We have the chance to go to the top of the table briefly if we beat West Ham at home. Liverpool has to play Chelsea later today, so that might just be brief but you never know. Liverpool has some tough games to play in Premier League, Chelsea today, United next and Brentford, Aston Villa and Man City in their subsequent 3 games. We have some easy games coming up and we need to make the most out of it.
And we need to start today against the hammers. West Ham sacked Graham Potter a week back to bring in Nuno Espirito Santo. Nuno is tough nut, and he would set up a low block, counter attacking team against us – exactly what we don’t like. We would need lots of creativity from the midfield and some brilliant defending on the counters to win today. The fact that they beat us in both of their previous visits to Emirates has not been motivating and we need to break that curse.
In the team news, Hincapie, Madueke, Havertz are still unavailabile and Gabriel remains a doubt after coming off in 75th minute against Olympiacos in Champions League. With all other players available, I am expecting to see a back 4 of Timber, Mosquera, Saliba and Calafiori with Raya in the goal. I would love a midfield of Odegaard, Rice/Zubimendi, Eze but we all know it’s not going to happen, Arteta sees Modric in Merino and you don’t sit the likes of Modric on bench. A front 3 of Saka, Gyokeres and Martinelli would for me.
Listen, I know Martinelli was in bad form and his output has dropped and Trossard has some brilliant shots in him once in a while but, can you write me a note that you believe Trossard can win you games on his own? Like Martinelli did against Man City in 93rd minute (it was a draw, not a win exactly), and against Athletic Club when we were devoid of any ideas? Yeah, right; lets play the match winner and rebuild his confidence. Trossard is a menace against tired legs so he will get plenty of his minutes and he can contribute to our wins that way.
There’s another problem for Mikel and a good one. Declan Rice has been warming bench recently, and we would slowly see Eze starting over him/Merino. To have a 100m and 65m player fight for a single place is something every manager would dream in Premier League. I think who starts the game depends totally on the opposition. If it’s a team that’s going to attack (City, Liverpool, Brighton etc) you play Zubimendi and support your defence. When there’s a low block, going all out on attack is the only way you are going to win and Declan Rice is brilliant moving forward with the ball.
–
We are not in best of our form yet, partially due to the injuries to Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli and a CF who is still 5 games in the season with these blokes. Even with some tough games initially, we have managed to keep ourselves around Liverpool and can overtake them today. We have a perfect record in Champions League so far, only 1 loss in Premier League while Carabao Cup is still to pick up the pace. We are in a very good situation, and the only thing that needs improvement is the quality of football. Put in Eze in the starting line up with Odegaard on the other side, let go of some of the defensive duties Gyokeres is assigned and you will see the quality improving massively.
Will that be today? We will know in couple of hours. See you during the game.
Nice piece Ambarish.
Personally I think Trossard is a good (or very good) squad player. He’s a useful sub to have if you’re chasing a goal late on but in the bigger matches I’m not keen on him as a starter. We all need to remember where Martinelli was a few years ago – the talent is there the problem lays with the manager not being a great attacking coach and his fucking obsession with the left full back inverting meaning the left sided attacker lacks support compared to the right.
All that said I think we’ll see Martinelli sold in Jan or the summer – and then go on and make us wonder why the fuck he wasn’t doing that for us.
The central midfield is interesting – it’s great having competition for places but Merino should not be in front of any of Rice, Ode, Zubi, Eze unless its a Cup match or a home banker. Rotating between a DM and 2 more creative players or 2 more DM type players and an attacking CM is fine – Merino is a squad player.
Merino is what Havertz used to be for Arteta, always ends up in the starting XI. Arteta is a control freak who takes pride in controlling the game (we have seen that against City). With an attacking mindset player, you take more risk and with it, you lose possession more often.
His soul can only allow one side for attack with Odegaard feeding Saka. He can’t do that on both side.. atleast not yet.
–
But I think, ultimately he would have to shift Eze in that position. There has been pressure on the manager and the players for winning something (important) this season and with a defensive mindset, no body can do except Mourinho.
Starting XI
Raya
Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori
Odegaard, Rice, Eze
Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard
–
Bench : Kepa, Mosquera, White, Martinelli, Norgaard, Nwaneri, Merino, Zubimendi, MLS
Well, he has chosen to be brave today. Martinelli is missing but i can live with that.
#COYG
Handbrakes are OFF.
How did Eze miss that… Gyokeres should have put it in the nets too
let’s hope the Hammers don’t turn into another PSG, as Pricksy might mistakenly suggest again…I do like the fact that MA hasn’t started Zubi with Rice, so that Eze can get some time in the midfield along side Ode…like you Marc, I would have started Marts instead of Tross, who should rarely if ever be in the starting 11…he should have been sold in the summer while he still had some value in the open market…we need to create width on both sides of the pitch so both Eze and Ode have some space to work with in more central areas…not sure this can be achieved with Tross unless Cala is willing to venture out wide far more than usual
Eze can’t miss those kind of sitters…maybe he’s been infected by our front of goal curse
it will be interesting to see who MA would bring on should Ode go off injured…it had better be Ethan, but we all know it would likely be one of either Merino or Zubi
Here you go.. Zubimendi will be back on the pitch now alongside Rice. Universe don’t want us to play less than 2 DMs.
our manager is a gutless fuck…just look at those ill-suited replacements preparing…i wouldn’t be surprised to find out that Rice actually kicked him
you just know MA didn’t really want to start two AMs or Ethan would be warming up…if it wasn’t a bottom-feeder who has struggled for goals, he would have never done so
MA’s such a clown, as he gifts Rice the left side even though that’s Eze’s best position…what a shoehorning piece of garbage
Now, he did that not gone in… luck’s not in our favor today.
Saka is struggling?
TRVL
I think so, yes. He caved in from the pressure for playing 2 attacking midfielders, but as soon as he got his first reason, we are back to playing Zubi + Rice midfield.
Why did we promise Ethan the Odegaard role?
–
And Rice breaks the deadlock. Great goal… Lets score some more.
thankfully we got something from all of that final third possession…another unmarked Rice in the box…maybe he was the Xhaka replacement all along LOL
What a shot from Calafiori, shame it didn’t go in
I like that we’ve had some decent shots from “distance” today, as we need that desperately
Tell that to Mikel, he thinks shooting from the distance loses the possession
Saw one bloke with the wanking gesture.. Marc, was that you? haha
let’s face it this Hammers side is rather easy to peg in…it will be interesting to see what adjustments Nuno makes for the second half, as we know our manager won’t be making any, except maybe finding a way to get Merino on the fucking pitch