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.
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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.
Cheers Vieira. I never had you down as the diplomatic type!😂
Hope you’re well.
I’m not averse to putting the shoe on the other foot on occasion…can’t complain, although I just might anyways…it must be an Arsenal thing
Agreed. There’s an aeons-long discussion to be had about how supporting one or other team influences your psyche. Another reason not to follow Spurs I think.
TRVL
I don’t think Nketiah is anything special, far from it , but I am still waiting to be convinced by gyokeres.
As far as I’m concerned the penalty yesterday should have been taken by gyokeres , saka has nothing to prove so Arteta should have made the decision to let gyokeres take the penalties because 1) he has an exceptional record from the spot and 2) he will be judged on goals and goals breeds confidence whether from the spot or not.
It isn’t a problem at the .moment because we are 2nd top scorers in the league and defensively superb, the future problem will be if scoring goals become a problem and then the finger will point at our striker.
As I said pre season , I believe the league will be won with a lower points total than usual but if any team is to totally dominate the league this season it will be Arsenal.
The Odegaard injury is a bit of a set back but of course it will give Eze and Nwaneri a chance to stake a claim for the no.10 role , it is important that Rice and zubimendi stay fit as they are fast becoming the best midfielder duo in the league.
Also I think our 2 full backs deserve a mention , calafiori is growing into Marc’s favourite inverted full back role whilst Timber is just a quality footballer who reminds me of Lauren.
Lauren was a penalty taker par excellence.
I wouldn’t worry too much about who takes penalties and why. They must practice them and Saka must regularly be top of the tree when it comes to competitions etc. VG doesn’t strike me as having a fragile ego in any respect – I’m sure he’s adult enough to recognise the job he’s doing and the value it brings. It seems almost patronising to think he should be thrown the odd penalty at the end of a game.
Relatively good injury news. Ode out for only 4 weeks and Dec has been deemed ok enough to join the Ingerland squad.
Feedback noted, i will come up with a better version some time this week, bear with it till then.
Wicksy
Yep, Gyokeres should be the penalty taker, but considering Saka was in his 200th game and that goal increased his G/A tally to 100, let us just let it go this time.
KP
I don’t really a Ode fan, but considering Mikel switches to Merino, Rice and Zubi midfield in his absence, i want him back asap. Unless Mikel gets a bit brave and use Eze and Nwaneri on either side.
Ambarish
Please don’t change any of the graphics etc. on my account. It was just an observation. Stick to what YOU think looks best mate. It’s your site. I’ll live with whatever you choose.
PS your comment about Ode went without saying. I know you think the guy is useless!😆
Are we seeing a repeat of last season when city collapsed after a great start to the season, is it liverpool’s turn to totally collapse this season as they look very fragile , even their own fans are beginning to ask questions of the manager/team and new signings…
Wicksy
One thing’s for sure. If both our main rivals’ form drops off, Stubborn el Bastardo loses 2 reasons for not winning the title. His tight little culo will be twitching with tension if they do.
KP
If and it is a big if, city and Liverpool do collapse this season then it’s fair to say that Arteta has put a squad in place that can take advantage of the situation.
Injuries and harsh red cards were our downfall last season , plus you could also add the dodgy pens that were awarded against Arsenal including the one against Brighton when saliba got a touch on the ball but the ref and Howard Webb deemed the touch irrelevant , this is the same Howard Webb who agreed with the decision NOT to award Arsenal a pen last week because of a touch on the ball by the newcastle keeper before wiping gyokeres out…Howard Webb hasn’t done himself any favours there I’m afraid , let’s see what side of the fence he falls on the next time there is a similar incident.
So, if we can keep away from the drama like the victory over West ham and watch the other teams self implode as they take points off eachother in the coming weeks then we could go into the new year with a healthy points lead and a fit squad to choose from as the fixtures pile up.
I expect a few bumps in the road but defensively we look better than ever. I wasn’t too sure about the zubimendi/Rice partnership in midfield as I thought it would take away some of the creativity from the team but Zubimendi’s ability to thread the ball through the lines has added a different dimension to our game , plus Rice and zubimendi provide great cover to the back 4.
Wicksy
Errr…you neglected to mention some absolutely dire, negative football within that mix of our failure to win anything last season. Only 1 person responsible for that really. Time and again we were underwhelming; time and again the script stayed the same.
By the way, are you also a reader of Untold Arsenal (or ‘Unsold Anusol’ as I used to amuse myself by calling it)? Some of your oeuvre today has a strong Attwoodian leaning.
“If and it is a big if, city and Liverpool do collapse this season then it’s fair to say that Arteta has put a squad in place that can take advantage of the situation.”
I know of teams who win on merit and not relying on the opposition to “collapse”.
KP
Agreed , the football wasn’t great but losing your front 4 for almost half a season means the manager would have to be one of 2 things
1) pragmatic and still finish 2nd in the league or
2) dogmatic and try to get results without your best players playing the same way , similar to Ange at Tottenham who finished one place above relegation I do believe.
And yes I used to read untold in years gone by , I like blogs who are positive about the club , but I find you get a better discussion (which normally leads to abuse) on negative blogs like this, I like a little wind up and some bite more easily than others (Trvl) as they can’t stand the manager being given credit despite Arsenal being favourites for the Premier league and champions league …who would have thought eh, Arteta must be doing something right , just needs a few trophies, it reminds me a little of pochettino when the Tottenham hierarchy let impatience get the better of them and sacked him despite reaching the champions league final…6 managers in 6 years should be a lesson learnt ,man utd are another who change managers like the wind and have got steadily worse.
More pragmatic and much less dogmatic would have been good in Arteta’s case.
Arteta must be doing something right , just needs a few trophies. …wow.
Yeah mate, until he wins some trophies after shpunking so much of Kroenke’s ill gotten gains, I think you need to reserve judgment on whether he’s doing/done something right. At this stage, it’s a massive stretch to describe what he’s done as ‘right’.
Just out of interest, which other blogs did you inhabit (for want of a better word)? I used to go on the Gooner (and was known as ‘Arseneknewbest’ -geddit?- where I was a fierce critic of the old chihuahua headed bastard). Where you you? Your comments this morning were redolent of Attwoodian critique.
KP
Your ‘Piling’ it on today.
Up the Arse – unol.
Kp
My opinions are purely my opinions , as you have seen previously I have criticised Arteta many times , most recently when playing a midfield 3 of merino , rice and zubimendi.
I can see why Arteta gets criticism, his football at times is very negative and his overplaying of his favourites has led to injuries, though I would say that was mainly down to not trusting his bench which is a poor excuse as he bought the majority of those players , and yes some of his signings haven’t worked but you only have to look at Chelsea, united, Tottenham and now Liverpool(maybe) and you will see many failed transfers.
What I do think is that Arteta is improving in his game management and how he rotates the squad because he trusts his fringe players , the handbrake is still on but has loosened a little and the hope is that as we maintain our position at the top of the league the emphasis is on attack more than defensive control.
I am a great believer in the fear factor , we had it during wenger’s early years , city had it (and lost it) , Chelsea had it ( and lost it) and united had it (and lost it), whilst Liverpool despite winning the league last season do not have the fear factor and they will suffer because of it.
Arsenal are fast becoming the team to fear and this stems from having the strongest squad and the best defence.
Positivity from the media also adds to the fear factor as does rival managers complimenting Arsenal whenever we play them, winning that first title is crucial and then we will dominate for the next 5 years at least as our team/squad is young and on long contracts and also we can have a choice of any player in the world .
NORG
Maybe it was that lost weekend in Chalfont St Giles…. We must be the only society on earth where people can get so much amusement from something as painful as arse 🍇. Someone once told me that they regretted being de-graped so much because of the pain, that they wish they’d kept them intact. How fucking grim is that?
I blame – or rather praise – Viz comics for helping to keep that almost uniquely British gallows humour tradition alive.
I have new ‘untold’ respect for your honesty Herr Wickmeister for admitting to reading Atwood’s dismally turgid bullshit. It must have taken real mental fortitude. A bit like ploughing through ‘Ulysees’ by James Joyce in a single weekend…or the Old Testament.✝️
Ooops. Giving the game/name away there.