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.
Graeme wise
What would a sweaty sock know about the English game..
There’s only two ways in which a team is truly feared, either they have the capacity to embarass you, by putting up a 5, 6. or 7 spot, or they physically target your best players, like a Stoke…we’re neither of those things…we instill fear in no opposing side, albeit we do play a brand of defensive football that can make things difficult on others, but that rarely amounts to jackshit if that approach negatively impacts your offensive output…as it stands, MA’s “plan” relies too heavily on others fucking up rather than putting teams to the sword…that’s a loser’s mentality, which certainly didn’t require 6+ years and a billion+ dollars being spent to foment…so fucking grow a pair you settling halfwit
TRVL
Sorry but you’re completely wrong on the fear factor.
I’m terrified I’ll nod off everytime I watch us play.
Marc—I know exactly how you feel, as I won’t use any electrical/gas appliances when Arsenal’s playing for fear that I just might burn the fucking house down
TRVL
I assume that’s by accident not a desperate attempt to “make the pain stop”?
Marc—No comment
Wicksy
Half right. đ. My first name is Scottish.
TRVL
“âŠas it stands, MAâs âplanâ relies too heavily on others fucking up rather than putting teams to the sword⊔
Excellent analysis, basically you are saying if we win the league or champions league it will be down to the other teams “fucking up “, I’m sure Marc will agree with you….amongst others.
TRVL
“âŠwe instill fear in no opposing side, albeit we do play a brand of defensive football that can make things difficult on others, but that rarely amounts to jackshit”
More excellent analysis , considering we are 2nd top scorers with the best goal difference and sitting top of the league after the toughest start of any team…should I also mention we have the best defence in Europe, so obviously our football ” rarely amounts to jackshit” …keep the expert analysis coming as I like a good laugh.
Wicksy
I’d agree with Kroenke on that because he’s right. There’s plenty we disagree on.
If Arteta was so fucking clever he’d have won something in the last couple of years. There’s been a news story floating around today about a close confident of Pep’s who left City in the summer saying he thinks he needs to take a time out and recharge. There’s a brillant line from him where he talks about a project lasting a maximum of 5 or 6 years – that’s how real managers work.
Remind me what phase is Arteta on now? 47? 132? The good news is the media is turning on Arteta and the fans expectation is “you have to win the PL” he’s not going to last much longer.
Of course Wicksy your excuses will continue no matter what.
Pricksy—instead of employing your usual cut and paste grade school nonsense, try disputing my takes with historical data you twat…btw with all the turnover within the upper crust of the League having the supposed “toughest” schedule from the off was actually to our benefit, especially in light of MA’s defensive predilictions…your blunt instrument takes and incessantly fluid predictions are fucking laughable…I, like many, believe that we have the roster to win the PL this year, so the billion dollar question quickly becomes will our manager continue to be our weakest link (much like yourself on here)
TRVL
“btw with all the turnover within the upper crust of the League having the supposed âtoughestâ schedule from the off was actually to our benefit,”
Talking of turnovers, you seem to have conveniently forgot that we have 7/8 new signings this season , and due to injuries to saliba, Odegaard, saka, havertz and Jesus the new signings have been thrown in the deep end.
Mosquera, madueke, Eze , zubimendi and gyokeres have come in and hit the ground running which is a credit to the manager I’m sure you agree as your comment implies that our rivals turnover of players is the reason we are sitting top of the league..
You are right, slot and pep (“the upper crust”) have not integrated their new signings as well as Arteta so I suppose us as Arsenal fans reap the benefit from Arteta’s good management.
Wicksy
You might want to ask why Arteta gets so many injured players? Using injuries as an excuse when they’re caused by the manager is about as lame as it gets.
Pricksy—for the love of God stop mentioning fucking Jesus like he fucking matters, it’s really quite sad…if you weren’t so obtuse you would understand the difference between incorporating new pieces into a defence-first system and integrating multiple summertime acquisitions into an attack-minded offence, like with Slot…it’s becoming glaringly obvious that you have a severe allergy to fucking nuance or why else would you continually spew such base-level takes…btw for someone who’s quick to claim that they have a critical eye when it comes to our manager, you sure love to throw out nonsensical claims about our him, like the whole benefiting from his good management, which has always been a bone of contention even for those who favour him…why you insist on bringing your blunt knife to this gun fight is beyond me…clearly your a glutton for punishment, maybe you should try running for office if they ever let you out of that place
you’re a glutton for punishment
Trvl
Jesus when 100% fit ( which is rare) is in my opinion still our best player to lead the line and he still may have a say in our season if he isn’t sold in January, which is not a sure thing due to his extortionate wages , a loan is probably the favourite.
Pricksy—you’re the gift that keeps giving if absolute shit takes are at the top of your wishlist…now I know why you’re such an admirer of our present skipper, as his sideways-loving Striker-hating ass would likely say likewise…he’s a shockingly inconsistent overpriced backup who would make far more sense on a mid-level side with a similar defensive approach and far lower positional expectations…not to mention, he remnds me of Samuel L. Jackson’s character in Unbreakable…oft-times the best ability is availability…maybe he can play in a fucking bubble or in one of the Sumo wrestling novelty suits…keep in coming though, as everytime you open your mouth you simply prove my point about you being a total fraud…you do realize that your previous posts don’t just magically disappear within a few days or so? thanks for another telling receipt
Jesus our best player to lead the line? Don’t be a cunt.
He wasn’t a striker when he was at his prime at City and his prime wasn’t that good.
What next – Havertz is our best option in goal? Really stop being a cunt.
for the love of God stop mentioning fucking Jesus like he fucking matters
Atheism… solved in a sentence. Cheers Vieira.
Looking forward (not!) to a motherfuckingly boring, football free weekend . County had a solid win last night though so a partial fix I suppose.