I have a feeling it’s going to be the Gyokeres day. Leeds are in town for today’s game and we must have practiced some more fluidity among the new signings after a disjointed Man Utd game. We won’t see Eze in the line up today unfortunately but it’s a done deal and he will soon join the pack.
Havertz picked up an injury. He was a direct competition to Gyokeres considering Mikel’s system and his preference to play a #9 who excels in dirty work rather than scoring. The primary reason he didn’t sign a striker so far and have tried to push Havertz, Merino, Trossard in that role. Not that any of them were total failure but we lacked a 20 goal a season player and someone who could make a difference on his own in games where the opposition just likes to sit back and defend. With Gyokeres, we are trying to fix that problem. Havertz’s injury is sad news, at worst – he was a back up to Gyokeres if the Swedish fails to deliver or picks up an injury. But the silver lining out of this I feel, is that, he now knows it’s all him we got and he doesn’t have that additional pressure to score in order to keep his place for the next game(s).
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Leeds were the Championship leaders, finished with 100 points and are always a threat. We can’t take them lightly. Chelsea thrashed West Ham last night, announcing themselves in the Title run, and with Liverpool eyeing an Isak move, Pep throwing money anywhere and everywhere, it would be a very tough season. We won the Man Utd game in a very dirty display and we just need to build on it. Lets go out there and win, keep ourselves 6/6 points and there are some massive games coming up from next week – Liverpool, Man City and Newcastle in next 4 games.
In the team news, we won’t have Kai available due to his knee injury. Norgaard also has some discomfort and will not be available. The RB situation is a bit messy, both White and Timber are a doubt for the game and it would be interesting to see who Mikel prefers if they don’t make it. I am guessing one of MLS and Kiwior would have to do it in the worst scenario. Jesus will be out for some more months, while everyone else is fit for the game.
I am expecting a back 4 of MLS, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori unless one of the White or Timber are available. It would be the usual midfield of Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice with a front 3 of Saka, Gyokeres and Madueke. Martinelli might not make it, because Mikel loves his new suits and Martinelli had a stinker last weekend. I am a Team Gabi but unless he gets back his old self, I won’t complain if Madueke starts ahead of him. After all, we need to know if the 52m GBP we spent was worth it.
Farke, Leed’s manager, was very clear about his approach in his pre-match conference. He promised an attacking game and that he won’t sell out their DNA by going defensive and parking the bus. Well, we love these kinds of oppositions. I am pretty sure they won’t change, Bielsa’s shadow stays with you till eternity. It would be an exciting game and one of those where Odegaard might gets his praise.
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What’s your prediction? I am hoping we get to see the mask celebration today at Home for our new no 14. Saka doesn’t like 2 bad games in a row so he will score one too.
2-0 to the boys, with a much better performance compared to last game; also preparing for the next week’s 6 pointer against Liverpool at their home.
Right, that’s all for today. Man City playing Spurs in about a minute, it’s a bit of a pickle because both of them can’t lose the game so i would take it if both of them drop points. Let the Spuds cherish 1 point after losing on Eze. It happened again.. It happened again..
Cheers
Set piece again to score. Well taken by Timber.
great header(shoulder) off the corner, but we need to generate goals from open play or we’re going to find ourselves in a similar position to last year
Tony—I should have read your comments before posting my last comment…you already had those thoughts well-covered
I would like to see Ethan positioned a bit more centrally than Ode
thank fucking god a commentator finally spoke the truth about how a target man like VG doesn’t make sense in MA’s preferred shit tactics and how Noni makes no sense on the left…changes are in the offing I hope
Saka scored his usual. He can’t have 2 bad games in a row can he?
Great Saka goal from a rare pacy attack
Good for VG getting off the mark and had to work to make it. Well crafted.
Told ya we gonna see the mask today.
can you imagine Havertz scoring that goal – he would trip up first.
Timber has now doubled his goal output of all last season…good for him
a bit worried that Saka grabbed his hammy while on the ground…that was so last season
looks like Noni might get a start or two on his preferred side…not the way I would want it though
Marc is probably half in the bag screaming Arteta’s name into the fucking rafters lol
looks like Dowman’s going to get a go…that’s the way we should have been handling subs the last two seasons
I must admit Dowman looks as if he’s scared shitless…par for the course though
Really happy to see our youth getting meaningful game time and not the usual 10 minutes at the end.
About time I have to say.
Leeds are going to suffer in the PL unless he starts to park the bus.
No worries Vieira not easy to be aware of posts when writing and watching the game.
My multi tasking is conditioned to a max of 2 things at the same time.
Apparently this combination of kids did not play in a similar setup earlier.
Throwing them to the wolves ?
Tony—like yourself, I’m a multi-tasking junkie…the problem was that I forgot to click on the screen to allow ads, so when I refreshed it skipped past your comments on the previous page
it would be fucking glorious to see one of the kids, especially Dowman, potting a goal…close but no cigar quite yet
Havertz has never looked better…in the stands that is
I said after seeing Dowman in preseason he should get PL minutes as soon as possible. My argument was Fabregas was given time by Wenger because he needed to and the rest is history.
Dowman for me can be the new Fabregas with pace to burn. The kid is exceptional and just needs to be managed well.
Marc
You chose the right game to restart your biweekly pilgrimage to the Emirates.
Happy for you…