemplating. I imagine Arteta will go with a 433, but I’d prefer a 352 to keep winning the lost ball retention in the middle of the park. I think the 352 suits our available players better ands shores up our midfield.
Leeds have their 3 top players out, so moving the ball with one and two touch football to the final third is essential. Leeds like to play frantic or chaotic football when they get the time and room. Flooding the midfield makes that type of pacey football very difficult for Leeds to navigate.
Our lads will be up for it as the countdown to the Wolves’ game commences again today. Beat Leeds today and we’ll be 8 points clear again today. We need to be at our best at defending in their final third and if we can’t rob the ball there, then upset the Leeds balance enough to be dispossessed in mid field.
Partey looks fit and injury free with him not playing in Ghana’s last game. However, I’d still play him from the bench if need be. Obviously, Tomi, Elneny and Eddie are short with Tomi out for the season. I’d like to see some invention from Arteta for the Leeds game:
Ramsdale
Holding Gabs KT
White Kiwior Jorginho Trossard Zinchenko
Saka & Martinelli
Apart from KT, all our players are playing their preferred positions with Kiwior dropping to 6. KT is the fastest defender in the league, so should keep the high line in tact. Kiwior is no slouch either and can keep Jorginho covered.
I don’t see a Leeds Midfield being more pacey or as technical as the five we would be putting out whether attacking or defensively. Gabs is a powerhouse at the back in the air and Holdinho generally is good aerially and defending if pace isn’t used against him. Kiwior will be a good sweeper in front of the back three. Jorginho can do what he does best and be the midfield general using his experience over his lack of pace with a minder looking after him.
This is what I think we’ll see:
Ramsdale
White Holding Gabs Zinchenko
Ode Jorginho Xhaka
Saka Jesus Martinelli
Xhaka walk about free role the opposition doesn’t care about. Zinchenko inverting and Jorginho getting caught out being speed challenged with Xhaka. Arteta’s main hope is our front three finding the net several times. Leeds are likely to win the MF battles more with this tactical set up giving our defense too much work to do and I’d see a silly goal against at some stage.
Saliba is the biggest concern. It’s too risky to play him against Leeds, but should be saved for the City, BHA and Pool games. Partey is probably ok for today, but again Arteta should manage Partey’s involvements in all the remaining games to keep him as fit as possible by reducing Partey’s minutes per game.
I’ll predict 3:0 if we play 353 or 3:2 if we play our rigid system with keep players missing.
See you at the game.
Thanks Tony for the pre-match post!
Well it’s raining at two places, One in national capital here and other at Etihad. I’m not liking either though.
Nice piece
We need to start looking at goal difference and taking advantage of poorer teams when we play them.
Pleasure, Ambarish.
The Bib Dippers are in a bad place at the moment and a very good time to go to Anfield. I think we can get a result there.
Concerned we’re starting Partey, but happy Saka’s getting a well deserved rest.
Let’s see what Arteta has in store for us tactically for this game.
Ambarish
Massive banner being unfurled in the east stand that says,
ARSENAL IS RED
LONDON IS RED. Pre match nerves…
London is red KP. I was going to ask Ambarish how he pulled it off?
The amber nectar flowing KP?
Surely ESR improves us over Xhaka.
Tony
I wish. Leeds look better than I expected.
Pretty obvious really but we need to improve quality of our passing and speed up.
This is not title winning football. As you say, KP, needs an injection of pace.
Zinch giving away a lot of possession.
WTF is Arsenal doing at home, looking so far Leeds will score but not AFC. So far AFC no shot on goal,.
Leeds look dangerous every time they attack.
Finally, some luck and Jesus back among the goals. Now Leeds will attack with venom. Very much against the run of play.
If we play like that at Anfield next week we will loose. For crying out loud AFC get your act together and play like you know you can. Never mind the game at City we need to be much better than what I am seeing now.
just up in time to watch the match in real time…pleased to see Partey and Jesus on the pitch to start, as It looks like Leeds haven’t come to North London simply to park the bus…still not a fan of Trossard playing in wide spaces though, as he just doesn’t have the requisite amount of pace
Tony-it’s clear that you’re light years ahead when it comes to the auditory arts…I believe one of my greatest assets, from a cerebral capacity, is my willingness to defer to the experts when it comes to all things beyond my scientific reach…unlike some who reach a point in life where they stubbornly believe that they’re learning days are done and dusted, I’m quite the opposite…in fact, I relish the notion of donning my student’s cap whenever it’s applicable…of course, that certainly doesn’t mean I don’t love the sound of my own voice on the odd occasion or three…much like the late, great Hitchens, I’m not so staunch in my opinions that I’m unwilling to change my ways should new and better information emerge in the meantime
cheap penalty, but nicely taken…it could be an important score considering what’s on offer presently
PS-thanks for the kind words Herbs, much appreciated
What a nerving display by the team. Watched City v Pool and what a masterclass of passing City put on display can’t remember where they misplaced a pass except the GK. We are so far of that like night and day.
Need to be much better and brighter in the 2nd half. Just had a word with Pumpkin telling he’s not pulling his weight. Just need a dominant final 45 with a couple of goals to let City know it wasn’t just luck.
That’s better but Leeds have to come out. So we can get in behind.
now there’s the kind of unexpected return that we needed is this rather lucklustre affair…it’s so rare to see that sort of RB box penetration by White, especially when we’re in the lead…obviously this little tactical wrinkle has more to do with Saka’s absence than White’s scoring prowess
Get one more and get Partey off for ESR.
Looks like we might do to Leeds what City did to Pool hopefully 😆
We’re just getting a bit pissy abouty at the backy here….
Time for subs👀
Claim to be a prophet regarding this game. Make it a few more to narrow the GD.
… Now looking lethally in attacky. What a goal. Jesus’s second coming has happened in time for Easter. 🥚🐰
Not Saka why not Nelson?
this is why having Jesus back is so important for our title chances…he’s like Laca on steriods, in that he set up things with his back to goal, then has the pace required to get on the end of Trossard’s largely blind pass back into the box…Leeds look to have already shot their loads in the first half, so it’s time for us to step firmly on their throats
Much better display by Ramsdale today to be fair.
Xhaka giving another goal away. Can’t we sub him for ESR ffs?
agreed KP, he’s been far more assured with his positioning…unfortunately he was letdown once again by some rather sloppy defending and if we don’t get our head’s out of our respective asses a second goal could be forthcoming
Why the fuck do players turn away when they face a player taking a shot, are they chicken shit in being hit by a ball? Seeing that in every game and it increases accidental defections.
Killroy-there’s no doubting that this turtling technique is a far more common practice in today’s game…as you said earlier, this should have have been a fixture where we greatly increased our differential…just as I say that our totally unmarked, as per usual, “captain” pots an easy one
Ok humble pie time even if unmarked Xhaka climbs majestically unchallenged to head home.
City statement made. 😎
Killroy
Agreed. I used to take a shot in the face, throat, stomach or balls every time I played.
Tony – your mate just got a fourth. I think GD now down to 1 or 2 goals?
at some point it’s imperative that we see a lineup that includes Saka, Jesus, Marts and Trossard, without Xhaka, just to see what this particular collection of players might have on offer…of course, once it was 3-0 it made far more sense that Jesus and Partey were removed for precautionary reasons, especially considering our fixture list in the coming weeks
It’s 4-1…wow
Nervy to begin with but a good result in the end.
City just 2 GD ahead, KP.
no need for the humble pie Tony, an 18 wheeler with a cleat glued to the grill could have succeeded under similar circumstances…how is it possible that neither defender gave him a moment’s notice, even when he was the only game in town…regardless, very pleased we managed to pot 4