I will eat the humble pie after the match if I am wrong, but what in the real world is Mikel doing in team selection? We are playing Fulham away in 30min, team sheet is out and Thomas Partey starts at RB. Gabriel, White, Zinchenko and Calafiori are not even on bench due to injuries but you have Tierney and I am sure he can fill IN as a LB against the likes of Fulham. Thomas is having a great season but putting him at RB puts him at a risk and the midfield is brazen of his skills. Jorginho is filling up in the midfield. Playing Partey at RB also mean we are weaking our right side because Timber is now going to play at LB. I don’t understand this infatuation to have a midfield in defence, I’m sorry. If the idea is to play the game virtually with 3 defenders and allowing Partey to move into the midfield during the play, I don’t understand that as well. You are better off in a 3-4-3 set up if that’s the case.
Martinelli makes way for Leandro Trossard because of his poor form. The games are coming thick and fast and it shouldn’t be a problem, he will get minutes to compete and displace the Belgian. Mikel Merino sits on bench, Jorginho gets to start ahead of him. Gabriel Jesus can’t replace a non-performing Kai Havertz, which tells a lot about him.
We dropped 5 points against Fulham last season, and we certainly would be hoping to do better than that. Manchester City dropped points yesterday, and we could go 4 points ahead of them if we win. We have 3 ex-gooners playing for Fulham, ESR whom we wanted to succeed at Arsenal, Leno – who was also a fan favorite during his time at Arsenal and Alex Iwobi, who is in great form for Fulham this season.
Craven Cottage is a tough place to visit and Fulham is having a good season so far. I don’t see it as an easy game and the likes of Jorgi, Kiwior, Trossard and Havertz would have to show their importance today.
I am expecting a tough game, but hoping we would win 2-0 with Saka and our captain on the scoresheet. I will keep it short today, do let us know if you are happy with the team selection and if it could have been better.
See you in the comments section in 30 min.
WTF Jesus instead of Ethan
I would imagine Havertz’s agent is on the phone with the club at this exact moment
Until we give Martinelli (and Trossard but to a lesser degree) real support and an overlap he really won’t be half the threat he’s capable of.
maybe just maybe this will open eyes re the stupidity surrounding a variety of MA’s little side projects, such as Rice as a forward, Havertz as a Striker, Timber as a left-sided player and Partey as a RB…although I highly doubt learning is a highly-valued trait of any MA-led regime
Desktop site seems ok but mobile one has huge fonts in comments.
Raul does like playing us ever since he got his head caved in…he should have kept the whole mask gig as it was his best chance to get on camera due to his very spotty goalscoring record against everyone but us
Looks tight.
good to see two of our non-MA participants linking up to score a real goal…could be offside though
4 minutes to get 3 points
finest of margins…time to release the bulls into the china shop I guess
With how toothless our striking options of Havertz and Jesus often look why not put Martinelli through the middle?
Now or never
Rice again we never learn
just for effect they should have shives in their socks during set pieces
Advantage Pool and Chavs 2 points dropped again.
Tony—like I’ve said, Rice actually thinks he’s a hair away from being a world-class goalscorer…what a delusional twat, but makes some sense considering who’s been fluffing up his pillows all along
“Momentum lost” MA’s managerial moto rings true again
When we are crying out for some ingenuity and creativity brings in Merino. Don’t have anything else to say.
So if Arteta finishes behind Chelsea (new manager who took over a complete basket case of a club) and Liverpool (new manager, a team who’ve finished behind us for the last 2 seasons and only spent £40 odd million in the summer) will the penny finally drop that Arteta will forever be an almost man who is world class at talking a good game but severely second rate when it comes to being a manager?
Hoopah / Marc / Tony
Can you please check the fonts now.. if it’s still an issue let me know.
Ambarish
Mines fine but I’m using a PC as usual.
Madhu
What a coincidence.. I was in London working for Lloyds banking group from Wipro, Bangalore 🙂
If it’s your native, has the home and other things already taken care of.. I guess then nothing better than home.
still big on my phone Ambarish
Using my PC but my iPad worked ok, too. Just the phone.
Set pieces won’t win us that many games to compete with Liverpool. We need to fix the open play and we need a damn striker as soon as possible. Havertz is not the answer, Jesus certainly not.
Martinelli is having worse days.. In every aspect.
Tony
I would try fixing it tonight.. something messed up probably when I was trying to increase the comment fonts on Android..
I don’t see Spuds containing Chelsea enough to win. A draw is a stretch for me.
I think Chaves win by 2 goals but not necessary keeping a clean sheet.
Marc
If we finish behind Chelsea, we need a change. In the words of Mikel, we need to improve in one position and that position is of the manager.
Ambarish
We’re too lopsided when the attack – down the right you have Saka, Ode and a rightfooted full back.
On the left we have a wide forward and half the time a LB whose either right footed, slotting into CM or both.
No worries Ambarish, when you have time. I mostly use my iMac.