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.
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