We have a game against PSG on April 29 and Thomas Partey, due to his idiotic yellow against Real Madrid, will be suspended from the game. Mikel, in his last press conference, wasn’t sure about Jorginho’s availability for the PSG game. So, we don’t have a DM for the biggest game of our season, the semi-final in Champions League. However, the positive thing is that we can use today’s game and the game against Crystal Palace on 23rd to find a solution.
There’s a problem as well to this. We are sitting on 2nd position and Liverpool has a 13 points lead with 6 games to go. We won’t catch up to them, lets be real. Also, there’s a very good chance (still) that we end up outside top 5 and don’t qualify for the Champions League next season . Forest is sitting on 5th position, only 6 points behind us. We have to not only prepare for the PSG game, but we have to make sure we don’t lose games, confidence and our form while doing so. A conundrum Mikel needs to go through!
Ipswich are a tight team. They will most likely get relegated after a sensational Premier League promotion but they can make fun of you sometimes. They don’t have anything to lose and this gives them some freedom to cause chaos. We have to manage this chaos, from the midfield. I’m a big Partey fan but we have only 2 games to find a solution for PSG game, and I would rather let him sit on bench. There are a few options we can try –
Move Timber to LB, put Ben White back to RB and promote MLS to midfield. A midfield of Odegaard, Declan Rice and MLS should be able to hold the fort against Ipswich and if it clicks, we find a solution.
The second option is to keep the defence line as it is, with Kiwior + Saliba as CBs, Timber on the right and MLS on left and introduce Nwaneri in the midfield. This is the best solution according to me, we are disturbing only 1 position (Thomas Partey) and keeping the rest of the winning squad in their position.
Mikel might also bring back Merino in the midfield and put Trossard up top, this is the most likely solution but I have never been convinced with Trossard as a striker. Against PSG, with Donnaruma in their goal, he wouldn’t be so much effective.
Back to today’s game. Calafiori will not be available along with the usuals – Havertz, Tomiyasu, Gabriel M and Jesus. It’s Ipswich last chance to survive the relegation and I am pretty sure they will put up a fight. This is the third consecutive year where we are playing on a Easter Sunday, and we have drawn the last 2. It makes me nervous a bit, but we should go through.
Also, it would be exciting to see one of the Nwaneri or MLS start in the midfield, because (I know you will come after me) ultimately we would have to improve on Odegaard.
We need to win, and we can do that in first half. Lets start the usuals, score couple of goals and then introduce Nwaneri / MLS in the midfield. We can start with that line up against Crystal Palace to practice one more time.
What’s the weather there? We have been suffering with this heat and the only thing keeping me sane is football. See you during the game, I have my set up ready.
Palace is the poster side for inconsistent football…up until their match against City, a few weeks back, they were one of the most in-form teams in the PL…since that time they’ve been dreadful
of course, just as I say that Eze pots a beauty…maybe he’s auditioning for a summertime move
we’re very fortunate that we haven’t faced too many sides in the CL who deploy a low block
KP—at least Willian showed something early on, whereas Sterling hasn’t even come close to the form he displayed in the preseason for Chelsea
Marc—I would suspect Ethan’s disappearing act has something to do with his people playing a little hardball when it comes to his re-upping…we’ve seen this before with MA
That must’ve been sweet for Alpha Tross given the completely bogus birdbrain rivalry between the seagulls and the eagles. Ornithological bullshit…or just birdshit.
fortuitous deflection but good on Timber for playing an actual direct pass…thank goodness, as our performance has been rather dire thus far
why would you ever foul Eddie from behind, as he’s not doing jackshit…talk about birdbrained by Rice (that was for you KP)
That yellow for Rice was pure fucking piss. Eze’s hack at Tross was far worse.
Wicksy – you’re right. The refs are all fucking biased cunty bollocked bastards! We’re doomed I tell ye! Doomed! (Private Fraser – Dad’s army and also a paranoid gooner)
Thanks for the ‘tweet’ Vieira. How’s it going mate? Am I vaguely right in thinking Carney’s putting more distance between himself and Piss Poor PP.
Great minds think alike in the Rice – Eddie Unket coming together. Slightly differing takes however…
TRVL
Arteta would be precisely that stupid.
KP—that’s the general sentiment, but the media here is largely left-leaning, which tends to taint the legitimacy of any such polls…not to mention, the whole Trump gig has also propped-up the NDP, which only takes votes away from the LIberals…too close to call quite yet, but the fact that our own Premier, who’s a Tory, isn’t backing his conservative brethren, certainly hurts their cause
Marc—besides MA’s obvious pettiness, Ethan surely can’t be too excited about the fact that he’s only been deployed in Saka’s spot, which means he might want some assurances…he should have been given ample time in the midfield so we could get a proper look at what he might be able to provide in a position of need before the summer window
that’s why Eddie should have been sold off even earlier than he was…he’s a selfish player with no end product, which is the worst possible combination
everyone fawns over Wharton, but everytime I’ve watched him, minus once, he passes more to the other side than his own…Palace is so defensive-minded that they can’t even find a way to have Eze and Sarr on the pitch at the same time…the more I watch this the more I can’t figure out how 3 goals were actually scored in this sleepwalking snorefest
he’s passed
Got a strong feeling this ends 2-2.
even if that’s not a goal, Henderson has looked like a complete tool all evening
Arteta’s bullshit at its very worst…we go ahead twice and let them come at us. This little twat is Arsenal’s problem.
Motm given to a water polo player!
Fucking pathetic. What a way to boost morale and get some momentum. Arteta is a massive bollix.